Although traveling nationally or internationally gives you the opportunity to see the world and interact with people of all backgrounds, it can also be a hassle, an expense or even a danger. However, there are ways to make your trip less stressful and more enjoyable, whether it’s for business or pleasure. All you need to do is follow these simple tips.
Before you travel internationally, learn where your country’s embassies and consulates are in your destination country. These are not resources for the casual traveler. Hopefully you will never need them. If you find yourself in legal trouble, though, consulates and embassies can provide vital assistance in navigating unfamiliar and unfriendly legal waters.
If you are worried about traveling with a large carry-on bag, plan ahead. Airlines usually board in groups of five or ten rows, so pick a seat in row 11 or 21, not row 19. Also, as soon as the airline calls the seat block ahead of you, go get in line. This way you’re waiting at the front instead of the back.
Do not bother packing your entire makeup case. Makeup cases are bulky and often take up a lot of room. Instead, put any makeup you anticipate needing for your trip in a simple ziplock bag. Put it in your suitcase’s side pocket. This will save a lot of room when packing.
The more you plan, the cheaper the flight should be for you. Try and plan your trips ahead of time and budget how much money you want to spend on flights and hotel, as well as, how much you want to spend on leisure activities. Planning out your trip in advance, helps you to manage your money properly and ensures that you will have a better time.
One way to collect memories of your trip is to do crayon rubbings of architectural features, historical markers or even, just interesting textures. All you need is a crayon and thin, newsprint like, paper. Tear the paper cover off the outside of the crayon. Next, hold the paper flat on the surface you are recording. To complete the rubbing, use the side of the crayon rubbing it back and forth until the image emerges.
Double check your reservations. It may seem obvious, but there have been many cases where reservations suddenly disappeared from the databases, leaving you and your family with no place to stay. To prevent this from occurring, check with your hotel several times throughout the process to make sure that your reservation is still right where it should be.
Before you begin thinking about where you would like to travel next, subscribe to get emails from major airlines, hotels and rental companies. It will increase your amount of “junk” mail, but these newsletters often include information about last-minute hotel deals or flights that will allow you to use your frequent-flyer miles. Since these deals go quickly, finding out about them first is essential.
Pay with Euros! The American dollar does not hold nearly as much strength and prestige as it used to, so trade in for a Euro to get the best treatment. You should still carry some American dollars for tipping, because in many countries they are difficult to find, and are considered souvenirs rather than spending money.
When visiting America’s National Parks, hiking is a great way to see what the park has to offer. While walking around and hiking stay on the park’s trails at all times. This will protect you from anything in the wilderness and it will also protect the wilderness from you.
Bring an over the door shoe organizer along whenever you’re staying in a hotel. Being an organized traveler in a hotel can be tough. There is limited drawer, counter, and closet space. Keep your bathroom essentials, shoes, and accessories organized and in clean site by putting them in your shoe organizer as soon as you arrive.
If you’re packing your laptop for work or recreation while you travel, bring along an A.V. cable as well. Many hotels offer both free high speed Internet and a large HDTV in your room. If you’ve got an A.V. cable, you can plug your computer right into the HDTV and view your online content right on the large screen.
If you are flying for several hours, pack a few snacks. Fresh fruits will boost your mood and help your digestion. This will make you feel good and get rid of your hunger on the plane.
Utilize the social networking sites before and during your trip. You are sure to get a lot of feedback from people who have made the same trip as you have in the past. They will likely guide you to the best restaurants, landmarks and hotels in the area.
To make the most of your travel budget, as well as your home budget, avoid taking it all with you. Taking too much money on a trip can quickly affect how the six months after the trip will go. Do not forget that you will have to return to the real world.
If traveling with a baby, you can use their diaper bag as a carry-on too. It’s not only great for all of your baby gear, but it is a great way to pack your valuables. These types of bags are generally less likely to be targeted for theft. You can also carry waste bags in these that are great for little ones and for use when you are not at a toilet that can flush.
If you are traveling for business, but also plan on sightseeing, bring a diary or notebook with an envelope to keep your expenses separate. Make keeping track of business easier by jotting down each expense as you go along instead of trying to remember which expenses were work and which were fun. An envelope or pocket in the notebook is also a good idea to store your receipts in.
As you can see, there are a number of ways to make traveling more pleasurable, as well as safer and less costly. Many of these tips come from seasoned travelers who have learned through experience. Use their knowledge to your advantage the next time you have to plan a trip, whether it’s in a neighboring city or another country.
