Travel can mean the exhilaration of seeing new places or the nightmare of not having the comforts and security of home. Like anything, travel goes much more smoothly with a little bit of knowledge and preparation. Keep reading for some sound advice from seasoned travelers on making your journeys pleasant memories.
When considering traveling, it is important to think of the best mode of travel. Traveling by car can offer many more sights and opportunities for side trips. Traveling by train can offer a chance to relax and get some work done if they wanted. Planes can cover ground fast but don’t allow much movement and one cannot get off the plane in flight. Each mode of travel has it’s own advantages and disadvantages to be considered.
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.
Make plans way ahead of time when you travel, to keep costs as low as possible. There are many things that cost money while traveling and many of them are cheaper when purchased ahead of time. Minimizing last-minute expenses can help your trip stretch further.
There are a few essentials everyone should have whenever they’re travelling. No matter where you’re going, make sure to bring your photo ID, preferably in more than one form, any medication that you frequently or infrequently need, and a small amount of cash. Everyone has their own personal needs, so think of what yours are before you travel.
Buy a kit of toiletries and set them aside exclusively for travel.
If you travel often, packing all your toiletries can be a pain. It is not at all difficult to forget something as simple as a toothbrush or a stick of deodorant. Save time by purchasing a set of these things that you keep on hand, just for taking with you on trips.
No matter what your intentions are, you should always join the airlines frequent travel club. Even if you never fly again, you may receive a perk just for joining. On the other hand, you may fly with them a few times and you will receive benefits every time that you do.
If you plan to travel for more than a weekend, inform your bosses two weeks prior to leaving so that they can find someone to cover your responsibilities before hand. This way, you are not relying on someone who merely says they will cover for you and you have respectfully informed them the reasons of your absence.
It is not uncommon to provide the housekeeper and bell hop with a tip. Generally, you will give one dollar per piece of luggage, and anywhere between two and five dollars a day for housekeeping. Tipping will show your appreciation for their work, and will help you maintain a good relationship with hotel staff.
If you are packing for a cruise, don’t buy anything new for the trip.
This is because most cruises today will allow you to remain in casual clothes even for dinner, and almost never require that you dress in black-tie formalwear. Whatever you currently own is most likely acceptable for the trip.
If you are traveling abroad, it’s a wise idea to sign up with the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP), a free government service for citizens of the United States who live in a foreign country or are planning to visit one. Providing STEP with your contact information and some details on your trip allows them to contact you in the event of an emergency and to advise you of travel warnings and alerts.
To save money on your vacation, choose a hotel that offers rooms with an en-suite kitchen or kitchenette. Even a simple refrigerator can save you big bucks if, instead of paying for the pricy hotel breakfast buffet, you pick up some cereal, milk, and yogurt to eat in your room.
Try to stay cool while traveling.
Bodies may naturally heat up due to closed quarters, limited airflow and just being nervous about visiting a new place. Make use of overhead vents on airplanes, standing on the deck, if on a ship, or opening a window in a car. Sometimes you may be able to crack a window open on a bus as well, if you are unable to do so sit towards the front of the bus rather than at the back to avoid stale air.
Talk to any road warrior and they can tell you both stories of great trips and disaster journeys. Some of the things they have learned have been shared in this article. Keep these tips in mind in preparing for your future travels, and you are sure to come home with great memories rather than headaches.