Travel is a hobby for some and a business necessity for others. But regardless of your reason for getting from one place to another, there are ways to make it easier and more pleasant, and ways for it to bring stress into your life. Try these great tips for making travel time into a more enjoyable time.
When planning a trip, don’t count on a single booking website to show you the lowest fares. Compare prices across a variety of sites, including meta-searchers if you can find them. Also check with the airline and hotel directly, as they may actually be able to offer you a better rate than the website.
If you’re traveling to a country where you’re likely to want to enjoy a bottle of wine, bring along your own corkscrew. If you don’t know the area or speak the language, tracking down a corkscrew just for that impromptu picnic can turn a relaxing afternoon into a harried scavenger hunt.
When traveling overseas, hang on to your reciepts for credit card purchases. When you file them, date them and note the purpose of the purchase. When you get home, you have an easy way to reconcile your statement with the money you spent. This will make it much easier to spot any fraudulent charges.
When traveling by plane make sure you take every precaution you can to ensure smooth travels. You first want to make sure your luggage does not exceed the maximum weight requirements by the airlines. You also want to label all of your luggage so that there is no confusion with other passengers who have similar luggage to yours.
If you choose to purchase travel insurance before going on a trip, you would do well to buy it from an independent source. Let’s say you book a cruise and are offered travel insurance from the cruise company. Since you are essentially buying protection against the cruise line’s own mistakes/accidents, it makes more sense to purchase your insurance from an outside source than to rely on the potential cause of your future claim as your insurance provider.
Traveling with any kind of electronics means that you constantly have to charge batteries that you would normally charge at home. One of the most convenient means of doing this while on the road is to buy an inverter and plug it into your vehicle’s cigarette lighter. That way you can use the same chargers you normally use at home.
If you are taking a cruise, bring a tackle box and use it to store your valuables. Most thieves are only interested in what they can quickly find and get out with. They probably will not think to look in a tackle box for valuables.
When going on a cruise, wear your room key around your neck, on a lanyard or similar item. Losing your room key on a cruise ship can cost you greatly, not only in money, but in lost time. Keeping your key with you wherever you go can insure that you, and your belongings, will be safe.
When traveling on a red eye flight, wear comfortable clothing and bring a pillow, blanket, eye mask, and ear plugs. If you are prepared to rest, you are much more likely to be able to sleep and arrive at your destination well-rested, even if other passengers make noise or put their reading lights on.
Protect your children when traveling by making sure they are prepared in case they get lost. For older children, arrange a convenient meeting place where your family can regroup if separated. Younger children should carry a card with their name, the names of their parents and a contact number. Additional information regarding medications and allergies is also helpful. Instruct your children to give the card to a police officer if they get lost.
Bus travel is a great way to see the country side. It allows you an inexpensive way to get from destination to destination while sitting back and allowing someone else to do the driving. You will get to enjoy the scenery and even have frequent stops to see each place, without having to spend too much or bother with gas expenses.
Wear earplugs if you are easily wakened. Hotels can be noisy. Earplugs can help you sleep well by allowing you to block out everything around you.
To get the most relaxation while you travel, make sure to bring things to do in your down time. People often think that a vacation means they will be on the go the entire time. In reality, there is time to unwind at night, waiting in lines, and during travel time. Bring a book you have been dying to read and see how much you can accomplish.
Smart travelers have a smart routine that keeps their travel plans running smoothly and that makes every trip, no matter where or why, as easy as possible. Tips like the above can help everyone travel smarter, from the most world-weary traveler to the fresh-faced new traveler setting out on his or her first adventure.
