Traveling should be something to look forward to, shouldn’t it? Of course it should. The problem is, that many of us have had so many stressful trips in the past that a lot of the fun has gone out of it. But what if you could avoid much of the stress associated with traveling? You can; take a look at these suggestions.
Before one is about to travel they should consider how they are going to pack. When packing one should always think about leaving one bag, suitcase, or other luggage partially empty. By leaving extra space there will always be room for more things that one may pick up while traveling such as souvenirs.
When traveling, never take an item from someone to transport it for them. No matter their situation or how nice they may seem, this is almost always a trap to convince an unwary tourist to transport drugs or other contraband into secure areas. Even “gifts” can fall into this category.
If you are staying at a hostel or camping while traveling, you may want to scout out other locations to use the restroom. Bathroom facilities at may hostels may be unclean to the point of disgusting, while the bathroom at the fast food joint down the street at least has to maintain a minimum level of sanitation.
When planning a major trip, you should always purchase travel insurance. This protects you against loss on big ticket items like international flights, as well as helping you recover the costs of lost baggage or other emergency expenses. Travel insurance covers you if you have to cancel your trip or if your trip has to be ended early.
Don’t be afraid to cash in your airline miles. Many travelers let their miles accumulate and never bother using them. Reap the rewards of your traveling and spend the miles you’ve earned! Miles have expiration dates, so be sure to use them before they expire. Often you can use them on items other than travel, so check out your options and get to spending.
Enroll in the loyal customer club. These clubs reward you with a free night after you’ve stayed a certain number of nights at their participating locations. Even if aren’t planning to stay with them again, enroll anyway. Being a member often entitles you to extra benefits–anything from drinks to internet access–during your stay.
Before booking any vacations, do some comparison shopping. Make sure you’re getting a good deal on your flight and hotel by looking at the prices of several websites. If you don’t need to leave or return from your trip on an exact day, check the price of several days in the same week. One might be cheaper.
Choosing a specific seasonal time to take ones trip can lead to a more enjoyable trip. For those who like snow sports they should aim for a trip during the winter. Someone who likes hunting should plan a trip to coincide with their hunting season of choice. Differences like that can make a big change to a trip.
It can be beneficial when traveling to put together a large group of friends and family to travel with. In a large group, one will be less vunerable to criminals targeting lone tourists who look like ‘easy pickings.’ You will also have the added bonus of sharing your trip with the ones you are close to.
For a stress-free vacation, start preparing yourself one week before leaving. Make sure your friends and family know where you are going, and have someone drive by your house to make sure everything is fine. Install an alarm if necessary. Find someone to take care of your pets and plants.
If you are traveling in an unknown territory, you can check out reviews of restaurants and hotels online. Having access to the internet on your smartphone, can be a really useful thing when deciding what hotel to spend the night in or where to dine. This can help you avoid bad areas and neighborhoods or really low rated restaurants.
Before taking an overseas trip, travelers must remember to check their immunizations. Traveling to a destination on a different continent will expose the traveler to germs and potential infections that his or her body is not used to. The wise traveler will check with a health care professional to determine what new immunizations and boosters he or she needs.
When traveling, the savvy tourist will always be on the lookout for local restaurants. A chain restaurant, even one belonging to a foreign chain the traveler does not know, will never be as colorful as an independently operated eatery. Not only are locally-owned restaurants more memorable, they are frequently cheaper than more generic options.
Alright, not every trip is for fun and recreation, and not all of the tips that are mentioned in this article will apply to your plans. Nevertheless, if you make a note to try out some of the aforementioned suggestions, you can be well on your way to having more pleasant traveling experiences, whether your trip is for business, family or pleasure.
