Whether it is for pleasure or business, traveling can be a lot of fun. It can also be more than a little bothersome. Planning for transportation, packing and finding a place to stay can add up and become incredibly stressful. Here are a few helpful tips to ease the burden a bit.
Packing light is key to making your travels as easy and free of stress as possible. Bring one carry on bag that includes everything you need, not necessarily everything you want. If traveling to cold weather, bring smaller clothes to create layers rather than big, space-consuming coats and sweaters. Your smart packing will pay off when you are happily carrying one bag around on vacation instead of lugging around multiple bags.
Only pack the clothes you will need. In some instances, it does not pay to be over-prepared. Many people pack far too many clothes when they travel. This is a problem. It is especially a problem when they inadvertently lose the bags that contained them. Try packing multipurpose clothes that you can re-wear.
Package tours are a way to get the most out of a limited travel budget. Investigate the opportunities available at a particular destination. It may be possible to do more, see more and have more fun, by investing in a package deal that includes extra services and amenities. These packages frequently offer savings that are impossible to replicate through buying individual services.
If you’re worried about having your pockets picked while you’re on vacation, try sewing a small hidden pocket into the inside of your pants to keep your money and credit cards in. This way you won’t have to worry about them being swiped by an eager pickpocket. You can also do the same thing inside of a bag, if you’ll be carrying one.
If you are taking your car to the airport and leaving it there, always make a note of where you parked it. You should write it on a piece of paper or put it in your phone. Most likely when you return from your trip, your memory will not be enough to find it.
Before you leave on any long vacation, try to find some time to get into shape. Generally while sightseeing, you will be doing quite a lot of walking. If you don’t prepare for this, you can end up sore and unhappy. Also, being more fit might give you added courage for a nude beach or other new experience.
If you know in advance that you will be passing through some less-than-desirable neighborhoods or areas of town en route to your destination, don’t rely solely on your in-dash GPS system. Map out alternate routes using MapQuest or Google Maps, so you don’t end up in a bad part of town, in the middle of the night, with bad directions.
Instead of purchasing souvenirs when you are traveling, consider asking the hotel where you are staying if you can take home a sheet of notepaper and envelope as a memento. These items usually have the hotel’s logo and address written on them, and are great backgrounds for albums. You can also write memories of your trip on them, and place the note in your scrapbook.
Traveling during the holidays can be a stressful experience. Long lines at the airport and traffic congestion can cause you to arrive late to your destination, or even worse, miss your flight. Allow yourself plenty of extra time by leaving earlier than normal. This will save you from rushing, and allow you to enjoy the holiday season.
When packing clothes for your trips, only pack what you know you will need. If your trips are over three weeks, you should plan on having to wash while at your destinations. Regardless, you can cut back on clothes by packing ones that are multi-purpose, such as clothing that can be used for day wear and sleepwear.
Your schedule should be flexible when you take a road trip so you can take time out for rest stops if necessary. Your plans are not going to be thwarted by a 10-minute potty break. You can spare yourself irritable travel companions by doing this.
Don’t lie when obtaining travel insurance. Your provider needs to know if you are sick. If your illness worsens while traveling, the company will deny any claim because of your pre-existing condition. You will be left with the bill to pay on your own.
A great travel tip is to wear headphones if you want to be left alone when you’re traveling. When people see you wearing headphones, they’ll be less apt to talk to you because they’ll think you’re busy listening to music. This can be a great way to keep your personal space.
As you travel, you will want to use your credit card as often as possible. This will limit the amount of cash that you will bring, which makes you less of a target to thieves. Also, you can rack up significant rewards points on your card with the purchases that you make.
To reduce the impact of a possible theft while on vacation, bring only those financial items you really need. For example, you can safely leave all local store cards and your checkbook at home. Bring only a single credit card or preferably travel checks in your own name. This limits the number of cancellations you have to make should your purse or wallet get lost or stolen.
To capture all of the great memories of your travels on camera, be sure to carry a few extra charged batteries. If you are traveling overseas, you cannot always be sure your charger will work, or that the adapter will fit the plugs. Batteries are small and light weight, so save yourself the hassle of finding disposable cameras by taking an extra battery or two.
Hopefully, these tips have given you something of value – or at the very least – something useful to mull over. Above all else, it is important to stay safe while traveling. Aside from that, try to just push the stress aside and have fun. Enjoy!
