Traveling is meant to be a relaxing vacation, but without proper planning, travel can make you more stressed than your normal daily life. This article has easy to follow tips on how to make any kind of traveling fun, simple and stress free. Be prepared before you leave, by reading this advice.
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.
Calling a family or friend when you leave and arrive on a trip isn’t just for kids. It is a good way to put them at ease, and also to make sure that if something goes wrong on your trip, someone will know about it quicker. If you have not called by a certain time, and they cannot reach you, this person will be able to take appropriate actions to find you or find out what happened.
For any trip, experienced travelers will pack some clothes they can clean themselves with minimum effort. Not only do easily-cleanable clothes reduce the overall amount of clothing a traveler has to take along, they can provide a comfortable safety net in the event of unplanned delays. Clothing that can be rinsed and dried in a hotel sink can be a godsend on an unexpected layover.
If you are traveling in a poorer country, consider purchasing a large woven sack, like the type used to transport potatoes or other vegetables. Put your bag into this sack, and it is protected from dust, bugs, and moisture. It also nicely camouflages your possesions against thieves, as they will see a bag of farm goods instead of a tourist’s bag.
As you get ready to go out of town, pick a digital camera that will work for the kind of trip you are taking. For example, if you will be camping you may want to pack additional batteries. You want a camera you can turn off and on quickly and that focuses fast.
When traveling around other countries, beware of fraudulent taxis. Make sure any taxi you get into is legitimate. Any person can throw a “taxi” label on a vehicle, meaning you may have no idea who they are or where you will end up.
If you are traveling by plane, make sure you have enough room in your luggage for the things you want to take back. If your bags are packed full before you get there and you want to buy new clothes or souvenirs, not only will your clothes get all wrinkly, but there could be a chance that your luggage bag bursts and you lose the old things, as well as the new.
After deciding where you would like to travel, compare the prices offered by many booking engines online for your hotel rooms and flights directly with the companies themselves. Although many booking engines do offer reduced or eliminated transaction fees, you will often get a better deal if you speak directly with the hotels or airlines. You will also receive better customer service.
Even if you are planning an extended stay in a foreign country, there are some items you should leave behind, mostly as a precautionary measure. Valuables such as jewelry, are safer at home than they are overseas. While the desire to bring a reminder of home with you is understandable, don’t take sentimental or one-of-a-kind items that can’t be replaced. Remove unnecessary, yet important items from your wallet, including credit cards that you don’t need and your Social Security card.
If you are in a country where it is recommended to drink bottled water, do not forget to use that same bottled water for everything. Brushing your teeth with the tap water could inadvertently allow the bacteria to get into your system, which can make you sick. Use the bottled!
Make the traveling process a little easier by ensuring that you always reserve your seat when you book your flight. If you aren’t allowed to, keep going back to the airline or booking engine until you can. You may not like your choices but still select a seat and keep going back to see if you can change it. Also, keep in mind that you are more likely to get an exit-row seat if you check-in early at the airport, because they are not available online. Following these steps will help you get the seat that you desire for your flight.
Unless there is a specific event you are hoping to experience at your destination, avoid the busy travel times. Crowds of tourists can diminish the amount of activities you experience on your vacation due to waiting and overbooking. Maximize your time by choosing off-season times for your adventures and avoid the crunch.
If you need to find a place to eat or want recommendations for a local attraction, stay away from hotel employees. Most of them are given money to advise you to go to certain locations. Visit shops, cafes or restaurants that you like and ask them for advice on where you should go.
No matter what hotel room you stay at when you are traveling, make sure to examine the alarm clock when you get there. Many have been previously set and may wake you up at an undesirable time. Look at the alarm clock and turn it off if you don’t need to get up at a specific time.
To get the most enjoyment out of travel, relax. Travel can be stressful no matter how you go – car, plane, train or bus. Inevitably, something will go wrong even when you are highly prepared. Do not stress about it. Relax and enjoy whatever might come your way. The best experiences often result from the unexpected. Just think of the stories you can tell later!
If you follow the helpful tips in this article, you will find that traveling does not have to be stressful. There are many simple ways to make sure everything is taken care of before you leave, so your time away from home will be more relaxing than you can imagine.
