Whether you want to explore the world and see new places, or just make it to your in-laws house without any major disasters along the way, the tips in this article will help you get from point A to point B without any hiccups and having fun as you go.
When traveling, whether it’s for a day or a month, don’t advertise your absence on social media sites. If you do, this lets people know that you’re going to be away from home and that most likely your house will be empty. This significantly raises your chances of being robbed while you’re out of town.
If you are a woman traveling overnight on business, be sure that the blouses and underthings you wear and bring can be washed in the sink and hung up or blow-dried. Missed luggage and/or connections can mean you arrive at a hotel late at night, with only the clothes on your back to wear the next day. Lightweight, wrinkle-free polyester or microfiber blouses and tops can be washed and hung up, and will be dry in the morning, as will all your lingerie.
Family and friends can be very gracious in letting you stay in their home, while you are visiting. Show your appreciation by taking a small thank you gift for them. It will show your gratitude and make them more open to allowing you to stay there again, in the future.
If you’re staying in a hotel and you like coffee, don’t use the tap water to make it. Instead, get some ice from the ice machine and put it in the coffee maker the night before to melt. The ice machines use filtered water so you’ll get better tasting coffee!
If you take prescription medications, plan for your vacations. Carry enough of your medications with you to cover your entire trip plus an additional week. You will most likely not be able to fill prescriptions while traveling, plus you want to be covered if you are delayed at any point during your trip.
When packing for a cruise, be sure to bring along a pair of slip-resistant rubber soled shoes. These will work when you are walking across wet, slippery decks, as well as for most of your shore excursions. The fewer pairs of shoes you can bring, the easier your luggage will be to store.
Before you begin thinking about where you would like to travel next, subscribe to get emails from major airlines, hotels and rental companies. It will increase your amount of “junk” mail, but these newsletters often include information about last-minute hotel deals or flights that will allow you to use your frequent-flyer miles. Since these deals go quickly, finding out about them first is essential.
Carefully check out any travel package deals before you book them. Many airlines and websites put together flights, hotel accommodations, meals and activities and offer them at one price. This is designed to benefit the companies, because they can book flights and rooms without mentioning their bottom line. Some of these packages can be steals, but you should always look into the cost of each piece of the deal to make sure you are saving money.
Make your vacation more green by discovering new places by foot. You will find a lot of the most enticing sights are set off from the main thoroughfares, hidden away and only accessible by foot. Hiking offers many unforgettable views and up close experiences, as does biking and canoeing.
Winter travel can be quite stressful. Give yourself extra time as you get ready for your winter vacation. Delays are always a possibility. Bring something with you to keep you busy, such as a book, since you may have long waits at the security line or at the departure gate. Be prepared to wait. Cities that get a lot of ice and snow, can have delays of two or three hours or more.
Take advantage of the hotel’s ice machines when you are traveling. Many people enjoy having a cup of coffee in the morning, but they often dislike the way hotel coffee tastes. The ice machines use filtered water, so try putting ice in the machine the night before and allowing it to melt. The difference in taste between coffee made with filtered water instead of tap water is amazing.
If you are taking a short trip, it could be in your best interest to travel in the middle of the week as opposed to the weekend. Not surprisingly many companies, mainly hotels, may charge more for their services on the weekend when they experience increased volume. If the time of week does not matter to you, choose the cheaper option.
Buy travel insurance for your vacation package. You never know when something can happen! If someone was to get ill or injured, and you had to cancel your plans, you would be out all of the money you have invested into it without the purchase of travel insurance.
If you are going to use a travel agent when making reservation, make sure you find one who works with your wants and needs. Many travel agents are just trying to make the most commission so they may not pick the best travel option for you. Do some research online to make sure they have good ratings.
Make sure to place all of your medication in your carry-on bag. Be sure that they are in their original pharmacy containers with their pharmacy labels, so that the bag can easily travel through airport security. It also helps to know the generic names for all of your medications in case you need to speak with a local pharmacist who doesn’t know them by brand name.
If you take the time now to prepare for your next trip, you can save yourself a lot of trouble and headaches that you may be accustomed to. Putting these tips and suggestions to good use will allow you to have a wonderful time traveling without thinking about whether or not you left the stove on.
