While it’s usually relaxing, traveling can often be very stressful and disastrous. A vacation can turn into a nightmare if you conduct your trip without the proper planning. Follow the tips below to put yourself in the best position.
Pay attention to your intuition when traveling. If a specific store, person, or neighborhood gives you “bad vibes”, just walk away. Your intuition might be telling you something that you haven’t consciously noticed. Even if you’re wrong, it’s better to be safe than sorry when it comes to your safety.
If you are traveling to an area where the tap water tastes strange to you, try using the hotel ice machines to get your water. The ice machines make use of water filters, so the quality is better but you don’t have to cover the expense of bottled water. This can be used for your coffee maker in the room as well as other drinks.
Some hotels have video games in them for you to use. If you’re traveling with kids, ask the front desk to disconnect these. Most of the time as soon as they’re turned on they’ll bill you for playing them. So if you take a shower you may not notice your kids have been playing them until you get your bill at checkout.
When traveling and sleeping in hotels, considering bringing along a small portable fan. This will allow you to create white noise, should you have a noisy neighbor. It can also help circulate the air in a stuffy room without needing to chill the room to uncomfortable levels using the air conditioner.
If you’re going on a cruise, pack a snorkle with you. Then when you stop at one of the locations, hit the beach and do a bit of snorkling. You’ll be amazed at what you can see while snorking, especially if your cruise is in the Caribbean. And buying a snorkle is a lot cheaper than paying for a snorkle tour!
When you get to your hotel, check the alarm clock. In some cases, the last person who stayed in the hotel will have previously set the alarm. If you do not wish to be awakened at four in the morning, you may want to double check the all the alarms.
When traveling by airplane it is crucial to arrive early. You will have to find a place to park, wait in long lines at security checkpoints, and there’s always the possibility that the airline oversold the flight. When using the airlines, always give your self lots of extra time.
If you plan on going backpacking, make sure you pack the proper gear. Even the most experienced backpackers can get lost, so it is important to bring flashlights, food, large amounts of water, matches and first aid supplies. Also, dress appropriately. Wear layers and avoid cotton clothing and jeans.
Try to avoid visiting Europe during the hot summer months. The consensus is that this is the worst time to vacation there. Another reason is that prices are higher, many trips are booked and over-booked, and there are many crowds during this time of year. Experience Europe in the off-season to see what it’s like for locals.
Try locating airlines that are not popular. Many smaller airlines do exist and many are great, cheaper alternatives to the larger more popular airlines. Many of these exist for international, but you can find some domestically as well. Try getting on a flight that stops at your destination, but goes a little further too.
For those travelers that are extremely paranoid about the invasion of bedbugs, check out the online Bed Bug Registry. It is where other travelers have taken the time to report the hotels that they have stayed in that have had bed bugs. You will learn what hotels have had bed bug problems so you can avoid them.
Do not take your medications out of their labeled bottles. You may find yourself in trouble at security if you do not have the correct medication in the correctly labeled bottles. There are strict laws concerning drug trafficking and pills out of the correct bottles may raise unwanted suspicion.
A great travel tip if you’re looking to go on a cruise is to make sure you book the right room for you. Rooms in the middle of the ship tend to be the quietest. If you don’t want to climb a lot of stairs you should get your room near the main deck.
When traveling to a foreign country, avoid dressing in a way that marks you as a wealthy tourist. Wear normal, casual clothing and don’t wear expensive watches, jewelry, cameras, and other things that can call attention to you. Try not to bring a lot of things with you during the day, in order to avoid having your things lost or stolen.
Make sure to get your credit cards in order while traveling. Check your limits and meticulously stay below them- Americans have been arrested for accidentally exceeding their card limit while traveling abroad. Also be sure to know in advance how to report a stolen card; an 800 number will not work overseas, so you’ll need to know an international number.
When looking into travel by bus, figure out your itinerary, and ask about specials or discounts. There are usually special bus fares for students, seniors, and groups. Advance ticket purchase is typically cheaper than last minute purchase. Travel by bus offers a low stress alternative to other methods of travel.
Weather is a huge factor in travelling and should never be underestimated get ear muffs for sleeping when planning your trips. You should always check the weather forecast for your destination. Having a weather-sensitive vacation like a beach or ski trip ruined because of a random weather event would be a miserable experience.
Even though trips are meant to be enjoyable and exciting, if you lack an understanding of how to prepare, they can be bumpy indeed. All the tips above can help you feel better prepared and more confident.