The following tips will help you on your trip, whether you choose to travel by train, plane or car. Read on to learn the best tips for your next vacation.
Before traveling make sure you get enough sleep. For many people, the few days before their vacation are filled with either stress or excitement, sometimes leading to a lack of sleep. When this happens, you tend to ‘crash’ when you reach your destination, meaning that you waste vacation time because you are already exhausted. A good night’s sleep before traveling will mean that you arrive invigorated and upbeat.
Dealing with airports is an unfortunate necessity of much modern travel. Pack an empty water bottle to fill after you get through security. This will save you from having to buy a $3.00 bottle of water after you get through the checkpoint. It also never hurts to pack granola bars, banana chips, or anything else to snack on between flights.
If you are traveling to an area that has a high level of crime, consider purchasing your own padlock for the hotel room door. These locks are more difficult to pick than the ones the hotel will have already and no one in the hotel will have a spare to let in “visitors”.
If you are traveling with any kind of prescription medication, including birth control pills, you need to keep them in their original containers with labels. It can also be helpful to get a letter from your doctor stating that you have a medical need for the items. This way, you cannot be accused of drug smuggling.
Remember to report lost tickets immediately. Lost tickets can be refunded, but this can take as long as six months. It might also involve a substantial replacement fee. Reporting your lost ticket as soon as possible will not make things go any faster, but you will get your money back sooner.
You can help make your vacation less stressful by packing lightly for your trip.
Try to keep all the items you will need in one bag; while this may seem impossible, it can be done if you are careful about what you include. Packing lightly means that there are less things for you to keep up with, and worry about, while you are enjoying your trip.
Never put your home address on your luggage. When filling out the information card on your luggage, use your business address instead. If you do not have a business address, leave it blank. If you happen to leave your luggage somewhere, only give your contact information to the hotel or airline staff.
When choosing an airline, it’s important to take more than just the price of the ticket into consideration. A lot of airlines charge money for checked bags now, and many charge other excessive hidden costs. Before ‘shelling out your hard earned money’ for what seems like a cheap ticket, do some research.
Have your airline contact you in the event of any changes to your flight schedules. Most airlines have free programs where you can receive calls or text messages if your flight changes, which will come in handy if you are running late or experiencing difficulties with travel arrangements. Just call and ask them to set it up!
If you’re going to be going on a road trip, make sure you pack a tire repair kit! You never know where you might be when you get a flat tire and it’s better safe than sorry. If you don’t have one and have to call of tow truck you may be looking at expensive charges and a ruined trip.
If you are taking a cruise, bring a tackle box and use it to store your valuables. Most thieves are only interested in what they can quickly find and get out with. They probably will not think to look in a tackle box for valuables.
Sometimes the cleanliness of the linens in your hotel room is questionable. Rather than risk it, use your t-shirt as a pillowcase. After a long day of business meetings or sightseeing, turn your shirt inside out and use it over the hotel pillowcase. You can wash your shirt later, and it’s infinitely more appealing than putting your face on suspicious linens.
Travel “green” by traveling by train instead of by plane. Train rides not only offer scenic views, but there will be not long security lines or lost luggage. For example, if you are traveling to Europe or Asia, they offer great rail travel that will allow you to save money and explore multiple places one trip.
When vacationing in any of our world’s beautiful areas, it is important to leave nothing behind. Do not leave trash of any kind, and do not take any artifacts from natural areas or historical sites. If you are in the wilderness, avoid disturbing the natural elements, for example leave the beautiful rocks where they are. Leave everything you find in these places as you found it.
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.
Ask the hotel for an electronic air filter when you are traveling. Many rooms have windows that will not open, and they have a tendency to smell a little funny. An air filter does a great job of moving and cleaning the air, allowing you to relax and feel comfortable in your room. It also provides some background noise that could be helpful as well.
Try to schedule layovers that are a minimum of two hours. While direct or nonstop flights should be your first choice, sometimes a layover is inevitable. By scheduling a long layover, you may slightly increase your travel time, but you will also be less likely to miss a connecting flight if there is a delay.
Be sure to keep the above tips in mind as you plan your trip. By using the advice you’ve just read, your trip is sure to be a smooth and more enjoyable one, every step of the way.
