The moment you step off the plane into a foreign country, a rush of adrenaline is bound to consume you. Not only are you in for an adventure and as appreciation for cultures other than your own, but you must be aware of safety and rules abroad as well. This article contains a multitude of travel tips to keep you safe while away from home.
Save on money and calories during all of your travels by packing snacks, meals and beverages ahead of time. You can make healthier choices when you plan ahead of time, and you will be less likely to overspend on a sugar or fat filled snacks that are grossly overpriced.
When traveling, it is important to remember to pack only what you need. This rule is most applicable to trips by air, as luggage fees are much higher now than they previously were. Most airports will sell anything you might not have room for and major surrounding cities should as well.
Locate a restaurant near your hotel if you plan to stay longer than overnight. While many hotels have restaurants built right in, such eateries will be sad, generic affairs offering little to remember. By finding a local restaurant within easy travel distance you will gain access to a little bit of local color.
Keeping fresh water for you pet is a must when you are traveling. This is particularly important in hot climates. One way of insuring cool, fresh water is to rinse out a two liter drink bottle, fill it, and freeze it before you leave. As it melts it will provide your pet with the liquid they need to survive.
Look up reviews about hotels you plan to visit, but do not necessarily trust everything that is written. Everyone will have a different experience, so be forgiving of some negative reviews and do not be blinded by overly positive reviews. When trying to find a hotel, one suggestion is to call the hotel and ask the clerk a few simple questions. His customer service skills will often indicate the quality of the hotel.
Try to stay cool while traveling. Bodies may naturally heat up due to closed quarters, limited airflow and just being nervous about visiting a new place. Make use of overhead vents on airplanes, standing on the deck, if on a ship, or opening a window in a car. Sometimes you may be able to crack a window open on a bus as well, if you are unable to do so sit towards the front of the bus rather than at the back to avoid stale air.
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.
Convert your money a few days before your scheduled departure. Also, confirm with your bank or credit card holder that your cards can be used when you’re traveling to a foreign country. It’s also helpful to let them know that you will be traveling so they won’t “deny” a foreign transaction. Have some traveler checks on hand that can be used internationally as well.
If your destination has a visitors bureau, call them at least three months before travel to inquire about coupons or special packages. To attract more tourists, many of these locations have made deals with local attractions and service providers to offer steep discounts and special rates to visitors. You can save a lot of money and plan your time accordingly.
In order to truly enjoy traveling during a vacation it is very important to bring only what you need. It is hard to travel when there is unnecessary baggage. Another thing that this brings is that you will spend more time enjoying your vacation rather than pulling along that bulky bag.
Make sure to confirm your lodging reservation before you even leave for your trip. This is especially important when using the internet to make a reservation because even though you may have requested a room by email, it is possible that the hotel or other accommodation, has not received your request.
When you return from traveling, carefully look through all your suitcases to see what you accidentally brought back with you. You will probably still have things like itineraries, brochures, maps, ticket stubs and other items. Choose the ones that look the best and pair them with a few of your best pictures from your trip. Make the items into a collage and put them in a frame, giving you an incredible souvenir of the things you did on your trip.
Don’t hold on to your frequent flyer miles for too long, since they may well expire before you get around to using them. Miles often expire 18 months after you earn them, so use them while you can. If you don’t need to fly, you may be able to trade them in for magazines or other rewards.
If you are traveling overseas, purchase a local newspaper to wrap the souvenirs up in that you buy for family and friends. Foreign newspapers make an interesting and unique wrapping paper for small gifts, especially if the newspaper is in a foreign language. If you know someone that is particularly interested in the country you are visiting, consider buying them a whole newspaper as a souvenir.
Check for bed bugs before you pay a dime to stay somewhere. The easiest place to check is underneath the sheets of the bed at the seams. If you see black dots, run don’t walk the other way. It doesn’t matter what they offer you, you do not want to deal with the horrors that will come from staying in a place with bed bugs.
Above all, staying safe while traveling is the most important aspect of your trip. Hopefully, this article has provided some helpful insight into staying safe on your trip and will allow you to travel worry-free. So, breathe easier, sit back and enjoy the finer things in life (while staying safe, of course).
