If you’re looking to get away from it all with a trip away from home, don’t forget to travel smart. A mishap, mistake or forgotten item can ruin a vacation as surely as bad weather or an unpleasant travel companion. While there are some things you just can’t control, maximize your chances of having a good trip with the following travel tips.
Be aware of departure taxes. Some countries have departure taxes. You will not be permitted to board your plane until you have paid them. Often a check or credit card is not permitted as payment on these taxes. Make sure you have enough cash set aside to cover them.
When traveling to poor countries or countries with high crime rates, keep all of your valuables out of sight. Don’t wear a camera over your shoulder or even a cheap watch on your wrist if you don’t want to attract the attention of thieves and beggars. Carry a shoulder bag for these types of items instead.
Don’t let the bedbugs bite. Bedbugs have become prevalent at hotels and motels. When you arrive at your hotel room, instead of tossing it onto the bed or sofa, put your luggage on a hard surface like a dresser, table, or luggage stand. This will prevent bedbugs from crawling into your suitcase and traveling home with you. Also, before you tuck yourself in, do a thorough check of your sheets for signs of bedbugs.
For some the road trip is the only way to travel. If you’re going to be taking a road trip do this simple things before hand so you don’t end up stranded half way across the country. Number one, be sure to get an oil change! Number two, have your mechanic give your car a once over before you depart. The last thing you need in the middle of no where are easily preventable mechanical failures.
When picking a destination to travel to pick somewhere that is affordable. You don’t want to travel somewhere that is so expensive you can’t enjoy yourself to the fullest. You want to make sure you have fun, but at the same time, you want to make it fit into your budget.
Taking a train can be an attractive mode of travel for many reasons. For one it does not require effort from the individual beyond sitting in their seat. A person is free to do whatever they want to do while they are en route. There are also many other reasons why traveling by train is enjoyable.
GPS units can really help out when you are traveling in an unknown area. With just the touch of a few buttons they can lead you right to someone’s doorstep. It’s important to remember, however, that GPS units don’t work in all locations. Just in case, don’t forget your maps!
Children under the age of 18 who are traveling with friends families or grandparents, may need written permission from you for local authorities or border patrol agents if they will be leaving the country. To protect children from being abducted, many of these agencies now require proof that they have been authorized by the parents to take the children with them.
While many luxury hotels offer free wireless internet service, a few out there charge exorbitant rates for hourly access. Find out which businesses are in the area directly around your hotel; more and more restaurants, coffee houses, and even car dealerships offer free wireless internet service. Book a room on the ground floor of your hotel; chances are you will be able to access the internet through a local business rather than paying for service through your hotel.
Weekend travel does not have to extend too far from your home. Staying out of your home for a weekend can be just what you need to feel better and rejuvenated. It is also an inexpensive way to get a vacation without taking time off work or spending too much.
You can save yourself a lot of time and avoid hassles by traveling as light as possible. If you just take carry-on luggage and don’t check any bags, you won’t have to waste your time standing around the baggage carousel after your flight and you’ll never have to worry about the airline losing your bags.
If possible travel during off-peak hours. The price of flights changes depending on the hour, the day and the month of travel. You can save a lot of money by booking flights during off peak hours. For example, flights on Thursdays are usually cheaper than those of Fridays. This is because the demand for seats is lower on a Thursday as people who work away from home during the week normally want to fly home on a Friday.
Join a travel forum before you go anywhere. Select the destination that you are going and join a forum related to the area or service you are using. These people have plenty of experience in their travels and will give you helpful advice on where to go, eat and stay.
Compare and contrast multiple flight options using a mega-search website like kayak.com. Sites like kayak.com save you a lot of time by pulling intelligence from the biggest travel sites into one convenient location. More importantly, it can save you a lot of money by making sure you get the best price possible for your tickets.
Try wearing a vest that you can pack a lot of stuff in and to easily get past airport security. You can fit nearly anything small in these including your money and valuables. This way, you won’t have to worry about stolen purse or bags full of your cash or other small valuables.
Now that you’ve read the above travel tips, you’re more prepared to meet your travel destiny with the fearlessness of thorough preparation. Keeping these few simple things in mind whenever you leave home on a trip will give you more peace of mind and make sure you bring home more stories about great experiences rather than about stressful learning experiences.
