It is a great experience to travel. As much fun as traveling can be, there are some things you should know before you go. What follows is a list of tips to make your travel easier.
When traveling abroad, keep a note of all important information. These documents should include the embassy or consulate website of the place you’re traveling, phone number, and address. You will need to contact the embassy if you have any trouble. If you encounter any issues on your trip, they can help with these issues.
Make sure you don’t pack too much stuff, and also do a checklist for your major essentials. The less items you have, the less risk of having valuable items stolen or lost. Try not to pack too many shoes, as this tends to be the heaviest item.
Keep your most important information and items close to you at all times. For example, if you have a purse with you, you should ensure it is securely underneath your arm. Avoid toting bags that have easily-accessible zipper closures, especially if you will be in very crowded areas. When you are buying a bag keep these things in mind.
Getting away is great, but too often we bring too much with us to remind us of home. Be certain you don’t bring too much; just bring what you need. Build a list that contains your daily use toiletries that you cannot get by without. Pack the ones that are most important to you.
Think about packing a pair of cookie sheets if you are going on the road with kids. These sheets make a great flat surface for kids to color on or play cards. Bring numbers and letters if you have small children.
Always check expiration dates on of all of your passports. Most countries have explicit rules regarding your passport. If your passport is expired or close to expiring, some countries won’t allow you to enter. These range from 3 to 6 months, or could even reach 8 months to a year.
Pre-book your parking if you will be leaving your car at the airport. Parking reservations made the day you plan to leave will be costly. If you live close to the airport, see if taking a taxi is cheaper that it would be to pay for airport parking.
Travelers frequently experience jet lag. You can’t avoid it completely, but you can try sleeping more in the days prior to your flight to help lessen any of the expected effects. You should also try to sleep during the flight if possible.
Ask to be placed in a room on an upper level, if at all possible. It is easier for thieves to break into rooms that are close to the ground. If you can, request a hotel room that has only windows and no sliding glass doors. These rooms are easier to break into.
Be sure to provide a family member or friend with your travel itinerary. Make a list of all people and places you expect to visit, including contact information for them. In addition, leave copies of your airline tickets and passport identification page.
Make copies of anything important before you travel. You need to copy your passport and other important documents, and keep them in another place. Keep the backups with friends or relatives to make sure you have a backup if yours go missing.
You need to allow time for breaks on your trip, so don’t schedule yourself too tightly. Your plans are not going to be thwarted by a 10-minute potty break. This will also help you avoid grumpy or whiny travelers on the trip.
If you want to travel to a new country, don’t exchange currencies at the airport. Given the convenience such exchanges offer, they tend to come at a high price. Before traveling, find banks nearby that exchange currency, since they will typically offer better rates.
Make your luggage different than everyone else. You can attach something bright to the bag, color it, or tie a ribbon to it, anything to make it stand out from the rest. This will help you spot your luggage and keep others from accidentally walking away with yours.
There should be a label inside your luggage with your contact information. Place it in a spot that anyone will be able to see it when they open it. Be sure to include your name, home address, and phone number. By doing this, your luggage will always have your information on it, even if the external tag gets detached. It’s a simple precaution that could save your luggage.
Consider the bus if you want to save money. The excess fee is less than the fees charged by airline carriers. You may even choose to ship your baggage.
Do not fall into any traps in emails that concern travel. Unless you have done business with this company before or signed up to receive these sorts of emails, avoid opening them.
Make sure you know how large your carry-on bag can be. Also, be aware of the airline’s carry-on policy. Most airlines will allow a smaller carry-on along with something like a purse or even a laptop case. Take advantage and keep your important items close.
When traveling by bus, make sure to take your things with you when leaving it for layovers or maintenance. Anyone can have access to the bus at these places, and someone may get sticky fingers.
With these, you can link your hotel TV and computer together. You can take advantage of various streaming movies rather than pay for expensive rentals directly from the hotel.
Now that you have been enlightened on some of the fundamentals of traveling from reading the hints provided, there is nothing left now for you to do except to pack up the suitcase, decide on your final destination, and head off to delight in new sights, sounds, and experiences. Don’t forget your camera!