Few things are as stressful as traveling. Whether you are traveling for business or pleasure, the idea of packing everything you need into a small suitcase and leaving home for an extended amount of time can be overwhelming. Follow the advice in this article to help you turn your travels into an enjoyable experience.
Tip your hotel service personnel. A small tip can make the greatest difference in your stay. If you do not tip, the maid who services your room may feel slighted by the lack of financial gratitude and this could lead to the neglect of your room as well as supply of soaps and shampoos. Your luggage carrier, when properly paid, could suggest the great spots around town.
Ask a friend or family member to drive you to the airport. You can save on cab fare and long term parking fees. Many people will be happy to perform this favor for you, especially if you are willing to reciprocate later on down the road, when they are taking a vacation.
Before departing on a trip, the wise traveler makes sure at least one person back home knows where he will be. This “home base” contact should also be updated with any unplanned changes the traveler encounters on the way. Someone who knows where a traveler is – and where they should be – can be a great help in the case of trouble on the road.
Don’t be afraid to cash in your airline miles. Many travelers let their miles accumulate and never bother using them. Reap the rewards of your traveling and spend the miles you’ve earned! Miles have expiration dates, so be sure to use them before they expire. Often you can use them on items other than travel, so check out your options and get to spending.
Make sure to perform sufficient research prior to booking. This will put you in the most comfortable position when flying or driving. Also, if you know anyone who has visited the area, ask them for information. When you do thorough research you can make good plans and avoid unpleasant surprises.
If you plan on traveling, especially to another country, you should subscribe to a travel insurance. A travel insurance will reimburse your tickets if your flight is canceled. It will also help you fly home if you or a member of your family gets sick in another country. Most travel insurance also insures rental cars.
If you’re going to use the safe in the hotel, it’s recommended that you wipe off the keys before use. And once it’s locked, press all the keys. Some hotel staff have been putting a powder on the keys that when a light is shined on them it lights up which ones you’ve pressed and they’re able to take things out of the safe.
Bring several clothespins! One of the notorious issues with hotels is the fact that their curtains never close all the way. To prevent that beam of light from hitting you in the wee hours of the morning, simply pin the curtains shut before you head to bed. It’s a cheap and effective way to better your sleep.
Even if you are planning an extended stay in a foreign country, there are some items you should leave behind, mostly as a precautionary measure. Valuables such as jewelry, are safer at home than they are overseas. While the desire to bring a reminder of home with you is understandable, don’t take sentimental or one-of-a-kind items that can’t be replaced. Remove unnecessary, yet important items from your wallet, including credit cards that you don’t need and your Social Security card.
If you are traveling to a foreign country and are not fluent in the language, make sure you can always arrive safely back at your lodging by carrying its name, phone number and address with you. Use a piece of hotel stationery or a business card or matchbook labeled with the appropriate information, or write it on a piece of paper. If you get lost, simply show the information to a taxi driver, and, before you know it, you’ll be back at home base.
Local travel is a great way to see your own area, while still feeling you are getting away. You can stay in local inns and hotels for much less than traveling out of the area you live in. No matter where you live, it is possible to enjoy this area as a vacation spot and learn more about your own local history and landmarks.
Travelers without children should not be too quick to judge or get angry with small children on a public mode of transportation. Traveling with children is quite stressful for the parents as well and they are usually highly embarrassed by their child’s behavior. Try to remember that you were once a child as well and if in a plane, recognize that high altitudes are quite hard on a small child’s inner ears.
Take a look at the online reviews of other travelers to get an idea of what is best to do in the destination you are visiting. Take advantage of the fact that the internet gives you ultimate accessibility to insider information. Especially check out any photographs that have been posted, as they can speak more about a locale than words ever could.
If you are going to travel to a destination that involves scuba diving or snorkeling, be sure to invest in an underwater camera. There are many great underwater digital cameras on the market nowadays. Most digital cameras also include a video setting, so you can capture your whole underwater adventure.
Whether you are taking a family vacation or a solo trip, traveling away from home can be a stressful event. There is always so much that needs to be taken care of before you leave, and if you are like most people, there is always something that you need that gets left behind. By applying the advice in this article to your future journeys, you can turn stressful trips into enjoyable memories.
