Travel is a hobby for some and a business necessity for others. But regardless of your reason for getting from one place to another, there are ways to make it easier and more pleasant, and ways for it to bring stress into your life. Try these great tips for making travel time into a more enjoyable time.
Use caution when getting into a taxi in a foreign country. Ascertain the taxi you’re taking is actually legitimate before stepping inside it. Anyone can place a “TAXI” sign atop their vehicle, which means you can be in danger.
Bring a bag-of-fun for your kids. Make sure to have enough supplies to keep your kids entertained for the duration of the flight. There’s nothing worse than an, “Are we there yet,” ten minutes into a three-hour flight. Card games, special coloring books, and puzzles work well and, if you can afford one, pick up a portable video player. The hours of entertainment value are well worth the cost.
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.
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.
Make your travel plans without locking yourself into advance booking. While you can get a good deal this way, you are asked to pay in advance for the length of your trip, and you don’t have the flexibility to cancel or change the dates of your trip. Particularly if you know that your plans could change, pay a little more and stay at a hotel that will let you adjust the dates of your stay up until a day before your arrival.
It is essential to join a car-rental club before traveling. While hotel loyalty programs give you various “extras” like free breakfast, car-rental clubs help you avoid long lines and eliminate endless paperwork. They also keep you from constantly getting up-sold. A car-rental club helps you avoid stress and frustration, leading to a better traveling experience.
If you are traveling to a hotel that requires payment for internet access, get a room on the first floor. Hotels are located around many establishments that offer free wifi, like cafes or book stores. While a room on a higher floor can not pick up their signals, a first or second floor room should be able to access them.
A direct flight is not the same as a nonstop flight. Both types of flights mean you do not have to change planes; however a direct flight may stop at other airports before your final destination. This leaves more possible areas for delays, making you late to arrive at your destination.
If you are in an unfamiliar location such as a hotel and someone knocks on your door, do not answer until you have checked them out. Anyone who is coming to see you at the hotel has either spoken to you or been in contact with the front desk. Call the desk and ask for information about the visitor to verify.
Make sure to place all of your medication in your carry-on bag. Be sure that they are in their original pharmacy containers with their pharmacy labels, so that the bag can easily travel through airport security. It also helps to know the generic names for all of your medications in case you need to speak with a local pharmacist who doesn’t know them by brand name.
Carry a list of important toll-free numbers, and keep it separate from your wallet. Make a list of the toll-free contact numbers for your bank, as well as your credit cards. Keep it separate from your wallet, so if it becomes lost or stolen you can quickly and easily notify the institutions and get the cards canceled.
A great travel tip is to make sure you leave an itinerary of your trip for anyone that might need to contact you. This is a simple step that only takes a few minutes to complete and it can save you from enduring a lot of heart ache and hassle.
If you are listening to music on the plane, make sure to wear noise cancelling headphones. These can be purchased at any electronics store, as you will want to reduce the strain of the engine noise on your ears. This will help you achieve the calm relaxed trip that you desire.
When you are traveling overseas, make sure that you have multiple copies of your passport in different locations. This will allow you to maintain the most security possible in the event that you were to lose your passport. Always have backup for important documentation when you are planning to travel.
Choose middle seats on a bus when you are traveling. The middle seats have the most mobility and flexibility of all the seats on the bus. You will not be bothered by road noise or the restroom. You will also have an overhead light and vent. Take advantage of good seats for optimal comfort.
If you are going to take your cellular phone from home to travel abroad make sure you find out if your carrier’s network will work in that country. Most large carriers in the US will. You can find out the rates and fees and find out more about what it will cost when you call.
Smart travelers have a smart routine that keeps their travel plans running smoothly and that makes every trip, no matter where or why, as easy as possible. Tips like the above can help everyone travel smarter, from the most world-weary traveler to the fresh-faced new traveler setting out on his or her first adventure.
