If you’re planning a trip, you may be wrapped up in thinking about how much fun you will have when you arrive. However, there are a lot of other things to think about to make sure that your trip is safe and goes well. Here’s a list of things to think about when planning a trip.
When planning a trip, don’t count on a single booking website to show you the lowest fares. Compare prices across a variety of sites, including meta-searchers if you can find them. Also check with the airline and hotel directly, as they may actually be able to offer you a better rate than the website.
To simplify the packing process, try to pack clothing in only one or two colors. For example, you could pack only blue and khaki skirts and pants and only shirts that are shades of blue and khaki. This technique ensures that everything you pack coordinates with everything else, so you will never have a problem finding something to wear on your trip.
When traveling by airplane, look for shops in the airport that have swap shelves. These shelves are for travelers to brings books and exchange them for other books. So if your flight is delayed and you finished your book already, head over to a swap shelf and exchange it for one you’ve been wanting to read!
If a hotel charges for internet access, ask for a room on a lower floor. Sometimes you will get lucky and be able to snag wireless capabilities from nearby cafes or lobbies. The bottom floor is the best to be able to do this, but it is not unheard of to be able to reach it from the second floor.
If you’re going to be going on a road trip, make sure you pack a tire repair kit! You never know where you might be when you get a flat tire and it’s better safe than sorry. If you don’t have one and have to call of tow truck you may be looking at expensive charges and a ruined trip.
If you are traveling by vehicle, plan your road travel to miss rush hour in any city you will be in. If you are unable to avoid rush hour entirely, use that period for much-needed rest stops. You can get a bite to eat or allow the the kids play for a minute.
Be aware of the opportunity to get travel credit and continue to watch the price of your flight even after you make your reservation. Many major airlines will give you a credit for future travel if the price of your flight goes down after you have purchased your ticket. You could save money on a future vacation by being aware of the price fluctuations.
Dining out while traveling can become expensive. Save the hit to your wallet by visiting a local grocery store and stocking up on groceries. Make as much food as you can at your hotel, and take snacks along on day trips. Even raid your own cabinets before you leave and take food with you. When you do decide to dine out you will appreciate the dinner that much more!
Jet lag is a common side effect of traveling across time zones. There is no way to completely avoid it. But, if you keep yourself hydrated, it may help, since some of jet lag’s side effects are related to being dehydrated. If you will avoid alcohol, tea, coffee and caffeinated beverages and drink a lot of water during your flight, that should help.
Be aware of unlisted space during cruise travel. For security reasons, the ship’s brochure can’t show you where stairwells or other common areas are located. If you want to book a larger room and it is located near one of these places, it will probably mean less space for you. Consider spending the extra money on another amenity instead.
If you are trying to pack lightly but still want to be able to bring some souvenirs home, you can pack clothing that can be thrown away after it has been worn. This tip works especially well for old underwear or socks that are due to be thrown out anyway. It can also apply to shirts or pants.
Check the dates of the reviews that you are reading about your potential destination. Many things change with time, and a review that was written long ago may not be as accurate as you need it to be to make a sound judgment as to whether to visit or not.
Buy travel insurance for your vacation package. You never know when something can happen! If someone was to get ill or injured, and you had to cancel your plans, you would be out all of the money you have invested into it without the purchase of travel insurance.
A beautiful place that you should add to your trip to France is the Mont St. Michel. It is a very beautiful site, a “must-see” in France. Try to see if you can get an overnight stay to truly experience it’s beauty during the evening hours.
Take a photo of your luggage that you are checking. It will save you a good bit of time and grief if it should get lost during transport. You will be able to present a photo of the bag to the airline and they will have no question as to whether the bag that they have found is yours or not.
If your children are old enough, involve them in planning your next vacation. Allow each child to pick at least one activity that you will all enjoy together. Involving the children will instantly make them more interested in the vacation. They will have something to look forward to and feel like a true part of the family team.
Now that you know what to look out for when planning your trip, you can start thinking about the fun you’ll have when you get there. The first step to having a great time on any trip is to plan right. Keep these tips in mind to make sure you don’t forget anything!
