Well, you’ve decided that you are ready to start traveling. How exciting! However, there is so much that you need to become aware of so that you are prepared for your trips. Don’t be concerned, travel tips are here! Listed below are some tips that will help you get prepared, so that you can become a smarter traveler.
Always know where your luggage is. Airline and bus employees have been known to steal items out of cases when they are checked in. Additionally, other travelers might “accidentally” pick up your bag in hopes of finding expensive items. This also allows you to move between transit options faster, instead of standing around waiting for your luggage.
Make sure to pack your vitamins when you travel and remember that vitamin C is a great energy and immune booster. Taking a vitamin supplement can help you prevent or lessen the effects of jet lag on your body, strengthen your immune system against the multitude of germs you will come into contact with, and generally make you feel better. Clear any supplements with your doctor before taking them if you have underlying health issues.
Enroll in the loyal customer club. These clubs reward you with a free night after you’ve stayed a certain number of nights at their participating locations. Even if aren’t planning to stay with them again, enroll anyway. Being a member often entitles you to extra benefits–anything from drinks to internet access–during your stay.
Sometimes by choosing multiple means of travel one can get the best of everything. For example by taking a plane somewhere and renting a car when you arrive, one can get the benefits of a quick flight as well as the benefits of having a car to go wherever wanted while traveling.
You may want to use the restroom before boarding the plane, if possible. You will be much more comfortable using a restroom that is on steady ground and that has a good amount of room to move around. Once on the plane, you never know how long someone will need the restroom and you don’t want to take that chance.
Be on the lookout for handy amenities whenever you have to spend time at an airport. While all modern airports have shops and restaurants, many also feature free services you can use to make your trip more relaxing. Take note of these opportunities in case you ever find yourself revisiting the airport. If you are a record-keeping kind of person, consider jotting down a few notes.
If you are traveling by airplane, be sure to bring along your own headphones. Most in-flight entertainment systems today require that you wear headphones. You may be able to buy them in-flight, but it will be at a greatly inflated cost. Headphones are also a great way to create ‘white noise’ to block out your neighbors and/or the plane noise.
Use your GPS for things you did not know it could do. Many GPS units actually have calculators, currency exchange rates, and bilingual dictionaries built in. You can use these to your advantage without having to buy them separately. Check your GPS before you attempt it though, as some less expensive models don’t carry these features.
If you plan to travel abroad, find out ahead of time whether you will need a visa to be allowed into any of the countries you will visit. Visas often have a lengthy processing time so you should apply for them as soon an you are thinking of travel. Once again, without having the right kind of visa, you won’t be able to get into certain countries.
Make all your travel arrangements yourself, without the assistance of company employees. Book your flights online because many airlines will charge an extra fee when you talk with one of their workers to secure your travel plans. Check your bags online because doing it at the airport could also subject you to extra fees. Be as self-sufficient as possible to save money.
Prior to traveling abroad, take some time to familiarize yourselves with the local laws of the country you are visiting. Laws can be very different from country to country. Consulates cannot step over local laws, so if you do break one, even if you were unaware of it, you will be held accountable.
If you are a heavy reader it may be useful for you to purchase an e-reader before leaving home. E-readers are lightweight and small but can hold hundreds or even thousands of books. If you download many books before your trip you will never find yourself with nothing to read on your travel downtime.
Set up an account on a “cloud” site and upload scans of important documentation that you may need on your trip. Loss and theft occur quite often during travel in-country as well as abroad. By having documentation stored in a “cloud” location you can easily access them from anywhere you have Internet access.
No matter where you’re going, buying insurance when you fly is a good idea. Insurance will let you cancel your travel plans last minute with a full (or partial, depending on the insurance) refund. Last minute emergencies happen and you don’t want to be out several hundred dollars for missing your flight.
When traveling do not bring large amounts of money with you. You also do not want to appear to have a lot of money. This will make people think they can take advantage of you.
Pack duct tape to use during your trip for any kind of breaking or splitting emergencies that can occur with your items. These rolls come in great for various items that may get damaged before or during your trip. Things that it can mend include sandal straps, purse straps, holes in your items, etc.
You should feel better after reading these tips when it comes to traveling. There is a lot of information to remember and apply, but at least you should have an idea what you need to do and bring to travel smarter and safer. You can always come back to this list for a refresher.
