If you are completely new to the world of travel, then you are probably thinking that some tips on how to travel smarter and safer will help you immensely so that you can enjoy your trip much sooner. Listed below are some tips to get you started with your traveling plans.
Before travelling, make sure you check the projected weather for your destination. You don’t want to be stuck with nothing but winter clothes during a heat wave or only shorts and tank-tops during a blizzard. Purchasing new clothing while on vacation may not only be expensive, but you might not have room in your luggage to take everything home with you!
You can save space in your luggage by packing in large airtight bags, such as ziplocks. Find the gallon or 2 gallon size bags, pack t-shirts, socks, underwear and other lightweight fabric items in them, and then roll the air out of the bag before zipping shut. This will reduce the size of your items down and you will be able to fit more in your bag.
When traveling to many areas of the world, be aware of the nature of the plumbing. For example, toilet paper is not meant to go into the sewer pipes in much of the world. Instead, there will be a small basket next to the toilet to hold the paper.
Always pack a map when you travel, even if you have a GPS system. GPS systems are not always reliable. If it were to malfunction or become broken, you would be lost. A highlighter can be helpful as well, allowing you to mark your map for easy reference. As a bonus, your well-used and marked up map, makes an excellent memento to remember your trip by.
Buy a kit of toiletries and set them aside exclusively for travel. If you travel often, packing all your toiletries can be a pain. It is not at all difficult to forget something as simple as a toothbrush or a stick of deodorant. Save time by purchasing a set of these things that you keep on hand, just for taking with you on trips.
If you want to escape your daily routine and not have to worry about anything, you should consider going to a tourist resort. These resorts take care of absolutely everything for you and create a safe environment. It is easy to make new friends and keep your children entertained while you enjoy the beach and great weather.
Add an ID tag to the inside of your luggage. A luggage tag hanging from the outside of your luggage can easily be ripped off in transit. In case your luggage is lost and tag-less, be sure to put identification information inside the bag so that it can be identified and returned to you promptly.
Do not put a sightseeing attraction into your travel plans without researching it a little. While the idea of such an attraction is straightforward – go to a landmark and look at it – in practice, many popular destinations will require entrance fees or advance reservations. Being prepared for such requirements will keep you from getting disappointed.
When traveling internationally with disabilities it is best to check which countries best accommodate disabled citizens. Many countries are well equipped to offer travelers with wheel chair ramps, scooter ramps and have hotels that are equipped to deal with disabilities. Unfortunately, every country is not so well equipped to support travelers with disabilities.
When you decide to travel and want to make the most out of your time away from home, spend time now doing your research. Get a feel for what you are going to want to do at your destination. Make your reservations and dinner plans ahead of time to minimize hassle.
Try to be flexible about your travel dates. If you can search for a day before and a day after a particular date, you will likely see that prices can vary. You may save some money by flying out a day earlier or later. These savings could easily add up to well over, a hundred dollars.
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.
When traveling by air, always plan to arrive at the airport at least one hour before your flights (two for international flights). Parking, checking in and getting through security, can take time. Busy lines can make the wait longer and arriving late might mean that you will miss your flight.
As you can see from the above list of tips, traveling can be very memorable, informative and fun if you know what to do before going on your trip. After following these tips, you will no longer be new to the world of travel, but you will become an traveling expert.
