Your next vacation should be relaxing and stress free. You have worked hard and paid a lot of money to spend that time doing what you want to do where you want to do it. Let us help put your mind at ease with these simple steps that you can take to ensure your happiness, while traveling.
Bring clothing that is suitable for travel. This means items that you can wash and dry in the hotel room, and that won’t wrinkle from being air-dried. Also, remember that you can buy clothing as you go, and it will most likely be more suitable to the climate and culture of the area.
If you rent a car while traveling, request an extra key. In a new place, in a new car, your mind is bound to be occupied with other things. For people who already have a bad time of locking their keys in their vehicle, keeping a spare set on you at all times is a great idea.
If you are planning on flying or riding a long distance with school-age children, consider investing in a small portable DVD player. The least expensive ones can run as low as $75, and the peace of mind it buys you on that nine-hour international flight is more than worth the cost.
Young women traveling alone may want to invest in a simple gold plated band or cubic zirconium ring. Wear the ring on your left ring finger which signals that you are married or engaged. This keeps potential suitor at bay and gives an excuse for unwanted attention in hotels, airports and buses. While it may seem a tad dishonest, it can keep you from getting hit on if you are alone in unfamiliar places.
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.
One way to deal with the tedium of being away from your family due to work-related travel is to take advantage of the time for yourself. Typically, meetings end at 5 and you’ll have until the next morning. Take the world’s longest bath, and use up all the toiletries. Watch three movies in a row. Write those couple of actual snail-mail letters you always said you would, but haven’t had time. Knit a hat. Read a book. In short, do all the nice things for yourself that you wouldn’t take the time to do if you were surrounded by your family. You’ll feel better knowing you took the time, and you’ll be that much happier and more relaxed when you see your family again.
Don’t take sleep aids until you’ve taken off. If you use sleep aids to help you get through a long flight, wait until after you’re airborne to pop the pill. If you take them earlier, you run the risk being unbearably tired if your flight is delayed or you have to deplane and take a later flight.
Use travel as an educational tool for the members of your family. Even taking a trip to a developing nation can be a safe way to teach kids about the lives of people outside their home country. You can gain understanding and tolerance for different cultures while abroad.
Make sure you make the most of your destination vacation. Many hotels will book travel excursions for you, including picking you up at the hotel and dropping you back off. Tour operators are usually affiliated with the hotels so you may rest assured that you are in good hands.
Before you travel it is a good idea to join some online travel forums like TripAdvisor, Fodors, Frommers and LonelyPlanet. These forums are great places to pick up tips and advice from people who have already visited your chosen travel destination. You can also use these forums to find a travelling partner.
When renting a car, be aware of the charges the rental companies set. There are generally four basic rates, each of them will specify if the miles are additional, given in the price or unlimited. Rates will vary depending on the the size and style of vehicle you choose. Ask about promotional rates, especially over weekends, but be sure to request these in advance.
Now that you have some information that you will need, in order to have a well-planned and relaxing getaway, all that is left to do is to pack your bags and put the advice here into good practice. Travel should be an enjoyable experience and these tips will make sure that that happens.
