Have you heard horror stories about traveling from your family or friends? Chances are, whatever misfortunes they experienced could have been prevented had they done their homework on traveling. In the following article, you are going to be given advice that could save you from having a horror story of your own.
Ask family and friends for suggestions on places you should visit when trying to plan your next vacation. Often times they will not only be able to give you good suggestions for places that you should go, they can also steer you away from places that they didn’t have such a good time.
In countries that you travel to, be aware of the cultural view of how questions are answered. In some places, especially India and Asia, it can be considered very rude to tell someone that you don’t know the answer to their question. Others may simply answer “yes” to any question asked in English. Pay attention to doubtful body language.
A great way to get some sleep on an airplane is by bringing an eye mask. Even when you close your eyes, you can still see the different colors and shapes in front of you. With an eye mask, that will allow it to be completely blacked out, allowing much better chance of sleep.
Always keep bottled water with you when you travel. In some countries tap water is not suitable for human consumption and may contain bacteria that could make you very ill. Filters alone don’t always remove these harmful microorganisms, so either buy commercial bottle water from a reliable source or boil all water before you drink it.
If you are planning to fly, make sure that you purchase your ticket under the same exact name that is on your identification. Airport security has increased these past years and you don’t want to get to the airport and realize that you are not allowed to fly because your ID doesn’t match up to your ticket.
If you’re planning on travelling internationally any time soon, make sure you’re prepared for customs inspections and the forms you’ll have to fill out. Have your social security number memorized and keep your passport handy at all times. Find out before you leave your destination what you aren’t allowed to bring home, as your gifts can easily be confiscated.
Choosing the right time to leave can make a big impact to how your trip starts out. By choosing a time to travel that will guarantee that the roads will be mostly clear of people one can avoid traffic. This makes a big difference especially when taking a road trip over a long distance.
When you book a hotel online,(especially when you don’t book directly through the hotel’s own website), it is important to call the hotel directly to confirm your reservation. Calling ahead will prevent you from arriving at the hotel, exhausted and ready to sleep, and finding out that they have no record of your reservation.
When you plan to take an extensive travel time and own a home, it may be in your best interest to rent out your home to make sure it is well kept while you are gone. This will ensure that bills are paid, utilities still on, and not make you lose money while you travel.
Don’t stop researching prices after you have booked your flight, rental car and hotel room. You may find that the prices have dropped even further. Be sure to thoroughly read the cancellation policy on your reservations. If you can, cancel your current reservations and book at the better rates.
To help you eliminate worry on your next vacation, you should contact your credit card companies before you travel. Informing your credit card companies of your trip is important because it can eliminate the delay they may place on your card by unexpected foreign spending. They can also help to arrange for bill payments to be made while you are away, along with other services they can provide for you on your trip.
Exchange your money at your bank before you leave for your trip. Large financial institutions often have the best exchange rates, and changing your money before you arrive ensures you can avoid long lines at the airport currency exchange or even worse, being left at the mercy of less-scrupulous exchanges which prey on travelers who need local currency fast.
When dining out during your travels, take the opportunity to choose one meal completely at random. You may wind up having the best meal of your vacation and you are sure to have a little fun in the process. If you are worried about this technique, try it on a day that you will be visiting multiple restaurants, so you can fill up somewhere else if you don’t like your dish.
In conclusion, traveling stories can be hard to hear sometimes. If the person you heard these stories from had taken the time to learn more about traveling, it is possible these experiences could have been prevented. Now that you have read this article, you are more prepared for your next traveling adventure!
