Choosing your next travel destination is not always easy. There are many things to consider the main one being, where do you want to go? Yet, no matter where you decide to go, there isa universal truth you need to address: travelling is stressful. This article will give you some tips on minimizing the stress and avoiding pitfalls.
Try to read up on the customs and traditions of a country before you travel there. Even the simplest things can happen differently depending on where you are. If you show that you are prepared to totally envelop yourself in the culture, people will welcome you with open arms. This will make your vacation much more enjoyable.
If you will be driving to your destination, fill a family member or friend in on your destination and planned route to get there. If something were to happen to you while driving, this person would be able to alert officials of your intended destination and the roads you would have been traveling on.
Do not be afraid to ask your tour guide for their credentials. Many tour guides are often required to carry a permit. Do not be shy about asking to see it. If you are spending your money on their services, it is well within your right to do so.
To save money when booking airline flights, check the round-trip prices — even if you only want to fly one way to a destination. Thanks to quirky airline policies, sometimes it’s less expensive to purchase a round trip to your desired locale than to fly one way. At least if that happens, you can save money by buying the round-trip tickets anyway and simply not take the return flight back.
If you are traveling into a malaria-prone area, in addition to anti-malaria pills, bring a mosquito net or find a room with a large ventilation fan. The net is best as it can almost completely stop mosquitoes from getting to you at night. The fan works because mosquitoes cannot fly as well into the wind, but it is not fool-proof.
When booking a hotel stay, be sure to ask when the hotel was last built or renovated. A low-cost motel that’s brand new might be a better option than an older building attached to a good name. Stay away from lower-end and mid-range hotels that haven’t been renovated in more than five or six years.
Workout at the gym the day before you take your flight. Long flights are taxing on your body and nerves. Your muscles can easily cramp from maintaining the same position for extended periods. Getting in a workout, or at least some stretching, before you board the plane can help cut down or eliminate any leg and back muscle issues.
Try your best to pack all your belongings in as little amount of luggage as possible. You don’t want to bring 5 bags of luggage with you on the plane and overwhelm yourself. Try and fold and tuck stuff into areas where you can make more space without harming any of your belongings.
Drive through windows at fast food places almost inevitably give you too much or too little sugar or other sweetener when you order coffee or tea. When traveling, don’t throw the extra away! Tuck into a baggie or maybe a little tin and keep it for the next time you are shorted. It sure beats having to turn around and go back through the drive through!
If you’re traveling with a baby and need to sterilize bottles or teething toys, wash them in hot soapy water, then stop up the sink. Heat some water in the hotel’s coffee maker (without any coffee or tea in it!) and then pour the water over the bottles or teething toys until they’re submerged. Let them sit for about five minutes and you’ll have sterilized them!
Bring your own adapters, unless you want to buy over-priced ones. Many foreign countries have differently shaped and sized outlets. Buying adapters while you are still at home is much more cost-effective. Businesses in these countries have learned to take advantage of travelers who forget that the plugs are quite different from back home.
If you’re going on a road trip, have your car looked over before you leave. Most things can be replaced if they break while you’re out of town, but if your car breaks down you can be in a lot of trouble. It can be expensive to get it fixed or to find a way to your destination or home, that’s more headaches than you need.
As stated at the beginning of the article, there will always be a certain amount of stress associated with your voyage. After reading this article, you should have some great ideas to help you anticipate and cope with many of the problems that may arise. Happy travels!
