Travel is one of the greatest activities that humankind can engage in. For many of us, the experience does not come as often as we would like it to, and for some, large trips are a once-in-a-lifetime experience. Therefore, this article is meant to familiarize you with all the travel advice necessary to maximize your experience while at the same time minimizing your cost.
If you will be out of town for a few days or more, consider having someone you know drive by your house occasionally to make sure that everything looks okay. You may also want them to go inside and turn the lights on at night. This will let anyone watching know that the house is being cared for.
Tip your concierge! Whether it be on a cruise or at a hotel, your concierge will be your go-to guy for reservations, directions, and almost everything else! Many concierges have admitted that if someone is willing to tip them well, they will go out of their way to make sure those great tippers, have a fantastic time.
Traveling with a suitcase that has no dividers or compartments you can split your clothes up in can be tough. A great way to get around this problem is by placing a piece of cardboard between different clothing selections or items. Not only will you be able to separate your items, but you will come out looking more organized.
Everyone knows that airplane food is not exactly gourmet. A good tip is to take along your favorite spice or hot sauce, and dress up your rather bland meal. It will add that extra kick to your food, and will help it go down a little bit easier.
Flexibility pays when it comes to booking your plane ticket! If your arrival or departure dates aren’t set in stone, you can often times find better deals on tickets. Likewise, if you’re willing to depart from a variety of airports in the area, you can often save big bucks.
Register your trip with the US State Department. Doing so will give them a way to contact you or your family in the event of an emergency. The State Department provides this service free of charge to American citizens who are traveling to foreign soil, so it doesn’t make sense not to take advantage of it.
Get in touch with someone who runs a local blog in your destination city. Most often, these bloggers are highly knowledgeable about the ins and outs of their city, and are happy to share tips or tricks, helping you get the most from your trip. Make sure to actually read their site, so you can comment or compliment them on it before asking them for help.
Do not ever tell a street vendor where you are traveling from. These vendors are experienced, sellers. They know the financial interests of many different cultures and will use yours against you to get you to buy what they are selling. Just tell them, “No, thank you,” and keep walking.
When taking a trip and using traveler’s checks, it is important that you cash them before eating or shopping. Although many locations take traveler’s checks, they aren’t easy to use. Sometimes, you get shorted by using these checks, so you may want to convert them to local currency before spending.
If you need to leave your vehicle at the airport for the duration of your travels then always pre-book airport parking well in advance. If you book parking on the day of your flight it will usually be much more expensive. If you live close to the airport, see if taking a taxi is cheaper that it would be to pay for airport parking.
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.
Allow time in your travel plans for diversion. When you are planning events and activities during your trip, separate some of these plans with an hour or two gap in between. This allows for extra time at an event or the opportunity to explore some of the local scenery that you might not see otherwise.
If you are leaving the country, make a copy of your passport to take with you. If you happen to misplace your original passport, it will make getting a new one a much simpler process. The two minutes that it will take for you to make the copy will likely save you hours when getting it replaced during your travels.
When driving with more than one adult, especially if one is your spouse, try to share the driving responsibilities. This is especially helpful when driving long distances. This provides a break to the driver, so that he or she, can just sit back and relax for a while during the trip, too.
Get a credit card that is associated with your favorite airline or hotel so that you can earn miles or reservations. Often the bonus for your first purchase will be enough to get you a free ticket or night’s stay. Be sure you pay off your balance regularly, though, or the card may cost you more than it saves.
Keep prescription medicine in their original bottles. While space is often at a premium when packing, it is important to keep your medications in their properly labeled containers, especially when traveling internationally. Each country’s drug laws can vary, and if you are prescribed a narcotic (which are more closely regulated), get a letter from your doctor to avoid potential legal troubles.
It is important to do research before you pick your destination and it is incredibly important to shop around. By applying the advice in this article, you will not only pick the destinations most suited to you, but you will also possess the knowledge to make the most of your trip.
