Stepping outside your comfort zone is something that is a prerequisite for a successful travel experience. Although, it’s not always easy to prepare ahead of time for the inevitable differences between your ordinary world and the one you will be entering, a few tips will help make the transition both easy and enjoyable.
Being careful about purchases while traveling will help you through customs. Remember anything you buy on your trip must pass through customs when you return home so exercise caution when you see street vendors abroad or other sellers who may be offering counterfeit or unsafe souvenirs you will have to surrender later.
Be aware of food allergies when you visit a foreign country or new place. Studying the language, especially the words in which you need to know to explain your allergy, is a very important thing to do when traveling abroad. This will allow you to communicate to others what foods you are trying to avoid.
Plan your vacation way in advance to stay within your budget. Although there are many things you can purchase on your trip, it is important to know that most of the things will much pricier now rather than if you had bought them much earlier. If you have less last minute expenses you can use that money to have a more pleasurable vacation.
If you’re worried about travelling alone, especially if you’re a female, you should consider taking some self-defense classes before you go. This way you can learn basic ways to get away from a mugger or rapist in the event that you need to. Most areas have a few schools that teach self-defense at reasonable rates.
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.
Keep your wallet in your front pocket, and wrap a rubber band around it. Both of these tactics will allow you to feel if someone is attempting to steal your wallet. Keeping it in your front pocket is a big deterrence anyway, because it is more difficult for you to be distracted.
If you are an individual who travels a lot, invest in a quality suitcase. Look for one that is light in weight, holds all of your essentials, and is easy to roll. You’ll find maneuvering through an airport to be easier, and your suitcase will be more likely to make it through the baggage loading process.
Families traveling with children should consider asking the front desk of their hotel room to take the video games off of the television. You are automatically charged when someone plays the games, and you may not always realize when your children have accessed them. Disconnecting the games will help you avoid any unexpected charges to your bill.
Now that you’ve gotten a few tips for making your travel experience a success, you can go forward with confidence. Apply these time-honored tricks of the trade and pass them on to those who may be accompanying you on the journey. Everyone will benefit from being more informed and aware.
