It doesn’t matter if this is your first time traveling out of time or if you have racked up thousands of frequent flyer miles; the prospect of taking a trip out of town can be a very exciting and stressful time. For some insight into making a trip to remember, check out the advice in these travel tips.
Do some research ahead of time and look for dining credits and coupons for your destination. You can also save a lot of money by getting advice about where to eat before you depart. This is better than asking for recommendations when you are already hungry and in a strange place.
Sign yourself up for alerts on travel prices. You can enter any destinations so that you can keep track of changes in travel prices and grab the best deals. When the price drops, you will get an email alert. This way, you won’t have to constantly check the site.
If you plan to opt for a night flight or just a very long flight in general, it may be best to bring some sort of sleeping aid. It’s quite difficult to sleep on airplanes anyway, but if you take a sleeping aid right before takeoff, you can arrive at your destination fresh and ready to take on the world!
If you are taking your car to the airport and leaving it there, always make a note of where you parked it. You should write it on a piece of paper or put it in your phone. Most likely when you return from your trip, your memory will not be enough to find it.
If you are traveling on an extended vacation, plan on doing laundry as you go. You should not attempt to carry more than a week’s worth of clothing with you at any one time. More than that will become too bulky to easily transport from place to place; doing laundry in the sink is easier.
Use other’s experiences to plan your vacation. By utilizing online review sites, as well as friends and family’s experiences, you can avoid making mistakes that have been made by others. Online review sites can help you choose the best hotel, restaurant, attraction and often contain many other useful tidbits to make your vacation the best it can be.
Bring several clothespins! One of the notorious issues with hotels is the fact that their curtains never close all the way. To prevent that beam of light from hitting you in the wee hours of the morning, simply pin the curtains shut before you head to bed. It’s a cheap and effective way to better your sleep.
Drink plenty of water. Many doctors say that the primary reason people get sick on long flights is dehydration. Cabin air is very dry and in an enclosed space, germs travel much easier. Protect yourself by staying hydrated by drinking lots of water and juice and you may stave off the cold that the woman, three rows back is sporting.
When packing toiletries for your carry-on, make sure to follow the 3-1-1 rule (3 oz bottles, 1 quart-sized Ziploc per passenger). Having your toiletries ready to go in a designated bag will make getting through security a breeze and have you on your way to your destination in no time.
As you make your travel arrangements, consider renting a vacation home from the residence’s owners. There is a large selection of properties online, and owners are usually very willing to negotiate the price of the home. At a hotel, the employees can’t always authorize those types of changes to the rate. Always ask for references and make sure that you look at a lot of pictures of the home before you book your vacation.
Research and prepare for any communications costs that you might have, in regards to computing while traveling. Knowing where you will have access to Wi-Fi and what equipment you will need to connect at your various destinations, will make your journey easier and avoid on the fly purchases when you need to communicate.
Be sure to acquire travel insurance prior to taking a big trip, especially if your vacation is in a foreign country or includes adventurous activities. It is better to be safe than sorry when it comes to your health. Travel insurance can cover you for any medical evaluations, issues or procedures necessary while you are traveling.
Ask the hotel for an electronic air filter when you are traveling. Many rooms have windows that will not open, and they have a tendency to smell a little funny. An air filter does a great job of moving and cleaning the air, allowing you to relax and feel comfortable in your room. It also provides some background noise that could be helpful as well.
Even the most seasoned traveler sometimes needs a little reminder about how to make the most of their time spent abroad. Whether you need some fresh insight into packing, planning, or making memories during the course of your trip, keeping these tips in mind is sure to help you from start to finish.
