By Want to see the world differently? Traveling is the answer. Travel is educational, entertaining and full of adventure. With the variety of places to explore in our world, anyone can find a great destination to enjoy. Here are some travel tips you can’t live without.
Keep notes of all important documents when you travel abroad. This should include the address, phone number and website of your consulate or embassy in the country in which you are traveling. If you have issues when traveling abroad, this will be the first location you must contact. If you encounter any issues on your trip, they can help with these issues.
Some travel destinations require specific vaccinations before you can travel there. Make sure you’ve researched the destination thoroughly and have updated your needed vaccinations. This usually applies to those coming into or leaving a country. This sometimes even comes into play when you travel withing a country. Without the certificate, there isn’t a way to know if you’ve been vaccinated, and you could end up in quarantine.
There are some criminals in foreign cities that pretend to be police officers, so be careful. Never hand over your original passport, as you might not get it back. If they want you to come with them to a police station, make sure that you walk there. Perhaps the most important thing is to never allow yourself to enter a strange person’s vehicle.
Take a doorstop if you are staying at a hotel. This can help hold a door closed too.
Have a door stopper to use during your hotel stay. Greater security can help you sleep better. If your door lacks a deadbolt or chain beyond the main door lock, place one of these small, wedge-shaped doorstops under the door before bed.
When you try to find the best prices on your flights, be sure to check individual airline websites. Sometimes they have better prices than the discount travel websites.
Make sure you are organized well. Avoid wasting time looking all over the house for plug adapters, travel-size toiletries, and travel pillows. Buy a cheap “travel” bin and store all necessary items there. A container that can be hidden under the bed is great since it can be hidden and retrieved quickly when you need the items.
Bring a book of matches or business card from your hotel while you explore your destination city. If you get lost in a strange city, this small thing can be extremely useful when asking a local or taxi driver for directions. This is one of the most important suggestions that can be given as language barriers exist and you have a better chance of not getting lost.
For most people, staying at a fancy hotel is not an option. If the area in which you are staying seems a bit seedy, bring along a rubber doorstop. In addition to locking and chaining your door, you can wedge the doorstop under the door for an extra measure of safety. This will ensure that bad guys can’t get through the door.
Booking online is a great way to start your vacation planning. For help planning your trip, let a travel site help you. Hotels, flights, and rental cars can all be booked straight from the computer. You will be able to see reviews and pictures of hotels without having to go anywhere. In addition, travel sites provide top deals, which include discounts for traveling at the last minute, when planning a vacation.
Your dream trip can turn into a nightmare if you don’t do the proper research beforehand. Go online and look for reviews from others that have previously visited your chosen destination. These experiences can help you avoid shady hotels or dangerous parts of towns.
Carry a pillow and small blanket when you travel. Whether you’ll be traveling by car, plane, bus, or train, a blanket and pillow can make the trip more comfortable. Airlines usually have some to hand out, but they might also run out. If you have your own, you know it’s clean.
Have someone in your family hold the itinerary. It should include the names, addresses and phone numbers of your destinations and any people you expect to visit. Make sure you leave copies of your passport information and your flight itinerary.
Enjoy your road trip by bringing along a killer iPod playlist, your favorite CDs, or if your car is old-school, bring along those old cassette tapes. It is frequently difficult to find appropriate or clear local radio stations as you drive from one place to another, so having your own source of music is a good idea.
It’s important to get up once in a while to stretch your muscles and get your blood circulating. Sitting for too long reduces blood flow and can lead to blood clots.
Be flexible with your schedule on the road, particularly as it pertains to bathroom breaks. An extra 5 or 10 minutes won’t wreck the plans or ruin your trip. This will keep your travelers happy and feeling refreshed.
When traveling with small children in a car, pack plenty of snacks for the trip. It might be best to pack double what you anticipate needing. This will hopefully quiet them down, keep them busy so they don’t bother you during the trip. Junk food might not be the healthiest thing in the world, but it’s certainly better than having wild kids in the back seat.
Now you are ready to plan a great trip. Visit those places you have dreamed of for years. The aforementioned tips will help ensure your trip is stress free and fun. Have fun and don’t forget about sending postcards!