Traveling is exciting and can be a great time for you or one of the biggest headaches you will ever encounter if not done right. Read on for some great ideas on how to travel smart and take care of all the little things that if you don’t, will leave you wishing you stayed home.
When traveling, never take an item from someone to transport it for them. No matter their situation or how nice they may seem, this is almost always a trap to convince an unwary tourist to transport drugs or other contraband into secure areas. Even “gifts” can fall into this category.
When selecting luggage, pay attention to the ease of carrying it over long distances. A rugged metal rolling suitcase is usually ideal. Some rolling bags even have straps that allow them to be worn as a backpack through areas where you can’t roll them. You and your luggage will be walking longer distances than you think.
When planning a trip, don’t count on a single booking website to show you the lowest fares. Compare prices across a variety of sites, including meta-searchers if you can find them. Also check with the airline and hotel directly, as they may actually be able to offer you a better rate than the website.
Your baggage can really weigh you down on a trip. Carefully consider your clothing choices. There’s no reason to take half of everything you own! Take clothing that you can easily rinse out in a bathroom sink, or in a bucket if the situation so demands. Make your choices mix and match, so a few items will be worn several items in different combinations.
If you are traveling overseas, you may want to consult a health practitioner about what vaccinations are recommended. Different areas of the world have different diseases and you always want to be prepared for what you are walking into. There are plenty of vaccinations out there that can keep you safe.
Read the fine print on all travel purchases you make. This ensures you will always get treated fairly. For example, sometimes airlines try to tell you they can not change your flight, but their contract often states that they can. Companies try to hide this information from you because they want more of your money. Be a prepared consumer so that businesses will not be able to take advantage of you.
When going on a cruise, wear your room key around your neck, on a lanyard or similar item. Losing your room key on a cruise ship can cost you greatly, not only in money, but in lost time. Keeping your key with you wherever you go can insure that you, and your belongings, will be safe.
Joining a travelers club like AAA will help keep money in your pocket through discounts and specials. Many hotels, restaurants and other organizations will offer moderate to steep discounts to members of travelers clubs. With little research and questioning, you can target companies that offer these discounts and save a bundle.
When packing your luggage for a flight, affix a card with your name, phone and address inside the bag in the event the luggage is misplaced and tags are lost. Often the airlines will inspect the inside of lost luggage when the tag is lost, in an effort to find some identifying information about the owner.
Protect yourself from potentially catastrophic loss of personal documentation by making photocopies of all of your passports and identification. Anything can happen in the course of an excursion far from home. Place a copy of these things in your carry-on bags as well as your checked luggage. This way you have a few options should something go awry.
Make sure to buy durable luggage. It is bad enough that you may have a lot of items with you and your bags may already be heavy when you leave for your trip. While you are on the trip, chances are you will purchase souvenirs, and other similar items. You want to have sturdy, durable luggage to hold these items.
When you return from traveling, carefully look through all your suitcases to see what you accidentally brought back with you. You will probably still have things like itineraries, brochures, maps, ticket stubs and other items. Choose the ones that look the best and pair them with a few of your best pictures from your trip. Make the items into a collage and put them in a frame, giving you an incredible souvenir of the things you did on your trip.
If you are traveling for business, but also plan on sightseeing, bring a diary or notebook with an envelope to keep your expenses separate. Make keeping track of business easier by jotting down each expense as you go along instead of trying to remember which expenses were work and which were fun. An envelope or pocket in the notebook is also a good idea to store your receipts in.
When planning on taking a car trip, make sure you pack wet-wipes or sanitary wipes for the trip. It is almost guaranteed that there will be some kind of mess on your hands or in the car. This can come from food, drinks or mud.
A great travel tip if you’re going to go on a cruise is to put up something on your room door so that you can easily find it. A lot of the doors in cruise ships look the same so it’s easy to get lost. Having a picture or something on your door can make it stand out.
Roll your shirts in your suitcase so they take up less room and you will be able to pack more or bring more goodies home! Folding shirts takes up more room and can lead to wasted space, especially if you are going on an extended trip and desire to pack light.
Hopefully this article has given you some tips and tricks on how to be a wise traveler. In this day and age you really have to keep your eyes open and your wits about you to keep traveling safe and smooth. Check your list before taking off and keep these smart tips in mind.
