Your adventures with travel don’t have to be the horror stories that so many people you know have probably told you. Most people are able to get to their destination, experience their trip and come home without so much as a single negative event. This article will give you more ideas of how you can make sure that this is the way it goes for you as well.
Travel can be a fun-filled activity, but always remember to learn at least a few words of the native language. ‘Please’ and ‘thank you’ are a must, but phrases such as ‘I’m lost’ and ‘Where is the train station?’ will prove invaluable in the event you actually need them. It’s much easier than trying to act out complicated activities!
A GPS navigation system is absolutely vital for any long-distance car trip. If your car did not come with a factory navigation system, you should seriously consider buying one before hitting the open road. GPS helps you find alternative routes when closures, traffic or accidents close the road ahead. GPS can even keep you out of danger if you encounter emergency conditions.
Make sure to research what the weather is going to be like in your destination. This will allow you to pack more appropriately. If it will be cold, you will need to take lots of layers. If it will be warm, then you know you can pack a lot of light weight clothing and sandals.
If you’re staying in a hotel and you like coffee, don’t use the tap water to make it. Instead, get some ice from the ice machine and put it in the coffee maker the night before to melt. The ice machines use filtered water so you’ll get better tasting coffee!
Make a portable washing machine with a plastic bag. Save money by skipping expensive coin-operated washers and dryers when you travel by using a do-it-yourself tip. Find or pack a large and sturdy plastic bag, and add a little laundry soap and water. Put your clothes in the bag, and shake. Drain the soapy water and repeat the process with clean water, then hang the clothes to dry.
When packing luggage for your trip, store your socks in shoes. If you are packing more than one pair of shoes for your trip, save space back packing your socks and pantyhose inside them. Socks and pantyhose can take up a surprisingly large amount of space in your suitcase if packed separately.
If you’re traveling with a baby and need to sterilize bottles or teething toys, wash them in hot soapy water, then stop up the sink. Heat some water in the hotel’s coffee maker (without any coffee or tea in it!) and then pour the water over the bottles or teething toys until they’re submerged. Let them sit for about five minutes and you’ll have sterilized them!
Save money on your travel plans by researching what other travelers are paying for similar trips. There are websites that allow you to input your route and then show you the average prices for airfare, in the month that you are traveling. Some sites will also display the best deals that other users found in the past few days. At the very least, you will get a good idea of what you should be paying.
Travelers are a common target of theft, but you can protect your luggage with a few simple tactics. Put Christmas bells on your suitcases and carry-on luggage, to alert you if someone tries to take them. Insert your foot through the strap or handle of your luggage when sitting in an airport lounge during a layover. Be aware that a distraction around you may be a deliberate attempt to divert your attention from your belongings.
Securing travel insurance should be a priority for your upcoming vacation. Unforeseen accidents, travel hiccups or even weather anomalies, can strike at any time during your trip. Protecting yourself with insurance can relieve much of the distress involved with these types of occurrences and give you some peace of mind.
Pack one extra outfit in your carry-on bag. Lost luggage could leave you without a change of clothes until they are located. By having one on hand, you will at least be able to change one clean set of clothes. Make sure your spare outfit does not take up a lot of space – a simple t-shirt and lightweight pants or shorts will suffice.
Learn a few basic phrases in the local language. While it is impractical to attempt to learn the entire language of every country you visit, you should focus on memorizing some key phrases to make your journey easier. This is especially true if you have dietary restrictions, so you can inform your waiter properly and avoid potential allergies.
Educate yourself on how your cellphone and plan will function when you are traveling. Do not go on vacation unawares and end up with a bill that exceeds five dollars a minute because you did not check with your provider before you made roaming calls. You may be better off making calls from a land-line in your hotel.
Brush your teeth with bottled water when traveling in areas with questionable water. Drinking the water is not the only risk when traveling in certain developing nations. Many people assume that as long as they do not swallow the water, they are safe. In reality bacteria in water can enter your body even if you only use it to rinse your mouth when brushing.
Making sure that your trip goes off without a hitch and that you have a wonderful time, regardless of if your trip is for business or travel is the point of this article. If you implement what you read here you should have a nice, calm, uneventful trip next time you leave town.
