Traveling is meant to be a relaxing vacation, but without proper planning, travel can make you more stressed than your normal daily life. This article has easy to follow tips on how to make any kind of traveling fun, simple and stress free. Be prepared before you leave, by reading this advice.
Whether you are traveling within the United States or in a foreign country, always make sure the taxi cabs you use are certified with the city. There is usually a sticker visible from the back seat of the vehicle. If you are unsure, research city-licensed cabs before you travel. This way, you can avoid unlicensed cabs that overcharge their patrons, and save money to do more fun things during your travels.
Make sure you keep your receipts. Saving receipts and keeping them organized while traveling is always a smart idea, especially if your trip is business related. Not only is it a good idea for financial reasons, they can also serve as a journal of sorts and can even make nice mementos from your trip.
One simple tip for hotel safety is to carry a small rubber door stop with you. It can pack easily inside a shoe or even be carried in a jacket pocket if you’re short on space. This door stop can be wedged under the door at night, to prevent midnight visitors.
Bring an empty water bottle. We all know that bringing a full bottle of water through security is a big no-no. If you don’t want to be stuck paying a premium for bottled beverages after security, bring along your own empty bottle to fill at a water fountain. If the tap water is less than appealing to you, bring a single serve packet of drink mix to add to the bottle.
Take the first travel photo” of your luggage. If you do end up checking your luggage, take a picture of it before you turn it over to the airline. In case of a problem, this will document what the luggage looks like and its condition when you left it. Also keep your baggage claim ticket in a safe place or snap a picture of it, too, so you have all the information necessary in the event that your luggage is lost.
Always check out a visitor’s center near your destination. They often have a lot of pamphlets on different attractions. A lot of these will even have coupons inside to get a discount. So not only will you find things to do, but you can save money while you do them!
Avoid catching a cold, or worse, on the plane with hand sanitizer. An airplane is an enclosed space where a large number of people are confined for an extended period of time. To make matters worse, the air inside the cabin is circulates, spreading germs from passenger to passenger. To avoid catching something, try to avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth. If you must scratch that itch, wash your hands, and then apply hand sanitizer.
When packing for a baby or a toddler, think about what things you could possibly pick up when you get there. Diapers and wipes take up a lot of space, especially if you will be gone for a week or more. This will leave you more room, and you will need less time to pack.
Don’t rule out indirect flights to your destination. By booking indirect flights with a stop-over you can sometimes save a lot of money. If money is more important than time, use online flight search engines to search for indirect routes as well as direct routes then chose the cheapest option.
Avoid getting bumped when you are using an airplane to travel. First, be sure you get an advanced seat assignment. With seat assignments, you only get bumped if you are late. Next, you can check-in online. You can do this twenty-four hours before your departure and this will help save you a seat. Last, do not be late.
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.
While traveling, it is important to keep your home safe while you are away and it will be empty. To reduce the chances of someone thinking your house is empty and easy pickings, you should have a trusted person tend the house. That person can get newspapers, mail and even move the cars around that may be in the driveway. Most importantly, they will mask that the house is empty.
When traveling, always keep a few snacks in your bag. Airline food can be expensive. Having to stop for snacks when you’re in the car can take time. A few small granola bars or crackers won’t take up much space and can save you both time and money.
Try wearing a vest that you can pack a lot of stuff in and to easily get past airport security. You can fit nearly anything small in these including your money and valuables. This way, you won’t have to worry about stolen purse or bags full of your cash or other small valuables.
When making airline reservations, make sure you request seat assignment. Without it, you could be fighting with other passengers over which seat you want. Or worse, you could be forced to have to take a later flight because your original flight is overbooked. When you get your seat number, make sure it is documented on your ticket.
If you follow the helpful tips in this article, you will find that traveling does not have to be stressful. There are many simple ways to make sure everything is taken care of before you leave, so your time away from home will be more relaxing than you can imagine.
