Lots of people find traveling to be among the best things in life. Going to new places is a great deal of fun, but travel plans can be a pain to make. The helpful hints here will help you get it all under control.
When you are in a foreign country, get pocket money at an ATM rather than changing cash for local currency. Many times banks get better exchange rates, meaning an ATM can save you money. This will save you some money.
When you are traveling in unfamiliar locations, be sure to watch for scammers posing as government officials trying to take advantage of you. Be sure your passport is in your possession at all times, and never give it to anyone. Walk or drive your own car to a police station if you are asked to. Avoid getting into a vehicle with anyone you don’t know.
Digital Camera
As you get ready to go out of town, pick a digital camera that will work for the kind of trip you are taking. For example, if you plan to backpack, a rechargeable battery will be of no use. Try to find a digital camera you can turn on and focus quickly. You don’t want to miss anything memorable.
Hotel staff like room service staff and the bell hop are paid meager salaries and tips are very much appreciated. Standard tipping rates are a dollar per bag carried, and around $2-5 per day to the maid. Doing so will ensure that you have a nice relationship with both during your hotel stay.
Travel Items
Store your travel items in one place. You don’t want to spend your valuable time looking around your house for toiletries, charges or pillows. Get a bin and keep all of your travel items in one place. A container that can be put under your bed is fine, as it will hide things but be easily accessible for your next trip.
When making hotel reservations, inquire about any type of renovations that may be going on. You don’t want to be woke up while on vacation. Since there’s nothing the hotel staff can do about the noise, it’s better to just avoid those dates entirely.
If you understand local currency value before you make the trip, then you’ll be able to budget your funds much easier. Knowing the spending power of each dollar before you arrive will give you a better picture of what is affordable and help you draft an itinerary. This will increase your fun and reduce your expenses.
When you cross time zones, you’re likely to suffer from jet lag. It cannot be entirely avoided, but getting lots of sleep before your trip can definitely mitigate things. Also, get as much sleep as possible during the flight.
If you usually forget things in the hotel room when traveling, try to write some reminders down on a mirror using a dry-erase marker. Paper notes can be lost easily, but those written on mirrors are hard to forget or lose. You can use toilet paper to remove your note from the mirror. How easy is that?
Auto Insurance
If you plan on renting a car, check your auto insurance policy. Many times, people think they need rental car insurance when they actually don’t. In many cases, your auto insurance may include insurance to cover a third-party liability. Look at your policy coverage before leaving home, as you could save money over time.
When traveling by cruise ship, try to talk with the other passengers at the formal dinners. Most cruise ships seat people together at a large table, even though they don’t know each other. Relax and have fun interacting with others. You are traveling with these individuals, so it makes sense to make friends.
Travelling doesn’t always mean you have to venture towards the other side of the world for something new. Many times you can enjoy yourself right in your own state or a neighboring one. You will spend less money traveling if you stick close to home and support the local economy. You never know, there could be a hidden gem right around the corner.
Foreign Currency
You can save yourself a little money while traveling abroad by avoiding the currency exchange process. You can get foreign currency using an easier method. That way would be obtaining foreign currency from a bank ATM. A lot of times these machines offer better exchanges rates, and are cheaper than using an exchange.
If you are traveling to a foreign company, hold off on converting your cash until you reach where you are staying. By doing this, you enjoy a much lower exchange rate for your currency. If you know there won’t be a place to easily exchange currency once you land in your destination country, exchange a limited amount before you leave and then look for a better exchange rate once you arrive in-country.
If you’re looking to traveling to a foreign country, try not to exchange your currency at the airport. Given the convenience such exchanges offer, they tend to come at a high price. Before traveling, find banks nearby that exchange currency, since they will typically offer better rates.
As previously mentioned, traveling is something that many enjoy. The planning part can be very difficult though. Try using these tips to make it an easier and enjoyable traveling experience.