Whether the main point of your travel is business or pleasure, proper planning makes it more enjoyable. Putting the right plans in place can remove all of the stress from your trip. Before you leave, get all the right paperwork in order. Also, keep these tips in mind.
After you select the place you would like to visit, spend some time researching the destination. Find a map of the country or city that you are visiting. It will be easier for you to get around when you know about the area.
If you have to have a vaccination in order to get into a particular country, carry your paperwork with you. This comes into play whenever you are attempting to enter or leave a country, and can even be a problem when traveling between cities in the same country. You’ll need a certificate of the vaccination to let authorities know you’ve had the appropriate medical work.
Keep your most important information and items close to you at all times. If you are carrying a purse, be sure to have it tucked neatly under your arm. Avoid choosing bags that have zippered pockets on the outside. These are easily accessible in crowded areas, so if your bag does have one, it is best to leave it empty. Carefully evaluate your bags for security risks when choosing one for traveling.
Taking a trip no matter how far from home may cause you to want to bring pieces of your home along for the vacation. Make a list of all the things you might need, then prioritize to establish what your essentials are. Make a short list of toiletries you use daily and are truly needed. Pack other valuables on your trip, as well.
When setting a reservation for a hotel stay, be sure to ask about dates for possible renovations. Construction equipment waking you up can really dampen a vacation. Because the resort staff will not be able to remedy the problem for you, it is smarter to just stay away during those times.
If you are taking a long trip and you’re packing light, pack a rain coat that has a soft lining. You never know that the weather will be like. Your raincoat can be used when it is chilly. You can even use it as a bathrobe when in the hotel.
Try melting hotel ice to make coffee the next morning using filtered water. Tap water is not always the best tasting option, so fill up the ice bucket with lots of ice to melt overnight. This allows you to brew that fresh tasting coffee using a different kind of filtered water.
Rush Hour
If you are traveling by vehicle, plan your road travel to miss rush hour in any city you will be in. If you are unable to plan a trip that avoids rush hour, use this time to take a break. It is often a great opportunity to grab some food or allow your kids to escape the car and run around a bit.
If you are planning a trip to a foreign country, the first step is to check their visa requirements. Sometimes a visa can be time consuming to get, so it is always a good idea to begin the process of applying for one as soon as you can. Keep in mind that some countries will refuse to allow you into the country without the proper visa in your possession.
Make sure that your vacation is environmentally friendly at all times. Many hotels offer recycling, energy-efficient appliances, low-flow showers, and even renewable energy. Even restaurants and transportation can be green.
If you are forgetful, write down reminders on your bathroom mirror using a dry-erase marker. Paper notes can be lost easily, but those written on mirrors are hard to forget or lose. Plus, the markings easily wipe off, which makes this method very simple.
If you plan to rent a car during vacation, make sure that you review your auto insurance before leaving home. Rental car agents will try and sell you additional insurance, but they don’t care if you actually need it or not. Many times the car insurance policy will have added coverage that includes liability for a third party. Review your own policy before departure, as it can be quite relevant.
Your dream trip can turn into a nightmare if you don’t do the proper research beforehand. Find travel reviews on the web from travelers who have traveled to those places. These experiences can help you avoid shady hotels or dangerous parts of towns.
When traveling to a foreign country, you should bring along bottled water. Some countries do not purify or distill their water, and as a result it is rich in dangerous bacteria. Remember to use bottled water even when doing small things like wetting your tooth brush. Just using the bad water to brush your teeth can make you sick.
Always tip generously. Give the steward a $20 tip when boarding the ship. There is a good chance the crew you see in the beginning will be the ones taking care of you the entire time, so if you tip them well, you are sure to get good service in return.
Try not to bring luggage on the plane. You can save lots of time and frustration. You can send your belongings to your travel destination via FedEx or UPS. This suggestion will probably cost more; however, it saves on lost luggage.
Taking a vacation is a blast as long as you know the basics. Use the advice in this piece to have the smoothest possible journey. Now you can sit back and just wait for your departure day. The world is like an oyster. Just open it and see!
