Regardless of whether you are traveling to a nearby location for the weekend or taking a week-long destination vacation, you are always going to benefit from some tips and ideas on how to make the whole process, more fun and less stressful. Keep reading for those tips and more.
If you’re traveling to a country where you’re likely to want to enjoy a bottle of wine, bring along your own corkscrew. If you don’t know the area or speak the language, tracking down a corkscrew just for that impromptu picnic can turn a relaxing afternoon into a harried scavenger hunt.
Whatever mode of transportation you choose, when traveling with a toddler, be sure to bring along lots of activities to keep him occupied. Take a few of their their favorite toys. Bring a new toy to keep him interested the whole trip.
Select a hotel in an older, more central part of town if your travel budget will possibly allow it. While these centrally-located hotels are usually more expensive, they are also much more vibrant and memorable. They are right in the middle of the action. Suburban hotels can be cheaper, but the hassle of their isolated locations often offsets your savings.
Check out international fast food chains when you travel abroad! At first this sounds like a silly suggestion that will make you miss out on authentic local cuisine. However, the restaurants of international chains are often localized to cater to the palate of the natives. You may be surprised and interested to see the novelties on the menu at a restaurant you thought was familiar!
Not all medical insurance plans cover you when you travel abroad. When making a plan to travel to international destinations it’s a good idea to look into purchasing medical coverage for your trip. So, before you go you may want to research what kind of medical coverage is available to you and what the costs might be.
Use a few different merchants from the same niche, based on what you like. Offering your visitors three or four different banners to click on gives them options in potential destinations to select from. This can also provide you with valuable information as to which merchant performs the best against the others.
Do not ever tell a street vendor where you are traveling from. These vendors are experienced sellers. They know the financial interests of many different cultures and will use yours against you to get you to buy what they are selling. Just tell them, “No, thank you,” and keep walking.
When traveling by air, move the in-flight magazine and the SkyMall catalog from the seat pocket in front of you to the overhead compartment. Although it won’t free up a lot of space, every little bit counts. This simple adjustment can add some leg room to your journey and help you be more comfortable on your flight.
It is essential to join a car-rental club before traveling. While hotel loyalty programs give you various “extras” like free breakfast, car-rental clubs help you avoid long lines and eliminate endless paperwork. They also keep you from constantly getting up-sold. A car-rental club helps you avoid stress and frustration, leading to a better traveling experience.
A very common problem people have when traveling through different times zones is jet lag. This is almost impossible to avoid, but the effects can be lessened if you sleep more a few days prior to the flight. Sleeping during the flight can help too.
Before leaving your house to travel, the last thing you should do before you go anywhere is to use the bathroom. This will leave you feeling refreshed and ready to go away on a trip. Most importantly, going to the bathroom before leaving, will mean that you won’t have to go for a while, which will prevent an uncomfortable situation where you can’t find a bathroom.
Try to find and wear clothing that has hidden pockets. Not only is this convenient for you because you have room to carry more items, but it is helpful for keeping things from thieves and pickpockets. They will never find your valuables in a hidden shirt, pants or jacket pocket.
When deciding to travel by car with children, have a portable DVD player or an built-in DVD player in your vehicle. This can make a really long trip appear much shorter to them and it can keep them distracted so that they don’t start misbehaving because they become bored or impatient.
When traveling on an airplane, carry a small bottle of an aromatherapy product with you. In the event that someone sitting near you has a strong odor, place a little of the product under your nose. It is subtle enough not to upset your neighbors but will help keep the unpleasant smell away from you.
Avoid iced drinks if you are traveling in an area with questionable water. Most people are aware that they should stick to bottled water in certain countries, but they often forget that a getting a soda or tea with ice is just as bad. Request your beverages sans ice to avoid potential stomach discomfort.
A great traveling tip is to wear sunglasses if you want to be left alone when you’re on a plane! Most people will simply mind their own business and not try to talk to you if they see you wearing sunglasses. Wearing sunglasses during a flight can be a great way to get some peace of mind.
Make sure you arrive at the airport a couple of hours before your flight. Long gone are the days of quick and easy travel. Plan on long lines and complicated procedures. If you arrive at least two hours for domestic, and four hours for international, you should have no issues.
There is a lot of world to see, both in our own backyards and around the world. Exploring these places is great fun and should be a source of relaxation. The tips and suggestions in this article, are meant to make your trips more enjoyable and less stressful when you set off for your travel destination.
