If you are completely new to the world of travel, then you are probably thinking that some tips on how to travel smarter and safer will help you immensely so that you can enjoy your trip much sooner. Listed below are some tips to get you started with your traveling plans.
Bring clothing that is suitable for travel. This means items that you can wash and dry in the hotel room, and that won’t wrinkle from being air-dried. Also, remember that you can buy clothing as you go, and it will most likely be more suitable to the climate and culture of the area.
Make sure that your cell phone plan is on a national calling set up before you leave town. If you are normally on a regional or local plan, switching to a national plan, even just for the short time you will be gone, can keep you from getting charged for roaming or long distance.
Savvy air travelers know not to let delays get to them personally. In modern air travel delays are virtually inevitable. Every frequent flyer will encounter flights that run late, get overbooked, or even get canceled. Passengers can do nothing about these things. What they can do is remember that the airline personnel taking care of them are doing there best to get them to their destinations.
If you are staying at a lower-cost or no-name hotel when traveling, never put your bag on the bed. Be sure to check the sheet and spreads for bugs. If you must take your clothing out of your luggage, hang it in the closet instead of putting in the dresser or onto the furniture. Bedbugs are a major problem in North American hotels.
Choose a seat as soon as possible. If your airline allows you to select a seat at the time of booking, be sure to do so. To make the best decision, use airplane seating websites to look up information on seating layouts and details for your specific type of plane online. Airlines often charge extra for exit rows and more spacious seats, the value of which you must determine based on the flight duration and cost.
If you are traveling with children, it is best is they can have a suitcase with wheels. This way, they can really help with the luggage and it’s super easy to pull. They will also feel a sense of independence and will be happy to help out with the luggage.
Taking time to travel to new areas while on the way to an intended travel destination can help one find new places to stay at for the next time they want to take a trip. Side trips can often yield new and exciting places for one to explore either on their trip or to book a separate trip to experience fully.
If you’ve got a day ashore planned, why should you spend your time finding a place to eat and then paying a fortune for some food? Most cruise lines offer 24 hour room service. So before you disembark, have a sandwich and chips brought up to your room. You can pack it up and use it for lunch while you’re out enjoying the sun.
If you have the option to do so, use a business card as your luggage tag to avoid revealing your personal information. Many unscrupulous people out there are looking for opportunities for theft or other devious schemes. Knowing you are going on a trip means that gaining your personal info from luggage offers a potentially empty home.
Put your name and phone number on both the inside and outside of your luggage. This way, if your luggage happens to get lost and your information is faded away on the outside, at least your contact information will still be available on the inside. Make sure to do this for all of your luggage.
When packing for the beach during your trip, try packing your gear separately into a beach bag that can easily fit in your luggage. This is a great time saver since it will be packed prior to your beach outing, and it can also save time if you have kids on your trip.
If you are traveling to a beach location, bring home a little bit of sand with you. This makes a great souvenir; put the sand in a small bottle and write the name of the beach on it. You can also write something special that you did while you were on your vacation. If you are able to collect sand from several different places, you will probably be surprised to see how different they are from each other.
If you’re flying with a lap baby, ask if there is an empty seat before you board. If an empty seat is available, airline staff will often let you bring your car seat on board. This can provide a safer and more comfortable trip for you and your child.
Avoid taking ignorant risks, by thinking that it is okay to speed when on a road trip. It’s not fun to get pulled over, arrested or to have to cancel or severely stall your trip, in order to pay a speeding ticket. Your trip is supposed to be fun, but you’re not above the laws of the road, especially when they can endanger the lives of other people.
As you can see from the above list of tips, traveling can be very memorable, informative and fun if you know what to do before going on your trip. After following these tips, you will no longer be new to the world of travel, but you will become an traveling expert.