In the world of travel, it is important to know what you need to do before, during, and after your trips so that you don’t forget something important. That is where these traveling tips come in handy. They will help you properly plan your trips. Follow them to smartly and safely enjoy your next trip.
Be aware of scams that attempt to prey on unwary travelers.
In many poorer areas of the world, it is safest to assume that anyone begging for money or trying to stop you for just about any reason could be a pickpocket. Don’t ever show or hand over your wallet to anyone, even if they claim to be police officers.
To help you avoid paying excess airline baggage fees on your return trip, when you are more likely to have souvenirs to bring home, pack old clothing and shoes that you might want to give away. Then, when you are packing to come home, you can leave or donate the old clothing and shoes to make room in your luggage if necessary.
Before traveling to an area that is completely unfamiliar one should do some research to know what to expect. This research can be as simple as where to get good food, to as in depth as where to go for entertainment and pre-purchasing of tickets. Research of any kind can surely improve the quality of travel and the overall trip.
Don’t tempt robbers! Especially when traveling abroad or in unsafe areas, don’t make your belongings look tempting to steal. Instead of carrying around shiny new backpacks and gear, use older things. If you don’t have any older gear that will work, stick some duct tape on your new pack to give the impression that it is older.
If a hotel charges for internet access, ask for a room on a lower floor.
Sometimes you will get lucky and be able to snag wireless capabilities from nearby cafes or lobbies. The bottom floor is the best to be able to do this, but it is not unheard of to be able to reach it from the second floor.
If you’re traveling on a tight schedule, give yourself the advantage of learning the layout of an unfamiliar airport by using your smartphone to download a free application designed to assist travelers. FLYsmart gives you all the information you need on a specific airport, from locating the restroom to checking arrival and departure times.
When traveling by airlines:
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.
No matter what hotel room you stay at when you are traveling, make sure to examine the alarm clock when you get there. Many have been previously set and may wake you up at an undesirable time. Look at the alarm clock and turn it off if you don’t need to get up at a specific time.
Instead of purchasing souvenirs when you are traveling
Consider asking the hotel where you are staying if you can take home a sheet of notepaper and envelope as a memento. These items usually have the hotel’s logo and address written on them, and are great backgrounds for albums. You can also write memories of your trip on them, and place the note in your scrapbook.
When travelling, one important concern is keeping valuables and personal information safe. Before you depart, scan copies of your passport and other IDs and save them digitally somewhere, such as an email account. That way if any important documents disappear, you can access copies in emergency situations. To protect valuables, such as, money or credit cards, split them up between bags or people in the party. That way, if one bag gets stolen, not every valuable disappears with it.
Earplugs are beneficial if you are awoken easily. Hotel walls can often be quite thin. Earplugs can help block out noise, allowing you to sleep soundly.
Check the weather for your destination prior to packing.
You are sure to be able to find the information about the weather on the internet and it will help you to pack a little lighter. Many airlines will charge for luggage that weighs too much so only take what you need with you for your trip.
Look at items carefully when packing for an international flight. Things like hair spray bottles that have a picture of a flame to show that they are flammable are not allowed. So try to find ones that are not, and save yourself the hassle and embarrassment when you are at the airport.
Searching for travel deals? Do not jump on the first package you find! There are some that will save you money. However, there are also some that will end up costing you more than it would if you would take the time and book everything individually. Break down the cost. Do some online shopping to compare before you buy!
Try locating airlines that are not popular.
Many smaller airlines do exist and many are great, cheaper alternatives to the larger more popular airlines. Many of these exist for international, but you can find some domestically as well. Try getting on a flight that stops at your destination, but goes a little further too.
Only prepay for packages if you know that there is no way that you will have to shift dates. If you do prepay, make sure that you look into the cancellation policies so you do not lose out on the money that you have prepaid onto it if you should have to cancel.
As you can see from the previous list of tips, traveling about can really be a fulfilling experience in your life. It takes a lot of research, paperwork, and a lot of asking questions; but it is all worth it in the end to have a memorable and fulfilling trip.