Take a break from your daily routine and plan an amazing vacation by yourself or with your family. These tips contain everything you need to know to be prepared, save money and have a great time. Get ready ahead of time and make sure you enjoy your vacation.
Before travelling, make sure you check the projected weather for your destination. You don’t want to be stuck with nothing but winter clothes during a heat wave or only shorts and tank-tops during a blizzard. Purchasing new clothing while on vacation may not only be expensive, but you might not have room in your luggage to take everything home with you!
It is important for you to be conscientious of food allergies when you travel to foreign lands. If you do have an allergy, you will need to have a good handle on the language of the country you are eating in. That way you can ask the waitstaff if their selections have the allergen in their ingredients.
When traveling to poorer or less-developed areas, avoid touching any of the local animals. This obviously includes farm animals, but also covers stray cats and dogs as well as draft or pack animals. You never know what diseases these animals could be carrying, and chances are you don’t have the same immunities as the locals.
Before purchasing a package deal for travel, check out the prices of the individual components. In many cases, the package deals are cheaper than buying the pieces separately, but not always. It never hurts to check out pricing for yourself before becoming locked in to purchasing the whole package, and you might discover there’s a part of the package you don’t want, such as meals.
Enroll in the loyal customer club. These clubs reward you with a free night after you’ve stayed a certain number of nights at their participating locations. Even if aren’t planning to stay with them again, enroll anyway. Being a member often entitles you to extra benefits–anything from drinks to internet access–during your stay.
Try using bubble wrap when packing. There is a good reason things get mailed in bubble wrap. It keeps fragile objects very safe. When you travel, your luggage goes through a process very similar to being sent via the postal service. Bubble wrap isn’t difficult to come by and is a great choice when packing breakable possessions.
Put in a good workout before boarding your flight. Long flights are hard on your body. Remaining in a stationary position can cause stiff muscles and cramps. Having a quick workout or, at the very least, stretching before a flight can reduce or eliminate leg cramps and soreness.
Anyone who’s ever been on a cruise knows how much all the hallways and doors look the same. To make finding your door easier, bring a photo of your family pet or something (nothing personal!) and attach it to your door with a Christmas bow. This will help you easily identify which room is yours.
Buy American souvenirs to barter overseas. Stop at a local dollar store and pick up small souvenirs like postcards, t-shirts, and tiny replicas of famous landmarks. Foreigners love these trinkets, and they will go out of their way to get them. Bring them along and use them to get a souvenir that you have always wanted.
If you are in an unfamiliar location such as a hotel and someone knocks on your door, do not answer until you have checked them out. Anyone who is coming to see you at the hotel has either spoken to you or been in contact with the front desk. Call the desk and ask for information about the visitor to verify.
When packing for a vacation or business trip, pack a number of both lighter and heavier weight clothing. This is because you do not want to be freezing or overheated in your destination if the weather forecast happens to change. It is also a good idea to pack clothing and accessories that will not weigh down your luggage.
Ask for directions prior to leaving your hotel. Your concierge is going to be able to give you the best directions to find the places that you would like to go during your stay. If you happen to get lost while you are out, ask directions from a family or a woman with children.
Don’t rush anything on your road trip, and include some stops. Setting aside a few extra minutes for bathroom breaks will allow you to enjoy your trip much better. It will also keep whining and grumpiness at bay.
When traveling internationally, it is important to make sure that you have your passport taken care of way before you travel. If you wait until the last minute to get your passport you will either not be able to go on the trip when you planned on going, or you will have to pay extra money to get your passport expedited.
When traveling with a toddler, planning and a well-packed bag are key. Pack a bag with everything that your toddler needs. Include comfort items that will help her feel better. Make a list of things that you use for your toddler on a daily basis, such as body wash, shampoo, lotion, combs, diapers, baby wipes, etc. Making a list helps decrease the chance of forgetting to pack something.
To travel more conveniently, pack a plastic bag or two. They can be used for wet or dirty clothing and shoes or even shopping. Some places have strict rules about bags, so you may be expected to provide your own. Wherever you go on vacation, you are sure to be able to use a plastic bag.
The quality of a vacation is greatly influenced by how well prepared and informed you are. Reading these tips is just the beginning and you still have some work to do. You should still learn as much as possible about where you are going and be sure to make your reservations on time. Enjoy your vacation!