Tips that can help you become a smarter and safer traveler is what you need. Below is group of tips that will enhance your traveling experience.
Be sure to pre-plan your trip if an airport is involved in your travels. If an airport is in a major city, it can be quite difficult to get to, especially during rush hour when traffic is at its heaviest. Pack your suitcase beforehand to save time. Ensure that everything is planned out and packed before your trip. There is little else that could be worse than not making your flight.
Study up on the language of the area you are planning to travel to before you leave. Language barriers can be tricky. Obviously, you can manage in a foreign country without speaking the language. Even so, it is always a good idea to brush-up on important words like “police” or “hospital.”
Go to the online visitors bureau of the city you are planning to visit during your trip. They will have lots of information on where to stay, eat, and what kind of entertainment options you will have, as well as special events that may be going on while you will be in town.
In areas that offer air conditioning as a “luxury extra” on buses or inside movie theatres, always carry a lightweight jacket or sweater. Instead of bringing the heat to a manageable level, the air conditioning in many of these locations can be overwhelming, especially if you are coming in and out of high temperatures.
Sometimes by choosing multiple means of travel one can get the best of everything. For example by taking a plane somewhere and renting a car when you arrive, one can get the benefits of a quick flight as well as the benefits of having a car to go wherever wanted while traveling.
To prevent yourself from becoming sick after a long flight, you may want to consider using a saline spray in your nose. This is proven to help fight any bacteria that may be dormant in the air. It’s a great way to get one up on the passengers beside you if they are sick.
A lot of hotels offer discounted rates to locals, especially during the off-season. If you’re going somewhere where you have family or friends, you should have them ask about a local discount. If there is one, you can have them book the hotel for you and save yourself some money!
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.
Carry a mini notebook with you wherever you go. It is much easier to write the name of your destination and have someone understand you, than it is to make wild gestures while trying to say a difficult town name. Carry the notebook and write in it when you feel necessary. You will be much better understood.
When traveling with kids, make sure that you plan a few activities especially for them. It will make it easier for them to make it through their tenth meal at a restaurant if they will know that the next day they will be going to an amusement park to have fun.
If you use electronics while you travel, carry a power strip. Many hotels have only one available outlet, and if you travel with multiple devices, you are out of luck. Bringing a power strip ensures you are able to charge your laptop, phone, mp3 player or any other device that makes travel more enjoyable.
Get up to date offers from airlines, by signing up to receive e-newsletters that they offer. Sign up to get them from airlines, car-rental companies and hotels and you will get the information that the general public has to dig for, right there in your email inbox. They include special rates, deals and discounts.
If you are going to be traveling try to avoid parts of the world which are currently very politically unstable. As a tourist you may or may not be as safe as you’d like to be, because of the instabilities. Avoid countries like Israel, Lebanon, and Syria for the time being.
If you are traveling overseas, purchase a local newspaper to wrap the souvenirs up in that you buy for family and friends. Foreign newspapers make an interesting and unique wrapping paper for small gifts, especially if the newspaper is in a foreign language. If you know someone that is particularly interested in the country you are visiting, consider buying them a whole newspaper as a souvenir.
When traveling, it helps to dress the part. You don’t need to replace your entire wardrobe, but dressing to fit in may make your experience more pleasant. Looking like a tourist by wearing destination T-shirts or other “relaxed” clothes will make you stand out and potentially more vulnerable. Unless you’re on a beach, dress casually but still nicely.
Make sure that you do not fall for any ‘sight seeing’ adventures from someone you meet on the street. These people often are trying to scam you, steal from you, or worse. Stay to your plan and do not speak to strangers that are trying to offer you something for money.
Take comfortable walking shoes! If you travel anywhere very often by foot, it is best that you find shoes that are very comfortable to walk in. If you do not have shoes that are comfortable, your feet will be miserable by the time you are done. Athletic shoes and running shoes are normally good for comfort.
If you plan to visit a foreign country, check with your mobile phone provider to determine what type of international calling features are included in your plan. You may find that it is easier and more affordable to purchase a prepaid SIM card rather than using your own phone. Foreign roaming charges are very high and add up quickly.
Hopefully you can see how these tips can benefit you when planning out your travels. These tips will help you plan and travel safer and smarter than before.
