While traveling is commonly associated with relaxation, a trip can bring on a lot of stress. From worrying about hotel stays to dealing with getting to your destination, it sometimes seems as though every aspect of travel is overwhelming. This article will give you advice on how to deal with those stresses and enjoy your time away.
When traveling to tropical areas, always keep your dirty laundry in a closed bag. Hotels and homes in tropical parts of the world aren’t as bug-proof as most American homes. Dirty laundry will attract insects, especially ants, meaning that clothing that was simply dirty, is now completely unwearable for the rest of the trip.
If the hotel chain you will be staying at offers a loyalty program, join up. Even if you’re only planning on staying one or two nights, there are many perks to these programs. On the top of the list, is the fact that loyalty members are less likely to get bumped, if the hotel overbooks.
The advice “don’t drink the water” if you travel to a foreign country is, unfortunately, accurate. However, you can also have intestinal upsets any time you drink water from a place other than where you live, even in the U.S. That’s because the bacterial flora that live in your gut (intestinal tract) are very sensitive to the composition of your own water, in your own area. It takes them a while to get used to water from elsewhere, and in the meantime, they want to push that unfamiliar water right through. So until you get used to the local water, wherever you are, sip slowly or stick with bottled H20.
If you are shopping around for cheap plane tickets, don’t neglect to check the actual airline websites themselves. You will generally find the best price here.
To decide if you should buy travel insurance, you need to look at how much the trip is going to cost. At some date in the future, many reservations can’t be canceled without some financial penalty. Looking to see how much is already at risk if you have to cancel is a great way to get an idea of what you might be willing to spend to insure a trip.
If you plan to travel for more than a weekend, inform your bosses two weeks prior to leaving so that they can find someone to cover your responsibilities before hand. This way, you are not relying on someone who merely says they will cover for you and you have respectfully informed them the reasons of your absence.
Before you leave home, make multiple copies of your travel documents. Store these in separate bags. It may also be a good idea to scan them onto a flash drive, and carry it with you. Emailing them to yourself can be another method. Make sure you have several backups. You do not want to get stuck in a foreign country!
When visiting America’s National Parks, don’t just drive around the park. Get out and explore by foot. It is a great experience to visit the park, and see all that it has to offer. The only way to do that is to find a hiking trail and explore the area.
If you are planning to travel by car, purchase an expandable file to help you organize your trip. Label one slot with each day of your trip and put any information that you need for the day in there. You might include maps, directions, hotel confirmation numbers, or attraction information. Staying organized will help make your road trip less stressful and will allow you to stay on schedule.
If you enjoy backpacking on your travels, there are a few packing tips that can make your adventures much easier. Try packing lighter items towards the bottom of the bag so that it feel lighter as it rests on your back. It is also smart to pack commonly used items at the top of the bag so they can be easily reached. To lighten the load make sure you only pack the essentials you will need for the duration of the trip. And be sure to have a properly fitted backpack to prevent strain or injury.
Carry meal replacement bars with you when you travel. You never know when an unexpected delay will prevent you from eating a meal. Meal replacement bars are compact and easy to carry. An additional benefit of these bars, is that it will allow you to keep your typical meal schedule. This can help reduce jet lag, and keep your spirits up when faced with irritating delays.
Mail, newspapers and door hangers at your home, should be managed by a friend or neighbor. Thieves look for accumulating mail or papers and especially fliers, as a sign that no one is home. Have a neighbor or friend monitor these for you and if possible, have them move the car occasionally as well.
When planning on taking a car trip, make sure you pack wet-wipes or sanitary wipes for the trip. It is almost guaranteed that there will be some kind of mess on your hands or in the car. This can come from food, drinks or mud.
Ship your luggage to your destination when traveling instead of taking it with you. Sometimes you can actually save money if you ship your luggage, depending on the shipping deals you find. It also reduces a lot of the stress of traveling because you are not constantly worrying about your baggage and struggling to carry it everywhere.
Make sure you take shifts if you plan on making a road trip at night. Trying to drive long distances at night is very dangerous because you may fall asleep at the wheel. Try taking shifts with someone else to prevent that from happening.
Whether you’re traveling for business or for pleasure, you want to have the best experience you can. These tips will help circumvent possible issues, and will make every aspect of your trip more enjoyable. Soon, you’ll be looking forward to your trip, instead of worrying about what might go wrong.
