It is nice to break out of the mundane hum of every day life. Traveling is a perfect opportunity to meet new people and widen your perspective of the world. Wisely chosen travel plans can lend to an experience that will benefit you for a lifetime. On the flip side, making the wrong decisions or not planning correctly can ruin your fun. Here are a few tips to help you make the most out of your next bout with traveling.
If you are a student planning travel to a foreign country, consider getting an international student identification card before you leave. Many restaurants, museums, and tourist stops offer discounts when you show student identification. Although the card costs money to obtain initially, the savings you achieve are often far greater than the base cost.
When traveling, even in developed nations, always assume your hands are contaminated. Don’t put your fingers in your mouth and avoid eating with your hands. Chances are good you’ve come into contact with hundreds of people and thousands of surfaces, any one of which could be carrying a disease that you aren’t prepared for.
Stick to boiled or bottled water when you travel. It does not matter if you are flying half way across the world or just taking a day trip in your own state. Often your stomach will not react well to different water and it is better to be safe than sorry!
Bring a bag-of-fun for your kids. Make sure to have enough supplies to keep your kids entertained for the duration of the flight. There’s nothing worse than an, “Are we there yet,” ten minutes into a three-hour flight. Card games, special coloring books, and puzzles work well and, if you can afford one, pick up a portable video player. The hours of entertainment value are well worth the cost.
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.
If you’ve been travelling long distance with kids, stop at a playground or park before you get to the hotel, to let them run off some pent up energy. Another thing you can do is to hit the pool, as soon as you get to the hotel. This will help keep them quieter while you’re in the hotel. Not only will your appreciate the peace but the other guests will, as well.
If you’re going on a cruise, pack a tackle box and keep your valuables in it. Cruises often have a lot of thieves aboard them and you don’t want to risk losing something important to you. Thieves will often ignore something like a tackle box, leaving your valuables safe.
If you are looking for a place to eat while traveling, ask your cab driver. They know of all the good local food joints that won’t cost you an arm and a leg to eat at. You can also just look to see which restaurants have cabs parked in front of them. That is a strong indication that the establishment has good food at a low price.
Some travel sites offer a useful E-tracking option. Use it to keep up with the least expensive way to travel. With your specifications in mind, the email alerts sent out will be for flights or travel destinations you have shown an interest in. The sites alert you to deals or price drops.
Do not take any drinks that are offered to you unless it is served by a restaurant or hotel. They could be laced with drugs or other harmful substances. This is because many locals like to drug tourists or lace their drinks in order to steal from them or take advantage of them.
If you become lost while traveling, ask a local to draw a map for you. Not only will it help you get to where you are going, but the directions can be a great souvenir of your trip. This tactic also allows you to engage in conversations with some of the people who are native to the area and you will often learn quite a few things that you didn’t know.
Create an impromptu humidifier, using a bottle of water and a handkerchief or small towel. Airplane cabins are notorious for their dry air, which can irritate your lungs and sinuses. If the dryness starts to bother you, moisten a small towel with a bit of water and lay it across your nose and mouth. Lean back and as you breathe, the water in the towel will hydrate the air you inhale.
Avoid iced drinks if you are traveling in an area with questionable water. Most people are aware that they should stick to bottled water in certain countries, but they often forget that a getting a soda or tea with ice is just as bad. Request your beverages sans ice to avoid potential stomach discomfort.
DRINK YOUR WATER! Why when we are traveling do we forget such simple things? Most traveler ills can be firmly laid at the door of dehydration. Keep a liter bottle of water on you, and make sure you drink it all and hopefully a little bit more. Save yourself the pain of headaches, and muscle cramps by keeping that water intake high.
If you have pets, take care to make adequate arrangements for their care and feeding while you are away from your home. There are many times and conditions in which it is not enough to simply leave your pet with extra food and water for the duration of your trip.
When you decide to travel your expectation will be enjoyment. If you keep in mind the tips and advice in this article then you will have a chance at making the most out of your next trip. What matters is that you get as close as you can to what you were anticipating and feel totally fulfilled after you return.
