Many people love to travel. Though daydreams are great, it is actual planning and preparation that can make such trips terrific. The following tips will help you travel like a pro.
Whenever you travel to a foreign country, keep all important information with you. This includes the information of the place you are staying and who is going with you. If any trouble arises for you, this is your first point of contact. They can give you assistance with any hiccups along the road.
Be sure to have a good, clear, color photo of your child on hand to be prepared in the unhappy event your child becomes lost. Losing your child can be a scary prospect. However, in case it happens, you should be prepared. If you have a picture of your kids with you, it can help out if they get separated from you in a crowd and you need assistance finding them.
Try to be as flexible as possible about where you go. Going somewhere different may be more relaxing and memorable. You can also pick another location to save some money on a tight vacation budget.
Watch out for faux cops or faux government officials in foreign countries, as they may be criminals. Show officials your passport, but do not give it to them. If they want to take you in for questioning, insist on walking. Never get into a car with a strange local.
When traveling around other countries, beware of fraudulent taxis. Some “taxis” are not legitimate. Anyone can put a sign that says “taxi” on a vehicle; you have no way of knowing who the person is or where you might end up.
When you check into a hotel, see if the alarm is set. Lots of travelers have had the unpleasant experience of being awoken by an alarm set by someone else. Make sure you check the clock and see if it’s set for a time that is good for you; otherwise, you might find yourself off to a terrible start on your vacation.
When traveling, it is important to wear shoes that are comfortable and easily removable. Understand that your shoes must be removed during security checks. Your comfort is the most important factor here. You will be sitting a lot, so a great deal of support is unnecessary. Sandals and flip-flops are best for traveling.
Consider buying bottled water once you arrive or melt the hotel ice to get filtered water for making coffee. Rather than drinking bad-tasting tap water, get a bucket, fill it with ice, and let it melt as you sleep. Upon awakening in the morning, you can use that water to make fresh coffee that does not have an offensive taste.
When traveling, it is wise to consider possible emergencies that can occur, such as a lost passport. You can get steps on contacting the embassy in the country in which you are traveling by visiting usembassy.state.gov. Department of State has a site that has info on how to get in touch with the US Embassy in case you need it. Print out the information and pack it along with your other items. Most of the time, your passport replacement will be available within a couple of days.
Make sure to find out if you need a visa when travelling to a foreign county. Sometimes a visa can be time consuming to get, so it is always a good idea to begin the process of applying for one as soon as you can. Sometimes you may not be allowed to enter certain countries without a visa.
If you are leaving your car at the airport during your trip, then make sure you pre-book a parking spot at the airport in advance. Parking can be more expensive when booked the day of the flight. If you live near the airport, find out if taking a cab is cheaper than airport parking.
If you are a forgetful person and you plan on traveling, bring a dry erase marker along to write little memos on the mirror in your hotel bathroom. It’s easy to lose track of a small note written on paper, but much harder to ignore a big message on your mirror. You can use toilet paper to remove your note from the mirror. How easy is that?
Any time you plan to travel, ask the hotel if they’ll give you the same rate as given to ‘locals’. Most hotels will offer a discount if they want their rooms booked. You could contact anyone you know who lives in that area and ask them to find out if there are any special deals for local people. This simple step can end up saving you a lot of money.
Before heading off on a lengthy road trip, know where to stop to have your vehicle serviced. On road trips, many times, you will encounter long stretches that may not offer much in the way of service for your vehicle should an issue arise. If this is how you decide you wish to travel, ensure that your directions are planned early, you flag locations where repairs can be made and you give a copy to someone not going on the trip. Make a note of their numbers to keep as a reference.
Bring a pillow and blanket with you. Whether you’ll be traveling by car, plane, bus, or train, a blanket and pillow can make the trip more comfortable. Sometimes airlines provide these, but they frequently run short. Bring your own to ensure that your head is resting on a nice clean pillow.
Now that you have read these tips, you know what you need to do. Other travelers will be impressed by your knowledge. When you apply these tips, your traveling will be more relaxed and stress-free.