No matter the reason for your trip, advance planning is vital. So, use these tips to make all your travels more pleasurable.
It’s important to plan ahead when traveling by air. It can take much more time then expected to get to airports in major cities because of traffic. Always have your suitcase packed the night before your flight. Don’t wait until the last minute to prepare for your flight. If you miss your flight, you will have to take a later one. This might create problems with your itinerary.
If you’re traveling somewhere where you’ll need tickets, like amusement parks or a play, look for ways to have them ahead of time. The fee is worth the time you save skipping the lines. If the park you are visiting has a timed entry, you can skip admission lines too.
When traveling with a toddler, you have to bring along things that will keep him interested and happy during the trip. Keep some of their favorite items on hand. Bring a new toy to keep him interested the whole trip.
Carry something with you that has the information for your hotel, like a matchbook or a business card. Should you be in a foreign location and get lost, this item can be perfect for getting directions or telling a taxi where you need to get to. It’s quite helpful for those who are not familiar with the local language.
If you’re traveling on the road with children, bring a cookie sheet or two. You can use this to play cards with your children. If your children are very young, bring along magnetic numbers and letters to provide an educational activity.
Be sure your passports are current and not expiring soon. Different countries have different passport regulations. If it expires within a certain time frame, they will not allow you to come into their country. These times can be three or six months, or even eight months to a year.
Find out if you need a visa to get into the country you need to go to. Make sure you allow enough time for your visa to be processed, since there is sometimes a delay. Not having a properly processed visa will mean that you will not be admitted to many countries.
If you go on a cruise, use formal dinners to chat with fellow passengers. Many ships will seat you with people you are not familiar with. Try to spark conversations with people at all times. This will help you enjoy your overall experience.
Keep flight delays to a minimum by booking a flight as early in the morning as you can. Because flights are often full, delays in one plane can cause a domino effect as the gates become crowded. The first morning flight should not have many reasons for delay at all.
If traveling abroad, write out some cards that contain dietary restrictions in the language spoken by locals in your destination country. If you have a special diet, this tip comes in handy as well. The cards will allow you to have a better dining experience on your trip.
Bring a pillow and blanket with you. These items will make your trip much more comfortable. Airlines usually have some to hand out, but they might also run out. Carrying your own means you know yours are sanitary and cleaned.
Tip generously during your cruise. As you board the cruise, tip $20 to your steward. Because certain crew members will serve you throughout the cruise, they are sure to take good care of you if they think you are planning to be generous.
Get a room on the highest floor possible. As meaningless as this sounds, you don’t want to give thieves easier access by having a room on the ground floor. Sliding doors are also a security risk, so if you have a choice, opt for a room without them. It is much easier to enter a room with these types of doors.
Make copies of anything important before you travel. Keep these copies of passports, insurance information, and any other pertinent documents in a safe place as backups for the originals. Leaving another set of copies at home with a family member or friend you trust is wise too, just in case you lose everything you’re traveling with.
Try not to be too regimented when it comes to time when traveling by car, particularly in terms of bathroom breaks. An extra 5 or 10 minutes won’t wreck the plans or ruin your trip. This will alleviate some of the grumpy travelers and cut down on whining.
Before heading out on a long road trip in the car with kids, stock up on their favorite snacks. You should probably pack more that you think they will eat. This keeps them happy and busy so that they don’t cause a ton of issues when traveling. Even some junk food is harmless this one time.
Whenever you go camping, but most importantly when you go hiking, you must carry local maps along with you. You should bring a GPS, or at least a compass to help you get your bearings if you become lost or disoriented in the woods.
Take some A/V cables so you can hook up your computer to the TV when you are in the hotel. This means that instead of paying for expensive hotel movies, you can enjoy Netflix and other streaming video services just like you would at home.
Once you’ve decided to travel, your trip is dependent on how well you plan. You’ll leave feeling good, and you’ll get to your destination in great spirits.
