Traveling is an adventure abroad. It is important, however, that you adequately prepare for your travels before leaving home. The following tips are things that should be on that list you check twice before heading out the door.
Don’t exchange your cash in another country, use an ATM instead. You can lose money if you do otherwise. The amount will vary; however, this can save you a lot of money.
Any time that you travel abroad, you need to make sure you have certain types of important info with you in case you run into trouble. You should have contact information for your embassy or consulate in your destination locale. If issues arise, you could need this information. They will be able to help you with any problems you may encounter.
Create a list of the items you need to pack. Start as soon as you can before your trip, that way you can add your must-have items to the list as you think of them. This will keep you away from chaos no matter how late you pack.
If you are traveling to a country that require vaccinations, carry along proof that you received all of the required shots. This is important when you attempt to enter or exit a country, and may even be an issue when you are traveling between cities within a country. This can end your vacation and lead to you to a quarantined area.
You should have a door stopper when you are going to get a hotel room. Sometimes, especially when traveling in less developed countries, it is desirable to have a little bit more security in your hotel room at night. Use a doorstop when you retire for the night, especially if your door doesn’t have a chain or a deadbolt.
The shoes you wear when you go flying should be comfortable, lightweight, and easy to take off and put on. This makes security checks easier since you can easily slip them off. It is important to be comfortable. You are not going to have to do as much walking as you will sitting in most cases, so the heavy-duty support isn’t really that necessary. The best shoes for flying might well be sandals or flip-flops.
Place your contact information inside your luggage as well as on the luggage tag. Luggage tags are often ripped off during travel. You should have ID and contact information inside your bag so it can be returned to you if lost.
If you melt down your hotel-supplied ice, you can have filtered water for your coffee in the morning. Rather than using the less tasty tap water, fill up an ice bucket and allow it to melt overnight. When you get up the next day you can use this fresh water to brew up a pot of coffee that tastes much better.
If you are using traveler’s checks, cash them in before you go to shop or eat. Though lots of places will accept the checks, it can be a hassle. You might get short-changed when you use them, thus it pays to be smart about it and get your hands on the actual currency before you use them.
If you need reminders during a trip, use a dry-erase marker on a mirror. It will serve as a great reminder. Dry-erase markers come off easily with toilet paper, making this approach simple and convenient.
To adjust to a new time zone faster, stay awake until at least 8pm local time. Try to stay awake until the right time, even if you feel tired from jet lag. If you sleep too early, you may end up feeling jet lagged for longer. You can get rid of your jet lag quicker by adjusting as soon as possible to the current time zone.
If you are taking a cruise, get to know your fellow passengers at dinner. On many ships, you will be seated at a large table near people you haven’t met. Try to spark conversations with people at all times. The friends make on board can end up being life long friends.
Road trips are boring unless you have activities planned along the way. Games and other activities can be great additions to stops. Giving your children a route itinerary will allow them to focus on the destination.
Make sure you tip well on your vacation. When you get on the ship, give your steward $20. You will probably have the same folks waiting on your party for the rest of the cruise, and it pays to make them happy.
When you fly, put your child in a seat that is as far from the aisle as possible. Make sure there is an adult between the aisle and your child. When the beverage cart is being pushed down the aisle, your curious little one could get hurt by reaching out for it. They can’t run off as easily if you are blocking the aisle.
These tips will help you, but all trips have some inevitable frustrations. Just sit back and try and enjoy yourself.
