Travel extends past boarding a plane to a new destination. If you allow it to be, travel can be an enjoyable experience. The variety of places to travel and the resources available for planning your trip is staggering. How can you possibly decide? No matter how you see yourself traveling, here are some ideas to get you going.
Make your travel arrangements way ahead of your trip. Most things that you need for your trip will get more expensive as your trip approaches. If you don’t shop at the last minute, you can extend your travel much more.
If your travels take you through or into a small airport, check the website for that airport to see all of the airlines that offer service there. Some smaller airports use charter airlines that don’t always show up on searches.
Free Parking
When embarking on a cruise, find a hotel nearby that has free parking, and spend the night before the departure. Even if they don’t publicize the service, it can’t hurt to ask about free parking deals at your hotel.
Keep close track of your belongings while traveling, especially important things like money and identification. If you carry a purse, you want to make sure that it is tucked under your arm securely. If it has a long enough strap, you should have the strap crossing your body. Avoid bags with easy-access zippers that can be easily accessed by someone other than yourself. Carefully evaluate your bags for security risks when choosing one for traveling.
You should know the tipping conventions for the bellboys and housekeepers. Generally, you will give one dollar per piece of luggage, and anywhere between two and five dollars a day for housekeeping. If you treat the staff well, then they will treat you well.
Bring your hotel business card with you when you are on your trip. If you end up getting lost, this will help you get directions from someone passing by or a taxi driver. It’s good for anyone that really can’t speak the language.
Travel can be a great way to educate your family members. As long as you’re cautious, the developing world can be a good place to visit, and it can show your kids how life outside of your home country is. The best way to foster tolerance for other cultures in your children is to spend time in other countries with them.
When packing light for longer trips, try bringing a softly-lined raincoat. You never can predict what the weather will do. Your raincoat can be used when it is chilly. You can even use it as a bathrobe when in the hotel.
Jet lag is an all too common complaint for travelers who cross time zones. This is almost impossible to avoid, but the effects can be lessened if you sleep more a few days prior to the flight. Try to rest as much as possible while on the plane.
As you can see, planning a vacation takes more than just jumping on a flight and taking off. Being mindful of this throughout all stages of your trip will help you to maximize your enjoyment. We’ve provided you with some basic advice here that can help with those planning efforts.