Traveling by yourself can be a lot of fun. It can also be dangerous. A lot of things can help you travel more safely when alone. The following information will help you stay safe on your travels and have a more enjoyable trip.
Use a list to help you pack your essentials. You should start this list at least one week in advance, preferably earlier than that. The list should include all of your necessities for the trip. Even if you put off packing until the last minute, you can look at your list to avoid taking too much, or worse, forgetting something vital.
If you have children traveling with you, make sure you have a current, color photo of them with you, in the event they become lost. It can be terrifying to lose your son or daughter. With that said, it is best to be prepared for worst case scenarios. If you have a good quality photograph to show the people at your location, or the police, it can make getting your child back that much easier, and faster too.
A door stopper is an important thing to bring with you when resting in a hotel. Many countries do not offer the security you need when staying in a hotel room. Use a doorstop when you retire for the night, especially if your door doesn’t have a chain or a deadbolt.
Clothespins can be very helpful when travelling. These are not typical travel items, but they can come in handy.
When traveling, you must constantly stay alert as to the location of your valuable belongings. Tuck bags and purses under your arm where it is close to your body. Also avoid pocketbooks which are easily opened by others on a busy street or subway. When buying a travel bag, keep this in mind.
When traveling by air, wear lightweight, comfortable shoes that can be easily slipped on and off. You will be required to remove your shoes at the security checkpoints, and you may want to take them off while in the air. Comfort is very important. Most of the time during air travel is spent sitting, not walking, so you don’t need a lot of foot support. Sandals and flip flops make great travel footwear.
Join travel forums and social networks. Getting connected with fellow travelers is a great way to get ready for your trips. You’ll find out about attractions you might not otherwise have known about.
Be aware of your passport’s expiration date. Most countries have specific guidelines concerning expiration dates. Most countries will not permit you to enter with an expired passport if it is within a given time frame. Many countries require that your passport is valid for more than six months after entering their country.
If you are traveling with small children, plan breaks every couple hours. These breaks are great times to visit the bathroom or to stretch out their legs. Letting small kids get out once in a while will help stave off motion sickness. Your trip may take a bit longer, but the reduction in stress is worth the small delay.
If you’re a forgetful person when traveling and leaving the hotel room, you can leave yourself reminder messages on mirrors using dry erase markers. Notes on the mirror are hard to miss, while notes jotted down on a piece of paper can be lost. You can easily clean the dry-erase marker with toilet paper, which makes this approach convenient and simple.
Road trips may get boring, which is why you should plan to do some activities during your traveling. Anticipating some fun activities during the trip breaks up the trip’s monotony with much more than the usual meal and bathroom breaks. Give your kids a map of your route, and let them follow along as you drive.
Take an early flight to avoid a delay in your flight. Since airports fill up to capacity, when one plane gets delayed, usually the plane behind it will also be delayed since it must wait until the gates open. This is why the initial morning flight has the least amount of delays.
Just like the start of this article stated, traveling by oneself can be great, but also challenging. Traveling can be something that you enjoy and remember fondly. Follow the suggestions you’ve read to make sure you stay safe on your trip.