It is tough to mentally justify a holiday when the economic situation is bad, as it is at the moment. This article is the perfect starting point for the economical traveler.
When visiting foreign countries, be careful of which taxis you choose. Make sure you are taking a taxi that is legit. Sometimes, people will try to defraud you with their credentials.
When you are traveling, it is important to remember to be aware of your vital belongings at all times. Carry your handbag tucked securely under your arm. Avoid storing important things into the outside compartments, even if they are zippered. Thieves may access it in a crowd without you realizing it. You may also try sewing Velcro into the compartments or even your pockets. The loud ripping noise that it makes is quite a deterrent and thieves will usually move onto an easier target. Remember this when shopping for the ideal travel bag.
Always remember to tip housekeepers and bellboys. Standard tips are generally $1 for each piece of luggage, and $2-$5 for the housekeeper each day of your stay. Tipping ensures good service and is sure to make your interactions with hotel staff more pleasurable.
Add an ID tag to the inside of your luggage. Exterior ones may be lost or damaged during travel. Be certain that you have good identification both inside and outside of your bags. In this way, if the tags are accidentally removed, your bag can still be returned to you.
A motorcycle is a wonderful way to travel. You can get a lot of mileage without using much gas. Motorcycle traveling can be lots of fun.
If you are planning a trip to a foreign country, the first step is to check their visa requirements. If a visa will be required, apply for it early. Sometimes visas take weeks or even months to process, so it’s best to be prepared ahead of time. Most foreign countries will refuse to let you enter if you do not have the appropriate visa.
If you will be using traveler’s checks, try to cash them before heading out to go shopping or to dine. Traveler’s checks may be something that you will want to avoid. If you use such checks, it may be that you end up getting shorted, so try to get some local money prior to spending anything.
If you’re going on a road trip with your small child, make sure you take a break every couple hours or so. Taking a break allows you to stretch your legs and use a bathroom. Stopping and taking the child from the vehicle may also lower the incidence of motion sickness. It may make the trip longer than you anticipated, but it will make it much less stressful.
If you are visiting a country in a different time zone, you may experience fatigue. To help prepare for this try to get a few extra hours sleep before leaving on your trip. Additionally, sleep during the flight as much as possible.
If you are forgetful, write down reminders on your bathroom mirror using a dry-erase marker. Paper notes can be lost easily, but those written on mirrors are hard to forget or lose. You can do this because dry-erase markers will easily wipe off of mirrors with just a little bit of tissue paper.
If you are traveling to a different time zone, keep yourself awake until around 8pm or later in the new time zone in order to help you adjust. You’ll be tired that day, but staying up will force you to adjust to the new time zone. Sleeping when you get tired will just lengthen the adjustment time period. You will overcome jet lag fast if you help your body quickly adjust to the time zone changes.
If you choose a cruise for your vacation, make a point of chatting with people who join you at dinner. Most of the time on cruises, you will be with several couples. Enjoy yourself and speak to everyone you meet. You will see them each day, and you might learn quite a bit about them or the ship at the same time.
Due to the downturn in the economy, you may feel like you should skip this year’s vacation. Follow the guidance outlined in this, in order to find ways to travel without breaking the bank.