The idea of travel is akin to creating a unique adventure. It is important, however, that you adequately prepare for your travels before leaving home. The following tidbits of info will help you plan a fun and memorable trip.
When you are traveling in unfamiliar locations, be sure to watch for scammers posing as government officials trying to take advantage of you. Never hand over your original passport, as you might not get it back. If they are insistent about detaining you, ask to walk to the office. Don’t enter a vehicle with a local you don’t know.
When you plan a trip, taking a digital camera that fits your trip is a good idea. If you want to go backpacking, you’ll want to pack a rechargeable battery. You will probably prefer a camera able to be engaged at a moment’s notice in order to catch all of the great shots.
Look for a hotel that offers free parking and stay the night before leaving from a port city, on a cruise. Check with the hotel staff about parking deals even if none are published.
Have a door stopper to use during your hotel stay. When you are on the road in countries with little or no development, you want some more security with you in the room while sleeping. This added security will make it more difficult for a thief to enter your room.
Get a good workout in before leaving on a flight. Multi-hour flights can take a lot out of you. Sitting for a long time can cause cramps in your legs and back. This is why hitting the gym or at least stretching before boarding a flight can lessen or completely eliminate any cramps.
Make sure that someone you trust back home knows your travel itinerary. Thus, there is always someone who knows where you are supposed to be. Don’t forget to stay in touch with this person so they know you are safe. They won’t be concerned if they hear from you.
Select a pair of shoes you will comfortable in and can remove easily for air travel. Security checks at airports now require you to remove your shoes. Your comfort is the most important factor here. You do not need particularly supportive shoes as you will be spending most of your time sitting. The best shoes for flying might well be sandals or flip-flops.
Place identifying information inside the bags as well as affixing the usual baggage tag. Luggage tags can easily be torn or lost when your bags are in transit. Place your contact information and itinerary in your luggage in case it gets lost.
Keep a book of matches or the business card of the hotel you are using on your person while out. If you get lost, this item will help to show someone where it is you need to get back to. This is useful for people that do not quite understand the language.
Ask about renovations when reserving your room. Nothing is more annoying than to be woken early in the morning by construction equipment, especially when you are on vacation. Avoid those dates if you can.
Not a lot of people can afford the Ritz Hotel, and sometimes have to stay at a less desirable hotel. If the area isn’t palatable, make sure you have a rubber doorstop with you. Make sure you lock door with the chain, and wedge that door stopper in there. While intruders can easily break the lock or chain, getting into the room is next to impossible with a door stop firmly lodged beneath the door.
If you tend to forget things in your hotel room when you are traveling, try writing down reminders to yourself on the mirror with a dry erase marker. This helps should you forget things from your room. These markers clean up easily with any type of wipe, meaning this method of remembering is very quick and easy.
While this advice will help you reduce stress, there are no vacations that happen without any hiccups at all. Sit back and have fun anyway; that’s what vacations are all about.