You can have so much fun traveling if you are always on the lookout for ways to help you plan better. Follow the below tips to get great deals and reduce your stress while traveling.
Planning ahead is important for any trip, but especially important if you are traveling by air. It can take a lot of time to reach an airport that is located in a major city, because of location and traffic. Always do your packing the night before you travel. Be prepared long before you have to be at the airport. Missing your flight will cost you precious time and money.
To keep your travel arrangements within your budget, make them as far in advance as possible. Despite the many, many different things you can spend money on when you travel, virtually all of them have a common characteristic: they are cheaper the earlier you purchase them. You can avoid excessive expenditures during travel by planning properly.
Watch out for faux cops or faux government officials in foreign countries, as they may be criminals. Don’t give anyone your original passport, because this could set you up for theft. If you are made to go to an office, do so by foot. Do not get into a vehicle with strangers at home or abroad.
When traveling to foreign countries, you should be aware of the taxi companies in the city. Do not hop in if you get a bad feeling. It doesn’t take much to place a “taxi” ad on a vehicle, but you really don’t know who you might be dealing with or what their intentions are.
If you are traveling to a less developed country and you have security concerns in a hotel, take along a doorstop. Most people use doorstops to prop their doors open, but you can also use them to hold a door shut.
When embarking on a cruise, find a hotel nearby that has free parking, and spend the night before the departure. Be sure to ask about parking deals in case they are not published.
There’s no reason you can’t bring your dog with you on the right type of vacation. Allowing patrons to bring their pets is becoming quite popular with vacation spots and many offer special deals and discounts for pet parents. You will find that while many chain hotels allow pets, you can even take them to some Las Vegas casino hotels and on some cruises. You can take your pets with you; you just need to be certain they are allowed.
When traveling by car or airplane with a small child, make sure you have plenty of interesting things to occupy them during the trip. Try to bring along a few favorite toys. You may want to consider buying a new toy or two as well, so that they have something exciting to occupy their time.
Always be kind, and tip your bell waiter and housekeeper daily. This will make your stay much more pleasant. Standard tipping rates are a dollar per bag carried, and around $2-5 per day to the maid. If you can tip these people appropriately, you will find that you will have a better relationship with the hotel staff during your stay.
National Parks
If you are going to be a frequent visitor to the national parks, it only makes sense to get a yearly pass. While the initial outlay is $50, they are valid for a one year term and give you open access to all national parks.
For longer road-trips, plan out periodic stops to check your vehicle. When taking road trips, there will be occasions where service stations are not readily available should you have an issue. Try to plan a route that offers sufficient service stations along the way. Keep the numbers handy in case you need to use them.
It can be quite exciting to travel, and you get to experience new places. While you may have prior travel planning knowledge, you can always learn something else to help you better prepare. Use these tips to your advantage the next time you go.