Яндекс.Метрика

Don't Leave Home Without Reading This Advice

By Sharleen Plassman


Most people have at least one place they dream of traveling to. Many people have multiple places that are on their dream vacation list. This article can help you narrow down your choices to the most accessible and affordable one. It can also give you helpful hits to make your stay there more pleasant.

Before you leave for your next trip, make certain that you have a place assigned for your personal documents, including identification. Keep your passport or drivers license on your body at all times to avoid the panic and hassles associated with misplacement. Use the same place consistently so that each time you travel, you know exactly where it is.

If you're going on a road trip, make sure you print a copy of the directions. GPSs and cell phones are great help for navigating, but they can break easily. And you don't want to be stuck in the middle of no where without any directions! It's better to print the directions and not use them than to be lost.

While Spanish is the lingua franca in most countries in the Western hemisphere, remember that Brazil is not one of them. Brazilians speak Portuguese. If you intend to visit Brazil, learning a little Portuguese can turn out to be a lot of help; learning Spanish will be considerably less valuable to you.

When you are traveling make sure that you always have a positive attitude. Most people will notice if you are a tourist, and having a pleasant demeanor will not only show natives that you are happy in their area, but also increase the levels of your service and make your trip much more enjoyable.

If you're traveling with kids, buy each child their own disposable camera. Tell them to take pictures of anything they find interesting. If they fill it up before the trip is over, you can get them another one fairly cheap. Then they'll have something to remember all the things they liked - you'd be surprised how different the pictures your kid takes are from yours.

When staying in a hotel abroad, use common sense safety. Keep your door locked and meet visitors in the lobby. Do not leave valuables laying about where a cleaner could find them, instead, use the hotel safe. Let someone know when you expect to return, if you will be out late.

When traveling, it is usually a good idea to pack your belongings the day before. This way, you can avoid the last-minute stress that causes you to rush out the door with half of your necessary items still left in the house. Save yourself some stress and pack beforehand.

If you are traveling by airplane, take advantage of the in-flight entertainent. In most cases, it is free to watch a movie or TV show from your seat and you can even pick which shows you want to watch. It's a great way to escape the noise of other passengers and the airplane.

Do your best to stow your bag in the area close to your seat. This will not only help you, but it will help the deplaning process go a bit smoother. If everyone was to stow their bags in the first available compartment, it would force the people in the front of the plane to store theirs in the back and really slow things down at the end of the flight.

There are a few essentials everyone should have whenever they're travelling. No matter where you're going, make sure to bring your photo ID, preferably in more than one form, any medication that you frequently or infrequently need, and a small amount of cash. Everyone has their own personal needs, so think of what yours are before you travel.

Many travel companies advertise a hefty discount if you book an airline together with a hotel. While such packages can save you money, make sure you do some research before committing. Those package deals might seem like a steal at first, but you may wind up staying at a hotel you won't like, or taking an airline you wouldn't ordinarily want to use.

If your travel plans include photo opportunities through train, plane, cruise ship or hotel windows, pack a handful of moistened, single-packaged glass cleaning wipes in your camera bag. Don't miss out on some great photos or come home with a memory card full of blurry prints because of smudged, fingerprinted or dirty windows.

Check the laws in any country you will be visiting when you travel. Laws can vary widely from country to country. What is acceptable in one, can be a prison offense in another. Take the time to get yourself familiar before you travel. This way you can avoid any trouble.

Pay with Euros! The American dollar does not hold nearly as much strength and prestige as it used to, so trade in for a Euro to get the best treatment. You should still carry some American dollars for tipping, because in many countries they are difficult to find, and are considered souvenirs rather than spending money.

When traveling on a red eye flight, wear comfortable clothing and bring a pillow, blanket, eye mask, and ear plugs. If you are prepared to rest, you are much more likely to be able to sleep and arrive at your destination well-rested, even if other passengers make noise or put their reading lights on.

Backpacking can be a great alternative for travelling lightly. This type of plan is nearly impossible with a medium sized group and for a large group it is truly a challenge. It works best for two to three people as this size allows for easy changes in plans and more flexibility.

Make arrangements with your insurance company and tell them that you will be travelling out of the United States. You might need to purchase supplemental programs or they might have another program. Better yet, you can save money by finding travel insurance companies that are far more specialized than your general insurance company. As you can see, there is a lot more to traveling than most people think. It requires a lot of research and planning, but it will be worth it in the end to have a great trip. By following the above tips, you are well on your way to becoming a smarter traveler.




About the Author: