Travel Techniques That Will Change Your Next Trip For The Better

By Ian Jones


Traveling is meant to be a relaxing vacation, but without proper planning, travel can make you more stressed than your normal daily life. This article has easy to follow tips on how to make any kind of traveling fun, simple and stress free. Be prepared before you leave, by reading this advice.

Bring Ziploc bags for your liquids and toiletries to minimize time in airport security lines. Bring a few extra in case companions have forgotten theirs or yours have torn. You may also find that they serve other uses on your trip and can be invaluable when readily available. They are also a good way to carry small items and make them easy to view and find.

Remember to bring all necessary paperwork with you when traveling. Other than your passport and identification, it is important that you bring the name, address and phone number of the hotel in which you are staying. Have it readily available in your handbag or or your carry bag, so you can give the taxi driver the appropriate information.

When taking a road trip, be sure to make good travel plans. You can map your trip using the internet or see your insurance agent or travel club to plan a complete itinerary. By doing this, you will be sure to make the most of your time and not waste time hunting for restaurants, gas stations, and bathrooms!

When traveling by air, move the in-flight magazine and the SkyMall catalog from the seat pocket in front of you to the overhead compartment. Although it won't free up a lot of space, every little bit counts. This simple adjustment can add some leg room to your journey and help you be more comfortable on your flight.

As a woman traveling alone, try to blend in with the culture of the country you travel to. Don't wear flashy clothes and jewelry (even costume jewelry). Don't draw undue attention to yourself, and always behave in a respectful manner. Avoid being alone, and become familiar with any destination well in advance to avoid being accosted.

Before you pack, it is wise to make a checklist. This helps so that once you put away each item, you can check it off the list and not have to worry if you forgot something. It will also help the packing process go quicker, leaving time to do other last minute things.

If you are staying in a country with a high crime rate, treat even your hotel room as suspect. Place a piece of furniture in front of the door to prevent midnight break-ins. Also check that that windows lock securely. You never know which hotel owners might get a kickback from local crime gangs.

If you are a woman traveling overnight on business, be sure that the blouses and underthings you wear and bring can be washed in the sink and hung up or blow-dried. Missed luggage and/or connections can mean you arrive at a hotel late at night, with only the clothes on your back to wear the next day. Lightweight, wrinkle-free polyester or microfiber blouses and tops can be washed and hung up, and will be dry in the morning, as will all your lingerie.

Look at items carefully when packing for an international flight. Things like hair spray bottles that have a picture of a flame to show that they are flammable are not allowed. So try to find ones that are not, and save yourself the hassle and embarrassment when you are at the airport.

Be sure to take some form of entertainment for the kids. Consider a portable DVD player and some headphones or a laptop computer that is loaded with games and movies to keep them happy during the flight. You will be glad that you have found a way to keep them entertained while you travel to your destination.

Many families choose their vacation destination in order to visit a specific amusement park, and, while an exciting time is expected for all, there are ways to ensure that these expectations are met. If one of your children is hesitant to get on a ride, don't try to talk him or her into it by saying that the ride isn't scary. Chances are, if it looks scary to your child, it will be. Prevent early burnout by taking a mid-afternoon break at a nearby restaurant for a sit-down lunch or by relaxing at the poolside of your hotel for an hour. Give each child a waist bag packed with snacks to avoid an argument at every concession stand you pass. Now, strap yourself in, and enjoy the ride!

Check over your homeowner's insurance policy and your credit card insurance policy to see if your baggage is covered during travel. If it is covered under either of these policies you can exclude it from your travel insurance policy to save a bit of money and may make the claim process easier.

Avoid costly roaming fees while traveling! Investigate the roaming policies for your cell phone company. Each company has different rules about how they handle long distance charges, and it can get very expensive if you are not prepared. To be completely safe from fees, you can ask your phone company to prevent all calls while roaming. Some cell phones also have special indicators to let you know you are roaming, so learn what the different symbols on your phone mean!

When traveling, pack plenty of snacks and munch on them throughout the day. Snacks that keep you fuller longer are best. Some good ideas are almonds, dried fruit, cashews, whole wheat crackers, and beef jerky. When you pack snacks that fill you up, you spend less money on meals. Additionally, it sustains your energy so you can do more sight-seeing during the day.

Before you leave home, make multiple copies of your travel documents. Store these in separate bags. It may also be a good idea to scan them onto a flash drive, and carry it with you. Emailing them to yourself can be another method. Make sure you have several backups. You do not want to get stuck in a foreign country!

You don't want to let your dream vacation turn into a nightmare, so make sure you remember what you've just read about in this article. A little planning and some common sense can help you have the trip of a lifetime. Your trip will go smoothly if you use these tips.




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