If you’re planning a trip, you may be wrapped up in thinking about how much fun you will have when you arrive. However, there are a lot of other things to think about to make sure that your trip is safe and goes well. Here’s a list of things to think about when planning a trip.
Before buying a travel guidebook, look online. Much of the information available in expensive guidebooks is also free online. You can print out this information and carry it with you, saving both money and weight in your baggage. This method also allows you to pick and choose which pieces of information are vital for you, and only carry those.
On your next flight, chew gum to keep your ears from popping on take off. The pressure changes during a flight can pop your ears. This is not particularly painful. It is, however, rather annoying. Before take off, start chewing a stick of gum. This will often prevent your ears from popping or at least, ease the pressure.
Driving far in a car means consistently changing radio stations for ones that a clear. To solve this, make CDs or tapes with all of the group’s favorite songs so you can jam happily without distracting yourself by trying to find a clear station while driving. This also allows for you guys to listen to music non-stop rather then sit and wait for commercials to end.
Choosing the right time to leave can make a big impact to how your trip starts out. By choosing a time to travel that will guarantee that the roads will be mostly clear of people one can avoid traffic. This makes a big difference especially when taking a road trip over a long distance.
To avoid paying high airport prices for snacks and food, make sure to pack your own bag of treats before you leave home. Pretzels, crackers, trail mix and dried fruit, are all great airplane snack ideas. If you bring your own, you won’t have to pay an arm and a leg for snacks at the airport or on board the plane.
To help you lighten your luggage, use sample size cosmetics and toiletries when you pack. If you don’t need a full size bottle of shampoo, there is no reason to carry it across the country. Most drugstores have a travel section where you can purchase travel-size shampoo, conditioner, deodorant, toothpaste and more.
Be aware of the opportunity to get travel credit and continue to watch the price of your flight even after you make your reservation. Many major airlines will give you a credit for future travel if the price of your flight goes down after you have purchased your ticket. You could save money on a future vacation by being aware of the price fluctuations.
Take out appropriate travel insurance before you leave for your vacation. Travel insurance is important as it can cover any medical help, hospital treatment or alternative transport you may need while you are away. Without travel insurance, if you take ill or have an accident, you could end up with a very large bill for medical treatment.
When you are traveling for the holidays, pack as light as you can. Airline baggage limits are getting more and more strict with their weight allowances and packing lighter can save you time and money. If you are planning your holiday travel to be with friends or family, consider shopping online and having gifts shipped to your destination. Doing this will cut down on luggage and assure you don’t lose any special gifts.
Be very careful of sending text messages while traveling. While roaming charges within your home country are becoming less common, do not make the mistake of assuming your ‘unlimited texting’ plan is valid abroad and check with your phone company. Many travelers have come home from vacation to find an unexpectedly large phone bill waiting for them due to overseas usage fees.
When you are traveling by cruise ship, bring a carry-on bag with you that has your swimsuit in it. Most people like to immediately check out the pool or the hot tub, but it can take a while for your suitcases to arrive in your room. A carry-on bag with a few items in it allows you to begin experiencing the fun right away.
Adjust your schedule to your destinations timezone a day or two before leaving. If you will be traveling to a location where morning is three hours earlier than you are used to, set your alarm to start the routine early. Get to bed earlier to match the timezone as well and you can acclimate your body to the ritual.
When you land in Berlin, make sure you invest in a “Welcome Card.” This handy little card can open up a bunch of venues and adventures for you. This affordable card contains access to free public transportation, gives you discounts for sights, tours, events, museums, restaurants, and many more things.
Locate ethnic travel agencies in various cities in the U.S. These agents could be considered experts since they are from the region you’ve chosen to travel. They are basically a wealth of knowledge ranging from what to do and see to how to save money. Enrich yourself and have a great trip by experiencing the charm and culture of the region that could only be known by a true native of the land.
When you’re searching online for the best deals on flights, don’t go straight to the airline’s web site or even to a booking site. Instead, start with one of the numerous search sites that will scan multiple airline and booking sites and find the best deal for you. You may want to make use of more than one of these sites, to make sure you don’t miss out on the lowest fare.
Now that you know what to look out for when planning your trip, you can start thinking about the fun you’ll have when you get there. The first step to having a great time on any trip is to plan right. Keep these tips in mind to make sure you don’t forget anything!
