Use These Travel Tips To Make Your Next Trip A Breeze

April 8, 2013
by Dee Donaghue

When it\’s time to get away, whether for business or pleasure, the experience of traveling can be rewarding and fun. Take some tips from those who hit the highways and byways on a regular basis. A little planning and forethought can go a long way on the road to a pleasurable journey.

Plan the amount of clothing you take with you, based on the length of your trip. If you plan to be traveling for several weeks, consider laundry service mid-way through your trip, to lessen the amount of clothing you need to pack. This also reduces the amount of dirty laundry you have to deal with when you return home!

When you are renting a car do not try to get the smallest car just because it is the least expensive. You want to make sure that everyone that is going to be in the car will have enough room. Being crammed will definitely make the trip unpleasant for everyone.

If you are traveling for business, but also plan on sightseeing, bring a diary or notebook with an envelope to keep your expenses separate. Make keeping track of business easier by jotting down each expense as you go along instead of trying to remember which expenses were work and which were fun. An envelope or pocket in the notebook is also a good idea to store your receipts in.

Purchase medical evacuation insurance on top of your regular travel insurance and international medical insurance. While international medical insurance will pay for your treatments during your travels, you don\’t want to be stuck sixteen hours from home if you become seriously ill or injured. Medical evacuation insurance will pay for you to be delivered to a medical facility near your home safely.

Going on a long trip can ensure that something will happen. Make sure to pack a small first aid kit with you to help with minor scrapes and bruises. Other items, such as bottled water and some snacks can also make a huge difference when you don\’t have to buy these things at a higher price in a tourist attraction area.

Before booking any vacations, do some comparison shopping. Make sure you\’re getting a good deal on your flight and hotel by looking at the prices of several websites. If you don\’t need to leave or return from your trip on an exact day, check the price of several days in the same week. One might be cheaper.

When traveling, always keep a few snacks in your bag. Airline food can be expensive. Having to stop for snacks when you\’re in the car can take time. A few small granola bars or crackers won\’t take up much space and can save you both time and money.

Make sure to pack your vitamins when you travel and remember that vitamin C is a great energy and immune booster. Taking a vitamin supplement can help you prevent or lessen the effects of jet lag on your body, strengthen your immune system against the multitude of germs you will come into contact with, and generally make you feel better. Clear any supplements with your doctor before taking them if you have underlying health issues.

When traveling with young children, pack a portable DVD player and a few movies. This can be a great way to provide hours of entertainment during the trip. It can also come in handy if there is a rainy day, or you just need some down time, while you\’re on vacation.

Do not inadvertently recline onto someone. Always check to see what the person behind you is doing, and politely ask if you can recline before doing so. Reclining your seat without warning results in spilled drinks, broken laptops, and injured passengers, so you may want to make sure that they aren\’t doing anything important.

Make sure to check necessary and recommended immunizations when traveling to a foreign country. If there is a disease present in the other country and your body is not used to being exposed to this disease, you are much more susceptible to not only catching the disease, but having harsher symptoms. You can help to prepare yourself by getting the appropriate immunizations, in advance of your traveling, to prevent sickness.

Try not to over pack. When people travel, they sometimes pack unnecessary items, such as heavy books or clothing. Just pack what you know you will use. This makes life easier by not having to lug around a heavy bag or suitcase. Also, try not to use more than one or two suitcases per person.

If you are traveling to a hotel that requires payment for internet access, get a room on the first floor. Hotels are located around many establishments that offer free wifi, like cafes or book stores. While a room on a higher floor can not pick up their signals, a first or second floor room should be able to access them.

If you are traveling by air, select your row carefully to ensure that your carry-on bag can fit in the overhead compartment. Planes are usually boarded in a group of five or ten rows, so a row with a higher number may get on first. Also try to get in the boarding line as quickly as possible; once the group in front of you has stopped joining the line, go ahead and stand behind them. Your group will probably be announced before you get to the front. The faster you are able to get on the plane, the more likely it is that there will still be room for your bag.

When traveling, keep all of your medications in the containers they came in from the pharmacy. Though it might be more convenient to travel with a pill box, keeping meds in their original containers will save you time at security. It also easily allows a physician to see what medications you are taking in the event of an emergency.

Armed with the knowledge from these tips, you can now go out into the world with more confidence and less stress. Take the time to enjoy your new surroundings as you travel and learn from the people you encounter along the way.

Now that you\’ve armed yourself with some insight and information, you\’re ready to venture in a relaxed and informed manner. Stay alert, and at the same time remember to relish the experience of meeting new people and embracing new cultures. Try these tips and you can be confident and enjoy the trip.

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