In the world of traveling, there are plenty of great resources available to both new and experienced travelers alike. There are many websites, guides, books, videos, and other resources available. This article contains some of the best tips for helping a new traveler become a smart traveler.
Luggage is often a large problem when people travel. While it might seem like a good idea to buy your children small size luggage, remember that they are entitled to a full size carry-on on most major air carriers. This extra luggage space can often save you from checking an extra piece of baggage. This will save you from $25 to $50 on most airlines!
Asking for a better hotel room when you are checking in will most probably get you one! If you would prefer a better view, a quieter room or maybe one closer to the ice-machine, chances are very good that one is available. It takes but a moment to ask and will most definitely improve your stay.
When travelling on a road trip, make sure you bring a bag with you for trash. Even people who don’t normally eat in the car will during long road trips, especially if you don’t want to stop to eat and add more time to your trip. A trash bag can help you keep the mess and clutter to a minimum.
Keep a photo journal of a beloved stuffed animal When traveling with kids, make great memories and an awesome souvenir by taking pictures of your child and the stuffed animal doing fun things throughout the trip. At home, you can collect all the pictures and make them into a photo adventure book to remember your trip.
If you’re going on a cruise, pack a highlighter in your luggage! There are tons of activities that go on during the cruise and most of the time you’ll get a nice little newsletter that details what’s going on and where. You can use your highlighter to mark which ones you want to do, and save yourself some headaches.
If you want to attempt to get an empty seat, there are some tricks to try. Ask for a seat near the back end of the plane, because these generally fill up last. If you are not comfortable with that, ask for an exit row seat. These seats come with extra responsibility, that not many are willing to accept.
Prepare in advance for unexpected things that may come up. The United States. The U.S. State Department can provide you with the info via their website on contacting the Consulate or U.S. embassy in your destination. Bring this information with you on your trip. Usually, you can get a replacement within a couple days.
Think about travelling in the low season. If you can avoid taking a vacation during summer holidays or over the Christmas period, you should be able to find some good bargains. Travel is nearly always cheaper off-season and lots of airlines offer special deals. Another advantage of travelling off-season is that your destination is likely to be a lot less crowded.
After you decide on a travel destination, be sure to check user reviews on local hotels before you secure your reservations. Gather these from multiple sources, including magazines, websites and guidebooks. Also ask the hotel to send you pictures of the type of room that you will be staying in. Doing your research will help you avoid unexpected surprises when you get to your destination.
Try to pack light when travelling. The last thing you want to be doing when is lugging heavy bags and suitcases through airport terminals and onto buses and trains. Only pack items that you are sure you will need and think about which items you could buy at your destination.
Families traveling with children should consider asking the front desk of their hotel room to take the video games off of the television. You are automatically charged when someone plays the games, and you may not always realize when your children have accessed them. Disconnecting the games will help you avoid any unexpected charges to your bill.
Traveling during the holidays can be a stressful experience. Long lines at the airport and traffic congestion can cause you to arrive late to your destination, or even worse, miss your flight. Allow yourself plenty of extra time by leaving earlier than normal. This will save you from rushing, and allow you to enjoy the holiday season.
Don’t fold your clothes when you pack – roll them. Rolling your clothes into tight cylinders is much more space efficient when packing a suitcase. You will be able to fit more items in your suitcase, which is very important now that airlines charge hefty fees for each bag checked.
Bring a snorkel with you when you are traveling on a cruise ship. Rather than spending money on an official “snorkeling excursion,” just use your own equipment during a shore day. Snorkels don’t take up a lot of room in your suitcase, and this method allows you to avoid time limits or the hassles associated with swimming in a group.
Having trouble sleeping while traveling? You may be suffering from jet lag. This is because of different time zones you may have traveled through. Your body doesn’t recognize new time zones. Try to adjust to the new time zone immediately. Get outside during the day because the sunlight will help you and staying indoors can make jet lag worse.
After reading these tips, you can begin to understand what it takes to become a smarter traveler. There is a lot of information and you need to know how to use it. Keeping that in mind, you can refine your own traveling plans so that you can relax and enjoy your next trip.
