If you're looking to get away from it all with a trip away from home, don't forget to travel smart. A mishap, mistake or forgotten item can ruin a vacation as surely as bad weather or an unpleasant travel companion. While there are some things you just can't control, maximize your chances of having a good trip with the following travel tips.
If you are planning a trip abroad, make sure you get your passport well in advance. Many people underestimate how long it takes to get a passport for the first time and are left scrambling and paying extra fees to get it expedited. Plan for your passport to take six to eight weeks to arrive, especially in peak travel season.
If you are collecting frequent flier miles from your travels, pay attention to the terms of use for those miles. In many cases, the miles expire just twelve to eighteen months after they've been earned, or they can only be used on certain dates and to a limited set of locations. Before selecting an airline based on miles, know the restrictions.
When planning a road trip, don't forget to budget for the cost of fuel. While many other costs can be easily calculated in advance, the cost of gas is more difficult to figure, and can also add up surprisingly quickly. Online gas calculators can show you where the cheapest prices are and help you get an idea of what you'll be spending.
Sometimes by choosing multiple means of travel one can get the best of everything. For example by taking a plane somewhere and renting a car when you arrive, one can get the benefits of a quick flight as well as the benefits of having a car to go wherever wanted while traveling.
If you want to bring back souvenirs with you, make sure you take an extra empty suitcase. You should also research ahead of time if there are any restrictions on certain products, such as alcohol. You might be allowed to bring home with you only a certain quantity of food and beverages.
If you plan on traveling with young children, make sure to stop often on the way there and back. Explain them in details where you are going, and how long it will take to go there. Prepare some activities to keep them busy during the trip, such as coloring books.
Remember, when traveling abroad it is better to avoid drinking the local tap water. Most visitors will be unaccustomed to the local water, and can get quite ill. It's much easier to go to the local supermarket or grocery store, and buy bottled water instead. It cuts down your chance of sickness, as bottled water is usually produced to the highest of standards.
A car's tires should be checked before any major road travel. This includes, not only a visual inspection for leaks and flatness, but a full pressure check. Tires that are not fully inflated to their recommended PSI will hurt highway performance and reduce gas mileage. By ensuring the tires are up to snuff, the wise motorist can save real money on a long car trip.
If you are traveling by air and have to make multiple stops in airports, take a look around at some of the bookshops. Many airport bookshops now trade in used books. You can take that paperback you just finished on your last flight and get a new one to read, while you wait for your upcoming transfer.
Long flights are notorious for cramped quarters. If you stay cramped in your seat for the entire time, there is the possibility you could develop deep vein thrombosis, which can lead to blood clotting in your legs. Take some time to walk around and stretch your legs at least once every hour.
When traveling by plane, it is best to know the limits the individual airline places on luggage. Try to pack light and be sure your baggage meets the limits set by their airline. Also, keep in mind that some airlines charge for checked luggage after the first piece. It is better to be safe than sorry when it comes to packing.
If you travel with a lot of electronic devices, be sure to pack an outlet strip in your bag. Many hotel rooms have a limited number of outlets, and they are often behind furniture or in inconvenient places. By using your own outlet strip, you will have plenty of room to plug in all of your various chargers.
If you have a smartphone, contact your carrier before you leave to find out options on international use. You may be able to pay a fee for the ability to use you phone in a foreign country that would otherwise have been either restricted or very expensive to use.
In order to truly enjoy traveling during a vacation it is very important to bring only what you need. It is hard to travel when there is unnecessary baggage. Another thing that this brings is that you will spend more time enjoying your vacation rather than pulling along that bulky bag.
Now that you've read the above travel tips, you're more prepared to meet your travel destiny with the fearlessness of thorough preparation. Keeping these few simple things in mind whenever you leave home on a trip will give you more peace of mind and make sure you bring home more stories about great experiences rather than about stressful learning experiences.
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