Traveling is a journey; you never know what will happen. It is important, however, that you adequately prepare for your travels before leaving home. The information located below will ensure you have everything you need when traveling.
Before you travel, make a list of what you will pack. Sometime well before your trip, at least a week or more, write down all of the items that you must pack. This will keep you away from chaos no matter how late you pack.
If you’re going to a destination that requires you get vaccinated, be sure to carry your vaccination certificate with you. This comes into play whenever you are attempting to enter or leave a country, and can even be a problem when traveling between cities in the same country. You may be quarantined if you cannot produce the certificates as proof.
Pack lightly when traveling. The less you carry with you, the less chance you have of losing something. Limit the number of shoes you bring along since they are usually the biggest and heaviest items people carry with them.
When traveling to foreign countries, you should be aware of the taxi companies in the city. Do not hop in if you get a bad feeling. Anyone can put a sign that says “taxi” on a vehicle; you have no way of knowing who the person is or where you might end up.
Give the travel itinerary of your trip to a relative. This person should always know your location. Stay in contact with them as well. As long as they receive regular contact from you, they will not worry.
Make sure you keep a matchbook, business card or some other small item from the hotel when you’re going out. In the event that you get lost while meandering about, this info will help you find your way when using a taxi or other service. This is great as well for those that do not have a firm grasp of the language.
Be sure your passports are current and not expiring soon. You may find that different countries have different rules and regulations regarding your passport. Even if it is still valid, if it expires soon, you may have problems. The limit on expired passports can range up to six months; some countries may go up to a year.
You should always find out well in advance of your trip if you need a visa to visit a country. The processing time for travel visas can vary greatly, so it is recommended that you complete the application process well in advance of your departure date. Once again, without having the right kind of visa, you won’t be able to get into certain countries.
Try to take breaks every so often when traveling, especially if a child is on the trip. This lets you visit the washroom and get out of the car. Also, you should have everyone leave the car so that they do not get sick. While your trip may be a bit longer, less stress will make any delay worthwhile.
When you travel across time zones, jet lag becomes an issue. You can lessen the impact by sleeping more than usual a few days before you take off. You should also make an effort to sleep during the flight.
If the site you are using offers an online tracking feature, use it. It will keep you up to date with the cheapest way to travel. It will send you an email if a flight you booked or are watching lowers in price.
When taking a plane, have your child sit in the window seat, if you can. Make sure you have a responsible adult, or you, between the aisle and your child. Children are always wondering what is going on, and they could get injured if they step out without paying attention. You’re less likely to have them take off running down the aisle if they are in a middle or window seat.
Give your friend or family your travel itinerary. Include all the places and people you will visit, along with the addresses and phone numbers. You should also leave information about your flights and a copy of the identification page of your passport.
Stretch your legs once per hour or more when you’re on a long flight. You can do this by walking to the restroom, even if you don’t have to go. Sitting for extended periods is bad for the muscles and can even be dangerous. It can cause blood clots.
For foreign travel, avoid exchanging your money at the airport. The exchange rates are usually extremely high because it is a convenient place. Instead, find a bank in your area that perform this service, and visit it in advance of your flight. You will get a better rate this way.
One great travel suggestion is to allow enough time for hotel checkout. Many hotels charge substantial fees if you check out later than specified. Make sure you check out on time.
Look at the alarm in the room before turning in. By checking the alarm, you can avoid being awakened unexpectedly if it was already set, and you can avoid oversleeping if you find it is broken.
Lost Luggage
When you are traveling with others, you should be smart and divide valuables amongst all of the luggage. This provides insurance against lost luggage. If someone loses their luggage, they will still have a few things available to them. To better protect against any lost luggage, each person should carry another change of clothing in a carry-on bag.
Travel using a bus to avoid hefty baggage fees. While buses will have a small fee for over-sized bags or excess weight, their baggage allowance is often much higher than what is allowed on an airline. Therefore, if you have a lot of “stuff,” go by bus.
These tips are great to help you prepare for a great trip, but few trips are without frustrations. The best advice that you can get is to simply enjoy your ride.
