Everyone wants to be a smart traveler who gets more for their money and books the best trips. Traveling seems to be getting more and more expensive and navigating all of the internet sites and travel agencies can get confusing. Here are a few simple tips to help you along.
Try to avoid calling attention to the fact that you are a tourist. There are many people who earn their living by preying on unsuspecting vacationers. To avoid looking like a potential target, consult your maps and itinerary before you leave, avoid conspicuous jewelry and clothing and keep your camera in your bag when you are not using it – not dangling around your neck.
Before travelling, make sure you check the projected weather for your destination. You don’t want to be stuck with nothing but winter clothes during a heat wave or only shorts and tank-tops during a blizzard. Purchasing new clothing while on vacation may not only be expensive, but you might not have room in your luggage to take everything home with you!
Always keep a picture of your child on you. Losing your child is a scary situation. Children can sometimes become lost when traveling due to the crowds or the unfamiliar location. A simple picture of your child will make a difference, especially if you are going abroad and do not speak the language fluently enough to describe your child and they get lost from you.
Tip your hotel service personnel. A small tip can make the greatest difference in your stay. If you do not tip, the maid who services your room may feel slighted by the lack of financial gratitude and this could lead to the neglect of your room as well as supply of soaps and shampoos. Your luggage carrier, when properly paid, could suggest the great spots around town.
Take along at least one dressy outfit with you when you travel. The more formal clothes are, they harder they are to pack and care for. Nevertheless, making the effort to bring one set of classy duds prepares you to take advantage of unplanned opportunities that may arise on your trip. You don’t want to miss out on a wonderful dinner invitation because you have nothing to wear but shorts!
If the hotel chain you will be staying at offers a loyalty program, join up. Even if you’re only planning on staying one or two nights, there are many perks to these programs. On the top of the list, is the fact that loyalty members are less likely to get bumped, if the hotel overbooks.
Sanitize your area. You may get a few sideways glances, but in the confined space of a crowded aircraft, you are just asking to get sick. Bring a small bottle of hand sanitizer or some sanitizing wipes and wipe off your tray table, armrests and any buttons, as soon as you sit down. Be sure to also use it on your hands and try not to touch your eyes, nose or mouth.
Don’t judge a hotel by its name alone. Look for the year it was built or last renovated, which can be very telling. Hotels can take a beating and a newly built budget hotel, may be much nicer than a luxury brand that is showing a lot of wear and tear from not being renovated in years.
When you’re traveling and you’re in need of a taxi, make sure you pay attention to the meter. When you first get into the taxi make sure that the meter isn’t broken, it is properly zeroed out, and it is turned on and off when you get out. Taxi scams are famous all over the world, and in a foreign place it is easy to get scammed. Paying attention to these simple meter tips can ensure you’re charged a proper rate and not swindled.
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’ve ever traveled with young children you’ve undoubtedly been asked far too many times how much further it is. One way of solving this is to get each of the children a map and instruct them how to read it. They’ll be entertained, and you’ll be teaching them a skill that they will use the rest of their lives!
In this article, we have discussed traveling smart and remaining budget conscious. We have also reviewed several internet sites and go-to guides that can help you along the way. Follow these tips and you’ll be traveling like a pro, enjoying your trip more and saving money while doing so.
