From a city zoo in San Jose to the mountainous regions of Pakistan to the savannahs of Africa, it’s easy to see that traveling leads to very different places. Nonetheless, there are some basic tips that will help ensure a good trip no matter where it is that you are going.
When you are traveling to a foreign country, learn something about its customs ahead of time. It will help you avoid embarrassing mistakes in local etiquette. It can also help you understand and appreciate the culture a little better. In a way, you will be representing your country in a foreign land, so you would want to make a good impression.
If you are traveling to an area that has a high level of crime, consider purchasing your own padlock for the hotel room door. These locks are more difficult to pick than the ones the hotel will have already and no one in the hotel will have a spare to let in “visitors”.
Tip your concierge! Whether it be on a cruise or at a hotel, your concierge will be your go-to guy for reservations, directions and almost everything else! Many concierges have admitted that if someone is willing to tip them well, they will go out of their way to make sure those great tippers, have a fantastic time.
If you have allergies to cats, dogs or even dust, you should bring your allergy medicine along with you on the plane. People tend to bring their animals along on flights. Even if the animal isn’t accompanying them on the trip, they still have pet dander on their clothes.
Mix things up a bit and travel to somewhere you haven’t been before. You want to go to as many diverse and interesting places while you can on this planet. You might even consider traveling internationally. If you decide you want to travel internationally make sure you get your passport and funds ready, as well as look into the currency exchange rates for different countries.
If your schedule allows it, leave yourself one day after your vacation before going back to work. You never know what kind of surprises you will encounter when you get back home. Plus it will also allow you to transition into reality and your daily grind a little bit easier.
If you’re packing your laptop for work or recreation while you travel, bring along an A.V. cable as well. Many hotels offer both free high speed Internet and a large HDTV in your room. If you’ve got an A.V. cable, you can plug your computer right into the HDTV and view your online content right on the large screen.
Taking your credit cards with you on a trip is a great way to have access to any money you may need. In addition, they will help to provide a list of your expenses, and generally offer good exchange rates. However, before you leave for your trip, you should notify the credit card provider about your trip, this is so they won’t block any transactions from the new location.
If you are traveling overseas, find out whether the country you are in, offers a menu of the day. This option introduces you to inexpensive food, that is native to the area that you are visiting. Most menus have several courses that even include a glass or a bottle of wine. You can save a tremendous amount of money, eating out this way.
Traveling with a pet means you must prioritize the pet in all conversations and reservations. You need to bring proper vaccination records for your pet and you will also want to inquire about regulations regarding pets with any hotel, car rental agency and any other facility your pet may be using/visiting with you.
If you do not know the language of the area you will be traveling to, try to learn a few basic phrases before you go. If you can ask if someone speaks English, in their language, they may be more likely to help you out or help you find someone else who can help you. Also, a smile goes a long way. Don’t be an obnoxious, English speaker.
If you will be on vacation for a week or longer, double check if there will be a laundry facility on site. If there will be then you can pack a little lighter and be able to throw in a load of laundry instead when you are there. Since airlines do charge for overweight luggage, it is nice to try to pack lighter.
No matter where it is that you are going, these common tips should help you in your travels. While each country has its own idiosyncrasies, the advice here should be kept in mind no matter where it is that you go. Now that you’ve got the advice, all that’s left is picking the destination!
