Travel presents so many options, so many opportunities for fun and memorable experiences, and very many possibilities for trouble and disappointment too. Here’s a few facts and astute tips that will help you to make your next trip a wonderful one.
If you plan on using your credit cards for spending while on vacation or traveling, make sure that you alert the companies that you will be traveling outside of your home town and give them your location. Failure to do this may result in your card being denied as the company may think that your card has been stolen.
If you are traveling with children, a backpack or other bag packed with new and interesting toys and activities is a good idea. Make sure that these are things they are not normally allowed to play with, or special things for trips only. It will give them something to look forward to and they will be entertained longer.
Bring a doorstop with you when you are staying in a room that makes you feel less than comfortable about security. These handy little gadgets made of wood or rubber are usually intended to hold a door open, however they can also hold them closed.
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.
Check prices directly with your hotel or airline company to save money on your trip. Although it is often small, some search engine sites add a fee to their rates. To avoid the fee, check the airline website directly or give the hotel a call for their rates. You will typically find that the rates are lower when you book directly.
Here is a tip for travelers! For tastier coffee when staying in a hotel, use ice instead of tap water. Many hotel rooms come equipped with a small coffee maker, but using tap water almost always results in poor coffee. Ice from hotel ice machines is made using filtered water. So, fill your coffee maker with ice at night (so it can melt), you can enjoy coffee made from crisp, filtered water in the morning!
When considering travel insurance for an upcoming trip, be sure to have a number of questions and anticipated answers ready for your provider. Keep good records for when comparing rates. Ask such things such as how payment would be processed for reimbursements, and if there are any conditions that would nullify the agreement.
This travel tip goes out to all those who are proud to be Americans. You know who you are and you’re terrific. The only thing is, if you travel globally, you embarrass our country if you engage in loud, flag-waving, obnoxious behavior. You will make a far better ambassador for the U.S., if you make an effort to observe the cultural and behavioral norms around you and adjust your volume and actions, accordingly.
When packing toiletries for your carry-on, make sure to follow the 3-1-1 rule (3 oz bottles, 1 quart-sized Ziploc per passenger). Having your toiletries ready to go in a designated bag will make getting through security a breeze and have you on your way to your destination in no time.
When you’re visiting an unfamiliar city, make sure to spend a few minutes chatting with your hotel concierge. The concierge is an expert on the area and it is his or her job to ensure that you enjoy your stay. Ask your concierge to make restaurant reservations or reserve show tickets for you. Your concierge can often get you in to in-demand places.
As you make your travel arrangements, consider renting a vacation home from the residence’s owners. There is a large selection of properties online, and owners are usually very willing to negotiate the price of the home. At a hotel, the employees can’t always authorize those types of changes to the rate. Always ask for references and make sure that you look at a lot of pictures of the home before you book your vacation.
Unless there is a specific event you are hoping to experience at your destination, avoid the busy travel times. Crowds of tourists can diminish the amount of activities you experience on your vacation due to waiting and overbooking. Maximize your time by choosing off-season times for your adventures and avoid the crunch.
If you make as much preparation as you can for a trip, and you follow sensible advice (and a few notes or a task list can be indispensible) there’s no reason why you can’t avoid most of the stress that many people bring upon themselves when traveling. Be determined to enjoy your next traveling experience, and act on the advice you’ve read here.
