Travel can be stressful for anybody. If you are not prepared to face the challenges that can arise while traveling, then it is highly doubtful that you would find traveling a good experience. However, there are some strategies that you can use to make your travel experience, much more satisfactory.
When traveling, pack plenty of snacks and munch on them throughout the day. Snacks that keep you fuller longer are best. Some good ideas are almonds, dried fruit, cashews, whole wheat crackers, and beef jerky. When you pack snacks that fill you up, you spend less money on meals. Additionally, it sustains your energy so you can do more sight-seeing during the day.
When traveling by airplane, try to limit yourself to a single 20 pound carry-on bag. This way, you always know where you luggage is. If you are traveling to multiple destinations in a single trip, there’s nothing worse than having your luggage chasing you around while you go without clean underwear.
If your personal vehicle is more than a few years old and you will be taking a road trip, consider renting a car for the journey. You will ensure that the car you drive is mechanically sound as well as possibly renting a car that gets better gas mileage than your own.
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 booking your hotel stay, pay attention to cancellation policies and fees for date changes. Prepaying for a cheaper rate only benefits you if you can definitely travel on those dates. If you might have to change dates, you can save more money by paying a higher rate at a hotel with a more lenient cancellation policy.
One way to deal with the tedium of being away from your family due to work-related travel is to take advantage of the time for yourself. Typically, meetings end at 5 and you’ll have until the next morning. Take the world’s longest bath, and use up all the toiletries. Watch three movies in a row. Write those couple of actual snail-mail letters you always said you would, but haven’t had time. Knit a hat. Read a book. In short, do all the nice things for yourself that you wouldn’t take the time to do if you were surrounded by your family. You’ll feel better knowing you took the time, and you’ll be that much happier and more relaxed when you see your family again.
Bring a power strip along with you when you go out of the country. This may seem like a silly idea to some, but if you have a room with two outlets and you have two cell phones, two laptops and an MP3 player that needs recharging, what are you going to do? Having a power strip prevents these dilemmas and also, you will only need to buy one adapter for foreign plugs.
Steer clear of rush hour when traveling by car. Take a break from driving if rush hour hits. It’s a great time to grab something to eat and let the kids run off some energy for a bit.
Children under the age of 18 who are traveling with friends families or grandparents, may need written permission from you for local authorities or border patrol agents if they will be leaving the country. To protect children from being abducted, many of these agencies now require proof that they have been authorized by the parents to take the children with them.
There are many large families that would like to travel to popular vacation destinations, but are afraid they cannot afford it. You can book trips with time sharing and save money each year by already having the lodging. If you plan trips when gas prices are low, you will also save money on your travel expenses.
Don’t get slammed with phone bill shock when you return home from traveling. Make a quick call to your service provider about what to expect when using your cell at your travel destination. Adjust your rate plan temporarily in accordance can save you massive headaches when that wireless bill arrives.
Be willing to learn about new cultures and people. Do not take narrow-minded ideas on your travels. You will be meeting and interacting with a wide range of people and they may have very different ideas than you have. If you are judgmental, you will likely miss much of the beauty of your destination.
Using the strategies detailed above will help you to become more aware of the traveling process and better prepared to tackle the challenges that await you. With these techniques, it is very possible that you can find your travels to be rather enjoyable. Take control over your traveling experience.
