Off The Beaten Path: Great Advice For Authentic Travel
Whether your trip is last-minute or an exotic journey with months of planning, the small details can determine how much enjoyment you get from the trip. The following advice in the article below is a great start to ensure you plan a solid trip.
Rather than exchanging dollars for the currency of the country in which you are traveling, use an ATM. You can lose money if you do otherwise. This can save you a ton.
Don’t bring extra valuables that you don’t need. The more items you have with you, the chance will be higher that you will leave one behind, or an item gets stolen.
Be sure to pre-plan your trip if an airport is involved in your travels. The trip to the airport requires that you give ample time to deal with traffic, rush hour conditions and other unexpected delays. Pack your suitcase the night before. Before your travel day, make sure all of your preparations are taken care of. You do not want to miss your flight.
Be wary of people who tell you that they are police offers or government officials when you are traveling in a strange city. Keep your passport on you at all times, and do not hand it over to anyone. If they are insistent about detaining you, ask to walk to the office. Never, under any circumstances, get in a car with an unknown local.
When visiting foreign countries, be careful of which taxis you choose. You have to be certain that the taxi is real. It is not hard to put up a taxi sign on a car; if you get into the wrong vehicle, you don’t know where you will end up.
Always keep your most important belongings on hand when travelling. Keep your purse tucked under your arm. Avoid storing important things into the outside compartments, even if they are zippered. Thieves may access it in a crowd without you realizing it. You may also try sewing Velcro into the compartments or even your pockets. The loud ripping noise that it makes is quite a deterrent and thieves will usually move onto an easier target. When buying a travel bag, keep this in mind.
Give a copy of your itinerary to a family member. This person should always know your location. You should also contact that person regularly. When they don’t hear from you, they’ll know there’s an issue.
Take your hotel’s business card and put it in your wallet or purse. If you get lost, this item will help to show someone where it is you need to get back to. It is especially useful for anyone without a firm grip on the language.
When you travel abroad, find out from your credit card company what type of travel insurance you already have. For example, they may already cover cancelled flights which are purchased with the credit card. Having insurance can protect you from problems that may arise before or during your trip.
Flight
Planning ahead is the number one rule of flying. Since major airports are usually in big cities, getting there might take forever when you get caught in heavy traffic congestion. Pack what you can the night before your flight so you are sure to be ready to leave the next day. Be prepared long before you have to be at the airport. You want to do everything possible to avoid arriving late for your flight.
Make sure you are prepared to take care of yourself, even on longer flights. Bringing a blanket, pillow and headphones with you is a good idea. Additionally, it is a good idea to bring something to snack on.
Exercise before you get on the airplane. This will not only help you to work out pre-flight jitters, it will also warm up your muscles to help you avoid cramps during a long flight. You may find your back or legs cramping from sitting in the same position for too long. Having a quick workout or, at the very least, stretching before a flight can reduce or eliminate leg cramps and soreness.
When searching for a flight, ensure the airline goes to your destination. While you can find low fairs on travel websites such as Travelocity or Kayak, often the best deal is on the airline’s website.
It doesn’t matter where you are traveling, there are steps to take so you can enjoy it. Putting these tips to use will make your trip a much better one.