Are you planning a trip and not sure what you should be thinking about? There are a lot of things to remember when planning a trip to make sure that nothing will go wrong! Read on for some ideas on what you need to remember to have a safe trip.
When traveling out of the country, it is advisable to drink only bottled water. This is especially important in countries where the quality of their tap water may be questionable. It’s better to possibly pay a bit more and be safe than risk getting sick because of contaminated tap water.
In order to get the most out of your trip with a toddler, when choosing a hotel, you should make sure that you have either another room or a balcony. Since toddlers take frequent naps and also go to bed early, this will ensure that you will be able to occupy yourself while your little one sleeps. No one really wants to call it a night at eight in the evening when they are on vacation.
If you are traveling with too much luggage to carry on an airplane, take a digital photograph of your bag and the baggage tag. These come in handy if your bag is lost. The photos give you something to reference when describing your bag to the airport personnel and the tag confirms that your bag was labeled for the right airport.
If you enjoy alcohol, there’s no better way when traveling, to get to know a new city than with a pub crawl. Visiting multiple establishments in the same night, will give an interesting cross-section of the city that you wouldn’t gain any other way. Plus, you’ll make some new friends.
Losing your rental car in large parking lots is no fun. Carry one of those fluorescent foam balls that fit over the tip of your antenna or maybe even a colorful ribbon to tie to the rear view mirror. They take up no room in your luggage and can sure make locating that car a whole lot easier when there are exactly 37 others that look just like it in the same row where you parked!
If you’re going on a cruise, make sure you pack a power strip with you. Most rooms aboard cruise ships will only have one (maybe two) power outlets. If you have multiple devices that will need to be plugged, in you’ll be glad you brought a power strip instead of fighting over outlets.
To ensure you receive the most personal and high quality service from your chosen hotel, call at night. The night desk clerks are usually much less busy than those working in the daytime, and are therefore, both willing and able to take you through the steps of securing the best deals.
Hotel stationery is a great souvenir, and hotels do not charge you for taking it. The hotels realize that their stationery is a form of advertisement for them, so if you take it and use it, you are doing them a favor. Most higher-end hotels have beautiful stationery, so snap it up! They don’t mind.
Avoid catching a cold, or worse, on the plane with hand sanitizer. An airplane is an enclosed space where a large number of people are confined for an extended period of time. To make matters worse, the air inside the cabin is circulates, spreading germs from passenger to passenger. To avoid catching something, try to avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth. If you must scratch that itch, wash your hands, and then apply hand sanitizer.
Do research on whether certain vaccinations are recommended or required prior to traveling to a foriegn country. This is as much to protect yourself as it is to obey the requirements of the country. You can check with your doctor, visit the website of the country you are visiting, or do a web search for the information.
If you are going to travel with a young child, make sure you take breaks at least every two to three hours. Breaks can offer the opportunity to use the bathroom and stretch your legs. You’ll also prevent kids from getting motion sickness this way. Your trip will be a little longer when you do this, but it will actually reduce stress, which makes the delay worth it.
If you have a smartphone, check for useful travel and language related apps before you leave home. Having the ability to find a well-reviewed hotel or restaurant while in an unfamiliar city can help to make your trip more enjoyable and memorable. There may also be phrasebooks and translation apps that can make communication much easier.
If you are trying out a new restaurant during your travels, watch how the other patrons act. They can give you clues as to how to eat unusual dishes or which condiments to use on your food. This is particularly helpful when eating overseas, where the food is probably very different from what you are used to.
When you are traveling and want to purchase a souvenir, focus on things that you can use to decorate your home. Too many people bring back items that clutter their rooms and eventually get thrown away. Instead of buying a lot of little things, invest in one or two nice items that you will enjoy decorating your house with.
Try to find and wear clothing that has hidden pockets. Not only is this convenient for you because you have room to carry more items, but it is helpful for keeping things from thieves and pickpockets. They will never find your valuables in a hidden shirt, pants or jacket pocket.
As you can see, there are so many things to think about when planning your trip to make sure it’s as safe and enjoyable as possible. If you’re planning a trip, make sure to go over this list carefully and check off each idea to make sure your trip will be the best it can be.
