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Take The Edge Off With These Travel Tips

By Steve Charles


In the world of traveling, there are plenty of great resources available to both new and experienced travelers alike. There are many websites, guides, books, videos, and other resources available. This article contains some of the best tips for helping a new traveler become a smart traveler.

Avoid carrying bulky coats or feeling the chill of a window seat by dressing in layers that can be easily discarded or added back when flying. Airplane cabins are known for fluctuating temperatures both prior to takeoff and during the flight and most airlines no longer provide light blankets.

One way to increase the safety and security of your home while you are away on a trip is to install either interior or exterior lights that operate on a timer. These lights will automatically turn on at designated times, such as nightfall, and give the impression that the house is occupied when actually, it is vacant.

It might be a good idea to pack a small bag of goldfish or bring a little toy from a fast food restaurant on a flight with you. Even if you don't have children, there may be some desperate parent that will be so grateful to you for your gift.

Split up your valuables when you travel. Try not to keep all of your important documents in one place. Split up checks, cash, credit cards, passports, and tickets into different pockets and bags. If something is lost or stolen, you will still have the other things to fall back on.

Consider different modes of transportation. The bus system is not as it used to be. You can get a great price for travel and the buses are clean, many have free wifi and electrical outlets and some other perks. You can find package deals from some lines to make your travel planning a cinch.

Packing for trip is really a process of balancing out the column of what you absolutely need against what would be nice to have. You only have so much room in your luggage. One way to make your trip so much easier is to only pack the bare essentials. Buy anything else you might need once you are at your destination!

If you are traveling with small children, visit a small hospital beforehand. They can give your child an identification bracelet so that if your child gets lost, their personal information is available. If you are traveling to another country, get the identification tag in the language of the country you are visiting.

Traveling by bus with children can be a trying experience, but you can make it easier by being prepared for boredom, snack attacks and other potential circumstances. Bringing along some travel games and coloring books and crayons are great ways to keep both younger and older children occupied. If you travel overnight rather than during the day, a young child is likely to sleep through most of the trip. Pack a snack bag with food and beverages for each child. Give your children the opportunity to stretch their legs by getting off the bus during brief stops.

Never be satisfied with the rate you are given when making reservations at hotels or rental vehicles. Many times there are discounts that you may not have thought of and it is not the responsibility of the service provider to list those for every transaction. By asking you can prompt them to check, which they should be happy to do.

If you travel frequently or are in a position that requires you to travel on very short notice, keep a bag of toiletries that are earmarked only for use on trips. This is much easier to keep up with than having to go through all of your cosmetics and toiletries to pull out the ones you plan to use on the trip.

When traveling internationally, make sure that you have data roaming turned off on your wireless devices including your cell phone. Data roaming charges can get very expensive. Instead, take advantage of free Wi-Fi hotspots available at places like airports, hotels, and restaurants. You can also use your free Internet connection when available to make cheaper calls through applications such as Skype.

Make arrangements with your insurance company and tell them that you will be travelling out of the United States. You might need to purchase supplemental programs or they might have another program. Better yet, you can save money by finding travel insurance companies that are far more specialized than your general insurance company.

To save money on travel, seek out memberships! Many groups offer discounts on hotel rates, including the AARP, AAA, and various hotel rewards clubs. These rates are typically much cheaper than advertised ones, and can even save you money on top of already discounted rates. If you travel regularly, your membership fees will quickly pay for themselves.

Camping is a great way to see the country, or even the world, on a budget. Instead of springing for expensive hotels, look for camping sites along the way of your trip. Many of them have amenities like plumbed bathrooms and showers. You can even avoid having to cook by continuing to eat out, as you would if staying in a hotel.

A good idea when traveling is to use vacuum sealed bags to pack your clothes. This will drastically reduce the amount of room they take effectively reducing the number of pieces of luggage you will need to carry. As an added bonus this might save you on baggage fees with airlines.

When you book a flight, make sure you reserve a seat too. Choose a window seat if you want to look outside, or a seat located near the restroom if you find this more comfortable. If you choose to sit near an exit, you will have more leg room. Choose the best seat possible and try changing it later if you want.

Now that you've read the above travel tips, you're more prepared to meet your travel destiny with the fearlessness of thorough preparation. Keeping these few simple things in mind whenever you leave home on a trip will give you more peace of mind and make sure you bring home more stories about great experiences rather than about stressful learning experiences.




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