Traveling is enjoyable and exciting, even when you’re traveling for business. However, spending too much money on charges and fees can quickly take the enjoyment out of traveling. This article contains tips on how to maximize your travel budget by minimizing your expenses.
Prepare ahead of time if you’ll be traveling by airplane. Most major airports are situated in busy cities, so driving to an airport can take a very long time during periods of heavy traffic. Have your bags packed well in advance. Be prepared long before you have to be at the airport. It feels terrible to miss your flight.
Try and leave important valuables at home. If you bring many valuables with you, you run the risk of losing them or having them stolen.
Create a list of the items you need to pack. Between one week and three months before you leave for a trip, sit down and write down every item you are going to take with you. Creating a list is a great way to stay organized, and even if you procrastinate, it will be useful to get packing done quickly.
If you have a child, keep a color photo of him or her in your wallet in case they get lost. Losing your child is a scary situation. Children can sometimes become lost when traveling due to the crowds or the unfamiliar location. A simple picture of your child will make a difference, especially if you are going abroad and do not speak the language fluently enough to describe your child and they get lost from you.
Whenever you can, print online tickets in advance of your visit to a special event or attraction. This sometimes costs a small amount extra, but the time saved waiting in a line makes up for it. Another option to skip admission is by using the timed entry into the park.
IF you are in a foreign city, make sure that you are not dealing with people posing as police or other officials. Never give them your original passport as you may never see it again. If someone insists you must visit their office, then walk there with them. Never get into a car with a strange local.
If you are on a short or long flight, don’t expect the airline to supply your essentials. Bringing a blanket, pillow and headphones with you is a good idea. Don’t go hungry! Bring your own healthy snacks on the plane!
You need to wear comfortable shoes when you take an airplane; it’s preferable if you are able to slip your feet out of them easily. When you go through security checks, you will be required to take them off. They should always be comfortable. Because you will do more sitting than standing good support shoes are not necessary. Sandals and flip flops make great travel footwear.
Make sure to get to the port city the night before your cruise to avoid the chance of missing it. Ask the staff at the hotel where you stay about parking deals they may offer.
Try to go to the gym prior to getting on a flight. Long airplane trips can be tiring to your body. Your body can become cramped and uncomfortable. Getting in a workout, or at least some stretching, before you board the plane can help cut down or eliminate any leg and back muscle issues.
There are many beautiful vistas and unusual fauna and flora in a desert. Everyone should experience the majesty and austerity of the desert at some point in their life.
The vast sand dunes and exotic animals and plants are something you likely couldn’t experience anywhere else. Deserts are quite memorable destinations to new travelers and nobody should have to pass up a chance to see their natural beauty during their lifetime.
Find out as soon as possible whether you require a visa to enter the country you are travelling to. If a visa will be required, apply for it early. Sometimes visas take weeks or even months to process, so it’s best to be prepared ahead of time. Don’t forget that without the right visa, you will not be able to enter some countries.
Always pack bottled water when going overseas. Drinking water in foreign countries is usually not purified and can make you very ill. Use bottled water to brush your teeth with. Tap water can still make you sick this way.
Major airlines have e-newsletters you may be able to subscribe to and find deals. These newsletters are great if you want to take advantage of special offers, discounts and other exclusive perks. Yes, these e-newsletters may mean more inbox clutter, but the savings you can receive make it worth it.
If a travel site has an E-tracking option, utilize it. The send out alerts for good deals and save you a ton of money. You’ll get an email alert of price reductions for flights and hotels you’re interested in.
If there is hotel room available on a floor that is higher, you should request that one. This may seem simple, but the security afforded from higher floors is worth it. If possible, request a room without sliding doors for security purposes. Sliding doors are notoriously easy to jimmy open.
When you are going to go on a road trip, bring along your favorite CD’s, cassettes or your MP3 player, so that you can enjoy your music on your trip. Many times, the radio will have a lot of static from traveling out of the city or state, so this provides you with constant entertainment during your trip.
Stretch your legs once per hour or more when you’re on a long flight. You can do this by walking to the restroom, even if you don’t have to go. You can hurt your muscles and perhaps get a blood clot if you sit in the same position for too long.
When you are ready to travel, you need to be sure to have copies made of each of your vital papers. You want to have copies of your passport, insurance, and other vital documents. Put them in some safe place other than with you. You could also leave a copy of everything with a friend or family member as a backup.
If you are going on a camping trip and planning on hiking make sure you have maps of the area that you are in and carry them with you. Another good idea is to bring a GPS available in instances when you might get lost while hiking.
It is important to purchase a voltage converter if you will be traveling outside the United States. These can be purchased at electronics stores or travel stores before your trip. If you have to buy one at the last minute, you will pay a premium for the convenience.
Bring a contact lens case with you when you are traveling. These can be used to carry small amounts of gels or lotions that you may want, and save you a lot of space in your suitcases.
Local Currency
Take the local currency with you on your next trip. It can be difficult to get local currency after hours, which can be a problem depending on when you arrive. Almost all large banks will sell foreign currency, so get it before you go and you’ll have one less thing to worry about when you arrive at your destination.
If you are planning to travel abroad, make sure to purchase your electric adapter here before you leave. Purchasing one near an airport or hotel can be extremely expensive.
Following these tips should make your traveling adventures smoother and more enjoyable. Whereever your final destination may be, it will be more enjoyable when you can sit and relax and reflect on all the cash you have saved on the trip.
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Till then,
Aloha!