Everyone wants to be a smart traveler who gets more for their money and books the best trips. Traveling seems to be getting more and more expensive and navigating all of the internet sites and travel agencies can get confusing. Here are a few simple tips to help you along.
You can save space in your luggage by packing in large airtight bags, such as ziplocks. Find the gallon or 2 gallon size bags, pack t-shirts, socks, underwear and other lightweight fabric items in them, and then roll the air out of the bag before zipping shut. This will reduce the size of your items down and you will be able to fit more in your bag.
Before booking a hotel for your trip, check with the Better Business Bureau. Checking with them first, can save you a lot of time and money. It will ensure that you do not waste your time checking into a poor hotel. A poor hotel experience can ruin any vacation or business trip.
Anytime you are going to be driving to a different city before going on a cruise, check to see if there is a hotel that has fee parking, and get there the night before. Ask the staff at the hotel if they offer any parking discounts even if they don’t have any published.
When going on an extended trip, make sure to pack weather appropriate clothing. Go online to check out the weather channel’s website and see what kind of weather is expected in your travel area. For example, don’t pack mini skirts and tennis shoes if where you’re going has a lot of rainfall and cold weather. It not only will prevent you from getting sick, but also from getting strange stares from the locals who can pinpoint tourists and make you feel awkward.
A car’s tires should be checked before any major road travel. This includes, not only a visual inspection for leaks and flatness, but a full pressure check. Tires that are not fully inflated to their recommended PSI will hurt highway performance and reduce gas mileage. By ensuring the tires are up to snuff, the wise motorist can save real money on a long car trip.
You should always bring something that will keep you occupied on a flight. A simple entertainer is a pen and paper. You can play games, write poems, draw little sketches, anything you can imagine. This will keep your mind focused so you are not concerned about how much longer the flight will be.
Road trips are fun but at the end of each day of driving you want to just relax so choose a hotel that is near restaurants or has room service. You can call ahead where you plan to stop and ask the hotels what food options are available nearby.
To get the most relaxation while you travel, make sure to bring things to do in your down time. People often think that a vacation means they will be on the go the entire time. In reality, there is time to unwind at night, waiting in lines, and during travel time. Bring a book you have been dying to read and see how much you can accomplish.
It is possible to keep your diet in check when you travel and stay in a hotel. While you are at the hotel, skip the minibar. Also, if the hotel offers a Continental breakfast, stick to the healthier options such as, cereal, eggs and fruits. If your room has a refrigerator or microwave, it might be best to bring food from home that has the nutritional content that you are familiar with.
If you are heading out on a road trip, have your car serviced and thoroughly checked over by a mechanic. The last thing anyone wants when on a road trip is a broken down car in the middle of nowhere. Even if you break down in a populated area, the cost and time spent on repairs can ruin a vacation.
Traveling abroad? Make sure to pack a passport holder! These nifty devices are slim, discreet, and very useful to protect yourself against pickpockets. You can slip your passport and money into the small pouch, and wear it under a sweatshirt or t-shirt so no one is able to get to it on the street. American passports are worth a lot of money on the black market in many other countries, so better to be safe than sorry!
If you want to save money while taking a vacation, find a house or condo to rent that has a kitchen. Doing this will allow you to bring your own groceries, or buy them at your destination. Having your own food will help you save money by not going out to eat for every meal, which can really break the bank.
A savvy travel tip everyone can use is to seek out restaurants that are popular with local residents, rather than selecting eateries that cater to tourists. By dining where the natives dine, you will gain greater cultural exposure, eat better food, and have a far more authentic experience than a tourist trap restaurant could ever offer.
When planning your next vacation, make sure you take advantage of all your available resources. Whether looking up online reviews, talking with friends or coworkers about their travel experiences, or calling up area hotels to discover local activities not commonly highlighted in the typical brochures, taking the time to research all your alternatives, is sure to enhance your travel experience.
Traveling light can be a wonderful experience, especially for single people or a couple. If you are capable of travel with just one bag, you will have much more flexibility on your trip and will be able to explore a great deal more. Europe is the perfect place for this travel style.
In this article, we have discussed traveling smart and remaining budget conscious. We have also reviewed several internet sites and go-to guides that can help you along the way. Follow these tips and you’ll be traveling like a pro, enjoying your trip more and saving money while doing so.
