Friends love to talk about horror stories surrounding their travel adventures. However, most of them could have been avoided simply through solid planning. If you want to avoid the problems that come along with poor vacation planning, read on for some great advice.
Picking aisle seats is the best way to give yourself options. Window seats can be very restricting in terms of bathroom access and overhead storage access.
As you plan your vacation, try and be open minded about the destination. Favorite vacation spots may be fun, but you can make your vacation more interesting and memorable if you vary your destination. Your choice of destination can often be the money saver when you’re on a tight budget.
Be vigilant when dealing with local police or other officials, in case they’re not who they claim to be, but instead are imposters. You should always check credentials, and avoid releasing your passport or official documents to these individuals. If they state you must go to an office, offer to walk the distance with them. Don’t ride with someone you don’t know.
A doorstop may be of help if you’re going to be in a hotel in a not-so-great area. Normally, these handy wedges are employed in keeping doors open, but you can use them to ensure that doors remain shut too.
When taking a cruise, find a good hotel in the port city that provides free or low cost parking and make plans to arrive the day before your departure. Always ask the hotel staff for the policies and pricing on parking at the hotel and whether deals are available.
When traveling with a toddler, you have to bring along things that will keep him interested and happy during the trip. Their favorite toys are a must when packing. You can also buy a couple of new toys for the travel because this will offer him enough distraction to keep him busy.
Always be kind, and tip your bell waiter and housekeeper daily. This will make your stay much more pleasant. Standard tipping rates are a dollar per bag carried, and around $2-5 per day to the maid. Tipping will show your appreciation for their work, and will help you maintain a good relationship with hotel staff.
Many stores overcharge for these products, minimizing your savings. Use techniques such as rolling your clothing or make use of vacuum packaging. Doing this can give you a surprising amount of space in your suitcase.
If you’re traveling abroad, make sure you know the type of insurance coverage that the credit card companies already offer you. You might be already covered for cancelled flight that get charged to the card. Conducting research prior to leaving is worth it.
When you travel, try to obtain the “local” rate at a hotel. Many hotels offer local deals in order to fill empty rooms. If someone you know lives in the city you’re traveling to, see if they can call and find out if there are any special offers available. This simple step can end up saving you a lot of money.
Any great vacation can go awry if proper research time is not used in the planning. Reading reviews from others who have traveled to your destination is key. Reading about their experiences will help you make the best choices and avoid the worst places.
If you are going on a road trip, factor in time for service stops. When you’re traveling on the road, you can run across long stretches in which there are not many stops or any stops for helping you to maintain or service your vehicle. Plan the route you want to take, and keep an eye out for stations in the area that can take care of your vehicle if you need it. Keep their phone numbers close at hand as you travel.
Finally, the reason there are so many bad vacation stories is that many people are unprepared for travel. Use the advice in this article to easily plan and prepare for your next vacation or business trip.