Tuesday, December 18, 2012

Take The Stress Out Of Travel With These Helpful Tips

By Dee Donaghue


The annoyance of planning your trip will be forgotten when you are enjoying your vacation. Figuring out the logistics of your trip, and making sure that everything is set up correctly, can get confusing. By educating yourself with these tips, you can make the planning process as painless as possible.

If your travel takes you to amusement parks or any other place that requires tickets, purchase them online. Many times you can print them at home and save some money, too. The often nominal purchase fee is usually well worth the time saved, when you are able to skip the long lines at the ticket office. If your destination offers timed entry, printed tickets can also be used to get around the admission line.

Stay up as late as possible, or at least until around 8 o'clock in the evening, to help adapt to the time change. If you go to bed early, even if you're tired, it can make your jet lag stay longer because you keep your body in sync with the time zone from home. So adjust as fast as you can to the new time zone, so you'll get over being jet lagged faster.

A park pass from the National Parks services will benefit you if you are planning on visiting often. The passes can be purchased for $50 and are a great deal as they cover all national parks for one full year.

You should always have a good photo of your child on you when you travel with him or her, just in case the two of you get separated. Not knowing your child's whereabouts is frightening. Unfortunately, it can happen. Having a photo you can show people immediately if the child becomes lost could wind up making a substantial difference in getting them back quickly.

Don't rely on the airline you're flying with to cater to your every need, even if you're going on a long distance flight. Make sure you bring along a blanket, pillow and if you will use them, headphones. Don't go hungry! Bring your own healthy snacks on the plane!

If you travel with eyeglasses, make sure that an extra pair is in your luggage. If your glasses happen to break when you are vacationing you can have a back up. Put them in your luggage in case your purse or carry on bags were lost or got stolen.

When traveling in strange cities, be alert for criminals posing as police officers or other government officials. Never give them your original passport as you may never see it again. If you are asked to travel to any offices, insist on walking. Do not get rides with strangers.

Write all of your information on a label on your luggage when you are traveling. Even if the luggage is lost and the tags are detached, you still may be able to find it. Placing labels on the interior of your bag can help to ensure that you will get your belongings back, regardless of how long they are out of sight.

You should be cognizant of the fact that a large amount of people stay in hotels. Try not to make too much noise and avoid slamming doors as a courtesy to other hotel guests. Even during daytime, some people may be taking a nap. You don't have to be quiet as a mouse, but you should be reasonable in the noise you make.

If you are going to travel, make certain that you have made copies of all of your important documents. Keep these copies of passports, insurance information, and any other pertinent documents in a safe place as backups for the originals. It is wise to have a relative or friend hold onto a set too in case your documents turn up missing.

Several airports have play areas and can take away some of the stress of traveling. You will be less upset at a delay and your companions will be happier.

If visiting National Parks is in the cards for your vacation, consider purchasing an official National Park Pass. They cost $50 and are good for all the parks for one year.

If you are traveling for several hours at a stretch, be sure to stand up and walk around at least one time each hour to get your circulation moving, even if you have to take an unneeded restroom break. Sitting for too long could cause blood clots and actually harm your muscles.

A recreation area can prevent your children from having a temper tantrum. Keeping your kids occupied will make delays a lot more tolerable.

You don't have to wander far from home to enjoy a fun weekend get-away. Many times you can enjoy yourself right in your own state or a neighboring one. Travel expenses can be greatly reduced by staying in your home state with the added benefit that you will be supporting local merchants, restaurants and attractions. You might even learn about a great attraction in your area that you didn't know about.

Research a variety of hotels, resorts and attractions before deciding on your travel plans. By looking for feedback from people who have used the same business, you can avoid booking a stay somewhere that is likely to leave you unhappy.

Before you travel, make copies of all your important travel documents. Keep the copies of your documents in a safe place that can be accessed in the event of an emergency. Check with your hotel for any resources that may be available. Avoid keeping document copies and the originals together. Otherwise, you can lose everything, and your precautions will be futile. Also, have someone you know keep a set of copies, too. This helps if all copies in your possession are lost.

Always go out of your way to tip any bell station and housekeeper appropriately. You should give about a dollar per bag and 2 to 5 dollars per day of housekeeping. You will have a better relationship with them when you are staying at the hotel.

As mentioned earlier in this piece, traveling can be very fun, even if getting ready for it is not. There are a few different tips you can use to have a chance at a better trip. These tips can help you to simplify and de-stress your travel experience.




About the Author:



No comments: