Thursday, May 23, 2013

Helpful Hints For Planning A Great Trip

By Margaret G. Farley


Traveling can be a special and fulfilling experience for you if you take advantage of it. Learning how to plan trips is not that hard, but it does require some research so that you don't end up getting lost or losing money on something you don't need. This list of tips should help you become a smarter traveler.

If you are traveling to Europe with electronic gadgets, remember that the voltage for household outlets is going to be different than in North America. This means that you'll either need to bring a converter so that you can plug American goods into European power, or find appliances that can handle a range of voltages.

When traveling to poorer or less-developed areas, avoid touching any of the local animals. This obviously includes farm animals, but also covers stray cats and dogs as well as draft or pack animals. You never know what diseases these animals could be carrying, and chances are you don't have the same immunities as the locals.

Check prices directly with your hotel or airline company to save money on your trip. Although it is often small, some search engine sites add a fee to their rates. To avoid the fee, check the airline website directly or give the hotel a call for their rates. You will typically find that the rates are lower when you book directly.

Traveling by bicycle can have many positive effects on a person and one the overall traveling experience. It will allow one to see everything from a very different perspective. It will also save one from buying gas and increase amounts of exercise one gets. The bicycle should not be overlooked.

If you're traveling with a baby and need to sterilize bottles or teething toys, wash them in hot soapy water, then stop up the sink. Heat some water in the hotel's coffee maker (without any coffee or tea in it!) and then pour the water over the bottles or teething toys until they're submerged. Let them sit for about five minutes and you'll have sterilized them!

Before leaving for an overseas vacation, create a copy of your travel itinerary to leave with a friend or a family member. This ensures that someone else knows where you should be and when. It can also assist you if your luggage is lost, since you will have a domestic contact who can confirm your whereabouts.

When you are traveling for the holidays, pack as light as you can. Airline baggage limits are getting more and more strict with their weight allowances and packing lighter can save you time and money. If you are planning your holiday travel to be with friends or family, consider shopping online and having gifts shipped to your destination. Doing this will cut down on luggage and assure you don't lose any special gifts.

As stated in the beginning of the article, you want to learn as much as you can about traveling. Remember that the information you just learned, isn't everything there is to know about how to travel efficiently, so always be on the look out for new things to learn. Apply these tips and your trips in the future should be smoother.




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