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Friday, January 11, 2013

Enjoy Your Travels More With These Tips

By Long Dobrinin


Travel is one of those things that everyone can get into, but in which not everyone really excels. Making travel arrangements can be a fast, painless thought-free process. However, getting the best deals and making the best plans, takes a little more effort. Here are a few tips for maximizing the benefits that good travel planning can bring.

Part of any travel plans should be research on your destination's weather. When making plans you should know what kind of outdoor activities you will be taking part in and what the seasonal weather is like at your destination. Keep the weather in mind and you will minimize the time you have to spend indoors.

If you're going to be going on a road trip, bring a power inverter with you. A power inverter is a handy device that you plug into your car's cigarette lighter and then lets you plug anything into it. It's great if you're traveling with kids since you can plug video games or a laptop in. When traveling by air, there is no longer any reason to carry a separate toiletries bag. All of your liquids and gels will need to fit into a Ziplock bag regardless. That bag will already be sealed, and will be smaller and lighter than any bag designated for the task.

Select lightweight luggage that has a pull handle and roller wheels. Making your way through an airport can be a long walk and having lightweight luggage that you can easily pull behind will surely save you some grief. Make sure that it will stand up on its own, so as you are checking in, it will stay stable.

Instead of going someplace far away, look for local attractions that you can travel to. Not only will you save time and money, but you will also be supporting local businesses and your local economy. If you need suggestions, call your local visitors bureau for suggestions on nearby activities for you and your family.

If you carry a smartphone, turn off the cellular and data services and simply make use of the Wi-Fi. If you were to accidentally use your data services while traveling internationally, you could be hit with hefty roaming charges. Wi-Fi services at free hotspots, however, won't cost you anything from your cell company.

Travel by bus to avoid high baggage fees. Although buses have small fees for over-sized bags and excess weight, they have a much higher baggage allowance than any airline. One of the many benefits of choosing bus travel that can come in handy is that you can use them for shipping large parcels, in addition to your typical baggage.

A great low-cost alternative to flying, or driving cross-country, is to take the bus. The bus allows you to really experience the country. You will pass through areas you would never see otherwise, and since you are riding, you can really take in the experience. Bus travel is available in rural or city areas.

Although the idea of adding more clutter to your inbox may seem less than ideal, most major airlines do offer incentives for people who subscribe to their emails. People who can tolerate a few extra emails per week are often rewarded with first-come, first-served access to special promotions and information on upcoming sales.

Driving far in a car means consistently changing radio stations for ones that a clear. To solve this, make CDs or tapes with all of the group's favorite songs so you can jam happily without distracting yourself by trying to find a clear station while driving. This also allows for you guys to listen to music non-stop rather then sit and wait for commercials to end.

Don't judge a hotel by its name alone. Look for the year it was built or last renovated, which can be very telling. Hotels can take a beating and a newly built budget hotel, may be much nicer than a luxury brand that is showing a lot of wear and tear from not being renovated in years. When traveling by car in the winter it is important to make frequent rest stops. Driving in the winter is more tiring than driving in the summer. You will want to make time to stop to stretch your legs. Taking a few minutes from driving will make a great amount of difference in improving your alertness behind the wheel.

If you are traveling by air, it is vital that you remember to drink enough water. Travel is stressful, and the running around can deplete your body of water. The recirculated air on airplanes and in most airports will further dehydrate you. Buy a refillable water bottle after you go through security to help with hydration.

A good traveling tip is to make sure you take sleep aids at an appropriate time. If you take a sleep aid too soon, you could miss an important announcement. You might also be in the way of your fellow passengers so you should always be aware of how taking a sleep aid can affect you and others.

When traveling, make sure to have your affairs in order at home. Consider updating your will, have insurance documents in order, and leave power of attorney with a trusted friend or family member. If you have children, you may want to arrange a guardian for them in case something happens to you.

If you travel with children, have plenty of easy to eat snacks on hand. Children often get bored and cranky when traveling, especially on boring stretches of road. This is magnified if they are hungry, so pack a snack pack that includes easy to eat foods such as pre-sliced fruit, juice boxes or small bags of cereal.

Do some research online that covers all of the additional fees that you may be charged by individual airlines. These fees include baggage fees, snacks, entertainment, wifi and seat section. You will then be able to add up what everything is going to cost you including the price of the ticket itself.

Whether traveling to see a family member or as part of an adventurous expedition, everyone needs some planning and preparation for their trip. Hopefully you learned something from reading this article that will help you on your next vacation and maybe something you can pass along to a friend.




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