Travel can be a wondrous experience. No really, it can be. In terms of traveling to a new location and experiencing new people, culture, and food, it is truly a thing of wonder. To start learning some basics as to how to make a plan that works for you, refer to the tips below.
Write down your travel plans and leave a copy with friends or family. It is always wise to prepare for the unexpected. Should you go go missing, someone is sure to notice much sooner this way. Knowing what your plans were will also be very helpful to the authorities.
If you have plans to travel, the most important preparation you should do is make a checklist of everything you need from toiletries to extra articles of clothing. Before you leave, make sure that all of these items are packed because most likely if you forget something, the gift shops available to you will overcharge for simple things such as toothpaste or shampoo.
A GPS navigation system is absolutely vital for any long-distance car trip. If your car did not come with a factory navigation system, you should seriously consider buying one before hitting the open road. GPS helps you find alternative routes when closures, traffic or accidents close the road ahead. GPS can even keep you out of danger if you encounter emergency conditions.
If you are traveling overseas and looking for good local food, pay attention to where the locals eat. The presence of a group of cabs, for example, is easy to spot and shows you where the low-cost but good food can be found. The location is also guaranteed to be filled to the brim with local color.
A great travel tip is to shop around online for the best hotel deal. There are plenty of sites such as Priceline.com, where you can find and book the best hotel deal. Sites like these are great because they include all of the information in one place instead of you having to go looking for it all.
For some the road trip is the only way to travel. If you’re going to be taking a road trip do this simple things before hand so you don’t end up stranded half way across the country. Number one, be sure to get an oil change! Number two, have your mechanic give your car a once over before you depart. The last thing you need in the middle of no where are easily preventable mechanical failures.
When traveling to a different area, make sure that you’re open to different local customs. Some ideas might be strange, but be respectful of other cultures. Not showing respect and not paying attention to local customs can be a real downer for your trip causing you to not feel welcomed in a city.
One way to collect memories of your trip is to do crayon rubbings of architectural features, historical markers or even, just interesting textures. All you need is a crayon and thin, newsprint like, paper. Tear the paper cover off the outside of the crayon. Next, hold the paper flat on the surface you are recording. To complete the rubbing, use the side of the crayon rubbing it back and forth until the image emerges.
Take work with you. If you spend a small amount of time performing work tasks on your trip, be it for business or pleasure, you can then deduct the expenses of that trip on your income taxes. Check with your tax professional for details about what you can and can’t do, but make sure you save those receipts.
So, now do you see why traveling is such a wondrous experience? Discovering new lands, places, people, and food is truly a thing of wonder and can be a life-changing experience. The tips above should have created a good foundation for you to build upon and create your own wondrous traveling experience.