Most people daydream about traveling the world. Though it is nice to dream about these great places, proper planning is the only way a trip will truly be enjoyable. The advice you’re about to read is going to help you have the best adventures.
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.
Make sure to choose a type of vacation that suits your personality. If you hate being outdoors, you shouldn’t go to the beach! Personality styled vacations are becoming increasingly popular these days, with everything from adults-only cruises to geek-friendly trips. Search for a vacation that you will truly enjoy.
When packing luggage for your trip, store your socks in shoes. If you are packing more than one pair of shoes for your trip, save space back packing your socks and pantyhose inside them. Socks and pantyhose can take up a surprisingly large amount of space in your suitcase if packed separately.
Don’t get carried away with taking too many photographs on your trip. Some people get so caught up in taking pictures of everything that they forget to experience the culture and landmarks. Take a few pictures, but also make sure to spend enough time outside of the lens to enjoy your trip to the fullest.
If you’re on vacation and you arrive at the hotel only to find out that you left the charger to your cell phone, video game, tablet, or whatever at home, don’t panic! Go down to the front desk and ask nicely if they have one you can use. Most hotels have a box of chargers that past guests have left behind and you can probably find one that fits your device.
Before you leave home, make multiple copies of your travel documents. Store these in separate bags. It may also be a good idea to scan them onto a flash drive, and carry it with you. Emailing them to yourself can be another method. Make sure you have several backups. You do not want to get stuck in a foreign country!
If you know in advance that you will be passing through some less-than-desirable neighborhoods or areas of town en route to your destination, don’t rely solely on your in-dash GPS system. Map out alternate routes using MapQuest or Google Maps, so you don’t end up in a bad part of town, in the middle of the night, with bad directions.
When traveling to a foreign country, try to learn at least a few words of the language. Knowing how to say simple phrases like “how are you”, “may I have the check”, or “where is the bathroom” can help tremendously as you navigate throughout your destination. It also helps the locals to see that you are making an effort, which may make them friendlier toward you.
Before making firm travel plans call the hotel you are considering, and find out when it was built or last renovated. A low-budget facility can be a great place to stay if it is brand new, while a high class hotel can be a miserable experience for you if it is very old. You want to stay somewhere that was either built or renovated in the past five years.
Hopefully, you now feel more sure of yourself and the trip you are about to take. Other travelers will think you are savvy when problems arise and you handle them well. These suggestions ensure that you get everything you wanted from your vacation plans and set the ball in motion for the next trip.
