Many people say that when travelling abroad you are an easy target for crime, but that is really only true if you don’t know how to blend in. Like all countries, there is crime, however, you really need to be educated on the culture and understand how not to like a tourist. This article contains a number of helpful tips on blending into the native culture and not looking like a tourist.
Don’t be afraid to cash in your airline miles. Many travelers let their miles accumulate and never bother using them. Reap the rewards of your traveling and spend the miles you’ve earned! Miles have expiration dates, so be sure to use them before they expire. Often you can use them on items other than travel, so check out your options and get to spending.
Plan your packing. In these days of baggage fees and weight limits, most travelers carry one suitcase. To fit everything in, you need to be a smart packer. Check the weather forecast for your destination and choose outfits that you can mix and match. Opt for layers, which can easily be added or removed as the temperature changes. Also remember to wear your heavier/bulkier shoes so that they don’t hog too much space in your luggage.
Do not travel with wrapped gifts. When traveling for the holidays, it is tempting to get things done ahead of time and wrap all of your gifts, but don’t! The TSA does not allow wrapped gifts onto airlines and they may need to unwrap the gifts to inspect their contents.
When deciding what to wear on your feet when you go on a plane ride, keep in mind that you will be most comfortable in shoes that slip off easily. Crocs or flip flops are best because they can be taken off or put on in an instant.
If you’re traveling to a foreign country and have any allergies or medical conditions, plan ahead. While most modernized countries can provide anything you might need, some specialty items that are available in the United States aren’t available elsewhere. Planning ahead will make you’re trip much less stressful and will allow you to enjoy yourself more.
Once you have found an agent and an insurance policy you are happy with you will pay your premium and then you should receive your written policy. Receiving your premium tells you that the insurance agent has forwarded your insurance premium information to the insurance company. If you don’t receive your policy within a couple months, contact your agent.
If you are interested in international travel but you can’t afford it, consider volunteering to work at with an international charity. Many charities will allow you to live for free at an overseas location, in exchange for your work at one of their facilities, such as a hospital, school or nursery.
Make your travel plans more affordable by booking your flight through a meta-search site. It can be tempting to get your tickets from a website whose purpose is to locate cheap airfare, but a meta-search site looks through a variety of airlines and travel booking sites at the same time. It will then redirect you to the site that has the price you want, saving you money.
Check out alternative places to stay. You don’t always have to stay in a hotel to feel great on vacation. There are many “house-swapping” sites available, which allow you to stay in someones vacant home. Try looking for cabins or bed and breakfasts. Alternate lodging can be some of the most interesting and fun parts of vacationing, so be sure to check it out!
If you want to get the best price on a cruise vacation, either book your cruise early or at the very last moment. With booking early, you get the widest selection of accommodations plus you save 25 to 50 percent off the published price for each traveler. With booking at the last moment, you will not have the best choice of cabins but you can sometimes save more than 50 percent off the published price of your cabin.
Create an impromptu humidifier, using a bottle of water and a handkerchief or small towel. Airplane cabins are notorious for their dry air, which can irritate your lungs and sinuses. If the dryness starts to bother you, moisten a small towel with a bit of water and lay it across your nose and mouth. Lean back and as you breathe, the water in the towel will hydrate the air you inhale.
Look into last minute deals with cruise lines. They are a often much cheaper than what they would be if you were to book in advance. The cruise lines are anxious to book their empty cabins and will give a great rate for the last minute booking. These can also be found and booked through travel sites.
When you are going on a cruise, consider taking a power strip along with you. Typically most cabins on cruise ships have only one or two outlets, and by bringing a power strip, you will be able to run more of your appliances for an easier and more convenient stay aboard the ship.
Before booking your cruise vacation, get a map of the ship you will be sailing on to help select a specific cabin location. Look for clues on the map for areas that might pose a problem. Twain Harte Cabins near ice and vending machines, elevators and laundry rooms tend to be gathering places for passengers and are often congested and noisy.