Everyone has heard stories about vacations from hell, where everything went wrong. However, the bottom line is, the nightmare would probably not have happened without good planning. Don’t worry about this happening to you, though. This article will address the most common causes of travel problems and give advice on how to avoid them.
Make arrangements for your pets while you will be away. Have a neighbour or friend come over to feed, walk and check in on them, at least once per day. They will feel more secure knowing that they will have fresh food and water and will be less stir-crazy than if they were left alone for a long period of time.
When booking your hotel stay, pay attention to cancellation policies and fees for date changes. Prepaying for a cheaper rate only benefits you if you can definitely travel on those dates. If you might have to change dates, you can save more money by paying a higher rate at a hotel with a more lenient cancellation policy.
Don’t be afraid to cash in your airline miles. Many travellers let their miles accumulate and never bother using them. Reap the rewards of your travelling 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.
When travelling with a dog, remember that most pet supplies are better purchased at your destination. For example, unless your dog is on a special diet, buying a bag of dog food when you arrive is easier than attempting to transport it. Bowls and other supplies are the same way.
If you wish to travel abroad, try learning about the language. You can easily find small guides that contain all the essential words, in case you get lost or need something. Do not assume that everybody will speak English and that people will be more friendly if you try speaking their language.
Everyone knows that airplane food is not exactly gourmet. A good tip is to take along your favourite spice or hot sauce and dress up your rather bland meal. It will add that extra kick to your food and will help it go down a little bit easier.
Not all medical insurance plans cover you when you travel abroad. When making a plan to travel to international destinations it’s a good idea to look into purchasing medical coverage for your trip. So, before you go you may want to research what kind of medical coverage is available to you and what the costs might be.
Participate in loyalty programs if you are a frequent traveller. You may not anticipate being able to cash in, but these programs often accumulate faster than you realize. Companies are fighting against a sea of competition and want to keep their business. If you typically choose the same company, find out what kind of rewards they have in place for your loyalty.
If possible travel during off-peak hours. The price of flights changes depending on the hour, the day and the month of travel. You can save a lot of money by booking flights during off-peak hours. For example, flights on Thursdays are usually cheaper than those on Fridays. This is because the demand for seats is lower on a Thursday as people who work away from home during the week normally want to fly home on a Friday.
If you’re packing your laptop for work or recreation while you travel, bring along an A.V. cable as well. Many hotels offer both free high-speed Internet and a large HDTV in your room. If you’ve got an A.V. cable, you can plug your computer right into the HDTV and view your online content right on the large screen.
Bring your own snacks to eat during a flight. Sure the airline will offer you some snacks and refreshments but they will likely charge you an arm and a leg for them. If you bring your own you know you will like what you have and you will not get overcharged for it.
When travelling, carry your own GPS unit and program it for all of the stops you will be making. Doing this can save you the time it takes to constantly look up addresses and review maps. You also won’t find yourself stopping to ask for directions nearly as often.
Travelling is not only an enriching experience but a frustrating one sometimes as well. Whether for business or pleasure, you have to come prepared. Making a list before you go can be very beneficial. Make sure you know the weather of the place you’re going and pack accordingly. Also, read up on the prohibited items list at the airport of your choice as it can be a bummer to have to leave something behind.
The reason people have bad vacation experiences is that they did not plan ahead. Use the advice in this article to easily plan and prepare for your next vacation or business trip.
