What You Should Know Before You Travel
Traveling can be an exciting adventure. The world is literally full of destinations to explore and experience. The ability to interact with a culture and people that are different from ones own is exciting, but simpler trips can be arranged as well. There are remarkable treasures to be discovered in one’s own backyard, if you know where to look.
Making a friend of the concierge will make your stay at any hotel a much safer and smarter experience. This person should be greeted and tipped like your life depends on it. The concierge has a wealth of information on where to eat, play, relax, shop, and can also; get you out of any bind you might find yourself in while far from home.
A great travel tip is to make sure your important items are within reach when you’re planning to go on a road trip. A lot of people make the mistake of putting their important items in first, which makes them very hard to reach because they’re underneath a lot of stuff.
Locate a restaurant near your hotel if you plan to stay longer than overnight. While many hotels have restaurants built right in, such eateries will be sad, generic affairs offering little to remember. By finding a local restaurant within easy travel distance you will gain access to a little bit of local color.
Before departing on any journey, even ones lasting only a few days, always make two photocopies of your important information, including itinerary, passport, drivers license, and contact information for where you will be staying. Put all this information in two separate packets, then put one in your suitcase, and leave the other with a close friend or relative. Make sure you keep the contact information for that friend or relative with you at all times.
If you are traveling to a Third World country where toilet paper is scarce, try this tip to travel with toilet paper, but without the bulk. Before the trip, save toilet paper rolls when there are about five uses left. Then flatten the rolls and put in a zip-lock bag. Save several flattened rolls and add to your purse or satchel. They will not take up much space, and you will have toilet paper when you need it.
When traveling in Europe, it can be very expensive to make long distance phone calls if you are charging the call to your credit card. A way to save money when placing a long distance call is to purchase an international phone card. You may also have the added convenience of texting messages home which is even cheaper than a phone call.
GPS units can really help out when you are traveling in an unknown area. With just the touch of a few buttons they can lead you right to someone’s doorstep. It’s important to remember, however, that GPS units don’t work in all locations. Just in case, don’t forget your maps!
The world is a gigantic place to explore. No matter how exotic or mundane your interests are, there is a destination just waiting for you to arrive at and explore. Whether you wish to leave the country, the continent, or even the hemisphere, there is always a new destination, with all its hidden wonders, to be discovered.
