Top Travel Experts Share Their Secrets With You

If you want to adjust quickly to an unfamiliar time zone, don’t allow yourself to fall asleep until nighttime locally. Going to bed too much earlier than normal will just make your jet lag last longer, as your body remains committed to the old time zone. Getting over jet lag quicker will give you more time to enjoy your vacation.

See what visas you need if you travel abroad to various countries. Make sure you have the right kind of visa for your needs. Simply obtaining a visa will not necessarily grant you admission into that country. You can get this information from the embassy, your travel agent, or online sources.

During an extra-long flight or road trip, get up and stretch your legs at least once per hour. Sitting for too long is not only bad for your muscles, but it can cause blood clots.

If your travels will take you to a port of call prior to your cruise, try to find a reasonably priced hotel with included parking and check in the night before. Be sure to ask about parking deals in case they are not published.

Practice rolling your clothes when traveling, rather than folding them. Doing this can save a lot of space in your luggage. When you reach your destination, you can simply unroll the clothes and fold them normally if you wish. Hopefully, this will decrease your burden of luggage.

When traveling, take an extra pair of glasses with you. If something happens to your glasses, you will have another pair on hand. It is important to keep the extra glasses out of your carry on bag or your purse. These bags could easily be stolen and you would be left without a spare pair of glasses.

Sleeping medication can help you get through a rough flight. Many people cannot sleep on a plane because of the unfamiliar surroundings, the uncomfortable seats, and the noise from the plane and passengers. Try a sleeping pill might help get you some rest on a long flight if you have trouble falling asleep otherwise. Your best bet is to wait to take the pill after the plane takes off. If a delay should occur, you don’t want to feel exhausted before your flight takes off.

Never underestimate the effects of the weather when you travel. Make sure you look at the weather forecast for your intended destination. Even the best-laid travel plans can be quickly overturned if you wind up shivering on a Florida beach or roasting on a Colorado ski slope.

Try to pack clothes for your trip that can be worn more than once. For example, blazers and shoes can accent different ensembles. By thinking about this, you can pack less for your trip and maybe even save on luggage fees.

Booking trips online is like one-stop shopping for vacation planning. Travel websites require little effort from your part, when it comes to planning your trip. While sitting in front of your computer, you can book your flights and your hotels and arrange for rental cars. When using the computer, you can see both reviews and pictures of all available hotels in an instant. Don’t forget to look for discounts when booking travel at the last minute.

Pack minimally, and plan your itinerary when you are going on a trip. Traveling light can save a lot of frustration on the road and in the airport.

Hotel staff like room service staff and the bell hop are paid meager salaries and tips are very much appreciated. For bell hops, tip a dollar for every bag they carry. With housekeepers, leave between two and five dollars for every day they care for your room. Doing so will ensure that you have a nice relationship with both during your hotel stay.

If traveling with children, keep a recent, color picture of them with you at all times, just case they become lost. It can be terrifying to lose your son or daughter. It can, however, still happen. If you have a picture of your child on hand, it can really help to locate him or her in a crowd more quickly.

Don’t take any unnecessary valuables with you on your trip. If you bring a lot of valuables with you, you have a greater chance of losing them or having them stolen.

If the site you are using offers an online tracking feature, use it. This feature keeps you updated with the lowest-priced traveling options. You can get email alerts for booked flights or even for dropped prices on transportation that you are interested in.

Don’t read travel emails that you didn’t personally request. If you never joined the company’s email list or don’t recognize the company, delete the email without opening it.

Hit the gym before you board your flight. A long flight can be extremely boring. Having to remain seated in one position that long can give you cramps in your back and legs. If a workout is out of the question, then at least do a little stretching before you board.

When hiking or camping, always carry a map of the area on your person, even if you’re only leaving camp for a few minutes. A hand-held, portable GPS or a compass is a must to have on you when you are out and about as they are very useful if you get disorientated and lose your bearings.

Don’t forget to pack clothespins on your next trip! While not on your typical travel list, a handful of clothespins can prove very useful.

As you’ve learned in this article, there are many things to do to make your trip one of relaxation and enjoyment, rather than a hassle. Keep this advice in mind as you make your list and start planning out your next trip!