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Given the turbulent economic times, you are probably thinking that scaling back your expenses and skipping your next vacation are good ideas. This article is full of great ideas for traveling on a budget.
If you know that you are going to have a long layover in a city, check what there is to do beforehand. A 3 hour layover in Washington D.C. can easily turn into a quick tour of the Washington Mall or a long sit in Minneapolis can become a quick shopping trip to the Mall of America!
Purchasing an entertainment package when visiting a city with many attractions can save you time and money. An entertainment package purchased in advance usually includes tickets to several area attractions, often at a discounted rate. This will take much of the stress out of a vacation, allowing you to walk past the long lines at the ticket counter when you arrive and get straight to the fun.
If you are planning to travel to a country in a very different time zone to yours, make sure you factor jet lag into your plans. Having a low key, relaxing first day planned will get your trip off to a good start, and avoid you having to explore when all you want to do is sleep.
Give a copy of your itinerary to a family member. That way, a family member will know where you're supposed to be at all times. Stay in contact with them as well. If they hear from you regularly and know your location at all times, there won't be any reason to worry.
For a stress-free vacation, make sure people can get in touch with you. Take your cell phone with you and keep it charged. Bring your laptop with you if you know you will have an internet connection where you are staying. In case of emergency, people can let you know what is going on and you won't have any bad surprises when you come back.
If you are planning on traveling in the coming months, keep your eye out for promotional deals online through various discount travel sites. By signing up through a discount site and entering desired travel destinations and dates into their database, you will receive emails that will alert you when there are especially low prices or good promotions to your next intended destination.
There's no reason you can't bring your dog with you on the right type of vacation. An increasing number of accommodations are available for those traveling with pets. Some resorts, cruises and other establishments welcome pets. Do not hesitate to bring your pet along - just ask if it is okay before you book.
Keep your money discreetly tucked away while traveling. It would be terrible to be stuck in a foreign place with no way to pay for necessities. Put cash on a money clip and hide it in a secret place. Try to carry the minimum amount of money with you so that you do not risk losing much.
Make your baggage easy to spot. Place large bright stickers and pictures all over your luggage, so that when you spot it coming through, you know for a fact it is yours. This helps to not only find your bag, but also to get rid of the embarrassment that comes when you accidentally grab one that isn't yours.
If you are traveling by air and have to make multiple stops in airports, take a look around at some of the bookshops. Many airport bookshops now trade in used books. You can take that paperback you just finished on your last flight and get a new one to read, while you wait for your upcoming transfer.
Give your travel information (including where you are going and the name and number of the hotel where you will be staying) to multiple friends and relatives. This way, if something were to happen when you are away, it will be easy for your loved ones to get a hold of you.
If you are going to travel on a trip for longer than a few days, then tell your close relatives where you will be. If possible, leave maps and places they can contact you. It is also a good idea to keep in contact with them throughout the trip so they know that you are ok. If something happens and you do not check in, they will know to contact the authorities where you are, to find out if something has happened.
Verify that you have included new destination tags on your luggage. Many people fail to replace old tags from previous trips, see them on the luggage and mistake them for current tags. This is http://www.wlusp.com/forum/discussion/8765/a-lavish-coach-hire-london-says-it-all deal with lost luggage. The best rule of thumb is to remove tags upon returning from your trip.
While they can be bulky to pack, sleeping might be more pleasant on your own pillow. Traveling can mess up your sleep pattern so having your own pillow brings a bit of comfort to a strange location. If you are driving this is easy to do. When flying, try bringing it in your carry on, as you may want to sleep on the flight as well.
Carry a list of important toll-free numbers, and keep it separate from your wallet. Make a list of the toll-free contact numbers for your bank, as well as your credit cards. Keep it separate from your wallet, so if it becomes lost or stolen you can quickly and easily notify the institutions and get the cards canceled.
Make sure you arrive at the airport a couple of hours before your flight. Long gone are the days of quick and easy travel. Plan on long lines and complicated procedures. If you arrive at least two hours for domestic, and four hours for international, you should have no issues.
Consider going somewhere that is exotic but not as traveled as other tropical destinations. You can save big money on rooms and flights by doing some research. You'll still be able to go to a beach in the Caribbean but not at the high price others are paying.
Car seats on an aircraft will not only keep kids safe, they will keep them calm. Children are used to being in car seats when they are in cars and are more likely to stay calm when they are in one on a plane. There are some great car seats that strap right onto a stroller so that you can check your stroller at the gate.
Almost everyone needs, or wants, to travel at some point in their life. Like most life experiences, it is usually enhanced by careful research and forethought. If you're going to be traveling soon, use what you've just learned to ensure that your next trip is a glorious one.