Travel can be an excellent opportunity to expand your horizons and refresh your world-view. It can also backfire on you if you don’t take the time to prepare for the inevitable culture shock, whether your journey is domestic or international. Follow these tips and tricks to get the most out of your travel experience.
If you are staying at a hostel or camping while traveling, you may want to scout out other locations to use the restroom. Bathroom facilities at may hostels may be unclean to the point of disgusting, while the bathroom at the fast food joint down the street at least has to maintain a minimum level of sanitation.
If you are staying in hotels, especially in countries that are less developed and you worry about a break-in at night in your room, take a doorstop along. These nifty devices can help hold doors closed just as much as they can help keep them open.
Be flexible. If your travel dates can be tweaked by a day or two, try using the “flexible dates” feature of most online travel search engines. This allows you to search departure and return dates within a given range. By just changing your dates by a day or two, you may be able to score huge savings on airfare.
If you are concerned about the safety of your wallet on your next travel adventure, consider using an alternate form of storage for your vital belongings such as your cash and personal identity cards. Many different types of wallet storage are available that stay conveniently hidden beneath your clothing, from a belted waste pouch to a zippered wristband.
Look at your health insurance policy to determine what the coverage is when you travel outside your own country. Chances are high that at some point, you will travel past your own borders. There is every possibility that you will need health care while you are away. Does your policy cover the cost of any health care you might need? You should know the answer to that question before you ever set foot across the border.
Spend more money on a better hotel than the one that’s cheap, but may be in a bad area. Cheap prices draw customers, but remember they also draw shady people too. Spend a few dollars extra and book a hotel that is in a better area with better reviews to boot.
The price of food in airports and on airplanes is notoriously expensive, unhealthy and of poor quality. If you have the time to spare, bring some food to eat at the airport or in the airplane, when you travel. Most drinks aren’t allowed through security, but most food is.
Now the choice is yours, so get out there and enjoy finding new places and people to challenge your preconceptions. Armed with a little extra knowledge now about the experience of traveling, you can expect a few less bumps on the road to your destination. Share this article with friends and family, who may be heading out with you or on journeys of their own.