Seeing the world, or just a city next door can lead to all sorts of fun and adventure. Whether you are a seasoned pro or a novice traveler, the following tips are a collaboration of helpful information to make your next journey much safer, easier and a whole lot more fun.
Carrying an excessive amount of valuables can put you at risk for theft or interrupt the fun of your trip if they are lost or damaged. Valuables attract attention and increase your risk of being a victim of theft.
If you’re going on a road trip but don’t have space to keep a cooler, there’s a simple way to make sure you have ice cold water on you trip! The night before you leave, fill some water bottles (but not all the way to the top!) and put them in the freezer over night. Take them on the trip with you the next day and they’ll slowly melt over the course of the day, leaving you with ice cold water.
A car’s tires should be checked before any major road travel. This includes, not only a visual inspection for leaks and flatness, but a full pressure check. Tires that are not fully inflated to their recommended PSI will hurt highway performance and reduce gas mileage. By ensuring the tires are up to snuff, the wise motorist can save real money on a long car trip.
If you’re going on a road trip, make sure you print a copy of the directions. GPSs and cell phones are great help for navigating, but they can break easily. And you don’t want to be stuck in the middle of no where without any directions! It’s better to print the directions and not use them than to be lost.
Youth hostels are a valid option for cheap, no-frills travel lodgings in Europe. What some travelers might not know is that similar hostels are available all around the world, even in the United States. While the hostel system is most thoroughly established in continental Europe, a little research will find decent hostels in almost any large city in the world.
Pay special attention to the holidays of the countries you are traveling to. Different countries celebrate different holidays, and if you do not know when these are, you can give yourself a headache. Many restaurants and businesses will close on holidays, so look them up before you travel to save yourself the trouble.
Before leaving home, do some research on the sightseeing locations you plan on visiting. Make note of attraction hours, days they are closed, and whether you need to get a ticket beforehand. For example, it is very frustrating to get to a much-anticipated art museum, only to find that they are closed every Tuesday.
Whether traveling to see a family member or as part of an adventurous expedition, everyone needs some planning and preparation for their trip. Hopefully you learned something from reading this article that will help you on your next vacation and maybe something you can pass along to a friend.