Travel Can Be A Chaotic Mess
Travel Guide: 7 Tips to Make Travel Less Stressful
Its summertime and school is out. While children celebrate, parents and families are frantically searching for things their children can do to occupy the long days and nights. Insert – vacation destination. For many people, summer is the perfect time to travel. People have been saving their vacation days and the warm weather tends to bring a more relaxed attitude. Traveling can be a gift and a curse. Delays, canceled flights, bad food, no leg room, but with these tips and tricks, your dream vacation won’t unravel into a nightmare.
Pack Light
Pack for the weather of your destination but don’t bring your life with you. Nothing sucks more than having to lug around ten tons of clothes. One carry-on is all you need. It will save time checking and waiting on bags, plus it saves the dirty looks of impatient people waiting to board the plane because of over-packed carry-ons.
Pro-tip – don’t store small bags like a purse or messenger bag in the overhead compartments. There is plenty of space underneath seats. Be considerate and save some space for others.
Skip Lines
If air travel is your mode of transport, spend the extra money and apply for TSA-pre-check. It will save you time getting through security. If you are taking a road trip this summer, investing in an E-ZPass is your best bet. It will save you from idling in lines of cars and shave time off your trip.
Be Polite
This goes a long way- trust me, no one wants to be the “rude American.” Try and learn the basic greetings and commonly used phrases in the language of the place you are visiting (“hello,” “thank you,” etc.) If you are worried about pronunciation, download google translate. It’s a great tool.
Notify Your Bank In Advance
It is always a good idea to call your bank ahead of your travel plans so that your account isn’t flagged for malicious activity. If you are traveling internationally, this is essential to making your travel experience as smooth as possible. Nobody wants to deal with a locked account or declined card when far from home.
Pro-tip – Some banks or credit unions have International branches. They may also have partner banking institutions. Their ATMs tend to give you the best conversion rates but be sure to check if your bank has international transaction fees.
Flexible Itinerary
Don’t be afraid to go off the beaten path. Embrace the culture of the place you are visiting.
You should make an itinerary, but you don’t have to stick to it. It’s good to plan ahead but also leave some room for flexibility, so there’s no idle or wasted time and you can maximize your stay!
Use Travel Apps For Everything
We are in the technology age and apps exist for creating convenience. If you have a travel need, there is probably an app for it! This includes booking an Uber to get you around. You can also take advantage of apps like Yelp to find restaurants or service providers in cities you are unfamiliar with so that you can guarantee a great experience.
Stay Fully Charged And Ready For Last Minute Work
It is a good idea to bring a mobile power bank to keep your devices charged. It will save the headache of trying to find an open power station at the airport. Longer flights can offer you a chance to get work done so you can enjoy the sights and relax when you arrive at your destination.
Use this time to grow, relax, and more importantly have fun. As Confucius said, “Wherever you go, go with all your heart.”
