Regardless of whether you are traveling to a nearby location for the weekend or taking a week-long destination vacation, you are always going to benefit from some tips and ideas on how to make the whole process, more fun and less stressful. Keep reading for those tips and more.
If you want to visit Walt Disney World in Orlando on a budget, consider going around the beginning of December. Fees to the park do not go down, but this is when hotels in the area cut their prices and run promotions to attract local visitors. In addition, the park is less crowded, so you do not have to wait in line as long for your favorite attractions.
Making a friend of the concierge will make your stay at any hotel a much safer and smarter experience. This person should be greeted and tipped like your life depends on it. The concierge has a wealth of information on where to eat, play, relax, shop, and can also; get you out of any bind you might find yourself in while far from home.
Before traveling to an area that is completely unfamiliar one should do some research to know what to expect. This research can be as simple as where to get good food, to as in depth as where to go for entertainment and pre-purchasing of tickets. Research of any kind can surely improve the quality of travel and the overall trip.
Anyone who’s ever been on a cruise knows how much all the hallways and doors look the same. To make finding your door easier, bring a photo of your family pet or something (nothing personal!) and attach it to your door with a Christmas bow. This will help you easily identify which room is yours.
When you book a hotel online,(especially when you don’t book directly through the hotel’s own website), it is important to call the hotel directly to confirm your reservation. Calling ahead will prevent you from arriving at the hotel, exhausted and ready to sleep, and finding out that they have no record of your reservation.
When you get back from a trip with a baby or toddler, do not expect them to be back to their schedule as usual the very next day. Children this age like to follow schedules and theirs was disrupted for some time. By realizing this, it will help you understand them better and make this transition period a little easier for all.
Airline travel does not have to break the bank. There are several ways to go on that vacation you want to and not pay too much for it. You can travel during off seasons and save quite a bit on destination travel. There are also travel agents that can save you money when you buy airfare and lodging together.
If you are traveling by plane with your children, get a portable DVD player. They are relatively inexpensive, and they keep your kids entertained for hours at a time. Don’t worry about getting an expensive model; children do not really care about screen size or extra features. Even if you only use it one time, you will definitely find that it was a valuable purchase.
If you are traveling with dogs, make sure to brush your pet before getting into the car. This will help to minimize the amount of hair that you have to deal with. Also, try to plan ahead by figuring out a few places to stop for potty breaks. Your dog will need to stretch and relieve himself every couple of hours.
If you are taking a cruise, get to know your fellow passengers at dinner. On most cruise ships, you’ll sit at a large dinner table with a few other guests that you may or may not know. Relax an enjoy talking with those that you meet along the way. You are traveling with these individuals, so it makes sense to make friends.
If the cruise ship you are traveling on has a shore day planned, ask the staff to make you lunch for the day. You may not want to try and find a restaurant and spend a lot of money when you are having fun hanging out on the beach. Call room service before you get off the ship and order a sandwich and some side items. Pack it and have fun!
No matter where you’re going, buying insurance when you fly is a good idea. Insurance will let you cancel your travel plans last minute with a full (or partial, depending on the insurance) refund. Last minute emergencies happen and you don’t want to be out several hundred dollars for missing your flight.
In order to truly enjoy traveling during a vacation it is very important to bring only what you need. It is hard to travel when there is unnecessary baggage. Another thing that this brings is that you will spend more time enjoying your vacation rather than pulling along that bulky bag.
Join the loyalty program at the hotel you are staying at. Even if you are only staying that one time, it will provide you with added amenities that you would likely be charged for otherwise. Read the fine print when signing up for these because there may be a hidden charge in some cases.
When traveling, try to learn the bus or subway system before even leaving for your trip. This saves the time and hassle of trying to figure out where you are going and how to get there. You can find the subway and bus system maps of many international cities online.
There is a lot of world to see, both in our own backyards and around the world. Exploring these places is great fun and should be a source of relaxation. The tips and suggestions in this article, are meant to make your trips more enjoyable and less stressful when you set off for your travel destination.