5 essential travel tips
Travelling is very exciting and it takes a lot of planning. Other than a last minute road-trip, most vacations require months of saving and hours of organizing before the big date. Before getting to the hotel and relaxing by the pool (or whichever other activities you have planned), travellers need to plan ground transportation, book flights, find affordable accommodations and make sure all the logistics coordinate smoothly.
The easiest way to plan your vacation is to keep essential travel tips in mind. Talk to your friends and family who may have already visited the destination and read travel forums to learn about the best places to eat and the must-do activities. This will absolutely help you plan your next vacation.
Make your vacation easy with these essential travel tips for 2017:
Use perks and miles whenever you can
Before booking your trip, contact all the travel rewards programs you belong to. This can include anything from credit card providers to CAA. You never know where you have points and freebies until you ask. You may not have enough rewards to receive your entire vacation complementary, but you may be eligible for certain travel perks such as room upgrades, free meals or advanced boarding at the airport. When it comes to saving money, it never hurts to ask.
Check the weather
We all know that the weather can change in an instant. The last thing travellers want to do is arrive for the perfect vacation unprepared. There’s nothing worse than having to spend money on new gear and accessories when you have them at home – but not in your suitcase. An updated weather report can also help plan excursions and activities.
Buy travel insurance before taking off
This is an essential travel tip because you don’t want to be overseas and be stuck with hefty medical bills if you have an emergency or accident. You can purchase travel insurance online to help cover these unexpected costs, but before doing so check with your credit card providers and employer group plan to see if you’re covered. If not, you can purchase full travel insurance or partial coverage to fill in the gaps.
Pack your carry-on with essentials
If an airline has ever lost your luggage you know just how big of an inconvenience it can be, mostly because you’re not sure how long you’ll be without your personal belongings. That’s why it’s important to pack essentials – such as a toothbrush, socks and a pair (or two) of underwear – in your carry-on bag. This way if your bags are lost or delayed, you’ll at least be able to maintain a certain level of personal hygiene and enjoy your vacation.
Bring games for the kids
Flight delays and other waiting times can put a damper on your vacation – especially if you’re travelling with children. Keep this essential travel tip in mind: pack activities to keep them occupied. When kids have something to do they don’t remember that they’re actually sitting around doing nothing. Pack games, iPads, colouring books and other fun activities (that don’t take up too much space) to keep your kids busy during layovers and downtimes.