6 Tips That Are Important No Matter Where You Travel

Tired of seeing the usual city traffic? After seeing all the typical cars such as the Civics, Tuscons, Mitsubishis and Toyota Fortuners in the Philippines, it must be extremely draining to see the same thing every day. Maybe it's about time to plan a getaway! First off, keep in mind that travelling requires a lot of major decisions. You will be bombarded with questions such as what places to visit, how much to spend, and when to make that important airfare purchase. Beyond the big picture, however, it’s the little details that can make your trip easier and less stressful. Listed below are 6 simple but important tips to smoothen the road to your next vacation:

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1. Essentials in the Carry-On

Statistics indicate that there is at least one bag on every flight that gets lost or delayed. If there is anything you can’t live without, like a phone charger or a change of clothes, pack it in your carry-on. This is especially true of the items that are expensive to replace like shoes or lightweight raincoats. If you can, bring snacks. It is fun to travel abroad, but the fun will turn sour if your stomach is empty. Bring small snacks that will get you by until you come across a food cart or restaurant.

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2. Know Your Hotel

You must have the complete contact information of your hotel especially if a) your luggage gets lost or delayed; b) you will be late in checking in; or c) you are going to a destination you’ve never visited before. The night before you leave, print out the hotel’s name, address and phone number then program the latter in your mobile phone. You can also print out a map of the hotel’s neighborhood in case you get lost so you won’t have to be awkwardly conversing with a confused cab driver.

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3. Keep Your Boarding Pass

Don’t toss your boarding pass as soon as you step off the plane. This can serve as proof of travel if your airline fails to give you the proper credit. It can also be useful as a receipt for tax purposes, particularly if you are self-employed.

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4. Mark Your Bags

Are you worried that you will have the same bag as everyone else? Mark your bags by attaching a large colorful sticker or ribbon. That way, you will be able to see your suitcase from afar and you won’t have to pull out a random bag off the carousel to check for your name.

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5. Remember the Money

Look up the monetary conversion before you go. Make sure your credit cards will work in the country you are visiting and always have local cash. Remember, not every place takes credit cards especially modes of transportation like buses and trains. When it comes to conversion centers, the ones in the airport may be a huge rip-off so go to the bank instead, where it is safer.

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6. Passport, passport, passport

Bring copies of your passport. If it gets stolen or lost, you want to be sure that you can still get back into your country or be able to prove your citizenship. If you want, leave a copy back at your home or with someone you trust. It is also ideal to make an electronic copy that you can store in your e-mail account.

Ready for your next vacation? Keep these tips in mind so you can enjoy every minute of your journey.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Katrina is your average gal living inside the metro who has passion for writing, video editing and photography. She admires nature at its finest and always wanted to become one of them. Dreaming to have the Cinderella life one day, humming with the birds, dancing with the clouds.