It’s never too early to start planning your vacations for the upcoming year. The earlier you plan, the better deals you get, and the more likely you are to get the hotels and attractions you most desire. The longer you wait, the more likely these things are to be sold out as others plan their vacations as well.
Traveling should be as relaxing as possible, and the better prepared you are the better. Here are seven travel tips for every vacation.
Plan Ahead
The most important of our travel trips is very simple, Plan ahead. Purchase tickets, book hotels and attractions, and rent cars well ahead of time. If you know when and where you plan to vacation, you can make sure that you get what you want and need by being ahead of the game.
The more organized your trip, the better off you will be, and this means making a plan long before your departure date.
Be Flexible
One thing that planning ahead lets you do is to be flexible in your dates and even the airport you will fly into. This allows you to get the best deals and avoid the last-minute struggle of having to choose timing or other things you don’t really want.
There are some days that are both better and cheaper days to fly than others, and those days are also usually cheaper for hotels. Many resorts offer a discount if you stay more days or during off peak months. If you can be flexible about when you go, you can get a vacation for pennies on the dollar.
Buy Insurance
The farther in advance you are purchasing your tickets and paying for your trip, the easier it is to compare travel insurance and purchase the one that works best for your holiday away from Australia. Some insurance is offered by the travel site you use, travel agents, or even the hotels or airlines themselves. Be sure to do your research, and purchase protection when trips are planned way in advance.
Leave Yourself Extra Time
When planning your vacation, leave yourself extra time simply for relaxation to getting from one activity to the other. Scheduling things too close together or with too tight of deadlines getting to and from the airport can cause you to miss out on some things, or even miss flights.
While it may seem like the most desirable thing to do everything possible at your destination, leaving some extra time will actually result in a more relaxing experience. Time to lay by the pool at the hotel is just as important as spending time at an attraction or shopping. Schedule time for both.
Avoid Stress
Of course, leaving yourself extra time, buying travel insurance, and planning ahead are all ways to avoid stress. But there are other ways as well. If crowds are stressful for you, plan to vacation during the off season, and avoid crowded spaces. If you must face something that you find stressful, plan recovery and down time afterwards.
Also, plan to be early rather than late and rushing around to get places you want to go. Plan taxi rides, Uber, and other transportation well ahead of time to avoid stress. If you are driving a rental car, leave early just in case you get lost or it is difficult to find parking.
Keep Security in Mind
Unfortunately, security of your person and your belongings are always a concern when you travel. In some places, thieves will target tourists simply because they recognize that you are not local, and often tourists carry cash and have other valuables with them.
There are a few other key security travel tips to keep in mind:
- Use credit, not debit cards. With both, fraudulent transactions can be disputed. But at least a credit card is not the money you were going to use to pay rent or for groceries when you got home.
- Be Careful with Your Data: It may be tempting to hook up to public Wi-Fi when you are in various locations, but be careful and be sure you are not browsing secure things like your online banking. There are plenty of reasons to bring your laptop with you travelling. But sometimes it is too easy for someone to hack your device and steal your information.
- Be careful about Bluetooth. Bluetooth can be convenient but be sure your settings only allow trusted devices, and that you keep an eye on those devices. This can be another gateway for hackers.
- Lock Valuables in Safes: If you have a hotel safe, use it. Don’t carry valuables with you, or leave them unsecured in suitcases or other luggage even in your hotel room.
- Be Careful About Leaving Valuables in Your Car: Your car or a rental car can be broken into and items can be easily stolen. Be careful what you leave in your car and for how long. Park in secure areas to minimize the risk of theft.
Security can be a big concern when you travel, so try to keep the risk to a minimum, and carry with you only what you need at the time.
Relax First
Make relaxation a priority. The reason you are on vacation is to get away and recharge. Be sure your days and evenings are not so packed that you can’t take time for yourself and to get what you need.
This may mean scheduling relaxation time when you simply don’t plan anything else. Whether that involves sitting in a spa or hot tub, or just vegging out and watching TV, be sure you don’t violate that time so that you get the rest you need.
Conclusion
Your vacation is for you, and the purpose is so that you can recharge and be your best when you return. Make sure the planning and the vacation itself don’t become a source of stress by following these seven simple travel tips.
What are your best travel tips for making travel a little bit less of a hassle? Leave us a comment and give us your travel tips in the section below.
