Going away to an exotic location is something everybody dreams about. From giving you your space to relax to acting as an escape from the hustle and bustle of your work life, it can be just what you need to keep you feeling happy. There are always some stresses involved when it comes to going away, however. Although vacations are there for you to indulge in, it is rare that everything will go right if you haven’t prepared well. It doesn’t mean all hope is lost, as there is a wealth of useful tips you can follow before you go away, and when you’re there. It means your dream of a beautiful vacation can come to life.
Book at the right time
The biggest trap many people fall into when they are booking their vacation is to book it as early as possible. While this may be best for your accommodation, the same cannot be said for flights. In fact, flight prices fluctuate a lot throughout the year, with some dates often halving the price in comparison to others. Ideally, you should be looking to book short-haul flights six weeks before you depart and long-haul ones eight weeks before. It may seem a little last minutes, but you can rest assured that even the price you book for will either be lower or similar.
Check your insurance provider
Taking out travel insurance is important when you are going away, but you can cut costs and confusion by checking what your healthcare policy includes before you leave. Those such as the Medicare supplement plan G in the United States cover up to 80% of your overseas health costs. While this won’t cover any damage you incur with rental cars, or late flights, it can be a huge weight off your shoulders to know that you won’t have to pay more to stay well.
Don’t plan everything
When you go to a new place, it’s easy to fall into the tourist traps and to spend your time planning each moment. This is something that can quickly fall apart when you are there. Not only can this make you feel stressed, but it can mean you miss out on some exciting surprises that you’d never thought of doing before you arrived. The trick here is to make some time in each day to visit tourist attraction and go on days out. The remaining time, you should reserve for relaxing and spending time with your friends or family. Often, this is when you can be pleasantly surprised by what else is in store, and where you make the most memorable times of the trip.
Take your camera
Taking your camera with you may seem like an obvious tip, but there are many people who think they can get away with taking just their phone camera to take pictures. It could be that your phone dies when you are hoping to snap a lovely moment, but it also meant you can’t get a variation of pictures. Having a waterproof camera is ideal if you are spending a lot of time near the sea and in the water, as you can take some stunning pictures of the underwater world. Many people still choose to take film cameras with them, as they can produce photographs with rich colors that have a vintage feel. Regardless of which camera you take, you should keep them safe by having them close to you at all times, and zipped away in special compartments of your bag.
Keep your valuables safe
It can be hard to avoid taking valuable items with you when you go abroad. Phones, cameras, and jewelry are just a few of these kinds of item. When you are booking your hotel or villa, you should inquire as to whether they have a safe in each room. It means you can place your money and valuables in there while you are sleeping, and not have to worry about them. In the days when you are out and about, it’s wise to take a belt bag with you. This way, your belongings are always close to you and will be harder for thieves to steal. One nifty trick is to keep some cash in your shoe so that you are never short on any in the off-chance you have something stolen.
Have a backup fund
Having a backup pot of money can be tricky when you have already spent a lot on your vacation. However, there are many easy savings ideas you can use to help you take a good amount with you. These funds are essential if you need money to cover an emergency, but can be used for positive times, too. For example, you might not have budgeted to do a certain activity during your vacation, but having some spare money in your backup fund allows you to indulge in this without it eating into your budget. For most of the vacation, you should be keeping it in a safe, so that it can’t be touched by anyone else.
Fill travel time
Whether you are driving or flying to your destination, there will be lots of time that can be filled with fun, rather than boredom. If you are traveling with kids, it is imperative to have some activities up your sleeve to keep them entertained. Playing classic games like I-Spy is a good start, but you should also remember to bring their handheld devices for them to play educational games on. For yourself, remember an adventure book for the road, which can help you keep in high spirits for the rest of your trip.
Learn the local language
Traveling to new places often means traveling to a destination where they don’t speak your language. While lots of people know basic English around the world, it’s respectful to learn some key words and phrases of your destination before traveling there. With language learning apps, this can be easy to do, and will also be a fun activity for you to focus on when you are flying.
