They say that travel broadens the mind. Well, anyone who has done even a little bit of travelling will be able to attest to how true this is. Travel is a thrilling experience and a wonderful opportunity to experience places and people that we otherwise might never come across.
But, as any seasoned traveller knows, travel has the potential to be quite a stressful experience. The more you know before you leave on your next trip, the easier and smoother your time away will be. This applies to both knowledge of the specific area you will be travelling to, as well as useful travel tips and advice you are already armed with.
This guide contains a range of the most genuinely useful travel tips you will ever come across. These tips have been gleaned from experienced travellers who know what they’re talking about. This is the kind of advice and knowledge that only comes from experience.
Plan Your Trip
The best travel experiences are often built on the back of well-laid plans. There’s nothing wrong with spontaneity when you are travelling; it can even be a good thing if you are in the right place. However, when you are travelling somewhere new, it is always a good idea to learn as much about the place as you possibly can. Also, you can prefer Van Hire Warrington when you are traveling that makes your trip easy.
If you want to leave room for improvisation, then you don’t have to plan your trip too meticulously. You can keep your plans as vague and non-specific as you like, as long as you are able to follow them and you have some idea of where you will go and what you will do. You can always plan to go and explore the local area and look for things to do if that’s the kind of holiday you would prefer.
However, if you are the type of person who is liable to worry about every little thing, then it might be better for you to plan out what you will be doing in more detail. This can help to put your mind at ease if you are a nervous traveller and will minimize the chances of something going wrong during your time away.
Research Your Destination
Regardless of how meticulous you want to be in planning your travel itinerary in advance, you will want to ensure that you thoroughly research the place you will be travelling to. This is important for a number of reasons and is as much about your safety as it is about the practicalities of travelling. Some places might have a very different culture to the one you are used to. You don’t want to inadvertently offend your hosts or, worse still, inadvertently break the law.
Researching ahead of time is also important if you are travelling somewhere where there are natural hazards to be wary of (spoiler alert: that’s just about everywhere). This includes terrain that you aren’t used to as well as any wildlife that might be hostile towards people. Some parts of the works are also less politically stable than others. In these countries, you will want to know how to keep safe and what the most likely sources of trouble are going to be.
Ensure Your Documents Are up to Date
If you are planning on travelling to Europe, you will need to have at least six months left on your passport before it’s expiry date. This situation could change unexpectedly, as with all things related to Brexit. If you are travelling outside the EU, the same applies, and you will need to have an in date passport to travel anywhere abroad, except Ireland.
You should check your passport well ahead of time to see if it is in date. Sometimes, passport renewal can be a slow process, so you want to renew your passport in plenty of time. The easiest way of doing this is to renew passport online. Visit the passports-office website to make an appointment at your nearest passport office if you need an urgent renewal or one-day appointment.
In addition to your passport, make sure that you have some kind of travel insurance and health coverage to cover you financially if something unexpected happens. Many travellers feel safer if they keep a handwritten list of emergency contact numbers with them. Some even go as far as stashing away emergency cash while travelling. You will have to consider what’s best for you in terms of keeping your valuables safe. You don’t want to wander around with all your valuables clearly on display.
Always Pack a Towel
Whether you’re going to be chilling on the beach in your colorful swimwear, dipping in the pool or hiking through the mountains, have a towel to hand. You never know when you’re going to need a towel, but you will definitely regret not having one when you could use one. Many hostels will offer their guests free towels and they are, of course, standard issue in just about any hotel.
However, it is still worth packing your own one to bring with you. For one thing, you can choose what your own towel is like in terms of the material and texture. If you are relying on what’s available at your hotel, you may well find that you need to go out and buy a towel yourself.
Buy a Small Backpack or Suitcase to Travel With
Even if you’re only going on a short trip away, you will no doubt have stuff that needs to be carried around. These might be supplies for your planned hike or you might have a DSLR and a whole bunch of lenses to go with it. Buying a smaller backpack to go with your main one enables you to carry some auxiliary luggage with you.
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Of course, you could go the other way entirely. Some people find that if they buy themselves a small suitcase then they are forced to be ruthless in terms of deciding what to bring. If you want to travel light, consider starting your downsizing with the bag itself. Also, yes, it is true that folding clothes lets you fit more in the case. Don’t question it, just believe it!
Check Bank Fees Ahead of Time
There are lots of advantages to setting yourself a budget for your holiday. Setting a clear spending budget will allow you to prioritise your spending choices and will prevent you from spoiling your holiday experience by introducing money stresses into your thinking. Even if you’ve never tried budgeting properly before, it is worth trying it out. You might be amazed at the results it can produce.
However, making a budget ahead of time can be very difficult when you have to factor in charges that your bank will levy on top of any transactions (and in some cases withdrawals) that you make while you are abroad. The EU has some pretty awesome legislation that ensures your bank can’t rip you off on fees while you are travelling within the EU. If you go beyond the EU, you are at your bank’s mercy.
Travelling abroad should be an exciting and fulfilling experience when it’s done right. The most common mistake that travellers make is mistaking unpreparedness for spontaneity. Being spontaneous is great, but you want to be prepared for any challenges you are likely to face. Make sure to carefully research your destination and look online for travel tips specific to the place you’re going to.
