Travel Tips - By Divya.C

 Vacations often start off as a wonderful idea and then eventually end up being a nightmare to manage. With a little bit of preparation and effort in maintaining a personalized trip planner, travelers can overcome 90% of their difficulties they may face during a trip. Here are some handy trip planning tips that will help your travel easier. 

                                     

1.How to plan a Trip? 

Choose your destination and decide the duration.Enquire all the tourist agencies and compare the prices.If you have any particular interest of visit,you can clearly discuss with the agents and you can make the itinerary a tailor-made one. 

2.Booking your Travel 

After the ideation is complete, booking tickets for your flight, train or bus transfer well in advance is an important step in learning how to plan your trip to perfection. Since flight and train tickets are subject to availability and prices rise over time, getting the bookings done a few months in advance will help you avoid additional costs on your initial budget. 

                                           

Most of the times, it is better to book activities like water sports, adventure sports, boat-rides, and safari rides at the destination itself to get a better price and some scope for bargaining. 

3.Packing tips 

                                                     

Check with airlines baggage-fee policy.Start your packing process days or even weeks ahead of your departure date; this gives you time to craft a complete list, plus purchase any additional items you might need for your vacation. Creating a packing list is a safe way to ensure that you never, ever forget to bring something important. 

It's terribly important to keep your valuable and essential belongings in your carry-on bag, not in your checked luggage. Your passport, identification, money, credit cards, jewelry, electronics, and other valuables should always be brought onto the plane with you. 

Electrical converters and adapters specific to your destination is an important item to carry with you. 

                                                  

Carry a range of plastic bags with you. They are useful for keeping dirty or wet clothes separate from clean clothes and storing the souvenirs 

Carry a basic first-aid kit.Take band-aids, antibacterial cream,lip balms and ointments for minor cuts and scrapes. You never know when you’re going to need it and you can’t always get it when you travel. 

 

4.Tips for Air Travel 

Soft, breathable clothing like sweatshirts and cotton t-shirts will help you feel more relaxed and comfortable. Avoid wool, tight fitting clothes, or scratchy tags. There’s nothing worse than feeling itchy while stuck in a small space. 

                                       

Wear the right shoes.Stay away from high heels or clunky boots when flying. You want shoes that are not only comfortable, but can slip on and off easily so you can get through security without a hitch. 

Skip the coffee or soda and go for water. The caffeine and sugar will just lead to a crash leaving you more tired and dried out than before. Most airlines will provide you with a pillow and blanket for longer flights, so you might as well use them! But it's smart to bring a neck pillow.

5.Travel Snacks. 

Packing your own healthy snacks will help you resist the temptation to buy something unhealthy and expensive.  

                              

You can carry Dates,Flavoured milk,dry fruits,Roasted Nuts,protein bars and Digestive biscuits.You can take peanut butter as bread will be available everywhere easily..Go for shopping in the evenings and take few seasonal fruits locally available and use them for snacking while travelling. 

6.The Travel items you don’t actually need 

                                                           

Excess Gadgets: you really don’t need to pack more than a smartphone and perhaps a camera and maybe a laptop to download all the photos taken 

Soap and Shampoo:Chances are these basic toiletries will be available at your accommodation.If not,you can check on toiletries at a local grocery store. 

Hairdryer and Travel Iron:The hairdryers and a travel iron is really necessary only if you’re traveling for work or another purpose that calls for business attire. And even if that’s the case, most hotels have irons in each room or ones you can use. 

Multiple Pairs of Shoes:If you’re going to be climbing mountains or traveling through snowy conditions, you may need some extra footwear. But if not, chances are you can get by with one or two pairs.For a warm-weather trip, pack a pair of sandals for the beach or casual strolls and a pair of close-toed, supportive shoes you can wear for the long-haul. For a cold-weather trip, bring one pair water proof boots. 

Multiple Clothing Options: Minimize the choice, and plan one outfit per day in advance, and make it all about simplicity. Bring basic clothes in neutral colors that you can mix-and-match. Look for an option that can also be dressed down so you can wear it more than once. Pack as little as possible.Chances are, you can find a laundry service if need be; or you can grab some detergent and wash a few things in the sink or shower. 

Things like sunscreen, lotion, or mosquito repellent sound like unnecessary items but they are very vital in preventing any skin-related diseases 

 

7.How to not get bored on long travel days 

A good book or two can get you through the journey. 

A good way to pass the time when traveling is to explore the destination either using guidebooks or online if you have a connection. Exploring where you are going and making plans of what to see and do is great fun, and what would be a better time to do so than just before you will get there. 

If you are not traveling alone a great way to pass the time is to have interesting conversations with your travel companions. 

                                         

Any types of games are a good way to pass the time. You can play on your electronic devices or bring physical games to play (cards are handy as they don’t take up much space and you can play various games with them). 

If you haven’t gone through your photos or emails for a while you can easily pass an hour or two by cleaning out your photo and email folders. 

8.Better Photos 

You’ve spent days flying, driving, ferrying, boarding trains, or maybe even a combination of all of these modes of transportation to reach your destination. And now you’re finally here, the place you’ve always dreamt about, told friends about, and bragged to your coworkers about, so of course you want to capture it in all its glory on your smartphone or your camera. But when you do, you sometime realize the images simply don't do its justice and you’re stuck with nothing to show for your journey of a lifetime. Take as many as candid shots you can as they will be natural and lively. Great photos are the ultimate souvenirs.  

                                        

You may only see these places & meet these people once in your lifetime. Remember them forever with plenty of photos!  

“The candid, awkward, inspiring, excited moments you can't really plan for. So, keep that camera out and don't be afraid to snap candid captures along the way.” 

9.How to stay safe while travelling 

Be informed about your destination.In big cities you should know the areas which are safe and those which are dangerous for tourists. 

                                                       

When you plan to be abroad for a while, it’s highly recommended getting a travel insurance to ensure emergency medical and evacuation assistance and 24/7 support when you need it most. 

Keep an eye on your belongings especially when being in transfer mode (traveling from on spot with all your luggage to another) you should always keep an eye on all your stuff 

Carry passport and cards close to your body.Don’t carry all your cash in your wallet. Every time you open your wallet, you risk exposure. Hide a bit of your cash in a hidden compartment in your luggage and your clothing. 

Don’t get fully engrossed in the sights. Make sure you look around now and then; being aware of any suspicious looking people can help prevent thefts and other crimes. 

10.General Tips 

1. Get a local SIM card with international calling facility.  

2.Understand local cultures, rules, laws, crime rates, weather conditions, attitudes, etiquette, price of things and similar information. 

                           

3. Find out which areas of your destination are considered safe and which are considered shady. 

4.Read up on common scams and crimes in your destination area. 

5.Read local reports on the internet and follow up on current events, especially any political unrest. 

6.Learn what could be termed offensive behavior at your destination, to avoid provoking people by accident. 

All these tips are based on my personal travelling experiences and Hope this helps-DIVYA.C