Tips that Will Make Your Travel More Fun

Travel requires good preparation if you want it to be a success. Little things go awry as always but when you prepare well, chances are you will have an enjoyable and pleasant trip.

So, here are some tips that will make you have a pleasant trip:
Air Travel
Air Travel. Source: Pixabay
1. Book Airline and Hotel early
Plan your trip early so you can book airline and hotel early taking advantage of cheaper prices. Here are some tips for online booking:
  • Search online for airfare and hotel deals.
Do your search in a private window so these sites don't track your choices. This got me wondering before why when I go back to sites I have visited before, prices have gone up.

These sites track the choices you have looked at several times and put up the price. Who knows but this has been my experience so I often just close my computer and do the booking the next day.

But now with private or incognito search (options you'll find in your browser under File), they can no longer track your visits.
  • Search for both return and one way as sometimes depending on the day of the week, flights vary in price so it might be cheaper for you to book one way tickets.
For us, as we often are not sure when we're  getting back so we just book one way tickets. This may, however, cause problems when you get in some countries that may require a return ticket but not many countries do this now. So far, we have not had this experience.
  • Make sure you read the airline policy on both checked-in and carry-on luggage, cancelled flight, delayed flight affecting connections. 
  • Ask for special assistance if you need help. Airlines are very accommodating and there are telephones you can call. Once, they even lifted us in the food truck when my husband can't manage the ladder to the plane.
  • Ask about airport passenger fees. Many now include this in the tickets but there are cases when they don't.
  • Get the more comfortable seats, bulkhead or emergency exits.
Some airlines make you pay extra for these but it is always better to get the best seat you can afford. 

This is especially true when you are flying 8-16 hours. When it is only a short flight, get a cheap seat. Save your money for the long flights unless, of course, money is not an issue. 

Being able to stretch out for a few hours give you that much needed rest you will be grateful for especially when you have to show up in meetings upon arrival.

You can relax in a bigger chair and watch movies in a much bigger screen. You can enjoy better service and food as well which makes the experience much more pleasant.
  • Pre-order your food if you have special requirements.
Airline Carry-On
Source: aesta1. Airline Carry-On
2. Watch those stop overs. 
Once, I bought ice wine in Vancouver airport duty free not knowing that upon transit in Singapore, when you go through security, liquid over 100 ml. unless you bought this in the duty free in Singapore will not be allowed. 

I was not the only one on transit carrying duty free bottles. One just opened his wine bottle, drank a bit and threw it in the bin. Another opted it and just emptied this in the bin. I just gave my bottle to the security people telling them to enjoy it. 

In some stop overs, you have to use staircases and walk a distance so make your carry on light enough.

Some airlines, in cases where you change planes, weigh your carry on once more and charge you extra if it is heavier than the accepted weight. 
Air Travel Tips
Air Travel Tips. Source: aesta1
3. Pack light.
Before you pack, take a look at luggage restrictions of the airline you are using for your particular flight or airlines if you have connections. 

I was following a lady the other day at the airline check-in and I understand it is Christmas but after her luggage was weighed, the staff put it aside and told her to remove some items otherwise she will be charged $850.

In some airlines, get your credit cards ready because they charge $25 per checked luggage within the weight limit. If you can manage to place everything in your carry-on, the better it is for you. Although some airlines weigh carry-ons as well.

Better, before you travel check out your airline baggage allowance. It is in their site so you can prepare yourself and pack what is within limits or have your cash ready if you don't mind paying for extra luggage.
Shopping in Fortnum&Mason
Shopping in Fortnum & Mason.
4. Shop for quality souvenirs
When you shop for souvenirs, buy quality. Fair Trade and organic would also be great. Bargains are all over the many destinations you'll visit but most of these things you can easily buy at home in Walmart. So, your best option is to look for artisans who make one of a kind product and support them. 

If you have to buy for small gifts for friends and family, go in shops maintained by social enterprises helping the poor and the disadvantaged. But look for one or two items to remind you of the place, something you yourself will be proud to use or display at home as they show not only the uniqueness of the place and the beauty of the culture you have visited but also your own good taste.
5. Do your own laundry. 
​Rates for laundry in many hotels are so high that bringing your own laundry detergent and washing your dirty clothes regularly saves you a lot of money.

We often pack a ziplock of laundry detergent or buy these in groceries when we arrive in a place. Hotel rooms are often dry that your laundry gets dry the very next day. 

Or, have a plastic bag for wet laundry. Just bring them along to dry in the next hotel or when traveling by road, spread it out in the back seat of your car.

6. Here's the key. Too much of your own company can be a bad thing. Actually, if you want to have fun, it is the worst thing you can do. Get out. Talk to people. Sit in the park and talk with people who are there. Talk to the vendors when you buy food, the waiters in restaurants or the seller in the street. You will really start to have fun when you do these.

​Interested in other tips to make your travel fun? Here's a list for you:
More Travel Tips:       ​ ​   ​
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