While most people travel to get away from the stress of the ‘real world’ and to unwind it is important to remember that there is still danger and you should travel with some caution. Often, tourists are taken advantage of especially when they are in a foreign country. Remember these travel safety tips when you are in another country or strange place.
Don’t Stand Out
Muggers often target tourists because they don’t know their way around and don’t know when they are being scammed. Do not stand out from the crowd and look like you don’t know where you are going or what you are doing. In addition don’t wear valuable like expensive watches or big jewelry. This can bring unwanted attention. Make sure to research how locals dress as well. Use google maps with an earphone to find your way around and always stay alert.
Secure Your Valuables
This generally goes without saying, however it is important to secure your cash, passport, and cards. Always make sure they are in a secure place that cannot be easily snagged. In addition keep the numbers of your credit and debit card companies with you so you can call and cancel right away should they be taken. Let your credit card company know you will be overseas as well to prevent them from freezing your card since this is usually a warning sign that they’ve been stolen.
Beware of Scams
Thieves are tricky and many time you may not even realize you are being robbed until after the fact. Watch for people posing as police as well as people who are trying to charge you for tours to show you sights of the place you are at. Beware of everyone, even children. Many people have been pick pocketed or taken advantage of because children distract them with signs or surround them in the streets asking them things. Of course, don’t let this scare you away from talking to locals, just make sure to use caution.
Communication
Make sure to let people know you’re leaving as well as give them your itinerary so they know where you are at. Always stay connected, before you leave on your trip check out if your phone has international plans or you can get a cheap burner phone so that you are able to communicate with others. Check in with someone at least once every few days.
Stay Healthy
It is important that you keep your health especially in unfamiliar countries where you don’t know the language. Make sure that you know the water is safe to drink and if not budget accordingly to buy bottle water so that you don’t get dehydrated. Watch what you are eating and pick crowded places that have lines over places that are empty. This will eliminate your chances of food poisoning.
These are all important tips to keep in mind when traveling, however they should definitely not scare you away from going places! These tips will just ensure that you have the best traveling experience possible.
Traveling the world is a dream that many people don’t deem possible due to finances and time. However with the right money saving tips you can definitely afford to take a trip every year without having to eat ramen every day.
Flights
Your flight is usually your biggest purchase when you are traveling. Flights can definitely be costly especially when flying out of the country. To save extra cash make sure to be flexible for your flying in and out day. Often leaving one day later or earlier can make up to a $300+ difference. Tuesdays and Wednesdays are usually the cheapest day to fly due to the fact that there is less demand then so flying out those days can save you a good amount of money.
Although they can clutter your inbox, signing up for email alerts from airlines as well as flight deal sites like Secret Flying and The Flight Deal. Also, travel light if you can. Airlines charge if you have two bags or more and some are even charging per bag. Instead, opt for a carry on if possible – this way you don’t have to worry about pesky luggage claims either.
Transportation
Car rentals and taxis can put a huge dent into your budget. When traveling, using public transportation as much as possible is your best bet for saving money. Also walking as much as you can is also a great idea. You can take in the sights, get exercise, and not spend a single cent on transportation.
Food
When eating out three meals a day food budget can definitely sky rocket when traveling. While you want to be able to experience the many foods the culture has to offer, you can do this without emptying your wallet. For breakfast try shopping at the local market or grocery store and picking up fruits, yogurt, and other snacks. Also, watch where the locals go.
Often restaurants catering towards tourists can trap you and leave you with an expensive bill. Instead, try local stands and see where the lines are to taste delicious food. Another money saving tip is to eat big meals at lunch rather than dinner. Since food is often cheaper in the afternoon you will save money on the same food you’d be eating at dinner without sacrificing the experience of trying out new foods.
Accommodations
If you don’t feel comfortable staying in a hostel but also don’t want to pay the pricey fees that come with a hotel then there are many other options. AirBnB is a great way to stay, as well as experience the culture of another country or place better. Also staying in a home allows you access to a kitchen which can tremendously cut down on the high cost of having to eat out. Also staying in the less touristy town 15 minutes from your destination can cut down on costs if you don’t mind being a little bit farther.
Even if you don’t have a lot of money, you can still travel. Sticking to a budget, finding cheap transportation and housing deals, are all great ways to travel without breaking the bank. The key to traveling cheaper is to plan so start researching your next destination early and thoroughly.
Traveling during the holidays can be a huge headache. Luckily, there are many ways to make getting to your destination much easier. Here’s a guide to avoid the lines have everything you need and be ready for whatever the traveling season pass to throw at you. Whether you’re traveling across the globe or a few states over, here is everything you need to know.
Leave room in your suitcase
You’re going to want to leave room in your suitcase. It doesn’t matter if you’re flying or driving, you want to be able to bring back gifts and anything else you might pick up on the way. Your best bet is to bring along an extra bag or pack your clothing and personal items in a larger bag. If you plan accordingly you’ll be able to bring everything and the kitchen sink home with you.
Leave early
Highway traffic, security lines, flight delays are all things you may experience during holiday travel. In order to account for the unaccountable, plan to leave earlier than you normally would. The worst case you have to sit a little bit longer or you’ll get to your destination early. No matter what it’s better than missing the holiday altogether. Make sure to hit the road early your family will thank you.
Book early
Jesses you want to leave early, do you want to book early. If you need a hotel or flight, you’re going to want to do this as soon as possible. Especially during the holidays, rooms get full and flights completely booked. The best way to avoid travel mishaps is the book and reserve as early as possible. This way you’ll have the peace of mind you need and your family will know when to expect you.
Bring items to keep you occupied
As mentioned above, You may be sitting a little longer than you’d like. The only way to combat boredom, is to plan accordingly. Be sure to pack items to keep you occupied. Some great items are books, tablets, music, and travel games. If you’re bringing electronics with you, don’t forget the Chargers! There’s nothing worse than getting to the airport and realizing your tablet is dead and you have no charger. Bring things with you that you know will keep you occupied for at least a few hours. You never know what type of delays you might encounter.
Millennials are disrupting travel and giving the industry a run for their money. In order to continue making the same money they always were, the travel industry is going to have to keep up with the demands of the younger generation. Here’s just a few of the things Millennials are looking for.
Custom experiences
Millennials stay far away from cookie cutter experiences. The travelers of yesteryear wanted cruise packages and beach front properties. Young adults now want experiences that cater to their wants and needs. The travel industry needs to start providing more flexible options to attract the younger crowd.
Taking sharing to a new level
Today’s young adults are fully immersed in the sharing economy. They take Uber from the airport to get to an AirBnB instead of going the traditional taxi/hotel route. This is in part due to the customization. It’s pretty easy to do when all you have to do is throw open an app. AirBnB also offers prime locations with a unique feel. Every place you stay feels home-y, because it’s actually someone’s house!
Mixing business with pleasure
Millennials, more than any generation, are mixing business and travel. A staggering amount of young professionals are planning vacations around business trips. They save money on airfare and had a prior reason to be at the destination. Additionally, more young professionals are working flexible hours. This means they have the time to see sights and experience the city they are visiting.
Yearning for learnin’
Young adults are going into vacations and traveling with the expectation of coming away with new knowledge and experiences that pushed them as people. Millennials are interesting in picking up the language of where they are visiting or are interested in coming away with a brand new skill. Millennials also are eager to volunteer and give back to the community they are visiting. They want to get something out of the experience and leave something behind.
No matter how you look at it, Millennials are disrupting the traditional values of the travel industry and pushing them to expand what can be offered. It’s ultimately an inevitable change. As more of the Millennial generation are coming into better jobs and more money, they increase their buying power and influence.
Traveling is an incredible way to make lasting memories. Unfortunately, as time passes, those memories tend to get blurry. Have no fear! There are tons of great ways to preserve your fond memories and even share them with friends, family, and strangers on the internet. This blog highlights just a few ways you can preserve your time around the world for years to come.
Blog/Vlog
Starting a blog and/or vlog is a fantastic way to document your travel experience. Each have their own unique subtleties, but they can work together to showcase and distribute your content with fellow travelers. Blogs are great for going in depth about what you experiences, what you were thinking, and, most importantly, telling a story. Vlogs on the other hand are obviously visually focused, so you’ll be able to capture the places you went and your reactions to them. If you chose to do both, you can marry the two together by embedding relevant vlogs into blog post.
Journal
For those who want to walk away with a tangible memory book, you can keep a journal. It’s almost exactly like a blog, without the internet part. You may be more inclined to write more personally accounts in a physical journal. If you want to preserve all emotions, good and bad, journaling is the best way to look back at the whole trip and know just what you were feeling and thinking at the time.
Photos
Take plenty of photos! Take photos of yourself, take pictures with other, and take pictures of your surroundings. There’s nothing like pulling up all your photos years later and then have all the memories and feelings rush right back. After all, the saying a “picture is worth a thousand words,” is around for a reason.
Create a Hashtag
Creating your own hashtag will be a fun way for you to catalog all your travels on social media and invite others to see your journey. Share your unique hashtags with friends and family who will want to follow your every step! It will also be awesome to look back after your trips to all the different posts you made across your social profiles.
Curate Playlists
Curating playlists specific to each leg of your trip is a unique way to bring you back to that time and place. You can make playlists based on what you were listening to in that day and time, pick specific songs that have subject matter or a feel from the location, or a mix of both! Either way, you’ll come home from your trip with a ton of great jams to daydream about your travels to. Plus, the movie in your head needs a soundtrack.
