Traveling is all about experiences and it’s a great way of expanding one’s horizons. Travel will help you get out of your comfort zone and be inspired. After you have made all the major decisions about where you’re going to travel to and how much you’re going to spend, you need to figure out how to get there.
If you would like to rent a car, Easyrentcars is in the business of making sure that you get one at the best rates.
Beyond the big picture, there are are many small things that could make your trip easier and less stressful. Check out these brilliant, yet simple travel hacks before you get started on your journey.
Pack like a pro
Find a suitcase that has lots of compartments to make packing a breeze. All your essentials; including anything that you can’t live without or things that are not easily replaced should all go in your carry-on. Your carry on will make it very easy for you to access things such as your phone or your credit cards.
You should also make sure that all your bags are marked. You could use a label with your name or a colorful ribbon for easy identification. Chances are that you will find someone with a similar bag at the hotel.
Below is a list of packing tips that will help you maximize your luggage space:
- Start by making a list of all the things that you need to bring on your trip
- Put all your grooming products and makeup in a smaller bag to avoid staining your clothes
- Get a smaller wallet that only fits the essential cards and some cash
- Pack the clothes by outfit rather than general stacks that you won’t wear.
- Stuff your socks and underwear inside your shoes, bra cups, and handbags.
- Leave the bulky items like thick jackets and chunky sweaters
- Carry a mini steamer in case your hotel room does not have an iron box
Source: https://www.flickr.com/photos/4nitsirk/
Learn some key foreign word phases
When you’re visiting a new place, it’s important for you to learn some of the commonly used words and phrases. This makes it a bit easier to communicate with the locals in their native language.
You can use Duolingo which is a free app or if you’re a bit old-fashioned, you can bring along a dictionary that translates words into the native language. This way you can easily order your food in restaurants.
Use Google Maps
If you aren’t so lucky with your sense of direction, you can use Google Maps to help you navigate your way through new areas. The good thing is that you do not have to use your data as you move around. You can simply use your hotel’s internet connection to plot out the different routes that you’ll walk on that day. Zoom in and take a screenshot.
The Google Translate app is really helpful when road signs are in a foreign language allowing you to make your way through a foreign location without any problem.
Always park with your car nose out
In this position, you can easily notice if you left the interior light on. Also, in case anything happens, you will have easy access to the car’s front to check the battery.
Lastly, hooking your car to a tow truck is much easier when you park it nose out.
Your medications
Most cities across the world have a drug store or two. However, you can never be too sure about how far the nearest chemist is from the hotel you’ll be staying. Bring important medications such as Imodium A-D, Aspirin, and Tums. You do not want to be running around a town trying to translate the word “diarrhea” into their native language.
Some advice for the wise: If you are going to a third-world country, stock up the right drugs and bring them with you.
By Potentialthreat – Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, Link
Order a beverage first to determine whether a restaurant is overpriced
On arrival at your destination, check how much soft drinks and beer go for, in nearby restaurants. You can use the price of these beverages to gauge exactly how pricey the restaurants are.
Know your hotel information
The first thing you should do when you arrive at your hotel is to take their business card from the reception. This way, if you get lost, you have your hotel’s full name, address, and phone numbers. If the taxi drivers don’t understand your language, you can show them the card and they will take you back to your hotel.
Getting Money
The best thing to do if you’re traveling outside your country is to withdraw a large sum of money so that you only pay the ATM fee once. Since most credit cards will charge a high foreign transaction fee, get the money in your own currency and find an International Forex Bureau to make an exchange.
You should also make sure that you notify your credit card company about your planned trip so that they don’t think that your card has been stolen.
Make sure that you don’t have issues in your account, especially a bad Chexsystems record. Consider getting one of the second chance checking accounts in Iowa (if you’re from the States), as they don’t focus so much on your Chexsystems record, and you can still use your credit card abroad freely.
Hopefully the tips we covered today come in handy on your next trip abroad. Ramble on!