Congratulations! Your well-deserved vacation is booked. Whether you have an exciting cruise, an adventurous escorted tour, or a relaxing resort stay planned, there’s so much to look forward to.
But before you head off on your grand adventure, there’s some insider information that we think is worth sharing to help make your vacation an easy journey.
In order to have a worry-free and utterly joyous travel experience, organization and preparation are key. It’s time to tie up loose ends and get ready for the journey ahead with our 5 helpful tips.
Depending on the length of your vacation, mail and packages can pile up quickly at your residence. If you don’t have a family member or friendly neighbor collecting your mail, a mail-hold service may work perfectly for you.
The United States Postal Service offers a mail hold service that is easily requested through USPS.com. Mail can be collected and held safely at your local post office for up to 30 days. If your journey lasts longer than 30 days, you can sign up for a mail forwarding service for your mail to be sent to an alternate address.
These services can be requested up to 30 days prior to your trip or as early as the next scheduled delivery date.
Traveling can require a handful of required documentation. Identification such as a passport or driver’s license, boarding passes, additional travel bookings, and more can lead to a stack of unnecessary stress, especially if you have documents for multiple people. Here is where some simple organization can ease some of the complexities of travel.
Color coding documents is a simple, yet effective way to add some order to your adventure. If you are traveling with others, each person or each type of document can be assigned their own color. No matter the method, having a system to easily access the proper documents when needed will ensure a more effortless trip.
If hard copies aren’t your style and you tend to keep most things digital, screenshots that you can save to a folder in your phone’s image library are your best friend. Although some airports do have WiFi, trying to connect to the internet or dealing with a weak connection while at the front of a line can cause undue stress, so take screenshots of boarding passes and other travel confirmation documents for swift access when needed.
If you aren’t worried about your phone’s connection, take advantage of the apps provided by airlines as well as wallet apps like Apple Wallet for easy access to documents.
Between not wanting to forget anything, fighting for space in your luggage, and keeping an eye on the weight, packing for trips can be stressful. It is a process, so to help you along the way, here are a few packing tips that may come in handy.
When packing for a trip, it is important to maximize your luggage space. You can do so by tightly rolling clothes instead of folding them, buying TSA-approved containers for personal care items, utilizing hollow spaces for items such as shoes and hats, and purchasing a luggage scale to ensure you aren’t charged overweight baggage fees.
If you really want to go the extra mile, invest in some packing cubes, purchase bar soap products, grab a pill organizer for jewelry, and save your hotel shower caps for dirty shoes and wet swimwear.
If you’re traveling internationally, there are a couple of extra factors you will need to account for while packing. Many international airlines have stricter allowances on luggage size and weight compared to U.S. airlines. Research your airline ahead of time to make sure you stay at or below the maximum size and weight allowed for both carry-on and checked bags.
In addition, don’t forget to purchase and pack an outlet adapter to make sure you can use your electronic devices while abroad. Many adapters are sold as all-in-one universal converters, or you can purchase one specific to the country you are visiting.
Take advantage of all of these suggestions and you will be a true packing pro in no time!
Now that your trip is all booked, it is important to familiarize yourself with the destinations you’re visiting. From sightseeing spots to local life, you can make the most out of your vacation if you plan your adventures out ahead of time.
With so many outlets to research travel, there is an abundance of information at your fingertips. Beyond the typical web search, you can grab a travel book that focuses on your destination or hop on to YouTube to watch some awesome travel vlogs to inspire a few ideas. Make sure to look into must-see sites, delicious restaurants, local favorites, and more.
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If you are traveling abroad to a country with a different official language, try learning a few basic words and phrases that may be helpful along the way. Another option is to download a translator app for quick and easy translations. Be sure to be respectful of local customs and cultures and show consideration for your hosts during your travels.
Researching your destination and booking your excursions truly go hand in hand when preparing for your vacation. To create the most seamless travel experience possible, booking excursions early is highly recommended.
Excursions can range from exhilarating outdoor activities to leisurely sightseeing tours with an expert guide. It is important to research and plan your daily itinerary ahead of time, so you aren’t doubling up on visits to certain attractions or missing attractions at the top of your list.
Some unforgettable excursion opportunities include guided sightseeing tours that reveal hidden gems in breathtaking destinations, immersive experiences that allow you to dive deeper into rich cultures, outdoor activities that really get the adrenaline pumping, and so much more.
Make the most of your adventure and plan ahead, so once your journey begins, it’s all smooth sailing.
As you get ready for your vacation, we hope these travel tips help you to be more prepared. Taking care of the small details makes the whole experience that much better, so get ready now for an unforgettable and stress-free getaway later.
Reach out to your Independent Travel Advisor to help you book excursions, provide you with much-needed details about your trip, and more.
Happy travels!
