Easy Steps for Becoming a Good Traveler

When you share friends that you know are good travelers, and you never see them showing any signs of stress, you always want to ask them, How do you do it? Well I did this and I asked a friend of a friend who lives out in Texas and runs a collision shop by the name of Auto Masters Collision Center, (feel free to check them out) and he explained to me that when you leave your home temporarily, you can be categorized as a traveler, tourist, or good traveler. Everybody wants to have the most enjoyable and fulfilling trip. To achieve this, you need to be a good traveler. Here are steps to follow to become a good traveler.

Do not Act like You Know

Bartenders and taxi drivers are the guides of travelers. Therefore, instead of telling them where to take you, ask them for direction. This should apply to restaurants too. Ask the people in restaurants about their meals and drinks. These are experts and they will guide you better.

Get Advice from Friends

Ask your friends about the best travel destinations. Their highlights and suggestions will make your travel experience better.

Appreciate People that Help You

People in hotels are given tips. However, people responsible for cleaning sheets and making beds do not get tips. Therefore, leave some bucks behind with a note thanking the maids. These people are generally under-appreciated.

Engage in Conversations

Talking to the people that you come across when traveling gives you a chance to learn and share. In fact, this is what some travel memories are made of. It makes experiences more authentic. Therefore, take time to talk to other travelers and locals.

Don’t Travel with Workloads

A major reason to travel is to get away from your daily responsibilities. Therefore, avoid carrying workloads when traveling. For instance, don’t check your emails every now and then. Avoid answering work-related calls that can stress you during the vacation. Instead, focus on having fun and enjoying every minute of your trip.

In addition to these steps, be good to the people that you meet and the environment. Appreciate their culture and remember that your travel destination is home to the local people. Therefore, be environmental conscious and treat people as well as their customs with respect.

Guidelines for Traveling with Your Cat

Unlike dogs that can easily adapt to traveling, cats do not usually find traveling an exciting experience. As such, according to Manny from Physique Personal Training says that coming with your cat on a trip may not be as fun as expected, especially if you do not know the best practices for traveling with cats. The following are guidelines for traveling with cats that you should keep in mind when planning an adventure.

Make Sure the Cat is in Good Health

The health of your cat should be a priority considering you will be visiting new environments. Checking the essential vaccinations is important before the trip to make sure that the cat is in proper state of health to travel. The vet will advise you on further measures to keep the cat in good health throughout the trip.

Take Precautions

When traveling with your cat, you should be keen on keeping it restrained at all times when in public places like on the flight, in car, bus, train or boat. Crates and carriers are the most suitable for handling cats while on transit. It is also important to get an ID tag for the cat bearing your names and contact information. Some airlines have also not been good at transporting pets so; do your research before booking a flight.

Do Not Leave Your Cat in the Car

The crate or carrier provides adequate restraint for the cat and when you combine that with the hot temperatures in the car, you might come back only to find your kitty dead. Even if it seems cool inside the car, always take short breaks together with the cat whenever you are out. It will help your cat to stretch and avoid unnecessary accidents.

Even with proper travel plans, coming with a cat on a trip might still not be a bed of roses. Just accept that things could go wrong and focus on getting the most out of the trip.

How to Plan Out Your Travels

Once you decide to travel the world, one of the major questions you are likely to be asked by other people is, how do you plan out your travels? Although some people are spontaneous travelers, it’s a good idea to always plan your trips. Trips that are planned in advance tend to be more successful. Here are useful tips to help you plan out your next trip.

Check out Visa-Free Countries

When planning your trip, refer to countries that you can visit visa free. The US State Department Travel site has information on different countries that you can visit without a visa. Visiting such countries enables you to travel without doing much paperwork. Additionally, look for countries where the visa application process is easy.

Look for New Travel Destinations

Consider countries or destinations that you have not traveled to before. Nevertheless, the choice of a travel destination should be dependent on other factors like the time that you have to travel. Traveling to a place that you haven’t been to enables you to enjoy new experiences.

Consider the Local Weather

Weather varies across the world. While it may be winter in Europe, it could be humid or rainy in Southeast Asia. Therefore, find more about the local weather of your preferred travel destination before you leave and prepare accordingly.

Transport

How do you intend to travel? If you plan to fly, decide on airport connections. Decide on connections that will make the journey more enjoyable and comfortable. What’s more, check the connection and layover times to plan your trip accordingly.

Travel Budget  

Budget is a major determinant of a travel destination. Traveling to some places is cheaper than traveling to others. Therefore, if you are a budget traveler, check out destinations that are cheap to travel to. What’s more, look for deals that will enable you to keep expenses down such as discounted flights and accommodation.

By following these tips on how to plan out your travels, you can go on a comfortable trip without compromising your overall experience.

How to Prepare to Travel with Medication

To avoid troubles when you travel with medication, there are things that you need to do. Guillermo from Martz Roofing & Construction once shared with me his tips about when he travels with his parents and I felt they were pretty good tips. So, here are some guidelines that will make traveling with medication easier for you.

Before Traveling

Before you travel, check with the embassy of your destination country to ensure that you are permitted to carry your medication to that country. Bear in mind the fact that in some countries, you are allowed to carry medical supplies for 30 days only. You may also be required to produce a medical certificate or prescription.

If your medication is not allowed at the destination county, talk to your doctor about alternative medication or an option that is allowed at your destination. You can also have the doctor come up with a letter that describes your treatment plan or condition.

Book an Appointment with a Specialist

There are travel medicine experts that can give you the necessary medicines and vaccines 4 to 6 weeks before the trip. Inquire from your doctor whether it’s possible to get sufficient medication for the trip. Also find out if your insurance company will pay for the medical supply.

Additionally, ask the doctor if you may need to change your medicine once you arrive at your destination country. Also find out more about the safety of your medication. Due to extreme temperatures, some medications require refrigeration. Inquire this from your doctor to ensure the effectiveness of your medication.

Pack Smart

Medication should be packed in the carry-on luggage. This enables you to avoid being stuck without the necessary medication in case you lose your suitcase. Remember to carry sufficient medication depending on the duration of your trip. Also keep the original label of the medication and have copies of prescriptions.

Additionally, pack a prescription that has been translated into your destination’s language. This ensures that other people will understand your condition and how to give you medication in case you become unconscious.

Follow these guidelines to prepare to travel with medication with ease.

How to Reduce the Stress that Comes with Travel Planning

Travel planning is stressful for most people. That’s because you have to plan every detail of your trip. However, if you let travel planning stress you out, you might not enjoy your trip. Here are tips to help you reduce or avoid the stress that comes with travel planning.

Be Organized

Set aside enough time to plan your trip. Have a computer folder or a special notebook to keep notes and documents together.

Have a Checklist

Come up with a checklist of everything you will need for the trip. This checklist may include things that you have to do before you go on a trip. These include booking a flight, applying for a visa, and making an itinerary. Typing or writing these things on a piece of paper can eliminate stress and anxiety in the travel planning process.

Have a Realistic Timeline

Decide on what you intend to do before the trip. For instance, decide on the things to do on the last Monday before the trip. This can be researching hotels at your destination and booking. Allow each activity sufficient time to avoid being overwhelmed by the last minute rush.

Seek Help

If you have a travel partner, seek their help with travel planning if you feel overwhelmed. This is very important if you feel overwhelmed or if you are too busy to do everything alone.

Plan Your Trip Early

Early planning allows you more time to do everything required to make your trip enjoyable. Last minute rush leads to stress that ruins travel experience.

Use Professional Services

If travel planning feels extremely stressful, enlist professional services. For instance, use services of a travel agent. You can also go on a guided cruise or tour where most of the planning will be done for you.

Remember that you don’t need to plan out your trip alone. You can seek help from friends, travel partners, or travel professionals to make the experience better.

Seven Amazing Ways to Enjoy a Long Flight

Are you planning for a long flight? You should prepare well so that it can be enjoyable and healthy. A lot of people get deep vein thrombosis and other health complications because of travelling on a plane for long distances. Your mental health can also be at risk if you spend over 20 hours in one place without talking with someone. You need to prepare well so that the long hours of flight can be enjoyable and healthy. The following five tips will help you to plan well before you travel.

Carry Your Favorite Snacks

Chances are that you will be lonely for many long hours. Although food will be served on board, you should carry your favorite snacks. Travelling in different time zones can mean eating dinner in the morning or being served lunch when your body was expecting breakfast. You need a few snacks to give you energy as you wait for the next serving.

2. Carry a Pillow and an Extra Blanket

The designers of airplanes have tried to make the seats as comfortable as possible. However, you may need something extra to make your comfort complete. You can carry a pillow to support your aching back or a blanket to soothe you to sleep.  

3. Do not Forget Sleeping Aids

Many people cannot fall asleep when they want to in an airplane. Even when the temperature is optimum, you may still find it hard to sleep.  If you have a serious business to attend to when you land, and you desperately need a good sleep, sleeping pills can be of much help.

4. Pack Eye masks and Earplugs

Since you are not in a private jet, there will be a lot of people around you going about their businesses. You cannot force them to sleep neither can you force them to switch off the lights. All what you can do is to wear your eye mask and earplugs and sleep.

5. Carry Minimum Luggage in the Cabin

To enjoy a long trip, you need enough space in your seat. You might have a book or a laptop, and the little space available is also demanded by refreshments and other items. If you carry a lot of luggage in your cabin, space will become scarce, and you will end up being messy. Only bring what you need in the cabin.

6. Move Around Frequently

Sitting or sleeping for over 18 hours is harmful to your health. Plan to periodically stand up and stretch. There is no need to be shamed when you stroll in the airplane because soon you will find almost everyone doing it.

7. Make Friends

In a long flight, the most important thing you will miss is an understanding friend. During the start of the journey, pick a discussion with the person next to you. You will be surprised how short the trip will be when you have a companion.

Conclusion

A lot of people are spending long hours on airplanes due to the effects of globalization. Prudence is crucial when preparing for a long flight. The above seven tips will help you to make your long journey enjoyable and healthy.