Traveling is an enjoyable experience. You leave your hometown to see different places and people. And in the process, you learn a lot about the world. To fully enjoy your trip, you should plan. And here are a few things you should do before you ride that plane.
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1. Take Some Cash
Yes, we all know that you can use your credit card almost anywhere you go, but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t take cash for just-in-case situations. You never know. Maybe you need to tip a waiter, take the bus, or go shopping in local areas that don’t have credit card machines. So make sure to grab some cash and convert it into the local currency. This can easily be done at most banks, airports, and local malls.
2. Global Tipping Guide
The worst thing that could happen to you in a foreign country is unintentionally offending people. The rules of giving tips differ from one country to another. And giving the right tips or not giving any could be the kind of information you need. So, you can read Global Tipping Guide and the application will tell you exactly how much tips you need to pay.
3. Download Maps
Because of the language barrier, you’re not a language expert, and asking people about where you are or where you want to go can be a devastating experience. Downloading maps can help you find your way around the city without asking others. Don’t count so much on an internet connection because you will not find a good WiFi connection everywhere. The Google Maps app allows you to seamlessly download maps on your phone without an internet connection.
4. Hotel Reservations
if you haven’t made any reservations yet, there’re a few things that you should consider: how long you are going to stay and your budget. Many websites, like Hotels.com, Travelocity, and Expedia allow you to make hotel reservations. Alternatively, there is Airbnb. Available in over 150 countries, Airbnb allows users to list their vacation homes or spare rooms for rent at an affordable price.
Always check the travel sites to find the best rates on hotels no matter where your travels take you.
You can also check reviews to make sure previous guests have had a good experience with the hotel as well. The last thing anyone wants is to get to what is supposed to be a nice hotel and find out that Motel 6 would have been better.
5. Plug Converter
Check out the plug and socket types of the country you are visiting and make sure you get the right plug converter. A plug converter is the only item that most people do not remember to take. Put that in your bag. After all, you don’t want to end up with an uncharged cell phone.
6. Exchange Rates
Now whether you are exchanging money from your country or from the country you’re traveling to, you don’t want people to fool you. XE Currency is a good application with live currency rates. Make sure you check that application before you exchange money.Also there is a global money app and debit card called Revolut that helps transparently manage money around the world. Revolut supports at least 90 different currencies all without international transfer fees.
7. Pets
No one needs to remind you, and you are already worried about your pets.
- First, you can travel with your pets, but you must make sure you go to pet-friendly hotels.
- Second, you can ask your friends or family to take care of your pets.
- Third, you can check the services of TrustedHousesitters or Care.com and find someone to take care of your pets when you’re away.
8. Google Translation
It’s a good app for translation and will help you in your day-to-day activities. The application translates about 90 languages, so you will be alright.
9. Plan Your Trip
You have to plan your trip. Check all the places you want to visit before you go and ensure that you don’t go around like crazy to visit all the places. After all, you want to relax. And you don’t want to spend the trip on transportation, either.
10. Pack Like a Professional
Take items that you truly need. There’s no need to try to fit all your wardrobe inside. Take essentials only because you don’t want to carry a heavy bag from one place to another. Plus, don’t put items in two bags when you can easily put them in one. Check this for how to pack like a professional. You will get good ideas about how to use space properly.
11. Trip Preparation Checklist
- Have a passport that is in-date and any necessary Visas pre-arranged
- If you are traveling out of the country, make sure your passport isn’t expiring in the next 6 months. If it is, apply for an expedited passport.
- Double-check the airline’s luggage weight and size restrictions.
- Visit a travel doctor and receive the required vaccinations
- Pack a basic (or not-so-basic) first-aid kit
- Purchase comprehensive travel insurance
- Speak to your bank about travel money options and let them know, specifically, where you are traveling to
- Ensure that your mobile phone is unlocked for an international sim
- Discuss communication expectations with your friends and family
- Research climate and pack accordingly (try not to over-pack!!)
- Download any entertainment you might want onto your tablet (ex your favorite podcasts and albums, computer, or Kindle for the plane ride or beach reading.
- Buy an amazing journal for goal-setting and keeping travel memories safe
- An open mind, a sense of adventure, and a passion for meaningful travel
- Pay or schedule all bills that might be due while you’re away.
- Print out or save all of your important travel documents, including flight, hotel and car confirmations, details for excursions, plus driving or walking directions you’ll need.
- Print boarding passes, or download an online boarding pass to your phone.
- Reconfirm your ride to the airport. Make sure you’ve left plenty of time so you’re not rushing and stressed about missing your flight (if you will travel by plane )
- Confirm that your seat assignments haven’t changed (i.e. make sure you’re still sitting together)(if you will travel by plane )
- Do laundry and/or dry cleaning.
12. Keep Burglars Away With a Digital Mailbox
Nothing shows signs that you’re away from home except a bulging mailbox. You want to enjoy your trip without worrying about your house or postal mail. Check how virtual mailbox works and how can it help you with your postal mail. PostScan Mail offers digital mailboxes. When you sign up, your mail is directed to their mail facility, where it is sorted, and the envelopes scanned, and then when you log into your web-based account, you see notifications of any item you’ve received. It’s a fantastic way to handle postal mail when you’re not home.
13. Virtual Valet Service
Check out DUFL the virtual valet service that allows you to travel bag free. Saving you time and hassle of checking your bag at the airport and dragging a heavy suitcase along with you. With DUFL all you do is pick the clothes, toiletries etc. that you need and they have them cleaned and ready for you at your destination.
8 Things You Need To Pack Before Traveling
You’re bound to forget something no matter how long you spend packing. Some items just seem so insignificant that you won’t remember to pack them until you say, “ouch, I forgot.”
Many people, and most definitely you, stress over what to put on during a vacation that they forget to pack almost anything else.
Adding to that, there are some things you never thought you would need while traveling. Here are some items, applications, and services you will need while traveling.
1. SanDisk Ultra 64GB USB 3.0 OTG Flash Drive With Micro USB Connector
Through this device, you can back up your mobile or tablet’s data without connecting your phone to a computer, and store as much as 64GB.
If you love photos, you will capture as many photos and videos as you like without worrying about space.
2. Thick Plastic Bags
You can pack shoes inside thick plastic bags. Remember to take extra plastic bags for items you didn’t have time to wash while packing for home.
3. Travel Luggage Packing Organizer
To find items easier, it’s always good to use luggage packing organizer to separate items in your bag. Luggage packing organizers are available in many sizes.
You can easily get ones that will fit perfectly inside your bag.
4. Skype or Viber
You can always text or send emails, but sometimes you just want to listen to the lovely voices of family and friends.
Through Skype or Viber, you can easily make free phone calls using the internet. So if you don’t already use them, remember to download them before you travel.
Read more: How to cancel your USPS change of address request
5. Ear Plugs
Ear plugs can help you inside the plane or at the hotel. Wherever you are, it’s likely that you will come across babies who just do not stop crying.
Pack that ear plug and don’t let your sleep count on babies’ crying patterns.
6. Mini-First Aid Kit
A mini-first aid kit is a most forgotten and not a very appreciated item, but you never know. It’s indispensable especially if it contains anti-diarrhea meds or pain pills.
Just think of the items or medicines that you usually use and pack some.
7. Wet Wipes
You can buy wet wipes from almost anywhere. But if you just left the airport after grabbing a few bites of something and your hands are sticky, it won’t be such a bad idea if you find wipes at hand.
Just pack some wet wipes, preferably in purse or somewhere where you can easily find them.
8. Virtual Mailbox
When you travel, you worry about your house and try to secure it as much as you can. There is no telltale sign that you are on vacation like a bulging mailbox. Before you go, you want to fix that.
You can check the website of PostScan Mail, one of the best virtual mailbox service provider in the US for details. They receive mail on your behalf and scan it so you can view it and manage it online.
5 Lifehacks to Make Your Business Trip Relaxing
Whether this is your first time traveling or you’ve traveled for more times than you can count, relax. Business trips can be fun. Of course, you have meetings to attend, business to take care of and employees to follow up with.
Work does not mean you cannot see new places and meet new people. If you’re visiting a new city, you should take time to walk around and have fun. Here are the things you need to do to make your trip relaxing.
#1 Plan Your Trip
The words sound like a no-brainer but seriously, plan your trip. If you want to have fun, check events, restaurants, and places you want to see online and how close they are to where you intend to stay. You don’t want to spend your trip worrying about missing a meeting and not exploring the city’s transportation system. Take some time before you travel and plan exactly where you want go. For directions, you can download Tripomatic: Trip Planner. This application comes with maps needed, so download it to your phone, and you’re good to go. Tripomatic works offline.
#2 Follow Up With Your Employees
You can’t fully relax when you think of the disasters you might encounter when you return to your company. All the issues you should’ve taken care of when you were traveling suddenly pops up. A good work-fun balance is definitely needed but once you start running your own business, you know that you have to work 24/7 to keep everything running smoothly and there are tools to help you. Sign up for an online time tracking system and easily follow up with your employees and check who showed up for work and who did not. And also they can write shift reports daily so you can exactly see what they are working on. ClockIn Portal is a good online time-tracking tool that your company can use.
#3 Read Your Postal Mail Online
One thing that makes many company owners or managers worried when they travel is postal mail. A simple life hack is to get yourself a digital mailbox. That way, you can read your postal mail online. Virtual mail companies receive your mail, and you can view what you receive online. You can also decide what to do with your mail through an online application. So if your business trip lasts for only a few days, you can ask the mail facility to scan the contents of your mail and read it like you would read an email. All through an easy-to-use online application. PostScan Mail offers this service for a very reasonable price. I forgot to mention they also do an electronic check deposit.
#4 Make Sure You Are Connected to the Internet
When it comes to an internet connection, most hotels, if not all hotels, provide a WiFi connection. It depends on when and how frequently you need internet access. In worst-case scenarios, you can use data roaming. Make sure your hotel has an internet connection, and also ask about data roaming expenses. Plus, it mainly depends on where you are going. Some countries have free WiFi almost anywhere. Just check before you go.
#5 Minimize Time You Spend Online
It sounds like a strange advice after listing all the applications you should use and online services you should download. If you want to relax and focus on what you traveled to get done in the first place, you should not be distracted by Facebook or Twitter. You can focus on how your employees are doing and which mail items you received but that should not take more than an hour or two of your day. Decide on a time to take care of business at home and forget about it the rest of the day. Being a businessman is an all-day-long career but schedule a time to take care of business, and remember to have fun. Look around and enjoy the city you are at.
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