10 ways to Travel More Efficiently

Having the ability to easily find accommodations that you like, not getting lost and getting a good deal are pretty much every travelers dream. Unfortunately not every traveler knows how to make these things happen and even just planning and packing can cause a lot of stress. Even for us that travel frequently, we can always use tips on how to travel better. Here are 10 ways that you can travel more efficiently.

A Well Packed Bag
Really, a vacation starts with not just planning a trip, but packing your luggage. A well packed bag can save you a lot of time and energy. Rolling your clothes will help you avoid wrinkles. Ditching full size personal care products and opting for ones that are travel size will take up less space and allow you to fit more stuff in your bag. The more efficiently you pack the easier it will be to find everything and it may allow you to take a smaller, easier to maneuver suitcase with you.

Utilizing All Resources When Finding Accommodations
You are probably wondering how accommodations play into the mix when it comes to traveling more efficiently. Well, I’m here to tell you that they are very important. Picking the right hotel can save you a lot of time. You will spend less time traveling to attractions or restaurants. The right hotel may have things like express check-in, in room Wi-Fi or a hotel gym. These amenities will allow you more time to do the things that you want to do.

Use Rewards Cards
Rewards cards can prove to be pretty handy even if you don’t travel often. You can get cashback or points to use for future travel endeavors. They may also offer “members only” perks that you can use while you are actually at your destination. If you are going to be using a credit card to book some things related to traveling, you might as well make the most of it.

Utilize Your Smartphone or Laptop
Pretty much all travelers have a smartphone or laptop. If you are among them, utilize them to travel more efficiently. They can be a useful tool when it comes to planning where you want to go and what you want to do. There are a lot of great travel apps that you can download to your phone like TripIt that will make traveling that much easier.

Travel During Non-peak Seasons
Traveling during the holidays or the busy season can make it hard to do anything efficiently. Fighting off crowds and dealing with airline delays might majorly throw off your travel plans. Instead, opt to travel when your destination is at their off peak season. A lot of cities experience a lull in travel during the months of February and October. If you do have to travel when you know it will be busy, plan to get to the airport early and allow time for delays.

Find Out What The Carry-on Rules Are
You can avoid a lot of hassle when traveling by finding out what your airline’s carry-on rules are. Not only do you need to know about size and weight restrictions, but what’s actually allowed in your bag as well. You don’t want to get to security just to find out that the large bottle of shampoo you packed actually isn’t allowed on the plane and that you need to rifle through your bag to remove them.

Check To See What Power Outlets Are Used
Cellular phones, hairdryers and tablets can be useful when you go on vacation, but only if you can use them. In some countries power outlets are different than they are in America. Before traveling, check to see if you will need to acquire an adapter or different charger in order to use your electronic devices in countries like Australia or Italy.

Read The Fine Print And Read It Again
The fine print is what really gets a lot of people. They don’t read it thoroughly before they travel and then they find themselves in a real pickle when things don’t turn out how they expected them too. Imagine booking a rental car online thinking that you got a good rate, but when you go to actually pick the car up you realize that there are a lot of extra fees that weren’t included in that great rate. This happens to a lot of people and although it may seem tedious now, you really should read the fine print, not once, but twice before you make any sort of travel reservations.

Research Where You Are Going And What You Will Be Doing Ahead Of Time
One of the easiest ways that you can travel more efficiently is to do your research. Just because a country initially looks fun to visit, you may find that it’s not what you were hoping for upon further research. The same goes for activities. Can you imagine the disappointment of getting your kids excited to go to a certain attraction only to find out that they aren’t old enough to participate in it? The time you spend researching your destination and activities beforehand will be well worth it.

Plan For The Unexpected
When you are traveling, a lot of unexpected things can happen. It’s important to try to plan ahead for them. For instance, what would happen if you lose your passport or the hotel you planned on staying at suddenly had no record of your reservation and you need to find some other place to stay? Having a backup plan as to what you would do if these sort of things happen will make you vacation run more smoothly and you will feel confident knowing that you are prepared if your plans suddenly change.

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