Free Travel Tips: Pre-Travel Preparations

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Travel Tips: Pre-Travel Preparations

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Plan to Get Back Early

- Plan at least a day or two after your return home before any commitments are scheduled - you may be beat after your journey, or experience delays.
Pearson's Pond Luxury Inn and Garden Spa, Juneau, Alaska ID603

Pom Poms, Suitcases, and More

- Here are some things you may not have thought about when it comes to picking out a suitcase:

Consider getting 2 smaller cases instead of a large one. Large suitcases are limiting in many ways. Buy 2 small suitcases, where one fits inside the other for ease of storage. Always make sure the smaller of the 2 is small enough to carry on to a plane. My small suitcase measures 16" long x 12" wide by 5" deep. This size is ideal for up to a 4-day weekend, can be put 'longways' in the overhead bin, and can go under my seat if necessary. One last note about 2 suitcases - make sure the suitcases come with a pull-along strap, allowing you to attach the smaller case to the larger and then wheel them as 1 through the airport.
Choose dark colors for suitcases. Black is such a popular color because it doesn't show the dirt that will eventually get on your new bags. While practical, it makes identification at the airport a challenge. The best 'identifier' I ever saw was a large home-made 'pom-pom' made of bright yarn colors.
If locking your suitcase is something you want to do, consider purchasing a separate lock. The standard lock that comes on most suitcases is identical to every other lock, and the same key that opens yours, opens everyone else's.
Finally, I don't recommend spending a lot for suitcases. Experience has shown me that even the inexpensive suitcases will give you good wear for the dollar, and if they do break, can be inexpensively repaired. Another plus for less expensive luggage is that you are not advertising that you have money. The first suitcases to be stolen are the ones that look expensive.

Women Traveling Together

Women Traveling Together ID173

Pre-Address Lables

- I like to pre-address labels for those people to whom I plan to send a postcard. Then I don't have to spend time addressing at my destination, where there are so many more interesting things to do.
Marianne Lancaster ID629

Pre-Planning Alternative Dates for the Unforeseen

- Obviously not every vacation is going to have the option for setting aside an alternative date, but the use of an alternative, though (hopefully) unlikely date, could prevent the loss of vacation time and loss of expenses put toward the vacation or trip.

Why set aside an alternative date?

Unforeseen circumstances happen to us all. These could include illness, death in the family, or even being called for jury duty (a million to one shot it could have happened, and falling on the same timeframe, but it happened to me and was very costly financially).

When setting up an alternative vacation date, the primary concern is minimum notices required by an employer. For a week off, many employers would prefer to be notified at least four weeks in advance in order to fill the vacancy, and if there are any conflicts in schedules. Setting up an alternative date with your employer, should something interfere, might keep that alternative date open with them and prevent the loss of your vacation, and expenses, compared to trying to set up an alternative after the fact when there may be conflicts in schedules.

Before making reservations, paying for flights, etc., make certain of refund policies with the services you are using. Though many services may require a deposit to lock in a reservation, if you make any deposits check to see if they are refundable, partially or fully, and how much notice they require if a full refund is available. If a full refund is available with minimum notice, you might consider setting up alternative reservations, etc., with a timeframe of at least the minimum time required for a full refund from the time your original vacation plans start; this way if everything goes right, you can cancel your alternative plans without losing anything.

Things happen, and if something bad happens, or something otherwise interferes with your vacation time, losing your vacation altogether is only going to make things worse, and may cost you anyway. Protect yourself emotionally and financially by setting up alternatives.

Read about Joe Camper's travel adventures at JoeCamper.net.
Joe Camper ID2166

Prepare a Carepack Ahead of Time

- If you are driving to your destination, pack a carepack days ahead of time, so you will not have to worry about it at the last minute. Include things such as heat packs that you shake to heat up so if you get tired or in case of an emergency, you just shake, wait till they heat, and pop them in your shoes, clothes, pockets, or just under a blanket. They will keep you toasty. Also, include a blanket, jug of water, socks, sweatshirt, flashlight, matches, crackers, and other boxed items, flares, a can opener, canned food, toothbrush, travel-size toothpaste, magazines, Tylenol, and whatever you think you might need. Also, it is important to pack a few extra pills or any type of medication you or your children might be taking at the time just to be safe.
Misty Schepker Scheidt ID624

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