In the world of traveling, there are plenty of great resources available to both new and experienced travelers alike. There are many websites, guides, books, videos, and other resources available. This article contains some of the best tips for helping a new traveler become a smart traveler.
Be aware of departure taxes. Some countries have departure taxes. You will not be permitted to board your plane until you have paid them. Often a check or credit card is not permitted as payment on these taxes. Make sure you have enough cash set aside to cover them.
When traveling, never take an item from someone to transport it for them. No matter their situation or how nice they may seem, this is almost always a trap to convince an unwary tourist to transport drugs or other contraband into secure areas. Even "gifts" can fall into this category.
When staying at a hotel that offers a digital alarm clock, check both the time and the alarm when you first arrive. It is a common prank to pre-set the alarm to extremely early times, or to fiddle with the time displayed on the clock. Late at night when you go to bed, you may not realize your clock is 30 minutes fast or slow.
American travelers who have not left the country in several years should be aware that they definitely need an up-to-date passport. For a long time it was possible for US citizens to visit Mexico and Canada without such documentation. This is no longer the case, with modern security concerns. American travelers should have their passports in order if they intend to visit any other country.
When traveling overseas, it is wise to prepare for emergencies beforehand, including the loss of your U.S. passport. The U.S. Department of State maintains a website (usembassy.state.gov) where you can find information on how to contact the United States Embassy or Consulate in the country that you are visiting. Bring this information with you on your trip. In most cases, your replacement passport will be ready for you within a day or two.
When you get back from a trip with a baby or toddler, do not expect them to be back to their schedule as usual the very next day. Children this age like to follow schedules and theirs was disrupted for some time. By realizing this, it will help you understand them better and make this transition period a little easier for all.
Use a broomstick to lock your sliding door. Sliding doors are difficult to safely secure. Their locks aren't always the best but you can fortify them by placing a cut-off broomstick in the channel behind the sliding panel. Cut the broomstick so that it is long enough to reach from the inside edge of the sliding door to the opposite door frame. It's simple, and it's cheap. Just explain it to all the members of the household - you do not want it to be a fire hazard either.
After reading these tips, you can begin to understand what it takes to become a smarter traveler. There is a lot of information and you need to know how to use it. Keeping that in mind, you can refine your own traveling plans so that you can relax and enjoy your next trip.
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