tips for travel

Never be caught unprepared during a trip. Plan ahead and stuff your bag with essentials things you need. The better prepared you are
the more fun you will have on the trip. Here’s a checklist of what should be inside your traveler’s kit.

*Medicine Kit
Never assume that no mishaps will happen on a trip. Even minor bruises should be taken care of. Always keep your first- aid kit handy.

Treating wounds
Bring along a roll of bandage
safety pins and scissors. Tweezers might be needed to pull out foreign materials that penetrate the skin. Bring ointments and alcohols for treating abrasions. If you are prone to allergies and itching
antihistamine medications like Benadryl should be handy.

Common medicine
Carry along medicines that you are likely to use
like aspirin for headaches
laxative for proper bowel movement and pain relievers. If you have a runny nose
buy a couple of decongestant. Dehydration and motion sickness is common when traveling
consult your doctor on which medicine is appropriate for you.

Prescription drugs
Remember to bring along whatever medication you are taking. Bring enough supply to last for the entire trip.

*Personal Hygiene Kit
This kit must include all your toiletries. This will keep you looking fresh all the time.

Dental
Bring along your toothbrush
toothpaste and dental floss. Buy a small bottled mouthwash or if you have plenty of supply left
just transfer it to a smaller container.

Hair
Carry along your favorite brush
comb and shampoo. Stuff in your hair spray
hair cream and gels if you are using one.

Personal effects
This will include your make-up kit. Remember to bring only the cosmetics that you are likely to use. Carry with you a handy mirror. You can bring your manicure set too.

Skin protection
Keep your skin healthy by putting on sunscreen and lip balm as often as you need them.

Bathroom needs
Bring along with you sets of toilet papers
soaps
towels and washcloth.

*Emergency Kit
This includes the stuff you might need like flashlights
lighters
pocket knife and duct tapes. Mobile phones are important in case of emergency
be sure to bring your charger and an extra battery.

*Leisure Kit
For added fun
you can bring along your travel journal
reading materials and the locale’s language book. Make the most out of fantastic views with your binoculars and your camera.

There is no such thing as a standard traveler’s kit. It varies upon the place and the activities you’ll do in a certain place. The above kits are basically the essentials. Be sure to keep everything checked and have a fun trip ahead!

Just because you have a dog doesn’t mean you have to stay home all the time. If you plan ahead and take a little care
it is easy and fun to travel with your dog.

Here are some tips to make the trip easier on both you and your pet:

1
Get your dog used to riding in the car by taking him on short trips. Go to fun places like the dog park
the fast food drive through (where you can feed him bits of meat from your burger)
or to visit friends. You want him to think that trips in the car are fun. You don’t want your dog to think that all car trips end up at the vet’s office.

2
If your dog tends to get carsick
don’t feed him the morning of the trip. Having your dog travel with an empty stomach will help to prevent any car sickness.

3
Bring plenty of water and a water dish along. You will need to give your dog periodic drinks of water when you stop for a rest. It will be easier to get your dog to drink if it is familiar water from home. Water in different places often smells or tastes differently
and your dog may not want to drink it.

4
Be sure to pack your dog’s food
treats
favorite bed
toys
and leash.

5
If your dog uses a crate
bring that along too. If you don’t have a large vehicle
you can buy crates that fold up. When you get to your destination
you can put your dog in his crate while you go somewhere that you can’t bring him along.

6
How should your dog travel in the car? Some dogs like to sit or lay on the seat
so bring a blanket to protect the upholstery. Other dogs may need to be kept in a crate in the car. Be sure the crate can’t slide around and scare the dog while you’re driving. You can also purchase dog seat belts to keep your dog safe while sitting in the car.

7
Make a stop every few hours to walk your dog and give him some water. Some dogs are frightened by the noisy trucks driving by
so try to walk in a quiet area. Be a good citizen and bring plastic bags along to pick up the mess.

8
If your dog is anxious about staying in a hotel or strange house at your destination
he might not eat or drink. You don’t want him to get dehydrated
so be sure to get him to drink
at least. You can mix chicken broth or gravy into the dog’s water. That will usually get him to lap it right up. You can mix chicken broth or gravy into the food too.

The first trip will be the hardest
because your dog will not realize that you are coming back. With the first trip behind you
if you have taken the time to make sure it is pleasant for your dog
future traveling with your dog should be a breeze.

Everyone wants to go on a nice
relaxing
and quiet vacation every once in a while
but not everyone has the kind of money that can buy a 5-star hotel stay for the weekend. In that once every few years chance that you have saved just enough for a lush weekend trip
you have the choice to go all out on a first rate hotel and have little left for going around town
or to pick a more reasonably priced 4 star hotel and still have a good budget for seeing the best that the hotel’s surroundings has to offer.

No matter what popular tourist destination you go to
there are 4-star hotels that are more than capable of competing with the first class hotels in the same town. Despite the difference in ratings
it is possible that the only disparity that counts between 4-star hotels and their 5-star counterparts is the price range
especially if you’re one customer who is only slightly particular about the kind and range of services offered in the hotel you choose to stay in. Some 4-star hotels even offer a wider range of amenities than some 5-star hotels at a lower price. Also
some 4 star hotels are considered the best in a certain region
as a 4-star rating is the highest for the hotel grading body ruling that area.

However
notice that the prices also differ according to the hotels’ respective distances from the center of the city or town; the prices reduce as the location moves farther from the center. The factor of how much of the city center you want to see should therefore play a role in planning your luxurious weekend getaway. After all
what you save in accommodations could easily turn into expenses when you need to spend more on transportation between the hotel and tourist spots you intend to visit.

Four-star hotels are also suitable for business travel
as business centers and conference halls are available in most. The business traveler can also benefit from the luxurious service a 4-star hotel offers
as the hotel can easily cater to a mix of business and pleasure. Some can even be a source of inspiration and tranquility
particularly those with extra provisions for privacy
such as soundproofed rooms
and wellness facilities
such as room massage service and a Zen garden.

Here’s a list of 4 star hotels that may be worth spending a weekend in someday: the Sofitel Paris Porte de Sevres
which also offers wireless Internet access in some rooms
3
restaurants catering to different tastes
and the option to stay on one of its eight non-smoking floors; the Hotel Forum in Rome
with a roof-garden restaurant overlooking the Venice Square and the Colosseum; and the Elite Hotel Praha in Prague
which is located in a quiet
yet scenic part of town
and features a day bar with a small leisure garden and a grill club that showcases the best of French
Argentinian and Spanish cuisines.

Finding a hotel that suits your budget comes easy when you take into consideration the activities that you will be busy with
or what you want to achieve during your stay. If being extremely pampered and totally worry-free comes last on your list
then you’re welcome to try a 3-star hotel. This is not to say that 3-star hotels do not offer any degree of comfort or luxury; it just seems impractical to be paying for lavish amenities when you won’t have the chance to take advantage of them.

If you’re a business traveler
who intends to be primarily engaged in
well
business matters
and not that concerned with having a fun and relaxing time
then a 3-star hotel with provisions and facilities that are useful for conferences and business correspondence would be a good recommendation. Furthermore
the affordable price is more attractive if you intend to keep the business expenses low. Also
an in-house restaurant
bar or lounge eliminates the need to go elsewhere for lunch or dinner meetings
and thus saves you time that you can spend preparing for presentations instead.

Meanwhile
on the other end of the tourist spectrum
a weekend traveler who has a planned itinerary can find good value in a 3-star hotel that is within minutes of a popular tourist destination
such as Paris or Amsterdam. Just because you’re visiting a top tourist spot doesn’t mean you have to spend a lot on accommodations. For instance
three star hotels like the Hotel Windsor Opera in Paris (only over a kilometer away from the city center) even offers services such as a business center facility
room service
and a fitness center
with rates that are at least about fifty percent lower than the best hotels located in the heart of the city.

While 3-star hotels may be expected to offer more than basic accommodations
it may be best to assess them and make a choice according to your expectations and needs. For instance
you may deem access to a fitness center more important than room service
or prefer Internet access and a business center to availability of a swimming pool. Whatever you prefer
be reassured that you can consult with an online guide and make sure to ask the right questions that will ultimately lead to a pleasant 3-star hotel experience.

Here are other 3-star hotels that may be of interest: the Hotel Sylter Hof in Berlin
which prides itself as a good location for business functions
and is immediately accessible to the city’s major airports; the Hotel Diplomatic in Rome
which is within close range of the Spanish Steps and the Vatican
and boasts of a fitness center
a swimming pool
and impeccable service; the Kensington Close Hotel and Healthy Spa in London
which offers an indoor swimming pool
beauty treatments
a health and fitness club
and three restaurants; and the Circus Circus Hotel in Las Vegas
Nevada
which is a family oriented hotel that offers live circus act performances and boasts of the Grand Slam Canyon theme park.

Traveling can be a stressful event and airplane travel is tops on the list of the stressors that we experience on what is supposed to be an exciting and fun event. A few simple steps can remove most of the stress of air travel.

Things to do before travel day:

1) Pack your bags. Make sure all your packing is done at least the night before and that you have all your bags in one central location for easy and complete loading into your car or taxi.
2) Have all your travel paperwork organized and in one central location.
3) Make a checklist of all the things you want to check to secure your home before you leave and walk through your home checking off each item. Do this at least an hour before you leave your house. Do this and you will never worry if you left your stove on or any of the other little nagging worries you might have while on your travel.
4) Be sure your pets are taken care of. Make any kennel reservations well in advance of your trip to be sure you have a reserved spot at a kennel you trust.
5) Call the AIRPORT and airline the day before to see how early the recommend you should arrive for a smooth
stress free check in. If they tell you to arrive three hours early and you arrive just 30 minutes early
you will probably feel great stresses about missing your flight. Also ask if there are any parking restrictions you should be aware of. Ever since 9/11
when we have a heightened threat level there may be car searches before you can park.
6) If you are just taking carry on luggage
many airlines let you pre check in right on the internet 24 hours before your flight. That means that you can get and print out boarding passes right from your home. And when you get to the airport
you can go right to the gate and your boarding area without getting into the long check in line. If you have to check baggage
you will not have this option available to you. But if not
it is a great time and stress saver.

Travel day:

7) Leave home in plenty of time to anticipate busy traffic or accident situations. If it is an hour trip to get to the airport
you may want to leave an extra half hour early just in case there are road problems.
8) If you are checking in bags
be prepared to wait in line. If it is a busy time of day at the airport and you are traveling with a popular airline
there could be a significant line. Don't worry about how long the line is. As long as you arrive when the airport recommended
you will have plenty of time to make it to the front of the line and get checked in. It may look impossible but it will happen so just relax and be patient.
9) Make sure that any “carry on” baggage really is carry on. Otherwise you may get stopped at the gate and have your bag taken away to be stowed with the regular luggage. It will delay and stress you. And it will delay everyone else.
10) When boarding the plane
find your seat and stow your carry on baggage quickly. And then sit down and stay out of the way. There are lots of people trying to do the same thing and we've all encountered the folks who block the aisle for a long time fussing about something or other while a harried line of boarders is forced to wait. You don't want to be one of those people. So just get your business done quickly and efficiently and sit down. You'll have plenty of time to get up once the plane is in the air.
11) If you have to change planes
it can be a real challenge
especially in the larger airports. If you know the gate you will have to go to
ask the flight attendant for advice to reach that gate quickly. In some airports - like Atlanta - a Delta connection can be a huge adventure taking 30 minutes to get from one gate to another. If you know in advance how you have to get to your next airplane
it will be much less chaotic when you get off the first plane. And a much more relaxing walk (or run) to your next gate.
12) When the plane lands
patiently wait your turn. Whether you push or just wait
you usually won't get off the plane any quicker. People tend to let the folks in the rows before them get up and go in a pretty orderly fashion. Trying to rush it will only get your blood pressure up and will not be looked upon favorably by your fellow travelers.
13) If you just have carry on baggage
you have successfully completed a pretty stress free flight.
14) But if you have carry on luggage
there is one more step - waiting for the luggage. Just pick a place around the conveyor belt and wait. Expect your bag to be the very last one to come out and be pleasantly surprised when it comes out early.

By following these simple steps
you will find that your stress levels from your air travels will be much less. A well planned trip agenda ensures that those little stress points stay little stress points and don't balloon into a full blown crisis. Try it any you will be amazed how just a small amount of up front planning dramatically improves the enjoyment of your travel.