Travelling for leisure or business is getting popular in different societies across the globe. Such trips involve travelling across different provinces, states, or even countries. Some people get frustrated on their way when they miss a flight, lose their belongings or even forget some items. For these reasons, it is recommended that you prepare in advance, especially if the trip will take several days. Here are some things you should consider before travelling.
1) Get a pet or house sitter
If you are living alone or the whole family is travelling, you might consider contacting a house sitter to take care of your house. The house sitter might have other responsibilities such as feeding the pet and even cleaning the house. However, your property will be safe and secure only if the person is trustworthy. If you don’t need a house sitter, contact your local kennel to book a space for your pet a few days before you travel. This allows the pet sitter to get relevant supplies on time, especially if your pet is a rare animal. A pet kennel might be cheaper than a house sitter and it is safer to lock your house than entrusting it to a stranger.
2) Make advance payments and place stop orders
Most households have regular services and deliveries such as newspapers, housecleaning, landscaping, and food delivery, among others. It can be frustrating for someone to travel a few miles to deliver an item only to find the door locked. Therefore, it is recommended that you place stop orders to all deliveries and other services 3 days before travelling. It is also wise to specify the number of days you will be away so that the services can resume when you return. You don’t have to stop some important services such as landscaping, outdoor cleaning and gardening. Just make an advance payment to the respective service providers and notify them that you are travelling. If your garden has a fence, you might consider giving the gardener the keys for the gate so that it can be accessible.
3) Carry some cash with you
There are hundreds of banks; some are local banks while others operate in most countries. If you are travelling to another country, check if you will be able to get your bank there. If it is available, check if there are any ATM locations closer to your destination. If you can’t find your bank in that country, you might withdraw some reasonable amount of cash to last you a few days. This prevents you from paying hefty fees when you withdraw cash from another bank’s ATM machines. Travelling overseas with a huge sum of cash can be risky. You might lose your money or it might get confiscated by local security agencies. Furthermore, you might find it difficult to convert your money to local currency or incur hefty fees. For these reasons, it is advisable to withdraw cash after arriving at your destination, especially if it is a developing country. Notify your bank about your trip overseas, so that no one raises a red flag when you make an unexpected withdrawal.
4) Plan for the first day
You might experience jet lag and travel fatigue after flying across several time zones. The remedy for such conditions is to rest for a while then get oriented with the new environment. You might consider booking a hotel room in advance, then identify nearby amenities such as a heated pool or a rooftop lounge where you can relax.
5) Plan for the last day
Many individuals tend to forget some important items in their hotel rooms when rushing to the airport. To avoid this problem, ensure that you don’t have any other activities on the last day. Know when the flight will take off so that you can pack all your belongings on time. Also check if your keys, passport, wallet and other documents are in place before getting out of the hotel room. Leave for the airport on time to avoid frustrations since you can encounter a traffic jam on your way.
6) Keep away your handheld devices
In most countries, it is illegal to use a cell phone or earpiece whilst driving. It is believed that such devices can distract the driver and this can lead to an accident. Therefore, if you intend to drive to your destination, it is recommended that you keep your earpiece, phone and other devices away.
7) Check weather forecast
Weather is an important factor to consider when travelling overseas. Some seasons cause extreme outdoor conditions which you should be prepared to encounter. You will need light clothes if you are visiting an area with hot climatic conditions. On the other side, areas with cold climatic conditions need heavy clothing. Consider carrying sunscreen lotion if you intend to visit a desert or an area with a tropical climate to avoid unwanted sunburns.
8) Consider your hobbies
Most people want to have fun and entertainment at their travel destination. You can enjoy your trip if you find some of your hobbies at your destination. It can be cycling, swimming, reading, singing, among others. If you are an environmentalist, you can locate nearby parks and other natural features. According to gorilla trekking, there are several gorilla and chimpanzee parks with world class amenities. Such parks offer a spectacular view and you will be able to see various endangered animal species. Do thorough research on the internet and get several locations where you can enjoy what you like with other travellers.
9) Check transit maps
Transit maps can be handy when you are visiting an unfamiliar destination. They can help you to get the next bus station or commuter rail stations and they indicate the available routes. With these maps, you might not get lost when driving downtown. You might also check fares and shortest routes to various amenities to save money and time.
10) Plan for events and Entertainment
Identify any local entertainment areas where you can have fun and enjoy. Some of them might attract many people, especially during weekends, so you should book your ticket in advance. Get an event calendar and check if there are any important events during your trip. Cultural festivals and other special events might require special clothing so it is recommended that your research on what is needed during the event. Entertainment can be expensive and it is wise to have an event budget to avoid overspending. The entrance fee and prices of various products in different entertainment amenities may differ depending on its location and rating. Therefore, you should be keen when selecting your entertainment spots so that you can save money.
A successful trip is the one which you don’t encounter unwanted challenges and frustrations. You should plan in advance to avoid overspending and selecting amenities with low-quality services. We hope that this article has helped you understand some of the things that you should consider before travelling including checking the weather forecast, contacting a house sitter, placing stop orders, planning your first day, among others.