By Plane, Train, Or Boat: Best Travel Tips

Given the turbulent economic times, you are probably thinking that scaling back your expenses and skipping your next vacation are good ideas. Follow these tips if you are a money conscious traveler.

Make copies of anything important before you travel. Photocopies of your passport, insurance, and other travel documents should be stored separately from those that you are carrying with you. Keep an extra set with a relative or friend so they can send you copies if yours are stolen or misplaced.

Get out of your seat once every hour or so to move around and stretch if you have to travel for a while. If you sit for too long, your muscles will cramp up, and in serious cases, could put you at risk for blood clots.

Make a packing list. You should make this list around a week to a couple months in advance so that you absolutely know what needs to be packed. Even if you end up packing at the last minute, this will help you remain organized and avoid unnecessary clutter.

Road trips can be fun if you bring along a few of your favorite tunes. Radio coverage is not the greatest in some locations. Bringing along your own music can be a fun experience.

Airport play areas are a great way to have children exercise away any nervousness they may feel before a long flight. By doing this you will be able to manage your delay easier and keep your traveling group happy.

Rather than folding your clothes when you pack them in your suitcase, try rolling them up neatly. You will save some space in your luggage by rolling your clothes. When you get to where you are going, unroll and fold them if you like. Doing this can reduce the luggage that you need on your trip.

Make sure all kids you travel with carry identification. Ensure each child has enough money to make a call at a pay phone. Make sure you have recent pictures of your child, and know his or her height and weight.

Do not bring anything valuable that you will not need. Having valuable items with you on a trip is just asking to have them lost or stolen.

If the hotel that you want to stay at is booked, ask if they have any rooms that are out of service. If a room has minor issues that need fixing, such as a carpet stain that needs to cleaned, or walls that need repainting, hotels typically classify it as out of service.

The National Park Pass is cost effective to purchase if you intend to visit National Parks on a regular basis throughout the year. It's only $50 annually, and it covers your entry to all the national parks.

As discussed in the article, you may feel as though you should pass on your yearly vacation because of the economy. If you use the advice that was provided to you in this article, you are taking the first steps of planning an affordable vacation.