Category: Tips

Going on a road trip can be a fun adventure, but it’s important to get ready to make sure everything goes smoothly. To avoid problems and make sure you have everything you need, take time to check your car and plan ahead. From checking your tires to bringing the right papers, here are eight simple ways to prepare for a safe and easy African road trip.

Inspect Your Brakes

Brakes are pretty important to say the least and you will be using them more on a road trip. To ensure your brake pads don’t have excessive wear that could result in a failure, it’s a good idea to have them checked. Brakes should be inspected at least once every six months.

Check Your Tires and Bring a Spare

We’ve all seen the bummed people on the side of the road with a blown-out or flat tire. You may have even been that person at some point. You can prevent blowouts and flats on a road trip by checking your tires before you take off, ensure you have enough tread on all four tires, consider getting your tires aligned and balanced and tire pressure in all four tires is right for your vehicle, As you head out, it’s also a good idea to have a spare tire just in case. Plus, you’ll need roadside assistance or the know-how and tools to change it yourself.

Test Your Lights

Your headlights, tail lights, turn signals, and brake lights will be important on a road trip. They ensure everyone around you knows what you’re going to do. You can also end up with a ticket for non-functioning lights, which is a major buzzkill on any road trip. So, perform a quick check to make sure all your lights are in working order.

Consider an Oil Change

Are you due for an oil change soon? If so, you might as well take care of it before your road trip. If you won’t come close to hitting the mileage milestone required for your next oil change, don’t worry about it. Either way, it’s a good idea to check all of your fluids and fluid levels before taking off.

Get a Tune-Up

If you’re not mechanically inclined, it’s not a bad idea to schedule a tune-up with your mechanic before a long road trip. That way, they can perform a safety inspection and make sure you don’t need any repairs so you can drive with confidence and peace of mind.

Check the Weather and Roads

Bad weather can turn a fun road trip into a nightmare. Depending on the situation, it could be dangerous and result in delays and detours. Being so, keep an eye on the weather and road conditions all along your route so you won’t be caught off guard. You can check both online.

Have Your Right Full Travel and Vehicle Documents

While it’s always important to have the required papers in the car with you, it’s even more important on a long road trip far from home. Ensure you have your license, registration, proof of insurance, and the contact information for your roadside assistance provider, if you have one.

Get Enough Rest, Food and Water

Long drives can be exhausting. You may start out feeling great, but after five or so hours, you’ll likely begin to feel strained. So plan out your trip carefully starting with the night before. Ensure you get seven to eight hours of sleep. Plan breaks to eat, drink, and rest. Consider taking turns with other drivers when possible. And don’t push yourself beyond what’s comfortable, as drowsy driving can be very dangerous.

Conclusion 

With a little preparation, your road trip can be the enjoyable self drive experience you’ve been anticipating. By following these eight steps—whether it’s ensuring your car is in top shape, planning for the unexpected, or prioritizing your well-being—you’ll set yourself up for a smooth and memorable journey. So take the time to check off these essentials before you hit the road, and you’ll be ready for whatever comes your way. Safe travels!

It can seem like an overwhelming experience trying to book a hotel room with all the choices available. Figure out your budget and decide which features you can’t live without. Read these tips to make booking a hotel experience.

Check online hotel reviews before booking your stay. These will give you with first-hand information about people’s recent experiences at that certain hotel. What people say about their experiences at the hotels you’re thinking of booking can ensure you in coming to the right decision.

Consider ordering room service when the urge strikes for a late-night snack with your special someone. While you’re likely to pay a little more, it is worth it if you can stay in your comfortable room as you satisfy your cravings.

You should put any expensive items in the safe and go about your day without worry.

Use online hotel search tools for hotels. These sites can help you quickly find great deals.

Always check for online deals before booking a hotel room. This is why it’s up to you should always do your research well online to find these discounts. Check out websites like SniqueAway, RueLaLaTravel, or RueLaLaTravel.

Be aware in advance of when you can check into your room. Some people neglect asking what the check-in time is and get to the hotel when their room to be available because they forget to check this critical detail. Call and ask if it is alright for you think you’ll be early.

Plan your trip as far in advance for the best rates. Many locations offer discounts if you book more than a month or two ahead of time. You can expect savings up to fifty percent off at some very exclusive hotels.

There are three different things you should do in advance if you’re going to be traveling with a trip. Be sure that the hotel will be friendly to pets.Be sure to bring some bags on hand to make pet cleanup easy.

Book massages as far ahead of time as possible to guarantee you get the perfect couples massage for you and your significant other.The best massage therapists are well-known at resorts, and you don’t want to miss out.

Free Stays

It is wise to look into loyalty programs that your favorite hotels offer. They provide benefits to travelers who stays at a hotel chain. You can often earn free upgrades, free stays, and even free stays when you get enough points.

If there’s a hotel chain you stay at often, check to see if they offer membership to frequent stay programs. These programs give you rack up points. You might earn free stays and discounts, discounts at restaurants, or other things.

As shown above, there are many ways to ensure you get the right hotel room at a price that fits your budget. Use the tips that work for you and do some of your own research as well. You are likely to have a comfortable stay and pay a price you are happy with.

Traveling for business or for pleasure can be extremely enjoyable.You will have to do your homework though on the right way to plan for traveling. The following article offers excellent advice that can help with your future trips.

Don’t use public computers in your hotel or anywhere else they offer free internet while you are on vacation. There is something called a keylogger that is tracking your banking information as you type the keys on the computer.

Be aware of food allergies when visiting a foreign country or new place. If you have had severe reactions to certain foods, it is important for you to learn terminology for words pertaining to foods and their preparation so that you can prevent an allergic reaction. This will give you the ability to alert your waiter or waitress of the foods that you are trying to avoid.

Do not hope that an airline to cater to your whims when you as comfortable as necessary on a flight. If you really need headphones, a blanket and a pillow to be comfortable while flying, a light blanket and comfortable headphones. You should also think about bringing some snacks so you can have something substantial to eat during your flight.

You can use it to help keep a door closed as well.

If you’re traveling somewhere where you’ll need tickets, find out if online tickets are available, and print them beforehand. The small fee per ticket for this service is worth it to avoid long lines. If the park you are visiting has a timed entry, printed tickets can also be used to get around the admission line.

These sheets can be a flat surface for kids to color on or coloring books on.

It will be more expensive to just ride into the lot and park.

Jet Lag

Jet lag can be uncomfortable for travelers who cross time zones. You can’t completely avoid jet lag, so you should try and sleep as much as possible before you leave. You should also try sleeping during the flight if possible.

You can’t really lose something written on the mirror using a dry-erase marker because it’s hard to overlook. You can use dry-erase markers will easily wipe off of mirrors with just a little bit of tissue paper.

Try getting the rate at the hotels when you travel. Some hotels cut locals a local rate on their rooms to decrease unoccupied rooms. If you’re traveling to a place in which you know a person living there, see if they can help you find a good local hotel rate. This can save you save a lot of money.

If you are flying for several hours, take along non-liquid snacks.

Plan service stops when going on a road trip. When taking road trips, you can run across long stretches in which there are not many stops or any stops for helping you to maintain or service your vehicle. Plan your route and while doing so look for viable service stations that can fix your vehicle. Keep these numbers handy in case you just in case.

Prepare in advance and do not procrastinate while traveling. While all the info shared here may not be valid on every trip, some of them will make your travels better.

With spending money shrinking due to a poor economy, it is no surprise that there is an increase in the inexpensive vacation tent camping. Compared to a theme park or exotic vacations, tent camping is very affordable. The initial costs may add up but remember you will get many uses out of most items like tents, sleeping bags, grills, pots, and dishes (don’t use paper or plastic).  Because of this, throughout the United States, campgrounds have seen a 10% increase in rentals. Many rentals being new first time campers, excited about their camping adventure, and many inexperienced campers arrive unprepared.

Not being prepared for tent camping does not mean forgetting a dc operated TV/VCR, but rather forgetting tent stakes, sleeping bags and other appropriate gear, which could lead tent campers to sleeping in the car and bumming food of neighbor tent campers.  The key to making tent camping fun is simple, allow nature and the surroundings to provide the entertainment while being prepared for the environment.  Regional campgrounds all have their own unique climate and surrounding weather features. Prepared camping means having the proper shelter, attire and food preparation. Consider the following before choosing tent camping as your low-budget eco-friendly vacation option:

Tent – Buying a tent does not have to cost a lot. Consider buying camping tents built for the worst weather conditions. Fireproof, easy assembly, storage areas, head room, and comfortable space are all factors to look for when buying a new tent. There is always compromises when deciding on a new purchase. Match your camping comfort levels with the camping areas you plan to visit.

Sleeping Bag – Top notch sleeping bags are not always the nessesary purchase. As nice as it seems most of the time you over do it. Most people need a medium size sleeping bag. The thickness is very important. Heavy sleeping bags cause nights of tossing, turning, and sweating like a pig in hot nights. Light sleeping bags cause you to seek additional warmth. How do you sleep at home? Is your bedroom hot, warm, or cool? What do you use for blankets? Take those answers and determine the thickness and size of your new sleeping bag. I personally need a sleeping bag that was light. My body tends to adjust well to my surrounding temperatures, and I sleep better in cooler areas. I’d rather put on an extra blanket or snuggle close, than sweat all night.

Emergency First-Aid Kit – The bigger the better. You want it to be full. When putting together your initial first-aid kit it is a good idea to purchase a complete kit. Make sure you have a complete list of the contents in the first-aid kit. Every time you get home from your camping trips do a complete inventory. Remember any allergy medications, sun tan lotions, citronella or insect deterrent and snake bite kits. (Of course we recommend all natural products. They should be either homemade or purchased from a natural substance store. We also like to recommend a citronella plant. These plants work very very  well.)

Outdoor Clothing – My number one recommendation for outdoor clothing would be a pair of cargo pant with a detachable lower leg. Very Nice! Cargo pants and cargo shorts is always great, but with cargos you get extra weight and bulk. Not everyone is comfortable in bulky shorts. Comfort level is again important. It is a very nice convenience to have extra pockets when you are hiking or around the campsite. Shoes are another important consideration. If you plan on doing any hiking, please do yourself a favor and buy hiking boots. Then consider your sneakers, shower sandals, flip-flops, or moccasins.

Food and Drink – #1 fresh water. Make sure you have plenty of drinkable water. Use boiled water for dishes. (hint: bring a pot to put on a fire). Bring plenty of food. Plan every meal. Remember the mountain pie makers, bread, pizza and pie fillings. Nuts (maybe in a trail mix) are a very good idea also. Remember you also don’t want to over do it. Storage has to be considered. You don’t want bears and coons!

Maps – You want to know where you are at right. GPS is great but maps are cheaper. Plus, add a compass and still save hundreds of dollars. If you don’t want to be wandering around in circles find maps of camping area grounds including trails and features. Make sure you can read it and understand it before buying maps. You should be able to find one that you can follow.

Being prepared not only means having the proper materials, but also having a proper knowledge of the campground’s environment and its features. Beware that there are wild animals you don’t want to attract.

If you have any suggestions of “camping must haves”,  please share with us by leaving a comment  below.

Travel is a great way people learn more about the world and themselves.Travel affords individuals the chance to learn about distant lands while getting away from the routines and trials of daily grind.

Use the ATM when you are in the local currency.Banks get better exchange rates for exchanging currencies than you may get. This can save a considerable amount of money for you some money.

Be wise about food allergies when visiting a foreign country in order to avoid bad liaisons. If you suffer from severe food allergies, you must become fluent in the words the natives use when it comes to their food. This will allow you to communicate to others what foods you have an allergy to so that they can be kept out of your meals.

The less things you have with you, the less likely you will lose valuable items or have them stolen.

Make sure you have clothespins with you when travelling. They can be a useful item when you go on a trip, but they actually can prove to be very useful.

When to travel by plane or car with a toddler, it is important to have enough interesting things with you to occupy your toddler during the long trip. Bring toys and hassle. You can also buy a few new toys for the travel because this will offer him enough distraction to keep him busy.

When traveling by air, it is important to wear shoes that are comfortable and easily removable. You are going to have to remove them off at the security checks. Sandals or flip-flops are best for air travel.

You could be covered in the event of a flight is canceled. It pays to conduct some research before you leave.

A motorcycle provides an excellent travel method for day trips or road trips if a wonderful way to travel.It can be awesome to travel by motorcycle.

Sometimes you will end up in a less than nice hotel. Bring a rubber doorstop for safety.You can use this under your room door at night to add security beyond the chain and lock.

Most automobile rental companies require the minimum age to be at least 18 years old, and some do not rent to those under 25. You may pay more and have to use a credit card with you. There are some cities that do not allow seniors from renting cars. Find out about age restrictions when reserving a rental car.

You can also write on the mirror.You can use dry-erase markers and easily wipe off of mirrors with just a little bit of tissue paper.

Your dream vacation can go horribly wrong if not carefully planned. Read online reviews on the web from others who have stayed there before. Their experience can help you choose hotels and avoid staying in a dangerous town or seedy hotel.

Travel offers you a way to lean about different cultures and people groups. By using the tips shared above, any traveler can have a great journey.

If you’re looking to get away from it all with a trip away from home, don’t forget to travel smart. A mishap, mistake or forgotten item can ruin a vacation as surely as bad weather or an unpleasant travel companion. While there are some things you just can’t control, maximize your chances of having a good trip with the following travel tips.

To really get a feel for where you are vacationing, follow the locals. Many top vacation spots start to feel very generic and touristy. By asking around and finding where the people who live there hang out, you will get a more authentic feel for the area, and as a bonus, avoid the price markups that plague tourist hot spots.

Use plenty of plastic when packing. Putting your clothes, toiletries, and other items in clear plastic bags is always a smart way to pack when traveling. Not only does it help you organize, it also keeps your possessions safe. If the bag should be exposed to the elements on the tarmac, the contents of your bag will stay dry.

If you pack electronics while traveling, either remove the batteries or flip them around. Some small electronics can be easily flipped on. You definitely do not want them flipping on in your bag during the trip. There is a good chance the battery might be drained by the time they are unpacked.

Consider mailing souvenirs home. Everyone loves souvenirs, but sometimes you can wind up with one too many while traveling. If all the things you have accumulated on your vacation won’t fit in your suitcase for the return trip, you can always mail them home. Usually, you will make it home before your trinkets do.

Make sure your house does not look vacant while you are away. Coming home to find that you have been robbed would be a nightmare. If you intend to be gone for a considerable length of time, consider redirecting or having a friend pick up your mail for you.

When planning to travel to a country that uses a very different language or even alphabet than your own, it’s a good idea to get precise, up to date information about exactly how to travel to hotel bookings or sites of interest ahead of time. Often, maps or travel guides won’t go into the amount of detail necessary, so make sure to have a custom map which shows everything you’ll need.

Now that you’ve read the above travel tips, you’re more prepared to meet your travel destiny with the fearlessness of thorough preparation. Keeping these few simple things in mind whenever you leave home on a trip will give you more peace of mind and make sure you bring home more stories about great experiences rather than about stressful learning experiences.

In a previous article we’ve shared some tips on how to optimize your backpack, but what if you also want to bring some food from home. You might miss out on some local delicacies but you’ll save lots of money and, with most of hostels, guesthouses and AirBnB hosts offering kitchen facilities, it has become easier than ever.
Iceland, which we recently visited, is the perfect country for bringing your own food: their culinary tradition is poor to non-existent, and even junk food is expensive. This is the list of what we brought with us, slightly amended and ready for the next trip.

• Rice, pasta
• Tomato paste tub
• Instant soups in sachets
• Tuna
• Veggies and pulses in can or tetrapack
• Dried fruit / nuts
• Tea / Herbal Tea
• Instant coffee
• Chocolate bar
• Crackers
• Biscuits
• Porridge
• Airtight boxes

Rice and pasta are the staple of most of your dinners and they can be easily cooked. Go for spaghetti rather than other pasta shapes as they take up less space. A tub of tomato concentrate paste is great to add some flavour to a souce, and can be mixed with tuna and beans. Dried fruit and nuts will provide with vitamins and fibres in places where fresh fruit is not easily available or too expensive.

Instant soups are light to carry and will only need some hot water to make a light meal or a warm drink. Tea, infusions, and soluble coffee are often provided for free in most properties but are always handy to have. Porridge in bags makes for a healthy and nutritious breakfast. Noodles are also easy to carry and cook but we overdosed so we’ll keep them off the list for a while!
The last thing we wish we had brought are some airtight boxes to store pasta and rice salads, it would have been a nice change to our sandwich-based diet.