Seven Rules for the Avid Traveler

Do you consider yourself an avid traveler? Are you the type who is always ready and willing to visit a new destination, exotic locations, and really immerse yourself in the culture? Whether the travel bug has only recently taken a hold of you, or you’ve been an avid traveler for as long as you can remember, there are some tips and advice that can make your passion for travel a whole lot smoother and more enjoyable. Let’s face it, even if you’ve been on dozens of holidays, traveling can still be a stressful experience that requires a lot of thought, planning, and organization.

So, before you go ahead and book that next holiday, you may want to take a moment and review these helpful rules for the avid traveler that are sure to make all your holidays successful and memorable ones.

Take Advantage of Money-Saving Travel Tips

In order to continue on with your passion for travel, you need to be able to have money to spend. This is why it’s so important to take advantage of money-saving tips whenever possible. Every penny you save on booking your trip can then be applied to your next holiday.

Some of the most effective money-saving travel tips are as follows:

• Travel mid-week rather than on weekends. Did you know that by booking that airline or train ticket during the middle of the week, you can save yourself a fair amount of money? The same can often be said of car rentals and hotel accommodations. The goal is to have some flexibility with your actual travel dates.
• Travel during off-season. Another tip is to visit destinations during their off-season. By doing this, the destination will be much less crowded, plus you’ll be able to take advantage of discounts on your airfare, train travel, car rental, accommodations, dining, attraction fees, tours, and more. Once you start traveling during the off-season, you’ll never be able to go back during peak periods.
• Every dollar counts — save money wherever you can. Money isn’t everything, but it certainly is important when it comes to planning a perfect trip. It can literally make or break your adventure. That being said, you should save money wherever possible. This means income from your 9-to-5 job, side work, or even your tax refund. If you are like me and have trouble managing money, you can always get a free budget template online that can help identify where your money is being spent, as well as any extra income you might be able to throw towards your saving efforts.
• Use an online booking platform. There are all kinds of online reservation booking platforms that travelers can access nowadays that will provide you with comparison quotes. This will allow you to find the best deals out there.
• Make lunch your “big meal” of the day. If your holiday doesn’t include meals built into the price, it can be a big savings to make lunch your big meal of the day. Many restaurants have a separate dinner menu that tends to be more expensive.
• Don’t get caught up in tourist traps. Then there are the tourist traps out there that are designed to draw you in and have you spending all your money. This can include things like touristy restaurants, shops, and souvenir stands. Try to resist the urge and walk on by.

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Visit a Travel Clinic Well in Advance

It’s also important to be aware of any health risks or concerns that each destination may pose. The destination doesn’t even have to be far away and “exotic” in order for there to be health risks involved. Be sure to take the time to review your options at a travel clinic in terms of vaccinations or medications that may be advised. Travel clinics such as Ottawa’s Downtown Travel Medicine Clinic will allow you to have a consultation with a doctor who has experience with travel medicine, and provide you with expert advice.

Keep Your Passport Up-to-Date

While this tip may seem simple, you wouldn’t believe the number of travelers that lose track of when their passport is due to expire and then find themselves in a jam. You want to be sure you renew well in advance to the expiration date, as Passport Canada can have some pretty long wait times on issuing new ones.

Learn to Pack Light

Any avid traveler will also attest to the fact that learning to pack light was easily the most freeing skill to pick up. It can be really difficult to narrow down the options, take things out of your suitcase, and keep it as light as possible, but once you start your journey, you will be extremely grateful you did.

If you struggle to pack light, you aren’t alone. There are plenty of people who will admit to over-packing and also admitting to what a giant pain it is to lug around all that “stuff”. There are some really easy tips that you can start to incorporate into your routine that will help you master the skill.

Start by using a medium-sized suitcase rather than the large ones. This tip alone will force you to pack less. They are large enough to hold all of your items for a journey while being manageable and easy to transport. These suitcases are well-suited for short trips, weekend getaways, or occasions where a moderate amount of luggage is needed. In terms of variety, the market offers a wide selection of medium-sized suitcases to choose from. You can opt for Eminent medium size suitcases with sturdy wheels, multiple compartments, and durable materials that can withstand the demands of travel. Whether you prefer a hardshell or softshell design, there are plenty of options available to ensure a convenient and stylish travel experience.

Make sure you also have a scale or luggage weight that can determine if you’ve gone over the weight limit. You can also use packing cubes to condense items and create more space, use a list to keep you organized, pick one color theme so your clothes can mix and match, skip the overly bulky clothing and dress in layers instead, and cut back on the amount of shoes you pack.

Research Your Destination in Advance

Whether you are the type that likes to have a planned itinerary for every moment of your trip, or you like to just take things as they come, it still helps to research your destination in advance. Researching the destination will help uncover things that might otherwise be missed or overlooked, such as the best restaurants to eat, the best beaches to visit, where the shopping deals are, the must-see attractions and sights, the currency that is used, the best mode of transportation, and so much more.

While you don’t have to become an expert on the destination, having some basic understanding and knowledge will certainly help you out 😉

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Learn to Be Flexible

After doing all that research, you may go ahead and plan the perfect itinerary that has you visiting all the most interesting sights, towns, cities, and attractions, but it’s still important to be flexible. Sometimes things can happen outside of your control that will throw your itinerary for a loop.

  Rather than get caught up in disappointment and stress about the planning going out the window, learn how to go with the flow and improvise. You may just end up doing something even more incredible that you hadn’t even thought of that truly makes your trip amazing.

Take the Time to Learn About the Culture and People in the Destination

Last but certainly not least, you want to be sure you take the time to learn about the culture and the people in the destination that you are visiting. This is what makes the trip more memorable and provides you with that all-important connection to the destination. It truly takes your appreciation of the destination to the next level and provides you with a better understand of it.

  Simple tips include visiting local shops and restaurants rather than the tourist-based ones, picking up the basics of the language, talking to people that you meet and making new friends, as well as really immersing yourself in the local culture.

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These Rules will Ensure All Your Travels Go Smoothly

So, as you pursue your dream of traveling to as many destinations as possible, and booking holidays whenever you can, these tips will ensure that all goes smoothly. Not only that, but they can enhance your travel experience and provide you with the kind of lasting memories that you were hoping for.