After a year of limited travel, things are starting to open back up again, and traveling for vacations is no longer a thing of the past. It is important moving forward to plan vacations that will not be foiled by policy changes or other travel restrictions that are still in place. Taking some time before your vacation to plan all the details (like where to find parking spaces) can help you enjoy your vacation to the fullest.

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Cancelation Fees

With travel restriction changes, policies, and quarantines still happening regularly, it is important to make sure that your plans can be canceled or changed without fees. Looking all this up before you go can also let you know what forms of transportation in any given city are available so there are no surprises once you get there. You want to have peace of mind that if something unexpected happens, that you will not lose any money and will still be able to go on your vacation.

Money Tips

If you are traveling internationally, then you will have to worry about converting currency. That can be confusing to do all day long, so finding an app that will help you convert your currency is essential. This will help you see real-time rates and tracks your spending if you are trying to stay within a budget.

You should also do research before you go to make sure that you understand who to tip and what is customary to tip. Looking this up before you go can save you a lot of time and embarrassment.

You also want to make sure that if you have cash on your person that you are keeping it safe. Finding ways to store your money on your person so you don’t fall victim to a pickpocket can be beneficial.

Technology Tips

It is also important to take advantage of technology when you are traveling, especially if you are traveling internationally. You can take pictures, make money transfers, follow a map, or look up information for local towns and attractions if you have your phone.

To make sure you can make the most of technology, save your phone data by looking up ways to use the internet in other countries. Finding free Wifi in foreign countries is possible if you know where to look. You should also make sure that you keep your phone charged enough to use it all day long. Using a VPN when you connect to public wifi will help keep you protected, but you should also create super-strong passwords to add another layer of protection.

Be sure that you are backing up your data regularly so if your phone gets lost, stolen, or damaged that you won’t lose anything important. You can also use apps to create a packing list and itinerary to make sure that you are not forgetting anything important.

Staying Safe and Healthy

Getting sick on vacation is the worst and can ruin your perfect trip. You can avoid getting sick and feeling sick by not throwing your body off. Dress appropriately while you are on vacation. Layering up to stay warm if the weather gets chilly, and protecting yourself against sunburn in sunnier climates can help keep your body feeling good for your entire vacation.

You can also keep from getting sick by not touching things that are usually covered in germs. Things like tray tables, control knobs, unwrapped hotel glassware, public bathrooms, money, and public transportation are all things that are riddled with germs. Avoiding contact and washing hands frequently can help you avoid getting sick.

You should also watch what you put in your body. Make sure that you are careful where you eat, especially with seafood and other meats. Your food should be fresh, well-cooked, and served hot to help protect against food poisoning. You should also only drink bottled water, even if locals are drinking tap water. Make sure seals are intact when you open a bottle of water, and if you are drinking alcohol, don’t have it with ice to avoid contamination.

While you may want to cut down on sleep on vacation so you don’t miss anything fun, you should actually make sure you are getting enough rest. Not getting enough sleep can make you more susceptible to getting sick. Even if you don’t get sick, not getting enough sleep can leave you feeling unmotivated and exhausted which won’t help you enjoy your vacation either. Being fully rested will help you be able to handle whatever your vacation throws at you.

travel tips 2021

About the Author: John Loughran