Travel Tips (Part 2)
As promised (a few months ago, but who’s counting), more Travel Tips! Thanks to the wonderful feedback I received on the first Travel Tips blog (and some additional ideas that were inspired from that post), I decided to compile it all to spread the knowledge.
Sign up for rewards. Most rewards programs are free and I am always a fan of that! This includes hotels, rental cars, airlines, etc. I have a few specific companies that I most often gravitate to so that I can build points when I travel, and eventually earn free or discounted hotel stays, earn airline miles that translate to free or much cheaper flights eventually, and receive other less expensive benefits.
Start a travel fund. If you are an avid traveler or would like to become one, create a bank account and allot funds specifically for travel. This will help you maintain a budget before and during travel. Another great benefit of having a travel fund is to prevent owing money after the trip. Even if you prefer to use a credit card for/during the trip to earn rewards points, the travel fund money can be used to pay the credit card bill off upon return.
Get a credit card to use anywhere (like VISA or MasterCard). While we’re on the topic of using credit cards on vacation to earn points, if you’re traveling abroad especially, ensure that the credit card(s) you plan to use are accepted globally, or at least at your intended destination. I recently made the rookie mistake of assuming that I would only use a particular credit card on my last international trip, but that card was not accepted most places overseas. Plan B was to use a different credit card, but it was also not accepted everywhere. Plan C ended up being using my regular debit card. I ended up swiping 3 different cards for various things during my trip and I never intend to do that again, it’s not wise or safe.
Include time to relax/do nothing. Have you ever heard someone say, “I need a vacation after my vacation,” or some variation of that? It’s because a lot of people view a vacation as an opportunity to go go go and do do do as much as they can in an often short amount of time. I used to be this way, but as I get older, I have no desire to jampack every minute of every day of my vacation with activities and things to do. I personally prefer loose itineraries and I appreciate scheduling in time for a nap before late-evening adventures commence.
Safety & Awareness. Research local hazards at your destination. An example of this is if you're going to the mountains, what are the best actions to take if you see a bear? I’ll tell you, the answer is not to run, although that is a natural response you cannot outrun a bear! As far as awareness, it always helps to read reviews for hotels, restaurants, theme parks, and pretty much any activity you are considering - there’s often relevant feedback that can help you make an informed decision on where to spend your time and money so that you get the most out of your experiences.
Take the full day of your trip off and the day after you return. Working on the day of your trip and working the day after you return (especially if you return late at night) is for the birds. I have even logged into work occasionally in my downtime during a vacay. This is something I definitely intend to work on; I want to be more intentional about managing work-life balance. I’m constantly anxious about lacking a sufficient amount of work hours or using my PTO hours. But what’s the point of accruing leave if you don’t utilize it properly?
Global Entry. On the last travel tips blog, I recommended signing up TSA pre-check or Clear. If you travel internationally often, it may also benefit you to enroll in Global Entry. Global Entry is a U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) program that allows expedited clearance for pre-approved, low-risk travelers upon arrival in the United States at select airports. This program, however, requires a rigorous background check and in-person interview before enrollment. Additional information about Global Entry can be found here.
All this travel talk got me itching for my next big vacation. I can’t wait to travel again once I’ve graduated from this class! Well, that’s all for now. May you have some extraordinarily, amazing, memorable vacations this year! Before you go…
