Planning Techniques For The Week Before Your Trip- By: John Clinton

Description : In order to make the most of travel abroad, try to plan at least a couple of activities that aren't listed in tourist guide books or blogs. You can do this by getting hold of information designed for and produced by locals, be it from newspapers, blogs or people on twitter. Stepping outside the tourist bubble will make your trip that much more exciting and fun.

IF you are in a foreign city, make sure that you are not dealing with people posing as police or other officials. Keep your passport on you at all times, and do not hand it over to anyone. If they state you must go to an office, offer to walk the distance with them. Always use common sense and never accept a ride from a stranger.

When you travel, it's tempting to try to pack activities into every spare minute. But you should also plan for some downtime. For example, a three-day weekend in New York City can be crammed with things to do, but why not build in a couple of hours' ramble around Central Park? It will give you time to regroup, relax, and just enjoy being in your new surroundings.

Thinking about planning a vacation? It may surprise you to know that the days you select to travel can result in a huge savings...or a huge expense. If you fly on the weekend, the ticket price is generally much higher than it is during the week. Consider arriving or departing on a Monday or a Thursday instead.

Register your trip with the US State Department. Doing so will give them a way to contact you or your family in the event of an emergency. The State Department provides this service free of charge to American citizens who are traveling to foreign soil, so it doesn't make sense not to take advantage of it.

Camping is a popular vacation pastime, but with the extensive equipment it requires it is not a cheap one. Before deciding to invest in all the gear necessary for extended camping travel, it is best to "get your feet wet" by making short day hikes at nearby nature attractions to see if the camping lifestyle really appeals to you.

Compare and contrast multiple flight options using a mega-search website like kayak.com. Sites like kayak.com save you a lot of time by pulling intelligence from the biggest travel sites into one convenient location. More importantly, it can save you a lot of money by making sure you get the best price possible for your tickets.

You can make your vacation more eco-friendly by using environmentally responsible services. There are many hotels which have implemented a linen reuse program, use energy efficient lighting, place recycling bins for guest use, use low flow plumbing and use alternative energy sources. Tour operators, car rental companies, restaurants and many other travel service providers are also finding and implementing new ways to allow travelers to travel green.

If you are traveling by cruise ship, make your arrangements as close to the time of your trip as possible. Although the cruise industry used to advertise that you could only get exceptional savings if you booked in advance, things have changed and last-minute deals are usually better than advanced reservations. There is even a web site that shows cruises with up to 75% savings if you book at the last minute.

Now that you've gotten a few tips for making your travel experience a success, you can go forward with confidence. Apply these time-honored tricks of the trade and pass them on to those who may be accompanying you on the journey. Everyone will benefit from being more informed and aware.

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