Philippine Hotels, Travel, Vacation, Real Estate and Maps, News

By Valerie Tort

Not because summer has ended, people will stop traveling to their favorite Philippine destinations or abroad. In fact, with the airfare discount craze that many domestic and international airlines offer during off-peak travel season, even the uber-misers find it hard to snub the chance to go on holiday for cheap fares and budget hotel accommodation.

But before you hop into that jet plane, make sure you have all you need. Here’s a very useful list of travel tips you can use as checklist:

A – Afraid to travel alone? Enlist yourself in a package tour and let the experts (travel agents) help you to arrange all the hotel reservations and itinerary for the day

B – Budget your money wisely. Allocate a certain percentage for food, lodging, trips, and souvenir items to avoid unnecessary expense.

C –Call your relatives or a friend to inform them that you have arrived to your destination safely. Call them regularly and inform them of your itinerary for the day so if anything happens to you, they know.

D – Double check your things before leaving. It is better to do a rundown of the items you needed to bring to prevent additional expense just because you forgot something.

E – Entertainment is a must to put off boredom while stuck in long journeys. Digital handy games like Gameboy, a portable DVD player, or music players such as an IPOD or an MP3 player will offer you a leisure time during traffic jams, or long travel hours.

F – Figure out in advance what you will do as soon as you have reached your destination. Decide what activities you would like to participate in by reading travel articles or any write ups about your holiday destination. These can give you more information on how to spend your time wisely and have fun while on the road.

G – Get up and walk. There are places that public transportation does not have any access to. It is expensive to take a cab. So why not take a breath of fresh air and enjoy the experiences while traveling. Plus, walking would provide you with the energy to supply your lazy day.

H – Have fun and relax! You deserve this vacation so make the most out of it.

I – Insurance policies are cheaper if the whole family would avail it. Check first if the insurance company you choose offers this kind of plan for the family. For individuals who rarely travel, opt for single trip travel insurance. For frequent travelers, go for annual travel insurance to save more money because it is like buying your insurance policy in bulk.

J – Jot down what you did everyday. Memory is fallible. This would give you an overview of the place the next time you plan to visit it again.

K – Know when is the best time to visit your desired travel destination so you could take advantage of the off-peak rates.

L – Learn new things and customs while traveling. Mingle with the locals and dress like them to avoid any muggers from spotting you.

M – Medications must be in the purse or in a belt bag so if anything happens you can take it immediately.

N – Nonstop flights are better if you are traveling abroad than having a stopover or connecting flights. Less delay means less hassle, and less worries.

O – One-of-a-kind items can be found anywhere, even at a local store. Hop from one store to another—flea markets, dollar stores, thrift shops, and even discount stores and grab those souvenirs.

P – Pack your small garments such as socks, underwear, handkerchiefs, and face towels in between or inside your larger clothes and shoes to minimize the bulk and provide more space for other items and toiletries.

Q –Quench your thirst with bottled water at all times. Better be sure that you are drinking pure and safe water to avoid water-borne diseases during trips.

R – Read, read, and read. It would provide you the necessary information such as perks and additional services. Read your tickets and passes for you to know what are you paying for. Sometimes, you do not notice that you got the best travel deal in town unless you read the fine prints.

S – Spare batteries must be handy at all times. People using digital cameras to take a record of beautiful memories may find themselves in the middle of nowhere with drained batteries. Remember that stores are not always accessible in some areas so better stash along some extras. Do not rely too much on chargers because there are places that do not have a vacant power outlet.

T – Travel-size products will minimize the bulk of your luggage. As they say, always travel light.

U –Use the bookstore travel guides. This will provide a traveler with the must-see places around the vicinity. It will also provide you with the cheapest dining guides and inexpensive accommodations in the city.

V – Visit your doctor prior to traveling. Get your booster shots for malaria if your travel destination is infested with mosquitoes. Get flu shots and tetanus immunization so you could enjoy your travel and get rid of other viruses that may affect your health.

W – Weather Alert: Do not forget to check the weather of your destination place so you could pack the things necessary to protect you. If it is raining, bring umbrella or a raincoat. If it is sunny, caps and sun visors are handy.

X – Exchange your money at a bank and convert it to US dollars or ther currencies. Banks are the most reliable money changers.

Y – You must be discreet that you are a tourist. Tourists are the frequent targets of criminal activities. Be sure to keep your travel itinerary and personal details to yourself.

Z – Ziplock gadgets and important documents to prevent moisture and water to ruin the material.

ags: Philippine travel tips, Philippine Hotels and Resorts, Cheap Airfare