I focus a lot on helping the first time or inexperienced traveler head out prepared and confident in themselves. Starting out as a new traveler can be intimidating. How do you jump into the gigantic travel fray and survive? How can you learn to love delays and long lines?
Get prepared.
What exactly does that mean? It means being confident in what you are doing, where you are going and how you are getting there. Basically, it means being comfortable with yourself when you leave home.
OK, so what. How do you do that? Follow these quick tips:
Tip #1
Know your destination.
Do some kind of reading before you go. Know how long its going to take to get there, and the time zone. Understand how the currency converts and get a handle on local customs.
Tip #2
Be prepared before you leave home.
Make sure you have the essentials you will need, especially for a safe trip. This includes a hide away money belt, copies of your passport, one credit card, debit card, ATM card and travelers checks. Take no more than $500 cash. Make sure someone has your itinerary in case of an emergency.
Tip #3
Travel light.
Pack for only five days. Carry one bag. Your bag should be a soft sided, durable carry bag of ballistic nylon. It needs to have a padded carry strap to sling it over your shoulder.
Tip #4
Leave early.
Wherever you are headed, no matter what type of transportation, leave early for you departure terminal. It means less stress for you . . . a lot less stress for you.
Tip #5
Look like you have traveled all your life.
Appearance matters. If you do the above tips you will look and feel like a veteran traveler. Veteran travel pros DO get a higher level of treatment and service from people who work within the travel industry.
Tip #6
Expect things to go wrong.
Most things run pretty well in the travel industry. There are inevitable delays and cancellations. After all, its a dynamic industry and getting the mind boggling number of pieces to work all in sync is a real juggling act. If you expect delays you are better prepared to deal with them. If things go well, and they usually do, you get a nice mental lift as you travel. The more travel experience you get the better you get at knowing where delays usually occur and can either plan for them or try to avoid them.
Tip #7
Be polite.
This follows Tip #5 and #6. While it is your hard earned money that is paying for your travel you are one of thousands of travelers a day moving around the globe. Almost three-fourths of these people are inexperienced travelers. Many are stressed out, tired, cranky and rude. If you are polite you will feel better and get better treatment.
- Related Videos
- Related Articles
- Ask / Related Q&A




The Dutch Canal: Memoirs left behind
By: Pushpitha Wijesinghe | 22/12/2009Enjoy a truly sensational means of exploring the town of Negombo, by way of the Dutch Canal.
Chinese New Year – The biggest and most important of all events in China
By: Pushpitha Wijesinghe | 22/12/2009The Chinese New Year will fall on the 26th of January 2010 and like always will be met with large scale celebrations across the nation that showcase Chinese tradition with tremendous vigour.
Emotion-Tours – Helping To Make Dreams Of Perfect Alps Holidays Into Reality
By: Toan Dinh | 22/12/2009Based in Québec, Emotion-Tours is a tour operator specializing in designing customized Alps holidays.
Hakgala Botanical Garden: Beauty among the hills
By: Pushpitha Wijesinghe | 22/12/2009Nature’s bounty is a beauteous wonderment, with flora, fauna and foliage taking you to greater heights, marvel at the splendour it resounds.
Beruwala Town : Home to calming waters and breathtaking sunsets
By: Pushpitha Wijesinghe | 22/12/2009With dazzling blue sheen surrounding the sandy beaches, a coral reef bay that protect the same sandy beach, and tropical palms bowing to the sun, Beruwala is truly a piece of exotic paradise.
Choose Timeshares Over Other Accommodation
By: Kumar ks | 22/12/2009Unfortunately, for a lot of people, the whole process of preparing and planning that go into the creation of a perfect vacation leave them stressed. Travelling from point 1 to point 2 can be a nightmare for them. Then, of course, there is the associated strain that accompanies finding decent accommodation after a long haul. For people who subscribe to this method of timeshare programs, this worry gets removed.
Vacation at Short Notice
By: Kumar ks | 22/12/2009Many people are under the wrong notion that nice vacation packages and accommodation presuppose exorbitant prices. This wrong assumption stems from the fact that some people waste their hard earned money on unnecessary aspects. Nowadays, vacation rentals can be obtained at very reasonable prices.
Accommodation and the Discount Market
By: Kumar ks | 22/12/2009In all probability, the buyer will be completely in agreement to the type of accommodation allocated to him in accordance with the specifications given at the time of booking. However, as a buyer, there are some things that need to be borne in mind. Travel Companies’ websites that offer last minute standby or discounted accommodation packages use it to off-load their unsold stock or space.
eBay Scams To Watch Out For!
By: M. D. Robinson | 29/10/2006 | SalesThere are many eBay scams out there to keep an eye out for when you are selling on eBay. This article will cover a few of the known and not so known scams to be aware of.
Easy Weight Loss Maintenance
By: M. D. Robinson | 28/10/2006 | FitnessI believe the key to effective weight-management is a lifestyle of health. The pH Factor Weight-Management System combines a sensible eating plan, exercise, water consumption, and superior nutrition to help you create a lifestyle of health.
Comparison Shopping When Re-Financing
By: M. D. Robinson | 28/10/2006 | DestinationsHomeowners who are re-financing their home for the first or even the second or third time should thoroughly research all of the available options to ensure the best possible interest rate and terms are secured.
Learning about Re-Financing Online
By: M. D. Robinson | 28/10/2006 | Non-FictionMany homeowners find the Internet to be very useful during the re-financing process
Air Travel Rules: Flying With Pets
By: M. D. Robinson | 28/10/2006 | TravelIf you are moving, there is a good chance that you may need to bring your pet along with you.
Cruises: Experience the Thrill of Exotic Travel
By: M. D. Robinson | 28/10/2006 | TravelGoing on an exotic journey is the dream everyone has at some point, and traveling on enchanted cruises to far off places is sure to be a very memorable experience.
Airport Security Checkpoints: What You Need to Know
By: M. D. Robinson | 28/10/2006 | FlightsIn recent years, as well as recent months, air travel rules have changed.
Re-Financing to Consolidate Debt
By: M. D. Robinson | 28/10/2006 | FinanceSome homeowners opt to re-finance to consolidate their existing debts.