6. Hotels

All you want after a long day of traveling is a clean room with a comfortable bed…of course at a reasonable price. Where you stay when you travel can make or break a vacation. Here are some ways to make the most of your money when it comes to hotels.
There are ways that an 'expensive' hotel can actually prove to be a cheaper expense than staying at the 'discount' hotel. When comparing hotel rates, look at the whole package. Oftentimes, the more costly hotel has included services in their rates that will reduce spending in other areas.

For instance, are any meals included in the rate? There may be a continental breakfast or a whole buffet available. Additionally, there may be special deals for seniors or children. Most expensive hotels will have a pool, fitness facilities, a spa, or tennis facilities that could provide cheap entertainment on a rainy day. Depending on the hotel's location, you may have to rent a car to move around town. Or, the hotel may provide a shuttle service to and from the airport or nearby amusement parks, which will save you money on gas and parking fees.

To simply save money on room rates, make your reservation as soon as possible. A limited amount of the cheapest rates are usually only available to the first few that reserve on a particular date. If possible, be flexible about your travel plans. The best rates will be found during the off-season and other times when the hotel tends to have empty rooms. Business hotels will have discounts on the weekends, while resorts will have specials during the week. If you are looking into booking two separate rooms, try a suite. However, remember to check how many bathrooms are available so as not to be cramped.

Shopping on the internet is a quick and easy way to compare room rates of several hotels in an area. Additionally, it will probably give you an overview of the hotel's facilities and a star rating (1-5 stars), which can help you make the best decision for your vacation.

7. Bringing the Kids Along

What is a vacation without bringing your kids along? However, you want to make sure you make the proper preparations to make sure that everyone in the family has the best time possible.

When it comes to airlines, check for special children's rates. Generally children under two years can fly free. Also, check out to see if there is a children's menu available. The airlines generally do not provide baby food or formula, but check to see if they can heat formula if you provide it. Don't expect airline stewards to help you change diapers. Since they handle food, they are restricted in what they can handle to keep everyone safe.

Investigate the baggage policy for children's tickets. Are they allowed baggage if they are traveling for free? Do they have the same baggage allowance (carry-on and checked) as a full fare adult ticket? Can strollers and diaper bags be carried on, and if so, do they count as your carry-on allowance.

Every child will want their own carry-on, whether a backpack or a small rolled suitcase. Pack your child's carry-on as carefully as you pack one for yourself. Include their medications, pediatrician's name and phone number and any other items they need to make it for at least 24-hours in case your luggage is lost or delayed. You may want to put their important medical information in your carry-on luggage. Consider bringing some of your child's favorite munchies along on the trip since the airline's don't serve meals immediately and may not have exactly what your child wants. Remember that with international travel, you may be limited on items such as fresh fruit that won't be able to pass through customs. Pack an extra shirt for your child and yourself, accidents do happen.

A final consideration is seating in the plane. If you have small children, see if you can reserve a bulkhead seat. Those seats have more legroom and provide more of an area for your child to move around. The only real negative of the bulkhead seating is you won't have under seat storage in front of you. If you have a baby, check to see if the Airline can provide a bassinet for you to place in the bulkhead area. Only one child is allowed to sit on an adult's lap for every three-seat row because of the limited number of oxygen masks available. If two adults are flying together and both are planning on having a child on their lap, you'll need to book seats in different rows of the plane.

8. Overcoming the Language Barrier

Many people avoid traveling overseas because of a fear of encountering a language barrier. Even if you only speak English, there are a few things you can do to make sure you are communicating with ease.
Always speak slowly, simply, and politely. Use simple words, pronouncing every letter. Make single nouns work as entire sentences and begin each request with 'please.' Avoid using slang, which will be unfamiliar with people, even those who can understand English.
Try to use internationally understood words. Rather than saying 'vacation,' say 'holiday,' which would be more easily understood in European countries. Another example is using 'toilet' in place of 'restroom' or 'bathroom.'

Be melodramatic and avoid being self-conscious. Exaggerate the local accent and use hand signals and body language to communicate. Use whatever words you know in the language. Most times, the natives will not be offended, but will appreciate your attempt to use their language. Being self-conscious will kill the communication process.

Practice, practice, practice! Read time schedules, posters, multilingual signs, graffiti in bathrooms and newspaper headlines. Develop your ear for foreign languages by tuning into the other languages on a multilingual tour or in the airport. The more you practice, the better you will get.

Keep a notepad handy and write down small phrases or words that you hear or learn. Words and numbers are much easier to understand when they are written. Keep important phrases written down in the notepad, such as 'I am vegetarian,' or 'well-done meat.'
Trust your own educated guess. The key is to see most communication problems as multiple-choice questions. Make an educated guess at the meaning of a message and proceed confidently as if you understand it correctly.

If worse comes to worst, fake it. You will find if you do this, you will be right about 80 percent of the time. If you do end up being wrong, it does not really matter…it may even make your trip a little more interesting.
Finally, relax, and don't worry about making mistakes. You will be surprised at how well you communicate with a 20 word vocabulary and by just making an effort.

9. Healthy Travel

It is important to take care of your health wherever you are, but there are some additional concerns to keep in mind when you are traveling. It is easy to get sick when you are in a new place because your body hasn't had a chance to adjust to the food, water, and environment in a new place. Traveling can bring you in contact with things that your body isn't used to.

The first thing you should do if you're heading overseas is to find out what kinds of vaccinations you'll need in advance because different countries have different requirements. In the United States, contact your doctor or the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for a list of necessary vaccinations. You'll want to allow plenty of time for this step in case you need to get vaccines that require more than one dose.

Three of the most common health problems that you may experience when traveling are jet lag, altitude sickness, and diarrhea. When you fly across time zones, the differing amounts of light can change your internal body clock, resulting in a condition known as jet lag. Jet lag may cause symptoms including upset stomach, insomnia, and tiredness.

There are some things you can do to combat jet lag; for example, if you're traveling from west to east, you should stay out of the sun until the day after your arrival. If you're flying from east to west, go for a brisk walk as soon as possible after you arrive.

Altitude sickness is caused by dry air, a decrease in oxygen, and low barometric pressure when you travel to a higher altitude than you're used to. As a result, you may have problems, such as headaches, dehydration, and shortness of breath. Find out what altitude you're traveling to before you go to see if altitude sickness could be a problem.

The best prevention for altitude sickness is to gradually increase your altitude every day to get used to it. If that isn't possible, a drug known as acetazolamide can help relieve and even prevent symptoms of altitude sickness. If you think that you might get altitude sickness, talk with your doctor before you leave home.

The topic of diarrhea may seem gross, but it can be a serious problem. Traveler's diarrhea, known as turista, often occurs when a foreign type of bacteria enters your digestive tract, usually when you eat contaminated food or water. The best way to prevent turista is to be very careful of the food you eat and the water you drink on the road.

10. A Few Extras to Remember When Packing

You're getting ready to pack up for your vacation, and you need a little help? Start by making a list about 2 weeks before the trip. Carry the list with you during the day, and write down ideas as they occur to you. Add to and edit the list as necessary. There are a few things that might not occur to you which you might want to remember…
Bring a clothespin or large safety pin to close drapes that might not meet in the middle or even for clamping closed a bag of snacks you have in your room.

A corkscrew is helpful because most countries will produce their own wine and you may have a bottle in your room. A corkscrew will be helpful for a drink before dinner.

Bring water along, especially if your flight is longer than 3 hours. Take a small spray bottle of water for your face. It is refreshing, soothing, and your only source of humidity for the entire dry, flight.

A pocket calculator is helpful to figure exchange rates in foreign currency…and hopefully avoid getting ripped off.
Most overseas hotels do not provide washcloths, so come prepared with a few of your own.
You never know when there will be a screaming infant on your flight or an all-night disco in your hotel, so bring along some earplugs. Your suburban ears may not let you sleep with the city noise.

Many hotels only provide a small packet of tissues, if any at all, so bring a large box along. Keep a handful in your daypack for toilet paper also.

Take a small stash of trail mix, dried fruit or nuts in case you get hungry on a tour or at night when the restaurants are closed.
Make Xerox copies of all your important travel documents: passport (picture page), tickets, ATM card, credit card, driver's license, traveler's checks, etc. If they get lost or stolen, you will know exactly what you're missing and have the numbers handy. Obviously, keep this paper separate from the items you've copied!

Finally, take along some individually wrapped candies - not chocolate if you're going someplace warm. Offer these to hotel staff, taxi drivers and others you'd like to be nice to. It's a great way to break the ice and meet new people.