Month: March 2021

There are several important travel safety essentials that you need to bring along on your next vacation. Protecting yourself and your valuables while you travel is very important. After all, it is impossible to enjoy a vacation without peace of mind. Whether you are traveling with family, friends, or experiencing a solo travel trip, it is important to keep safety at the front of your mind. This way, you can adequately protect yourself from illnesses, road accidents, or street crime. Before you go experience your next destination, read on to learn about the top travel safety essentials to protect you and your valuables.

Personal Alarm

First and foremost, a personal alarm is an essential travel safety device to keep you safe while vacationing. A personal alarm works as a small, handheld electronic device that emits an incredibly loud siren sound when activated. Often, these can be found in keychains, mobile applications, or alternative contraptions. Of course, this is a useful tool to attract attention, which can deter an assailant, or inform nearby people that you need help. This way, you can find help fast and maintain safety. The eAlarm Plus by BASU is great because no cell service is required. It has 30 minutes of alarm use before you need to replace the batteries. KOSIN Safe Sound personal alarm is another good choice. You can get either one for under $ 30. Certainly, a personal alarm is an important piece of travel  gear you can’t afford not to pack on your next trip.

Anti-Pickpocket Gear

In addition, there are plenty of anti-pickpocket travel safety essentials you can bring along on every trip. Pickpocketing is one of the biggest risk tourists face when vacationing. Start with leaving at home extra items that you normally carry in your wallet that you have no need for on vacation. You only need to bring a couple of credit cards with you and leave the rest at home, like local store credit cards. Bring your drivers license and health insurance card. To keep you safe, consider purchasing pickpocket proof travel purses, backpacks, or money belts. In fact, you can even find anti-pickpocket clothing items, such as pants with theft-proof pockets and belt wallets. In addition to this travel safety gear, you may want to follow basic precautions, such as keeping your money in your socks, or using pocket clips to deter away thieves when traveling. Surely, pickpocket proof items are essential to keep you and your valuables safe while traveling.

Door Stop Alarm

Next, a door stop alarm is another important travel safety essential to protect you in your hotel room. These travel devices are jammed under the door wedge of your accommodation while you are sleeping at night. Then, anybody tries to open the door from the outside, the alarm will trigger. This way, you can be certain that nobody is sneaking into your room while you are trying to sleep. This items are inexpensive- under $ 20- and sold at all major outlets like Home Depot, Walmart and Amazon. Of course, this is incredibly beneficial to travelers who are constantly anxious by every little noise that occurs at night. Indeed, a door stop alarm is a great travel safety essential device to keep you safe in vacation destinations.

Personal Protection Equipment (PPE) Kit

In the age of COVID-19 travel advisories, it is important to bring PPE along to keep you safe while traveling. At a minimum, it is important to bring along a kit with multiple hand sanitizers, face masks, and wipes. At the same time, you may want to pack a door opener tool, as well as some sandwich bags to help you avoid touching high-contact surfaces, such as doorknobs and TV remotes. To help you keep all your PPE equipment handy, you may additionally want to order some face mask lanyards, as well as holders for hand sanitizer. PPE is essential to keep you and your valuables safe while traveling this year.

Locks

Of course, locks play a number of essential travel safety purposes while you are vacationing. These are most commonly used for airline, cruise or train travel. If you are checking any bags with your airline, locking them can be essential to protect your gear. However, the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) will not let you just throw any lock on your bag. Instead, you must purchase TSA approved locks, which are often recognized with a bright red diamond. Absolutely, it is important to invest in travel safety locks for your next flight. If you don’t use TSA Approved locks, you run the risk of having your luggage damaged if TSA isn’t able to access your bag for inspection. TSA agents will break non-approved locks, cut zippers and even snip their way through soft-shell cases to ensure that you don’t have any prohibited goods packed in your luggage.

Amazon sells a variety of good options like Lumintrail, Anvil and Tarriss brands.

There are several important travel safety essentials that protect you and your valuables. First off, be sure to bring along a personal safety alarm. In addition, invest in anti-pickpocket gear, such as belts, pants, and bags. Next, get a door stop alarm to give you peace of mind while sleeping. Of course, it is important to bring along a PPE kit. Moreover, be sure to get a series of travel, TSA approved locks. Of course, packing this gear is essential to avoid the common travel mishaps when vacationing. Follow the points highlighted above to learn about the top travel safety essentials to protect you and your valuables.

It is fantastic that you have gone through the process of collecting valuable hotel points so you and your family can enjoy the low cost of accommodations on your travels. The next step is to make sure you preserve those points the best way possible. You will want to take advantage of free bonus nights where you can, sometimes paying with some cash combined with points when your balances are too low to cover the hotel nights, trying to avoid transferring points to an airline program, making sure points don’t expire, and trying to travel off-peak whenever possible.

Accumulate Hotel Points

In many cases you can accumulate hotel points for a definite amount of time before they start to expire. The good news is that because of the limited travel during COVID, hotel programs have been nice enough to extend those expiration dates. At some point that will end. You should always be aware of the expiration dates and make sure you use them before that date. In most cases all it takes is any activity on the co-branded credit card to extend it out an extra 12-24 months.

If you don’t have the credit card, you may want to apply so you can benefit even more from the hotel rewards program. Make sure you do not apply for the card until you know you have expenses coming up within 90 days so you can receive the bonus points with your minimum spend. You will most likely have to charge a couple of thousand dollars or more in the first 90 days. Some of these cards offer one year annual fee waived. Don’t let the annual fee be a turnoff. Some of them throw in a bonus when you pay the fee like a free night or a statement credit so it may offset. When you receive the bill for the annual fee it does not hurt to make a call and ask what they can do for you.

Transfer Hotel Points & Rewards

Unless you are desperately trying to accumulate enough mileage rewards for a flight, it is a poor decision to transfer your hotel rewards into airline rewards. In most cases you will be giving half the value away by doing that. By not transferring your points, you can maximize your rewards and stick to your value travel ambitions.

Utilize Your Dining Travel Rewards

You eat out or take out food anyway so get something for it. Make sure you link up your hotel rewards program to their free dining program. When you go to a participating restaurant you grow your hotel points balances. That is a no-brainer.
For example, Marriott is connected to The Eat Around Town program. For information to join go to eataroundtown.marriott.com. Another one is the Hilton Honors Dining which gives you Hilton Honors points. hiltonhonorsdining.com

Use Your Shopping Portals Rewards

At the present time, these programs are more limited than the dining rewards but do have flexibility. Some of them give you bonus points when used for gas stations and supermarkets. These are expenses we all have anyway so try to use the credit card that gives you the biggest bonuses.

Maximize The Value Of Your Hotel Points

There are many strategies you can do to keep your hotel points from being depleted. Even though you may go away for multiple nights at a hotel, you may find you spend less in points by booking one night at a time. Definitely look at that option before you book a multiple night reservation. Sometimes there are individual nights that cost a lot less due to availability. For instance an urban business hotel may have specials for weekend nights. Once you make your multiple reservations let the hotel know so they can link them together so you don’t have to check-in and check-out.
Even better, once you book, keep checking to see if point values change prior to your travels. Cancel your original reservation and rebook if you have to. Just make sure you avoid non-refundable reservations if you can. Unless it is a screaming deal there is no reason to.

Mix Cash & Hotel Points

If you do not have enough points to pay for your hotel stay, some of the programs allow you to supplement the reward points with cash to complete the transaction. Calculate if it is worth it to pay extra money to combine with your points balance to make your reservation. If you are planning well in advance, use your co-branded hotel credit card for those purchases to increase your balances in the rewards account. It may get you to the threshold you are looking for to avoid the cash option.

Take Advantage Of Bonus Nights

When you book multiple nights at a hotel, double check to see if you get a free night if you add an extra night. IHG offers a 4th night free and Marriott and Hilton offer a 5th night free. Don’t leave a free night on the table. Extend your trip one extra night and enjoy that promo!

Donate Your Hotel Travel Points

In addition, you can always choose to donate your hotel travel points. Donating your hotel points and rewards is an excellent way to support communities that are in need. There are plenty of charities you can donate to in order to support U.S veterans, LGBTQ rights, or global health. If you are interested in learning more, be sure to visit important foundations like the American Red Cross, the Boys & Girls Clubs of America, as well as the Polaris Project. Even if you have not accumulated a vast amount of hotel travel points yet, you can certainly make a difference with your donation. Certainly, consider donating your hotel points in order to make a difference and maximize your rewards.

Purchase Gift Cards With Your Points

Next, you can use your hotel points and rewards to purchase gift cards, as well as other consumer essentials. There are several hotel points programs that allow you to purchase gift cards for food delivery, grocery markets, and drug stores. In fact, you may even be able to transfer your airline miles to gift cards as well. This way, you can reduce your spending on everyday goods and services. Of course, this is increasingly beneficial to value travelers during the COVID-19 global pandemic, where finances are tight and travel is incredibly restrictive. Surely, purchasing gift cards with your accumulated hotel points is essential to maximize your value.

Remain Flexible

When looking to maximize your hotel points and rewards, remember to be flexible. Ideally, you will be able to be somewhat flexible on a mixture of your destinations, hotels, and travel dates. If this is the case, you will almost always be able to secure a better redemption rate. To get the best rates, avoid peak travel times, such as holidays like Thanksgiving and Christmas. At the same time, keep in mind that your dollar will go much further at more affordable, less luxurious hotels. Of course, this still provides you with a plethora of trustworthy options to choose from, especially when visiting bigger cities. As you prepare for post-COVID travel, it is important to remain flexible and prepare for your hotel rewards.

Look For Rewards That Meet Your Needs

Of course, it is important to look for hotel points and rewards that meet your lifestyle, preferences, and travel profile. For a start, ensure that your chosen hotel chain always has plenty of accommodations wherever you frequently travel. Some hotels are much more common in bigger cities, while others can more often be found in smaller, quaint towns. This way, you can ensure that you will always have ample opportunities to successfully accumulate and use your hotel points. Indeed, finding rewards that meet your needs is critical to maximize your overall value.

Upgrade To Elite Status

In many cases, it will be beneficial to upgrade your travel credit card program to elite status. Simply, elite status designates that you are preferred customer of your chosen hotel program. Traditionally, hotel rewards programs will often generic status levels like silver, gold, platinum, and elite. As you progress in each level, you will be able to claim an additional number of valuable rewards. If you travel frequently enough, this is one of the most dependable ways to maximize your rewards value.

Other Important Hotel Rewards Tips

Be aware that your hotel points have value. The longer you have a balance in your account, the longer you enjoy free accommodations. As with all value travel strategies try to avoid peak times. Because there is more demand at those times, hotels can ask for more points per night. Look to go off-season, weekends unless it is a business hotel which has more supply on the weekends, non-convention times, and avoiding major events near that hotel. A music festival or a major sporting event can fill a hotel and peak hotel points go with that. If you must go to a destination during an expensive hotel point stay, save those points for another time and grab an AirBnb or B&B on the outskirts of town with a lower cost.

Make sure you take advantage of what is coming to you complimentary! Some of the co-branded cards offer you wi-fi at your hotel which can get expensive, bottled water which can add up during your stay, a room upgrade but only if you ask, and if you are leaving the country, waiving all transaction fees on your credit card transactions. That one can really add up and may save you 3% on EVERY charge.

Ultimately, with all value travel strategies, basing your trip dates around the best possible use of your points will get you more travel for free in the long run. If you must go on a particular date with no flexibility at all, it may cost you a lot more than it needs to be. Value travelers hate peak times!

Here is your little cheat sheet……

• Radisson Rewards- min of 9000 points for a free hotel night. 85,000 bonus points with $ 2500 spent within 90 days. radissonhotels.com
• World of Hyatt- min of 5000 points for a free night. Resort fees are waived when using a free night. 30,000 bonus points with $3000 spent within 90 days. worldofhyatt.com
• Marriott Bonvoy- 75,000 bonus points with $3000 spent within 90 days. marriott.com
• Hilton Honors- 150,000 bonus points with $2000 spent within 90 days. $ 150 statement credit given. Hiltonhonors.com
• IHG Rewards- 140,000 bonus points with $ 3000 spent within 90 days.

All this information is subject to change. Special offers may be made that are even better at times. By following the tips above, you can optimize your hotel points, rewards, and credit score travel hacking strategy.

Most people don’t give a lot of thought when it comes to selecting vacations. Sometimes you base it on climate and go skiing or to a beach. Finances may come into play like low budget camping or living it up at a resort. Do you choose urban locations for museums or rural ones for national parks? There are many factors that should go into your final selection on the trips you do take. Don’t be afraid to do something completely out of your comfort zone. You can grow a lot when doing something you have never done before!

Decide On Your Travel Companions

The first major consideration is going solo or with a companion/group. When you go solo it may be more exploratory with less of an itinerary, can be fast paced or a slow travel experience, you have an excellent chance of meeting new people at all of your stops because you are open to it, and of course, at times, can be a bit lonely. The key to all of these is it is up to you and that is exciting! You need to figure out what YOU want out of this trip.

Yes, it’s fun to travel with people but there are factors to consider that you don’t have to when traveling solo. Be sure to check out our guide on solo travel destinations and experiences to find out more. You must be considerate! All plans on the trip need to be discussed and agreeable to all parties involved. Different personalities come into play. Type A? laid back personality? Interested in the same activities? Adventurous or want to know exactly what to expect?

None of this is bad but there will be lots of give and take to please all. How much of the trip do you stay together and when do you do your own thing at times? The one major advantage of a trip like this is the shared experiences that you can reminisce for years to come. It also may be a bonding time to strengthen a friendship or family ties. There will be a lot of thinking about what others want.

Choose A Leisure Or Adventure Travel Experience

So what happens next? You have made the decision on choosing one of these paths. Now the fun planning begins! What will it be? adventure or leisure traveling?

If you truly want adventure you will be exploring many places and sights, most likely getting up early to start your full day, planning an itinerary that stays on schedule, and most important, making sure you have the proper footwear/walking shoes/hiking boots. Think of fun, exciting destinations like Montana outdoor adventure travel. Should you be focused on indoor or outdoor activities? The climate you choose will have a lot to say about that. You may need a vacation from your vacation when all is said and done.

If that path makes you tired just thinking about it, then a slow travel/leisurely trip is your cup of tea. You may do some exploring, spend lots of time at a beach or a lake, see a couple of the sights in the area that sound interesting, catch up on your reading, sleeping and look for good dining. You will surely come back fairly rested and ready to take on the real world again when you get home.

Consider Your Values & Beliefs

Other things to consider. Does your destination align with your values? Is it known for equal rights? Is it a red state or a blue state? How are race relations in the location? Will you see lots of inequities like poverty?

Plan Your Accommodations

Whether you choose solo or group travel, you will have the same factors to consider. Decisions need to be made on the big stuff like flights and accommodations. Those choices can make or break your budget. Hopefully if you are traveling with others, you can take advantage of airline miles and hotel reward points to create a very inexpensive trip. If someone in the group does not align with that, someone is spending a lot more money than others in the group which can get a bit awkward.

Determine Your Vacation Budget

The variables that can affect your budget will be food, drinks, transportation locally, entrance tickets to attractions and entertainment and possibly excursions. Taxi’s and alcohol can really eat away at your trip budget if you are not careful.

The bottom line is that both choices are good after you consider all the factors and what you are looking for in a vacation. Just think about prior to any plan how you envision the days. Do you want to rest during the day with a nap so you can stay out all night? Do you look forward to really good dining or just grab a bite here and there? Are you flexible enough for plans to change and actually factor in dead time for changes in plans? How much sleep do you expect? Does the location have too much to do or not enough to do?

These are all great questions to ask yourself to determine what you end up doing. Make sure your companions answer along the same lines that you will. If they don’t, going solo can never disappoint you!

Check Your Travel Documents

Next, make sure to check your travel documents, and familiarize yourself with the specific requirements before embarking on your next journey. Start off by checking your passport. Most countries require your passport to be valid for at least six months beyond the date of your arrival. Simultaneously, be sure to check if the country you are visiting has an visa entry requirements. If this is the case, you may need to apply for documents at least one year in advance. Furthermore, if you are visiting a high-risk destination in terms of health, you may want to look at any travel documents concerning immunizations. Absolutely, reviewing your travel documents is key to prepare for your next journey.

Pack Strategically

Of course, strategic packing is an essential component of the art of travel planning. Packing for any trip can be a complicated endeavor. At a minimum, you will always want to bring along your passport, wallet, as well as charges for all your electronic devices. If you are traveling internationally, be sure to bring along plug outlet adapters that support your chargers as well. In addition, you should also bring along a travel pillow, insulated water bottle, as well as any medications that you may require. Make sure to start a packing list, and familiarize yourself with your airline’s baggage policy. You do not want to spend any additional money on excess baggage weight fees. That is a big revenue producer for airlines. Don’t contribute towards it. Certainly, strategic packing is critical to prepare for a successful trip.

Write Your Travel Itinerary

At the same time, it will certainly be worthwhile to prepare your travel itinerary beforehand. There are several important strategies for successful itinerary planning. For example, try dividing up the city you are visiting into multiple sections. Then, you can try to start visiting attractions by one neighborhood at a time. In addition, try to create a calendar to leave room for free time to roam. That is where the magic of travel takes place. Most importantly, you need to be realistic. Do not overbook your itinerary in order to avoid feeling stressed or overwhelmed while traveling. Surely, writing your itinerary is a key step for value trip planning.

Contact Your Credit Card Companies

No matter how long you will be traveling for, it is important to contact your credit card companies before you leave home. If your credit card company is not notified beforehand, transactions you make at your destination may be flagged as fraudulent, which can ultimately lead to your card getting blocked. To let your provider know that you will be traveling, simply call your bank or credit card issuer prior to your departure.  Inform them of your travel plans, how long you will be gone, and where you will be visiting. In fact, many credit cards even have a mobile applications that allows you to set your upcoming travel plans entirely online. Indeed, contacting your credit companies is essential for effective travel planning.

Understand Protocols For Travel Safety

Additionally, you will want to understand the various protocols for travel safety. While an incredibly fun, exciting experience, there are several inherit risks and dangers when traveling, especially overseas. To protect yourself while vacationing, there are three main categories you must concern yourself with: food, road accidents, as well as crime.

If you are concerned about food safety, be sure to carry an allergic reaction and dietary restriction card. This way, you can still enjoy travel with a food allergy. For more information on ordering cards go to selectwisely.com

In terms of car accidents, it is pivotal to familiarize yourself with the road system of the destination you will be traveling to. In countries within the United Kingdom, for example, you will find that the left is the proper lane to drive on.

Furthermore, staying safe in terms of crime can be a complicated process. Simply, be sure to understand the country you are traveling to, and the potential for incidents related to pickpocketing and burglary. Leave anything valuable you don’t need for the day in the hotel safe deposit box.