Are you planning on going on a vacation over the spring break? If so, you’re in for a warm, relaxing treat! However, before you depart, you need to prepare yourself. If you don’t have much travel experience, you’re bound to make a few mistakes before you arrive at your destination.
If you want to get the most out of your vacation, be sure to use the tips below:
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Ensure That Your Passport is Up to Date
Nothing is worse than booking a trip only to realize that your passport has expired, and you don’t have enough time to renew it. Renewing your passport can be quite time-consuming and often takes several days or weeks.
If you don’t want this to happen to you, make sure that you take the time to renew your passport before purchasing your tickets.
Renewing your passport is easier than you might think. To renew your passport, all you need to do is have the following:
- Form DS-11
- Eligible passport book
- Proof of name change (if applicable)
- Color passport photo (current photo required)
- Form of payment (generally credit card, check or money order)
If you don’t have the ability to renew your passport in person, you can renew your passport via mail.
Update Your Wardrobe
Even if you feel vacation-ready, you need to make sure that your wardrobe is as well. Although you don’t need to replace everything in your closet, it doesn’t hurt to update a few essential pieces.
Before you hit the malls for the following items, you should get familiar with online shopping directories like Shopping Canada, as they are invaluable tools for shoppers that want to save on their purchases.
When you use an online shopping directory, you get access to digital flyers, in-store deals and useful reviews. You can also use online shopping directories to get directions to malls and shopping centers.
Swimsuit
If you’re traveling somewhere tropical, you’ll most likely be spending a lot of time in your swimsuit. There are several different types of swimwear that men and women can try.
Some common examples of men’s swimwear include:
- Trunks
- Boardshorts
- Speedos
- Briefs
Some examples of women’s swimwear include:
- Bandeaus
- Triangles
- One-shoulders
- Tie-fronts
- High necks
- Longlines
If you’re looking for swimwear at a fair price, you can never go wrong with Walmart. These superstores are packed with high-quality swimwear that you won’t want to take off, even after you’re done swimming.
If your local superstore happens to be out of stock, you can use an online shopping directory to find clearance deals at Walmart superstores in nearby towns and cities.
Sunglasses
People wear sunglasses for several reasons; they’re stylish, convenient and are proven to help protect your eyes from the sun. These factors make them an essential addition to any carry on or suitcase that is vacation-bound.
However, if you don’t take care of your sunglasses, you can potentially scratch, dent or break them. Additionally, sunglasses are quite small, making them easy to lose (especially in places that you’re unfamiliar with).
If you’ve got a bad habit of breaking or losing your sunglasses, you may want to bring a back-up pair (or two). This will ensure that your eyes are protected from the sun during your vacation.
There are several places where you can find sunglasses, but if you’re looking for quality, you need to take a trip to Altitude Sports. This retailer offers a diverse selection of sunglasses made by a variety of well-known brands.
The only downside to high-quality sunglasses is that they can cost a hundred dollars or more. This can eat into your vacation budget. To find the best deals on sunglasses, make sure that you reference an online shopping directory. Doing this will help you find digital coupons for stores like Altitude Sports, allowing you to save on your shades.
Consider Getting Travel Insurance
Do you need to rent a vehicle for your vacation? If so, you should consider getting travel insurance before you depart.
Most people never think that they’ll get hurt on vacation, but the numbers say otherwise. Motor vehicle accidents are the primary cause of death among travellers. Although it is hard to be precise, approximately 25,000 tourists die each year due to vehicular accidents.
By investing in travel insurance, you’ll be able to sleep well knowing that you and your loved ones are covered in the event of an accident.
Purchase a Set of Earplugs
Although this may seem like a bit of an odd tip, you’ll be glad you brought a pair of earplugs along.
Airplanes can be extremely noisy, making it difficult for travellers to catch Z’s on the go. However, if you pop in a pair of earplugs, you’ll be able to ignore your surroundings and get some much-needed rest.
Additionally, if you’re going on a kid-friendly vacation, you may find that the hotel is noisy during the day. This can make it nearly impossible to sneak in an afternoon nap. Once again, by throwing in some earplugs, you’ll have no trouble getting to sleep.
Don’t Forget to Bring Sunscreen
Few things can ruin a vacation like a severe sunburn. Sunburns aren’t just painful; they can also lead to several skin-related issues like:
- Dry skin
- Wrinkles
- Dark spotting
In some extreme cases, sunburns can also cause skin-related cancers, like melanoma.
Thankfully, there’s a straightforward way that you can protect your skin from the sun’s rays: apply sunscreen. Modern sunscreen is made out of minerals, like zinc oxide and/or dioxide, that have the ability to deflect the sun’s rays off of your skin.
However, you can’t apply sunscreen once and expect to be protected all day long. Remember to reapply sunscreen after swimming or excessive sweating.
If you’re a rookie traveller that wants to see the world, then you need to make sure that you’re ready for your endeavours.
Before you leave, make sure that you update your passport and some key pieces of your wardrobe. You should also take the time to purchase travel insurance, earplugs and sunscreen, as they’ll come in handy throughout your vacation.