Going on a road trip can be a lot of fun.  You have the option of stopping at any place between home and your destination, and you’ll get to see a lot of different sights.  However, travelling by car for long distances can present some interesting challenges that other forms of travel don’t. First, you’ll have to make certain you never run out of petrol.  This means keeping an eye out for that last station before you reach unpopulated areas.  You’ll also want to watch the prices of petrol.  Stations along main roads are often more expensive than those on less-used city streets.  The last thing you want is to spend too much money or to find yourself stranded with an empty petrol tank. Second, you’ll want to schedule regular breaks in your trip.  You’ll need to stop for meals, to stretch, and to go to the bathroom.  However, you don’t want to stop too often for incidental things or you may end up behind schedule.  Also, if you plan on stopping anywhere for sightseeing, try to take care of several things at once.  For example, you should be able to do some sightseeing, eat, refill your car, and stock up on snacks all at the same time. Third, if you’re travelling somewhere you haven’t been before, it’s a good idea to either get maps off the internet or have a GPS.  While it is possible to navigate using an atlas, sometimes they aren’t as reliable as they should be, especially if you’re using older atlases.  Internet maps are often more updated.  If you have a GPS, you’ll be able to quickly and easily change your route without worrying about getting lost. Finally, take turns driving if possible.  While it may not seem like it, driving for several hours in a row can be very exhausting.  By rotating drivers, you’ll keep fresh and alert.

Travelling to a foreign city by yourself can be very exciting.  If you’re there on holiday, you can set your entire schedule.  You can get up when you want, go out when you want, and see whatever you want.  However, travelling alone can also be a bit scary since you won’t have anyone to turn to if an emergency occurs. For that reason, you want to be sure to do a couple of things.  First, you need to know your hotel’s contact information.  Program the front desk number into your mobile phone if you have one, and be certain to grab one of the hotel’s business cards (most have one) and carry it in your wallet or purse.  This way, you know the exact address and phone number in case you get lost or need to contact the hotel for any reason. Likewise, ask the hotel staff for the number of a cab company or for information regarding buses or trains.  If you get lost or find yourself sick or otherwise unable to get back to the hotel on your own, you will need to have some way of calling for assistance.  It’s also a good idea to know how to contact emergency services if you are travelling abroad since it is not always the same number. As a solo traveller, it’s also important that you be even more aware of your surroundings.  Don’t walk with your head down, and take note of anything that looks suspicious, especially if it is someone who appears to be following you. Of course, some safety tips are the same whether you’re travelling alone or with someone else.  Never carry a lot of cash in your purse or wallet, and don’t give out your room number.

When you go on a trip, even if it’s for business, you often feel compelled to purchase souvenirs both for yourself and for others.  This is especially true if you’re on holiday or if you’re going to a really nice location or travelling abroad for the first time.  However, you can get too caught up in souvenir shopping and blow both your budget and your luggage space.  Here are some tips for souvenir shopping to make sure it doesn’t get out of hand. First, make a list of people for whom you should buy souvenirs.  Check this list over and make certain everyone on it really does need a memento of your trip of a gift.  If not, consider marking them off the list.  Even though it’s tempting to do birthday or holiday shopping while on your trip, it may simply not be practical. Look for small gifts that are meaningful.  If you know someone who has their whole refrigerator covered in magnets, think about getting them a magnet or two.  These types of gifts are inexpensive and don’t take up too much room in your baggage.  Pencils, pens, and key chains are other small gifts that don’t take up much space. T-shirts are also good gifts that are both practical and can be rolled up fairly small.  However, size becomes an issue here.  If you aren’t certain of which size to buy someone, you may think of getting them something else so they won’t be disappointed and you won’t spend money on something that won’t be worn. If you do see something large that you absolutely must have, ask the store if they can ship it for you or if they can hold it while you inquire about shipping options.  If you’re shipping something, especially if you’re shipping it from abroad, you may find that the shipping fees are exorbitant.   Don’t buy it before you know if you can afford to send it home. Also try to avoid buying fragile items.  If you do, attempt to keep your fragile purchases small enough that you can fit them in your carry-on bag.  Putting fragile items in a checked bag is always a gamble.  No matter what, try to wrap up the item as much as you can.  Use t-shirts or other garments if you don’t have any other type of wrapping. Finally, think about replacing souvenirs with something else.  Postcards can be a great little way of saying “I’m thinking of you” without taking up much space or money.  You don’t have to send them, either—when you get back, purchase a picture frame for them and present the framed postcard as a picture.  This works really well for postcards that have full colour, vibrant images on the front.