Taking a cruise is one of the most relaxing ways to unwind, and it is hands down the best way to travel. With all the great food and drinks to indulge in, engaging adrenaline activities and luxurious spa retreats, you may never want the vacation to end. However, if this is your first cruise, you must avoid the following things that can land you in trouble or make you feel out of place. Explore the islands Instead of waiting back to use the empty pool, bar, or rides on board, step off the ship to explore the exotic locations. The idea is to have a balance between exploring new places and enjoying the travel as well. An empty pool and an empty bar can be easily enjoyed at a resort, but the island the cruise docks at is probably something you will never get to visit again.  Don’t buy a drinks package You may think it’s wise to opt for a drinks package, but most cruise tickets include free cocktails and meals onboard. Be very sure of your package when you buy tickets to know exactly what all it includes. The staff on board may coax its guests to buy various packages before saying yes to confirm what your ticket includes.

Those who have traveled on a cruise before are probably already familiar with cruise dos and don’ts. But for cruise rookies out there, this is a brand new experience. If you’re one of them, you probably do not know what to expect, especially since there will be a ton of other passengers. Good thing we’re here to help. Read on to know about five things you should not do on your first cruise trip. Don’t forget to turn off your data First-time passengers are often surprised and dumbfounded by their expensive cellular bills after a cruise. These high bills are only a result of the international data and roaming charges applied to cell services. If you do want to avoid these pricy bills, you can opt to turn off cellular data for the whole duration of your trip or while nearing a coast or port. You can also switch off your cell phone or put it on airplane mode to avoid unnecessary costs. However, this does not mean that you cannot contact your loved ones on land. You can simply use the internet cafes onboard or pay to access Wi-Fi services throughout the trip. Don’t shop too much One of the biggest mistakes first-time travelers make is shopping way too much at ports.

Every destination has its own charm, offering its unique different cuisines, tourist spots, architecture, and etiquettes. It’s always a good idea to do some research before going to a new country; it makes travel easier and hassle-free. After all, vacations are meant for relaxation and creating beautiful memories. This article shares some common mistakes travelers should avoid while touring Europe, the continent of royal castles, exquisite cuisines, quaint villages, and appealing architecture.  Solely relying on plastic money If you think carrying your card is the way to go on travels, think again. Most cafes, restaurants, bars, tourist spots, museums, and public transportation still mostly accept cash over plastic money. Withdraw an amount that should help take you through most of the trip. This way, you avoid stacking withdrawal fees. However, only carry the required amount for the day. ATMs let you pick denominations, and after your first day in Europe, you should know which denomination mix works best in the country you’re in.  Forgetting to claim your VAT tax refund This is an important note to make, especially when making large purchases. You will need a VAT tax refund form at the airport when traveling back home. This piece of paper could reward you with a 19-25% cash refund on all purchases from 0 to 175 euros.

Planning for a vacation is fun. Thinking about the exciting places you’re going to visit, new cuisine, and entertainment adventures can lift your spirits. And since you can arrange everything from hotels to restaurant reservations online in advance, there’s not much running about to do. However, you must be cautious. Some holiday deals may sound too appealing to be true. A mistake while booking a hotel could cost you money and spoil your vacation. Not asking for refundable bookings If paying in advance, one of the biggest hotel booking mistakes to avoid is taking a non-refundable room. A non-refundable package may be cheaper, but travel plans can change abruptly. If you decide to shift your holiday destination and need to cancel, you may have to pay the penalty. So always book a room that comes with refundable rates and free cancelation. Going for the cheapest rooms available A lower price doesn’t necessarily mean it’s the best deal. With hotels, you must also read customer reviews while comparing the rates online. There’s a good reason the room is listed for a discount. So, find out what it is before confirming a reservation. Also, use pricing comparison tools available on booking websites.

The Internet can be your best guide when it comes to finding the best travel deals for your individual as well as corporate needs. However, when you are heading out for business and not leisure, finding the best deals on hotels and flights can be a little tricky. You can leave your worries to some of the top corporate travel sites that will not only give you the best deals but will also help connect you to other travelers who can guide you on things to do while you are visiting the city. Here are some of the top corporate travel sites that can make your business trip more comfortable and economical. Hipmunk.com The site provides you with the best deals on flights in the most interactive way. It offers a graphical representation of data. Once you have entered your details like dates of travel, departure and arrival cities, and the like, the site shows a colorful graph representing the best flight deals for you. The site has also recently integrated with Google Calendar, which means when you book a flight on this site, it automatically marks your dates of travel on your calendar. Google’s Hotel Finder Google has introduced a new service to help you find the best hotel deals online.

Theme parks are a huge favorite among kids and adults across the globe. But there is no better place than the northern part of the country to experience the best of these theme parks. The northern region is home to theme parks of all sizes—from small and independent ones to big and very popular theme parks such as Disney and Universal Studios. The attractions at Disney theme parks and Universal Studios attract tourists from all over the world. These theme parks guarantee a fun-filled family vacation that you are sure to remember for the rest of your life. So, here is a list of the best theme parks so that you can start planning your next fun getaway. Disney’s Animal Kingdom Theme Park, Florida This theme park has been a part of the Disney resort since 1998. Its theme revolves around viewing nature and animals in their original and enhanced environments. The park is divided into three parts namely Oasis, Africa, and Asia. It offers an unforgettable rendezvous with the animals who live in an enhanced natural environment. Reaching the park is easy as there are multiple modes of transportation. The theme park tickets are much more economical when purchased in advance.

Popularly known as the Emerald Isle, Ireland is a culturally rich and vibrant island located in the North Atlantic. Its cultural diversity makes it an ideal place for tourists. Couples looking for a romantic getaway can easily find a romantic place with beautiful landscapes all over Ireland. For tourists with a penchant for history, Ireland has to a lot to offer. From museums and heritage sites to outdoor adventures such as horse riding, sailing, and golf, Ireland is the ultimate dream vacation destination. Here is a list of the top 9 tourist spots in Ireland that you must visit: Dublin City Dublin City has the perfect blend of rustic and modern factors — the best of both worlds. While it is rich in literature and houses some extremely magnificent churches, it is a great place to have a lively and bustling nightlife. The best time to visit Dublin is between May and August. The Cliffs of Moher The Cliffs of Moher attract tourists from all over the world. After all, the view of the island is certainly one of the most breath-taking ones you will ever see. A natural phenomenon, estimated to have developed years ago, carved the cliffs from a river delta.

Flying can be super expensive, and there’s no doubt about that. Even after using all your miles or various discounts, flight tickets can burn a hole in your pocket rather easily. So, how do you get affordable tickets without compromising on your in-flight comfort? Well, here’s a complete guide that will help you with just that: Go incognito A lot of online websites use cookies to inflate the prices of flight tickets. No, you did not make a mistake when you saw the prices the first time, it truly did change. Multiple sites use these cookies to check if the route has been searched before. With that information, they hike their prices and scare the customer into buying the tickets as soon as possible. Book the tickets as early as possible Booking the flight tickets at the last moment means high prices. Instead, plan your trips in advance and book the tickets at least three months before the trip. This will help you save a lot of money, and you will be able to choose better seats. If not three months, book the flight tickets at least 30 days before the trip. Ticket prices see a hike during the final three weeks before a flight.

There’s hardly anything more fun than traveling and exploring new places. The excitement of creating an itinerary and the thrill of being on the road is unmatched, but it’s so much better if the “getaway” is well in your budget. Accommodation is an important factor that determines your overall travel expenses, so deals on that front can help you save big. Here are some of the best hotel booking websites to help you compare deals and plan a budget-friendly trip: Priceline Priceline may come across as your regular hotel booking website, but it offers some outstanding features. For instance, it offers amazing discounts through its Express Deals® feature and free cancelation on most hotels to ensure flexibility. Additionally, Priceline offers a generous best-price guarantee and assures a 100% refund of the price difference if you find a lower price within 24 hours of booking. That’s not all! They offer a 200% refund of the price difference if you find a better price on an Express Deal®. Kayak Kayak is one of the top hotel booking sites for comparing deals and is known for its filtering options and map feature. Just click on your destination on the map, and Kayak will give you all the information you need, including stay options.

Planning a trip with friends, a family getaway, or a romantic vacation? There’s a cruise package for everything! Cruises host many fun activities for passengers, such as board games, deck parties, treasure hunts, movie nights, and even indoor skydiving. You can enjoy these as much as you want once onboard. However, there are certain things you must never do on a cruise to make the journey memorable for yourself and others. Don’t hog the furniture in common areas Common areas on a cruise have limited furniture. Take, for example, the chairs by the swimming pool. People often hoard these chairs for hours at a stretch for friends and family who never show up. This causes inconvenience to other passengers already at the poolside. So, use only what you need to ensure everyone is comfortable. Don’t have personal conversations with the staff Cruises have many staff members. So, there are strict policies regarding how staff may interact with passengers and vice versa. You might have a casual conversation with a staff member, but it’s best not to make the conversation personal. Doing so may go against the cruise’s policy and even cost the staff their job. Don’t be mean to the crew Cruise staff go beyond expectations, working extra-long hours and even doing double shifts to ensure passengers are happy.

One of the joys of traveling is getting comfortable hotel accommodation for your stay. Just as we expect great service from these hotels, they expect the guests to follow certain protocols to make the experience pleasurable. It is important to understand this tacit agreement. On that note, here are some vital tips to remind you of things that you should avoid doing when you are staying in a hotel. Keep the bathroom door shut Taking a hot shower at the end of the day and sliding into the comfy blanket is one of the perks of being in a hotel. However, make sure you keep the bathroom door shut. The steam from the shower can enter the room and trigger the fire alarm. Don’t cover the smoke alarms Almost all hotels always have a smoking room available for their guests, as they understand it is a requirement for some. However, some guests will take a room that comes with a smoke alarm and cover the smoke alarms whenever they wish to indulge in activities that may set off the alarm. Avoid using the throw pillows Some hotels have these delicate items in the room, like throw pillows to add some personality to the room.