Few activities excite people as much as travel. Whether jetting off to exotic destinations for wild adventures, seeking peace in a serene retreat, or embarking on an epic road trip, every journey promises new memories and a whole lot of fun.
While spontaneous road trips can be a ton of fun, seasoned travelers understand the value that a little intentional planning can add to their travels. With that in mind, here are 5 travel tips for an unforgettable vacation!
1. Stay informed about local restrictions
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One of the most important travel tips is to always be aware of local regulations and restrictions. These can range from entry requirements to a foreign country to certain restrictions aimed at limiting overtourism.
For example, Japan recently imposed a tourist ban on all visitors Kyotohistorical Gion District This measure restricts access to some private streets in the neighborhood. It was put in place to protect residents from overcrowding and inappropriate behavior by unruly tourists.
Staying up to date with local rules and restrictions when traveling can make your experience more enjoyable, as you will already know what to expect and how to deal with them. To stay up to date with the latest travel restrictions, it is always best to check the websites of the travel authorities of the countries concerned.
2. Choose a flexible travel plan
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Everyone plans their vacations in their own way. Some prefer budget travel, looking for the cheapest flights and the cheapest accommodations. On the other hand, others prioritize comfort and are willing to spend a little more money on their travel experiences.
In reality, there is no right or wrong way to do this. A good travel tip is to be flexible with your travel plans, as there is always some compromise. Cheap flights are cheaper, but you won’t always be able to choose your ideal flight times. Luxury hotels will make you feel like royalty, but will almost certainly lighten your wallet.
Whatever you choose, build some wiggle room into your travel plans. Opt for bookings that allow for cancellations, postponements, and refunds. Traveling always comes with an element of unpredictability, and it always helps to be prepared.
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Book your long-awaited vacation with DBS Travel and Leisure Market Today! Enjoy exciting benefits and offers specially designed for DBS/POSB cardholders. Plus, get 2x value when you offset your purchases on DBS Travel Marketplace with DBS Points. For flexible payments, you can also split your purchase amounts into single instalments of up to 24 months. Plus, enjoy complimentary travel insurance for flights departing from Singapore and overseas hotel bookings. |
3. Get travel insurance
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Getting sick while traveling abroad can be a nightmare.
Depending on the illness, this can lead to high medical bills, hospitalization, and additional expenses, for which you will have to shell out money, in addition to the initial travel costs. This is where reliable travel insurance comes into play to mitigate these risks.
Here's another travel tip: get good travel insurance, like TravellerShield Plusprovides coverage for common claims such as medical expenses incurred overseas and upon return to Singapore over a specified period. It also covers other travel issues such as trip cancellation, loss or damage to personal property and baggage, as well as medical evacuation and repatriation, allowing you to travel with peace of mind.
Additionally, while most travel insurance plans only cover travel delays once the aforementioned delay has exceeded a pre-defined duration, TravellerShield Plus is the first in Singapore to offer coverage for travel delays as short as 30 minutes.
What’s even more impressive is that TravellerShield Plus also offers coverage for frequent flyer miles or frequent flyer points. Imagine if you were finally able to use your miles (or points) to buy a plane ticket, but your flight was cancelled due to an unforeseen circumstance. That would be a real bummer! If this happens to you and the loss of those points cannot be recovered from any other source, TravellerShield Plus can reimburse you for the retail price of your airfare and/or accommodation costs.
Finally, TravellerShield Plus covers pre-existing health conditions, such as asthma, diabetes, and heart conditions. It even offers comprehensive coverage for COVID-19.
A successful vacation should be made to relax and unwind. With comprehensive insurance, you can rediscover the pleasure of traveling without having to worry about the unexpected!
4. Get a multi-currency card
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Contactless payment is the most widely used payment method these days, and it is often used when you travel as well. So having a flexible and reliable payment card when you travel is essential.
THE DBS Travel Wallet exploits the convenience of your DBS Visa Debit Card linked to your multi-currency account (Multiplier Account or My Account), making it a one-stop shop for all your overseas spending.
With it, you can make purchases in any of the 11 supported foreign currencies without any exchange rate fees. All you need to do is link your multi-currency account as a primary account to your card and ensure that you have the balances of the respective currencies on the account. Your foreign currency transactions/withdrawals will be debited directly from the corresponding foreign currency pocket of your account.
For example, if you are going to Japan, you can exchange your Singapore Dollars (SGD) for Japanese Yen (JPY) in just a few clicks via Digibank. Once you have JPY in your multi-currency account that your DBS Visa Debit Card is linked to, all payments made will be directly debited from the JPY balance. In case you do not have enough JPY in your account, the equivalent amount in SGD will be deducted from your SGD funds.
Plus, you can get up to 5% cashback when you spend in foreign currencies during your vacation! Think of it as a return on investment while you spend and enjoy your vacation, giving you the best of both worlds!
Finally, with DBS Payment Controls, you will have the freedom to set spending limits, temporarily lock your card and activate/deactivate card features via the digibank app.
5. Check out attractions and consider underrated destinations
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It’s essential to make a bucket list before you leave for your vacation. But sometimes, some tourist attractions may undergo major changes like closures, different opening hours, or relocations. The last thing you want is to have your heart set on an attraction, only to arrive and end up disappointed.
For example, the famous Black Trunk Rock In Taiwan collapsed into the sea in December 2023, causing the once-popular sight to completely disappear. Sometimes, these changes can also mean a return of the attraction. After being badly damaged in a tragic fire five years ago, Paris's Notre Dame Cathedral The reopening is finally planned for 2024.
The important thing is to do a quick search online before heading to a specific location during your trip to see if the place is still open or if there is something newer that you like. Add this to your list of travel tips!
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Book your long-awaited vacation with DBS Travel and Leisure Market Today! Enjoy exciting benefits and offers specially designed for DBS/POSB cardholders. Plus, get 2x value when you offset your purchases on DBS Travel Marketplace with DBS Points. For flexible payments, you can also split your purchase amounts into single instalments of up to 24 months. Plus, enjoy complimentary travel insurance for flights departing from Singapore and overseas hotel bookings. |
We understand that planning the perfect vacation isn’t easy, and the anxiety that comes with it can hold back even the most adventurous souls. We hope that with these handy travel tips and tricks, you’ll feel a little more confident and have an incredible experience the next time you travel!
Presented by DBS.
