More and more people are discovering the fun and adventure of a day hike. If you are considering joining in on the fun of a day hike, then this article will help you know what to take with you. Safety is one of the most important considerations for hiking and many people won’t go hiking because they don’t know what to take with them. You won’t need a large pack with tons of gear, just a few important items carried in a fanny waist pack will suffice.

1. A first aid kit. Most likely, your first day hike won’t be an all day venture into the wilderness, but even if you go a mile or two, you will want to have a few items with you in case of an injury. If you are allergic to bee stings or ant bites or anything like that, be sure to bring the antidote medicine with you. If there are poisonous snakes in the area, it’s not a bad idea to carry a snake bite kit, but be sure you know how to use it in advance because it won’t do any good if you have to take the time to read the instructions!

2. High calorie foods. Nuts, dried fruit, trail mix, and protein bars are the best choices for staying fueled while hiking. You will be surprised how hungry you can get hiking in the great outdoors.

3. Plenty of water. If you’re going for a longer hike, carry a fanny waist pack that comes with water bottles. Your water will be easily accessible and you’ll be well hydrated. When people carry a shoulder pack, the water is inconvenient so they may not drink enough water. Avoid dehydration and use a waist pack that comes with water bottles.

4. Outer layer of clothing. This can be a rain jacket if you think it will rain and it might be chilly. Or a poncho if you think it will rain and the temperatures are warm. It could be just a light shirt to keep the sun off, or perhaps a wind breaker. These could even be strapped onto the outside of your waist or lumbar backpack. Pay attention to the weather prediction and bring an outer layer of clothing that makes sense. Even gloves may be carried for cooler days.

5. Bandana. A bandana is something every hiker carries because it has multiple uses. Such as – wiping perspiration, soaking it in water to cool off the neck, swatting flies or mosquitoes, putting it down on the ground to protect your pants when you sit, and like your fanny waist pack, it can be a great fashion statement! Find one you like, perhaps that matches your hat, and wear it around your neck or tied to your belt. (Yes, you’ll want to bring a hat to protect you from the sun, but it doesn’t go in your waist pack. It goes on your head at all times).

That about covers it. Of course, your waist backpack will carry more items that are personal to you, but these are the essentials. Pack intelligently for a great day hike.

Visit my website to learn more about the fanny waist pack and lumbar backpack for day hiking. http://www.waistbackpack.com/

Airline tickets were once the preserve of the rich and it is only with the low-cost airline boom that the middle-classes all across the world be it America, Africa or Asia have been able to avail of low-cost travel and reduce the time spent on transportation. Since flight tickets form the highest component of expenditure, it is important to reduce the cost of your flight by opting for cheap flights connecting to all domestic and international destinations.

By surrendering a few comforts you can reduce the cost of your journey if you avail connecting flights instead of non-stop flights to any destination. Connecting flights either requires passengers to disembark from one plane and embark on the other for the second half of the journey from the same airline or in some cases, you may have to board an aircraft of a different airline for the second leg of the journey.

For certain countries, you require a transit visa if your connecting flight passes through that country and if you have not arranged for a transit visa, you might be denied boarding if the formalities are not complete. Paying attention to such small details will go a long way in avoiding a lot of hassles and discomfort in future. Every country has different rules and regulations with regard to transit visa procedures and your travel agent will be the best person to help you in this regard as he or she may be well versed to handle such procedural details. A lot of customers face this problem when they book separate legs of their journey with different airlines and often face the dreadful prospect of detention due to lack of transit visa.

Though connecting flights often result in huge savings in cost but there are quite a few hassles involved if you book a connecting flight. You will have to go through the entire process of baggage claim, check-in and security before boarding your connecting flight. So, it is important that you have ample amount of time between flights to complete all these formalities. Another interesting fact is that the higher the connection time between your flights, chances are, the lower will be the cost of your connecting flight. But you should be mentally prepared to spend long hours at the airport or even be prepared for flight cancellation in case of any exigency arising out of factors beyond the control of the airline. You might even have to arrange for overnight accommodation in case any of the above eventualities happen.

The author is an expert in the tourism industry and offers handy tips to tourists looking for cheap flights and tickets to all national and international destinations. He can be reached at mail@markonetravel.com.

You are at your destination and the first task is to adapt quickly so that you can enjoy your time. This is “easier DONE than SAID” and if you follow the points mentioned below then you are NOT likely to have any problems.

Why are things so different?

It baffles me when someone goes abroad and says “Damn! Why are things so different in this country?” Well, wasn’t that the idea to begin with? You went abroad so that you can experience something different. Things will be different in another country and in some cases the culture shock will be more than what you can handle. So, choose your destination wisely if you are a first time traveler. You can read my first article in this first time traveler 5 tips series to get some information on how to do so.

No, talking louder will not help

Say this out aloud “If the locals don’t speak my language then it’s my problem, not theirs.” Whether you like it or not, that is how things are. Would you expect yourself to speak French when a French tourist comes to your country? Also, would you miraculously start understanding French if this tourist starts speaking to you in a loud voice?

A smile will not give you cheek cramps

As you are wary of a foreigner in your own country, a local will be wary of you when you are a foreigner in his country. That is just human nature. It can’t be helped and the best way to diffuse this tension is to smile. Always smile, smile when you are talking to the guy at the ticket counter, the air hostess, the waiter. In some cases the other person will not smile back at you but in others he/she will invite you to his/her house to have dinner. It’s better than having an angry face which will always lead to unwanted tension.

Money is the most important thing, right?

Nope! While in a foreign country, nothing is more important than your passport. Lose it and your worst nightmare will begin. This is not an exaggeration, really if you lose your passport then you will have a very tough time as you will have to deal with the bureaucracy in the foreign country and at home. Not to mention that you will not be able to travel until you get a new passport or some kind of official document from your embassy.

In that rare case when you do lose your passport it’s best to have a copy at hand. So keep a copy of your passport in your bag and leave one copy with someone dependable back home.

My friend ate off the streets

Repeat this to yourself “My experience in a country will not be similar to that of my friend.” All of us are different and unless your friend or relative is your clone from a parallel universe then your experience will be different as compared to his/her experience. This is why it is always a good idea to gather information from a number of sources and then do your own research to finally arrive at a common sense decision. Just because your friend ate off the streets in Bangladesh does not mean that you should do the same. If you have a weak stomach then stay away from street food.

Remember, locals in most countries like to meet people from another country but they do not like people who disrespect them. Things will be done differently when you go abroad and that is the charm of travel. When you see things being done differently then you might just learn a couple of things about your own culture and country.

This article is a part of “tips for first time travelers” series. The above article is fourth in the series. You can read the other parts by clicking the links below:

First Time Traveler:Part 1

First Time Traveler:Part 3