Over the years we’ve found that there are just a few things that apply to almost all travel. Things like what to put in your carry on luggage or do you really need a copy of your passport. Below are some thoughts and observations that we’d like to share, hope they’re useful.
Tips to make any adventure less stressful:
1) Make a hardcopy of all reservations and contracts. Yeah I know, this is the 20th century and everything is in the “cloud” and everyone has a phone or a tablet. Well, you might be surprised to find that the man behind the rental car counter in Budapest doesn’t have your reservation and no they don’t offer free wifi. Just make it easy and carry a hardcopy of the agreements you need for your trip. They really don’t take up much room! Don’t forget to give a copy to someone back home before you leave. Helps if they need to get in touch with you during the trip.
2) If you are a United States citizen, before you leave, register with the nearest embassy or consulate at your destination. You can do this online and it really is for your safety. I know, Big Brother is watching and you don’t want them tracking your world travels. Well, that will change if you get caught in a hurricane or worse, have your passport stolen or lost. If there is an emergency, the embassy or consulate will make an attempt to find you, that is if they know you’re in country. By signing up for the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) you can receive notification of travel warnings and travel alerts, in addition to help with replacement passports and evacuations in the event of an emergency. They can also help contact you in the event of a family emergency when your loved ones cannot reach you. Here is the URL: http://travel.state.gov/content/passports/english/go/step .
3) So you didn’t want to make a copy of your passport, drivers license or other important docs. Well, now that they are lost or have possibly been stolen and you need replacements, or else you just became the newest citizen of another country. Make copies of these documents and carry them on your person! OK, carry them on another person but have copies, it will make your life so much easier when trying to get that GS-3 at the embassy to believe you really are a US citizen. We carry our copies in a chest pouch, that’s why we have a funky square in the center of our chest in all our pictures. I’m not a big fan of placing these in my suitcase which has been recommended in the past. I consider my suitcase public domain so nothing goes in there that I can’t afford to lose. Think about it.
4) Pickpockets are alive and well! While we were in Rome traveling on the subway to the Vatican, a very well dressed man tried to pick my father-in-law’s pocket. This man was dressed in a suit with a trench coat over his arm which he used to conceal his hand that was slipping into my father-in-laws pants pocket. I happened to be a little behind them so this guy didn’t connect me with the others in my family. With a loud voice I asked him what he was doing and just then the train stopped, he made a dash for the door and was gone. Nothing was taken, and my father-in-law was a little saddened that he left without saying goodbye, but just a case where you never would have suspected this guy as a pickpocket. Be aware of those around you, always!
5) Carry as little cash as possible. With ATM’s located in almost every city, cash is usually available on a daily basis but if you’re plans take you to the jungle or somewhere where there won’t be an ATM, carry a little more cash. The days of carrying large amounts of money or checks have long past. And those pearls your husband bought you for your anniversary, leave them at home! Unless you are attending a formal event, why invite attention and possibly a bad situation. No one really cares if you have a lot of nice jewelry, except someone who wants to take it. Plan ahead and there shouldn’t be any problems.
6) Google Earth is the best thing since sliced bread, really. I know sliced bread was introduced in 1928 and has been around a long time, but Google Earth can’t be beat! Unless you’re going to your grandmothers house on the other side of town, Google Earth can actually let you drive to your destination from the comfort of your home. I do this religiously. Nothing beats seeing landmarks or getting the “feel” of where you’re going to be driving to make it a little easier and less stressful.
7) If you’re travels are taking you to a European country, keep in mind that some ancient sewer systems are not on the same level as ours today. Some countries systems are small and outdated so they don’t allow for anything to be put into the sewer that wasn’t eaten first. That means toilet tissue is not to be put into the toilet, unless you ate it first. You will need to place used tissue in a container in the bathroom and empty it frequently. For this reason we often carry with us several plastic shopping bags that can be used as liners for this container. They lie flat in your suitcase and don’t weigh much so its pretty easy to fit a few in each suitcase. If you don’t use them for tissue disposal, they always work to carry groceries home. Lots of stores in other countries don’t provide bags for free, you need to buy them.
8) Washcloths! If you use a washcloth be aware that some foreign countries do not so you may want to bring a couple on your next adventure. Not really a big deal unless you absolutely have to have a washcloth for your daily ritual. We usually get a set of 3 from Target before we travel just in case. Really doesn’t take up much room and you can always dispose of them once you’re on your way back home.
9) When searching for that perfect room or home for your next trip, check the address on Google Earth. Look to see if there are churches, nightclubs, grocery stores, etc. within shouting distance from your potential rental. Why? Well in most European countries the church is still used to tell time, every 15 minutes there are a set of bells that go off, sometimes all night! May not want to be right across the street from an active bell tower. Also, in most cases night clubs close around 2am. For some unexplained reason, people leaving at that time are compelled to sing, yell, argue, fight, laugh, etc. all the way home. Unless you want to join in, find a rental away from these watering holes. What about grocery stores? Simple, they get deliveries around 4am. ‘Nuff said.
10) Bottled water has become the norm for most people. We find that if you freeze a couple of bottles over night they make great coolers for the next days trekking. As the water melts it is also a little more refreshing. Slip the frozen bottles in your day pack to help keep food cool. If you are in Greece these bottles serve another purpose. There are local wineries that sell very good wine, straight from the barrel. You just need to have a container, water bottles work great.
11) As for that day pack, a cloth one works great! They’re light, durable and fold up when you don’t need them. Just remember that packs, any kind, are not for valuables! Great for food, water, maps, maybe a washcloth for wiping hands and faces. You can also carry wet wipes, some fast food restaurants give them out with your meal, save em’ for use on your trip.
12) Now about that carry-on. Why do you have your toothpaste, tooth brush, comb, hair dryer, deodorant, foot powder, etc. in your carry-on bag??? Are these only sold in your home town, or just maybe, could they be in every airport and city in the world? Use your carry-on smartly. Prescription drugs should always be carried with you and in their original container. If you use a day-by-day container, fill it once you arrive at your destination. Pack your charger cords, tablets, laptops, phones, GPS devices, jewelry (if you must take it) and a change of clothes (at least a shirt, underwear, socks). Electronic items and jewelry have a way of falling out of your checked baggage, strange huh! You may also want to include sealed snacks and a good book or two. Point is, keep valuables to a minimum and keep them with you.
13) When touring ruins, museums, churches and all those other popular places on your trip, think about the other 1.5 million people planning to do the same. Good bet they’re waiting for you to show up so they can be there at the same time. If you can get there early, I mean be there when they open, you just may beat 95% of all other tourists. Bus tours usually don’t show up until after 10am which gives you plenty of time to get a lot of sightseeing done before they arrive. We did this in Athens and Olympia and saw almost everything before the first bus load descended on the site.
14) After a long flight and wading through customs you may not be in the best mood to rent a car or hail a taxi to get to your first nights abode. If we are spending the night in town before heading out to our rental home, we like to use tour operators. Why? Well, they are there waiting for you when you arrive; can generally fit everyone into a vehicle, including luggage; they tend to be more knowledgeable about your destination; and you know the price up front! There have been thousands of horror stories about taxis, tour operators tend not to have these problems. As always, do your research and find a tour operator that is reputable and there shouldn’t be any problems.
15) Adapter versus converter????? Well, first off an adapter is just that, it adapts your interface to fit a different one. It does not change the source input. A converter on the other hand, will not only adapt your interface to fit a different one, but will also change the input to be compatible. For example, if you are in England your appliance will need to operate on 240v, 50 cycles. If you are from North America, you will need to convert this voltage to use your appliances, and adapt the plug. If you use an adapter alone, probably going to have a real fast hairdryer for a very short time! Check before you go.
16) If you are flying a European carrier to a European country you fall under the EU Passenger Bill of Rights. Look it up!!! If you are delayed or your flight canceled for any reason, you may be eligible for compensation. When my son’s flight to Dublin was canceled by British Airways, he was rebooked on a flight for the following day and they awarded us 600.00EU for the inconvenience. Don’t be lazy, check it out and if you THINK you have a claim, file it and see.