Travel Tale No. 13 - Volume 3 - Travel
Tips
 Despite
rising airfares, higher luggage prices, and more inconvenience to the traveler,
some of us still travel constantly for business. I am a believer in gadgets or
anything that will make your traveling more comfortable to avoid stress. Here
are some travel tips I learned the hard way.
Whether you are flying to Europe or going on a cruise, it is a good idea to scan
your documents, airline tickets, cruise tickets, insurance forms, credit cards,
medical information, etc., and email all this to yourself. If you lose your
luggage, or if your bag is stolen or misplaced, you can go to an internet cafe,
or the ship's library, and log on to your email account and print copies for
emergency use, as you will have all the id numbers. In some foreign countries
English is not spoken, so it is easier to just hand the officials the papers. I
had an unpleasant experience in Greece when they grabbed all my bags, including
my handbag, and whisked them off to the wrong ship which went to France. I
couldn't prove who I was!
When making your hotel accommodations, prior to the actual booking, ask the
reservationist what the cancellation policy is. Some charge you one night's stay
if you cancel, but others will surprise you and charge your card without
notification. Foreign hotels will put a guarantee on your credit card for the
amount of the entire stay. They cannot process this charge until you sign out,
but pre-authorization will apply against your credit limit. This happened to me
in Paris, where the rental car company blocked my card for $5,000, and failed to
tell me. The same was done with our hotel, so when I tried to charge a fifty euro
sweater, it was denied, when I thought I had a sizeable balance, but it had been
consumed the first day! These charges were not removed for 30 days; luckily, I
had other cards with me.
Also, you will be charged a 1% foreign transaction fee on your credit card
charges and ATM withdrawals. Call your bank before you leave the USA and ask if
they charge more. You will get a shock when you receive your bill as these
charges really amount up; they can be as high as several hundred dollars. To
save money get traveler's checks and change your money to foreign currency at
the airport before you leave the USA. It is very expensive to travel to Europe
these days, as there are many hidden costs; so calculate about 20% more than
your actual budget to be on the safe side.
Remember that a 15% or higher, gratuity will be included in your restaurant
bill, so it is not necessary to leave a tip. One of the least expensive ways to
vacation is to go on a cruise where everything is all-inclusive. I find you get
the best value for your money.
While shorts and tee-shirts may be acceptable at home, the same may not be true
for your overseas destination. Never wear shorts after 4:00 PM. They are not
permitted in ships' dining rooms and some foreign hotels. Ladies, it is best to
wear a skirt or slacks while visiting museums and especially churches and
mosques. I was horrified to see the way people dressed to visit The Vatican. You
will need a scarf to cover your head while visiting mosques.
Be aware that touring companies now may impose stricter baggage limitations than
the airlines. Wear your bulky clothes and coats on board a plane to maximize
luggage space and minimize the weight, as you will be charged excess baggage to
fly to Europe. Take a collapsible tote bag that packs flat in your handbag so
you can stick in snacks, cell phones, etc. When it is time to return, you can
use it for carrying on board your souvenirs. You can buy a new chip for your
cell phone in Europe and also purchase a telephone card to later "top up" the
minutes.
The worst thing in the world to pack are running shoes as they take up so much
room. I have seen people tie them on to the outside of their carry-ons, but I
think that is tacky, so I pack mine in a plastic bag at the bottom of my
suitcase, and then use a pack-it compressor plastic bag for my sweaters and roll
all the air out. They cost about $20 for a set.
Travel with an extra toothbrush covered in toothpaste and place a cap on it.
Stick it in a baggy. If you are going to an area where water is a problem and
forget and run your brush under the faucet, toss it, and use this spare.
Always have a small flashlight with you. I nearly broke my neck in parsimonious
Scotland while trying to find the light switch in the hallway of a dark hotel. I
had to use Braille to touch the numbers on the doors to find my room number. "We
have to save electricity, you see!" Was their response to my American complaint.
Make sure you put labels inside your luggage as well as outside with colored
ribbons on the handle to easily identify you bag amongst the sea of black
suitcases. I just bought a luggage locator which ties onto the handle of my
suitcase which lights up and makes a noise when I press the other gadget on my
key chain.
Mix and match your clothing to save space. Choose a neutral color such as black
slacks and add colorful tops. Shoes are also a pain to pack. Fill them with
socks, belts, and other small items. You can now buy a reversible black/brown
belt with a plastic buckle you can wear through security.
Buy pill cases at the drug store to put your earrings and chains in the tiny
compartments. Also, keep your medicines in their original bottles for easy
identification, or you can spend hours at a foreign airport trying to explain to
somebody who barely speaks English what they are. Take postcards from your home
state with you as they make great icebreakers. Photos of kids and dogs also work
wonders for a sour face.
Get used to the idea that not everybody likes Americans. So don't make a target
of yourself with your tee-shirts. For safety reasons, blend in with the locals.
Do not carry your wallet in your back pocket unless you want to lose it.
Instead, wear a pouch around your neck or a body belt to carry your passport and
money. This will give you hands free movement. Some hotels require you to leave
your passport with them as a means to secure you will pay your bill. Some
passports have a radio frequency tag to be read by security scanners at airports
and retail stores. Certain stores will ask for your passport when paying with a
credit card. We were asked for our passports at the Baden-Baden Casino, in
Germany, but we had left them at the hotel. Since it was a long walk back, we
opted out, which probably saved us a great deal of money! Be vigilant, do not
let your identification out of your sight for a moment; tell the concierge you
will wait at the desk until they do what they have to do, but you are not moving
until you get your documents back in your hands.
 Don't
forget a bunch of Band-Aids. Your poor feet will need them for the blisters from
walking on cobble stone streets. If you travel by train, pack light with a
carry-on with wheels only. The trains leave on time, sometimes without warning,
and you can't struggle down the tiny steps while people are pushing to get on.
When traveling with a companion, pack a change of clothing in each other's
suitcase, so if yours is lost, you will have a change of underwear. Once, when
we were on a cruise ship my husband opened, what he thought was his suitcase
(since nowadays they are not locked) and found a soldier's uniform, and the
other poor guy, ended up with his swim suit and tuxedo. The name on the black
suitcase was coincidentally the same. Same name, wrong itinerary.
I never travel without large zip lock bags and rubber bands. I find them useful
for storing makeup, damp or soiled clothing, washcloths, wet shoes, receipts,
etc. Slippers with rubber soles or shower shoes are convenient for walking
around your room or the beach. Pack a compact umbrella as the weather in Europe
is changeable, especially in the UK, and it also serves as a weapon. Once I had
to use it to push it into the ribs of a guy who was standing too close to me in
a crowded elevator. Take a pair of extra glasses in case you break yours. You
will need to be able to read the receipts you sign!
Whenever possible, store your valuables in the hotel safe, instead of your room
safe, as some insurance companies will not cover you if the items are stored in
the room's safe. As far as insurance is concerned, I bought it once and it paid
off, but it will add an extra $150 to your ticket and they have many exclusions
for not paying you.
Don't assume your clothes will dry overnight should you hang them up over the
bathtub. I found myself having to wear damp slacks on a cold day. Some hotel
keys activate the lights when you unlock your room, but a credit card magnetic
strip might also work.
Travel with earplugs to keep your sanity and block out a constant
conversationalist telling you about every medical problem she has; or the
unwanted noise of a banging door on a cruise ship. Once, in a hotel in Rome, the
air conditioner was so noisy I couldn't fall asleep; so I was glad I had the
earplugs with me.
Always find out where the nearest American Embassy is located and keep the
address with you. In case of trouble, just show it to the taxi driver. Most of
you will probably take tours and feel a certain amount of security, but some of
you are more independent minded, and like to travel solo; however, these days
sticking together for security purposes is a good idea. Once, my brother was
lost in a crowded street in Bangkok, and the only way he found his way back to
the hotel was with a box of matches he had in his pocket with their address on
it, which he showed to the taxi driver.
I find that proper planning weeks in advance makes for a more enjoyable trip.
Prepare a check list and keep a small note book with you, because you always
forget the obvious, such as sunglasses or a handkerchief. For example, while
taking the train from Rome to
Florence, my ears were popping while speeding through tunnels. So I made a note
to bring with me chewing gum and earplugs for the return trip. There is nothing
worse than being in a foreign country without aspirin when you have a splitting
headache, and remember, everyone smokes!
If you have any travel tips I'd love to hear from you to share with my readers.
Bon voyage!
Alinka Zyrmont
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