Posts Tagged ‘Travel Tips’
It’s downright horrifying to realize you don’t have your bags when you arrive in a new city. The logistics of traveling is complicated enough than to do it without your luggage, but hey, it happens.
The first thing to remember is not to panic. Take it from me, you’re less likely to make good decisions when you’re freaking out. Fortunately, there are tried and true systems in place to locate lost luggage – the airlines have been losing bags since commercial flight began and usually know just what to do.
The first thing you need to do when you realize your bag isn’t coming down the chute is to visit the airport’s baggage claims office. Every airport should have one located in the baggage claim area.
Credit: SashaW
Without meaning to burden your already huge travel to-do list, today I’ve compiled 101 things to remember to “do” before you leave for your big trip. Read through, see if you’ve forgotten anything, or perhaps add them to your own list. Some of these are purely existential, some are practical, but take it from this traveler—all are important for a happy, healthy, trouble-free trip.
These are listed in no particular order and while they could probably use a sentence or two of explication I’ve left them as they are, open for interpretation and intentionally brief so that you can decide on your own how to use them.
So here they are, 101 important things to do in the months, weeks and days ahead of your travels:
If you’re not independently wealthy or a skilled freelancer you’ll likely be forced to sit and watch the slow obliteration of your savings account as you travel around the world. The only real way to combat it and be a successful traveler is to budget your money effectively while on the road. It seems easy on paper – just form a budget and stick to it. Unfortunately, the reality is that a theoretical budget might not cover everything. Unexpected situations are as common as a Bangkok tuk-tuk and as you crunch your daily numbers you’ll find your budget creaking like a leaning tower.
To help illuminate this problem, I’ve listed 10 annoying ways money drains out of your pockets when you’re traveling – and how to stop the bleeding. I do this in hopes that it will extend your trip, or else make your return to normal hometown banking bearable.
Nothing in life is to be feared. It is only to be understood. ~ Marie Curie
The world’s a big and crazy place, no doubt about it. And things happen from time to time that seep into your consciousness (media is, for the most part, everywhere) and if the event occurred in a place you’ll soon be traveling, the knee jerk reaction is of course to fear it, to worry about it and plan around it so you can skirt any potential financial or physical trauma. Don’t worry, it’s natural.
Unfortunately, this natural human tendency also keeps us from doing some of the most rewarding things in life for rather nonsensical reasons. Going out of your way to avoid a danger that comes to you already slanted and sensationalized with little realistic context is, I’m afraid, a little absurd.
While a taxi ride from the airport in a new city may be one of the most exciting parts of your arrival – you’re almost guaranteed a hair-whitening, eye-opening, heart-stopping gallop – unfortunately taxis can be as expensive and potentially dangerous as they are thrilling, depending on where you are.
They can also be an unexpected budget-killer if you’re not careful. Not to mention if any of the drivers decide you’re naïve enough to pay double. And since getting into the city from the airport is something you just need to do, alternatives I’m sure are as welcome as a breath of fresh air.
Below are 10 cities that have great public alternatives that will save you from the inevitable “taxi ride from hell”.
*All prices are in USD.
Getting to and around northern/northwestern Europe is a difficult to nearly impossible feat at the moment with inactive airports, train bottlenecks, unavailable rental cars and a traveler’s malaise darker than the ash cloud that threatens your plans. Even if you manage to get there, expensive hotels, crowds and unfavorable exchange rates will only push you closer to the brink. But if you simply adore Europe and don’t want to miss its charms simply because of unfortunate geography, I’ve assembled a few great alternatives to keep that European sizzle inside your veins.
Here are the 7 best Europe-like places in the world that won’t force you through a volcanic zone to get there:
Keeping up with best information on the web can be difficult as balancing a pyramid of champagne flutes on a sword held between your teeth. To help in the act, here are the top travel posts I’ve been reading this week.
In no particular order:
If you’re someone who thinks you can’t do anything fun for free, let me be the first to tell you otherwise. While the activities may not be as white-knuckle inducing as zip-lining across a jungle canopy or tumbling down a hill inside a giant plastic ball, there are a host of different things you can do that are completely free of charge and will make you smile at your good fortune for finding them.
Here are some of the best free enterprises to be had on any standard round the world trip. Take THAT budget woes!
Image credit: Ghost of Kuji
Working with travelers over the years helping set up their trips-of-a-lifetime, I’ve managed to pinpoint some of the more problematic issues they subject themselves to before they come to us. Most of the time their research is been spot on and the trip looks wonderful – they have realistic goals and are honest about their expectations. Other times a little work is needed to get a solid, cost-effective itinerary, one that won’t end up driving them crazy in the long run.
In order to avoid itinerary problems before they come to the fore, here are a few of common mistakes people make during their trip planning stages and how to see yourself out of them:
Image credit: mason bryant
Ah, the 21st century. It doesn’t seem possible we made it through the stone ages of the nineties without the online conveniences we currently have. But we did, and now here’s a list of great travel tools for the modern international traveler.
Make your traveling life a little easier and bookmark these 10 essential websites:
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