Let’s Travel

One thing that every traveler or frequent flyer must consider is the state of things upon your arrival at your destination. Especially if it is your first time in that country or city, you must always make the effort to do a little research about the place. Try to at least map out in your mind the direction of key areas like big hotels and airports. This will help you with basic direction.

If you are planning to get dropped off at the airport, be sure you’ve made the necessary arrangements—either talk to (and continually remind) the friend who’s dropping you off or make reservations with the shuttle service.

Put your airline on speed dial or add it as a new contact so you’re first to rebook if your flight gets canceled. On a tight travel day, this preparation can mean the difference between rebooking a new flight 45 minutes later versus tomorrow.

Also, if you’re planning to take Spot or Tabby along on your trip, be sure you know how to fly safely with a pet

Remember that not all hotels and motels allow you to keep pets in your room. Asking the hotel first would sure come in handy, convenient, not to mention sparing you of being not allowed to get inside the hotel. You wouldn’t want that hustle.

Once you are there, remember to inform the management that your pet is with you, and always place the “do not disturb” sign on the door when you are out without your pet. If you have a carrier or crate, consider keeping the pet in the carrier during your absence. You don’t want to be charged extra for a broken vase or a torn sheet. If the hotels you are planning to stay at also have their own pet hotels, it wouldn’t just be a treat for you but most especially to your pet as well. A happy and relaxed can be very helpful for you who have some other things to do other than just play along with Cuddles.

Remember to respect your hosts too. Do not allow animals to sleep in the bed, or on furniture. Just make things as neat and lean as possible.

Three of the most common health problems that you may experience when traveling are jet lag, altitude sickness, and diarrhea.

When you fly across time zones, the differing amounts of light can change your internal body clock, resulting in a condition known as jet lag. Jet lag may cause some symptoms that are bummers on a fun trip, including upset stomach, insomnia, and tiredness.

There are some things you can do to combat jet lag; for example, if you’re traveling from west to east, you should stay out of the sun until the day after your arrival. If you’re flying from east to west, go for a brisk walk as soon as possible after you arrive.

Altitude sickness is caused by dry air, a decrease in oxygen, and low barometric pressure when you travel to a higher altitude than you’re used to. As a result, you may have problems, such as headaches, dehydration, and shortness of breath. Some people are affected at 5,000 feet (1,524 meters), but others aren’t affected until they reach altitudes of 10,000 feet (3,048 meters) or more. Find out what altitude you’re traveling to before you go to see if altitude sickness could be a problem.

The best prevention for altitude sickness is to gradually increase your altitude every day to get used to it. If that isn’t possible, a drug known as acetazolamide can help relieve and even prevent symptoms of altitude sickness. If you think that you might get altitude sickness, talk with your doctor before you leave home.

The topic of diarrhea may seem gross, but it can be a serious problem. Traveler’s diarrhea, known as turista, often occurs when a foreign type of bacteria enters your digestive tract, usually when you eat contaminated food or water. The best way to prevent turista is to be very careful of the food you eat and the water you drink on the road.

1. If you are traveling with someone, pack half your clothes in his bag, and carry half his in your luggage. Then if one bag gets lost, you at least have half your things.
2. Wear or carry your bulky clothes on the flight if possible, rather than packing them, to create extra space in your bag for the trip.
3. Make a list of items you are taking and check them off as each item is packed.
4. Insert your name and address inside your baggage.
5. Put liquids in plastic containers, not glass. They aren’t as heavy and are not as likely to break. And then place those containers inside plastic zipper bags.
6. For fewest wrinkles, it is best to lay clothing out on bed in layers, one on top of the other, and fold to fit in bag. At the folds, place stockings, underwear, whatever, to prevent a crease at that point. It’s good too, to fold all blouses in one bundle and slip in a plastic bag. Then, fold all pants and slip them in another plastic bag. Do the same with any other items you want kept wrinkle-free. For some reason, the plastic bags keeps clothes more wrinkle-free.
7. Put small things in the toes and heels of your shoes.
8. Place shoes at the bottom of the case where the hinges are. They will stay in place and not shift clothing around by their weight. In fact, all heavy items should be placed there.
9. Don’t roll belts; place them just inside walls of your bags, running around the circumference. They will take less room this way.
10. Less room is used if cosmetics, medications, etc., are placed in a zipper plastic bag and then transferred to regular cosmetic bag (which you have folded and placed in the bag) after you arrive at your destination.
11. Shoes should be packed in shoe mittens or an old pair of socks to protect other clothes from being soiled.

Do you have your travel insurance?

Many people assume their travel insurance covers them while they are outside of their home country. But they do not realize that they need new or additional coverage to protect them against things like medical evacuations, sudden and unexpected emergencies, terrorism, etc.

Be proactive and research your insurance needs before you travel outside of your home country.

When you are planning a vacation, you may automatically think of taking along with your family and checking into a comfortable hotel.  With a wide range of flight, hotel, car rental packages out there, it’s difficult to make a sensible selection.  And in the long run, you can often get the best vacation deals by going that way.  Still, there are other lodging selections you might wish to explore.

Vacation rentals for one offer many amenities that majority of hotels do not.  Usually owned by regular owners, vacation rentals tend to give you full kitchens and multiple bedrooms.  They’re available everywhere you might wish to stay too.

A lot of these rental homes are set back from the busy streets and thoroughfares where hotels dominate (instead of a condo adjacent to Vegas casinos, maybe you’d prefer a house a few blocks away with a fenced yard and a private swimming pool).

One final issue that I would want to mention is the overall ambiance of vacation rentals versus hotels. With hotels (especially big chains), you get… pretty much similar thing no matter which part of the world you are visiting.  This can be good for those who do not like changes, but if you want to stay somewhere that embraces the culture of the local area, you’re more likely to find that in a vacation rental.

There are pros and cons for both hotels and vacation rentals.  I would prefer vacation rentals myself but each have their advantages depending on your preferences.  Make sure you do your research before deciding where you want to spend your vacation.

1. Using a carry on with wheels similar to the ones the flight crews use can really come in handy. A carry on is sufficient on most trips and as you don’t have to check in your luggage, worry about losing a bag and don’t have to wait around for the luggage to be unloaded.
   Be aware airlines are enforcing the carry on regulations. So be sure your carry on is within 9 X 14 X 22 inches.
2. If you are checking luggage, make sure that the city shown on the tag matches your final destination. There have been times when the wrong tag has been attached and the bags went to that destination. And remove all old tags.
3. Also, if you are checking luggage (which is not recommended as much as possible), tie a piece of bright-colored yarn or place something distinctive on your bag so it will be easy to identify as it goes round and round on the carousel.
4. An extra folded flight bag takes very little room. But it comes in handy on your way home when you have more to carry than you can place in your luggage.(Just pull it out, and there’s another bag.) Fold it and place at bottom of your luggage for trip over.
5. Lock your luggage to avoid accidental openings due to rough handling or cabin pressure and carry the keys on your person.

It is usually not safe to drink the water.

The water is safe to the locals who are used to it. This doesn’t matter if you’re a resident of Ukraine of the UK - to residents the water is safe, but not to travelers. All water contains different sets of microbes and mineral deposits, even in the US.

If you aren’t used to a country’s drinking water, then you may get sick just because it is different. Be safe, buy bottled water cheap at the supermarket.

An item that’s invaluable when making long, night flights is an inflatable neck cushion or pillow. It takes practically no room when collapsed, but makes it so much easier to sleep. Also, try to carry an eye shade and ear plugs for sleeping.

When waiting in line or sitting in the airport (or anywhere else, for that matter), always have the straps to your carry on luggage wrapped around an arm or a leg. Then they won’t disappear without your knowledge. Do this suggestion to the extreme if you think you are in a questionable area. You can even straddle your large bags when you feel necessary. Or at least have them touching your leg so you would know if they were moved.

When you reach your seat on boarding a plane, MOVE OUT OF THE AISLE immediately. From there you can stow your bag in the overhead bin. If not, wait until the aisle clears. You might want to avoid problems with people especially on long trips.

Being organized is a must, especially in keeping track of your expenses.

While in any country that you can’t read the language and you are using your charge card to get the best currency rate, write on the charge slip right away. Include the amount, items, date, and place of purchase so you can read it when the statement comes at the end of the month. This makes for a lot easier bookkeeping. Also, many times the ink is so faint, you can’t read what it says in any language.