Lets Go Traveling

Travel off to distant land, visiting strange places, experiencing new things and eating exotic foods. Ya Right! A trip to the in-laws could expose you to all these things too. When and where ever you go there are a number of important things today’s traveler should know. The following information is presented in hopes that you may avoid some of those little discomforts that can change an easy trip in to difficult one.

·        Following 9-11, travel has drastically changed. If you plan to fly or travel beyond the boarders, you will need, I repeat you will need a pass port. More and more airlines have e-checks. The first document they ask for is a pass port. They also accept a credit card. Personally I prefer a passport. Keep in mind passenger list are screened by big brother and a pass port is the quickest way to avoid confusing your name with some one who may be on some watch list for having a cold sore and sneezing on a flight attendant. As for crossing over the boarder pass ports are now a must. Please don’t argue with anyone that you never needed on before, now you do.

·        Using a Travel Agent: Finding a good travel agent isn’t always easy. Call or travel around to several agents. Try to find one who has your best interest at heart. If I don’t get a good vibe form the agent, I keep looking. A good agent will take the time to listen to your plans. They should not to too quick to offer you an all inclusive package. They should also offer helpful suggestions that you had not thought of. As the agent outlines your trip ask lots of questions and ask for brochures that back up what they are telling you. About two weeks before you are to depart, you should receive your tickets and itinerary, verify everything. Call those toll free numbers and verify everything yourself. Even the best of agents misunderstands your intentions or makes a mistake. Fixing problems before you leave is always best. Travel Insurance can add two, three, four hundred dollars to your trip. It may seam like a lot of money.  But stop and think how much you will be spending on your trip. The cost is well worth the protection you get and the knowledge that if your dream vacation is even slightly disrupted your insurance can ease your mind. A true story-recently my sister was taking a cruse to a warm climate. Her and her husband both lost a suitcase. They were unloaded at the wrong hotel. Even knowing were the suitcases were nothing they did was able to ever retrive the items. My sister lost 8 bathing suits in that one suitcase of hers, plus lots of other things. Their trip insurance covered everything but the inconvienance. One final thing about trip insurance. If  you think the price is high shop around. Your credit card company, your auto travel club, travel magazine, and the internet are good sources for prices. One final idea. You can always us the internet or call the currier direct. However, if you haven’t traveled for a while or don’t know the travel route problems could come up. Remember all the details are your responsibility when making your own plans or someone else makes them for you.

·        What to take. The business traveler knows exactly what they need on their trips. They’ve done it so often that probably have two bags. The one with them and other at home pack and ready.  However for us that travel to a different place at a different time of year the big question is what to take? My first suggestion is to lay everything out on the bed that you think you want to take. Do this with a partner or friend. They may see something you overlooked,  like not packing you tux pants for a formal night. Yah, I did that.  Once you have the bed completely covered divide everything into two piles. This is important in two ways. First, if things are equally divided and one suitcase is lost you still have half of everything you need. Secondly, now here is the best information I can give anyone. One half of everything that is on that bed you will not wear. You don’t need to take it. Leave it home. Has anyone figured out why my sister needed eight bathing suits yet?  In today’s travel world there are new rules. Many years ago the airlines would allow you two bags of 75 pounds each. I had 100 pound bags go with no questions asked. Later the weight was lowered to 60 pounds, and today you are allowed 50 pounds. What changed the most is that all airlines weigh each bag. I have been charge overweight  charge  for a bag that was 53 pounds.

·        Choosing the right size of bag. If you ever stood in an airline check in line you have seen them. The little women who had a pile of bags nearly as tall as she was and it took a forklift to move the pile all at once. You might go to the gym every day but a work out with a huge pile of baggage can exhaust you before the fun begins. Don’t do it. If you have to have two checked bags keep them small enough so you can handle the on your own. You can get bags that will connect together so you only have one handle to pull through the airport. You could depend on there being enough Red Caps or Porters to assist you at terminals and ports. However, when you need them the most the passenger traffic is the heaviest and finding timely help can be impossible.