How do you organize yourself on vacation?
Aug 25th, 2014, 03:55 PM
#102
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Well, Suze--
It all depends on whether one has to be the major Trip Planner for others or not.
Back to my last point--
--Traveling by myself: no plans.
<i>By myself, I would be in total explore mode. I take time to get awake in the morning anyway. A guidebook over coffee is all I would need.</i>
--Traveling with my youngest, the quickie-decision kid: No plans needed, but basic structure welcome.
<i>We two will be just fine, rain or shine.</i>
--Traveling with anyone besides just me myself or this specific kid: Planning needed.
<i>My husband and the other kid are by anyone else's view darn easy travelers, but they have far more opinions than they think they do (ahem...does the term "passive-aggressive" come to mind?)</i>
And I'm thinking that a responsibility for others could be true for most here on this thread.
When traveling with more than one or two, these are the basics of life:
--Cancellations or variations of pre-arranged game plans on the spot--EASY
--Creating a game plan with group discussion on the spot---NOT!!!!
It all depends on whether one has to be the major Trip Planner for others or not.
Back to my last point--
--Traveling by myself: no plans.
<i>By myself, I would be in total explore mode. I take time to get awake in the morning anyway. A guidebook over coffee is all I would need.</i>
--Traveling with my youngest, the quickie-decision kid: No plans needed, but basic structure welcome.
<i>We two will be just fine, rain or shine.</i>
--Traveling with anyone besides just me myself or this specific kid: Planning needed.
<i>My husband and the other kid are by anyone else's view darn easy travelers, but they have far more opinions than they think they do (ahem...does the term "passive-aggressive" come to mind?)</i>
And I'm thinking that a responsibility for others could be true for most here on this thread.
When traveling with more than one or two, these are the basics of life:
--Cancellations or variations of pre-arranged game plans on the spot--EASY
--Creating a game plan with group discussion on the spot---NOT!!!!
Aug 28th, 2014, 12:29 PM
#105
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Love the ideas on this thread!
I am a tech combo person as well and upload important documents in the cloud. I also take all of the paper items that I need to bring with me (itinerary, list of common phrases, hotel/flight reservations, etc.) and take it to a FedEx/UPS type place before we leave (very close to the day we leave in case things change) and have it spiral bound so that it is approximately 4x5. I have it printed double sided with at least two blank pages (so we can write notes). I add a cover page, they add a hard back sheet and a clear cover and viola, I have not only my needed documentation, but it makes a great souvenir when we are done so we can say "what was the name of that restaurant we went to" ten years after the trip.
We had an issue with our flight on our last trip to Italy and I just handed the book over to the flight attendant to look in to the issue. She showed it to the other flight attendants and the pilot, they loved it.
I am a tech combo person as well and upload important documents in the cloud. I also take all of the paper items that I need to bring with me (itinerary, list of common phrases, hotel/flight reservations, etc.) and take it to a FedEx/UPS type place before we leave (very close to the day we leave in case things change) and have it spiral bound so that it is approximately 4x5. I have it printed double sided with at least two blank pages (so we can write notes). I add a cover page, they add a hard back sheet and a clear cover and viola, I have not only my needed documentation, but it makes a great souvenir when we are done so we can say "what was the name of that restaurant we went to" ten years after the trip.
We had an issue with our flight on our last trip to Italy and I just handed the book over to the flight attendant to look in to the issue. She showed it to the other flight attendants and the pilot, they loved it.
Sep 2nd, 2014, 08:33 AM
#106
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I do not own a smart phone and print a simple, 1-page MS Excel itinerary for reference.
I keep tickets and a copy of the hotel information in a folder in my carry-on which I keep locked whenever not in immediate use.
I also keep 2 paper copies of all items packed in each bag - 1 with me in my carry-on and 1 in each bag. I find that this lets the inspectors know what is in the bag and that I expect these items to remain there after inspection. I have had no loss of items since we began this process.
Personally I do not recommend relying too much on electronics for travel as much can go wrong (no service/service interruption, large roaming fees (happened to a colleague), water log, breakage, battery issues, loss, etc.).
I keep tickets and a copy of the hotel information in a folder in my carry-on which I keep locked whenever not in immediate use.
I also keep 2 paper copies of all items packed in each bag - 1 with me in my carry-on and 1 in each bag. I find that this lets the inspectors know what is in the bag and that I expect these items to remain there after inspection. I have had no loss of items since we began this process.
Personally I do not recommend relying too much on electronics for travel as much can go wrong (no service/service interruption, large roaming fees (happened to a colleague), water log, breakage, battery issues, loss, etc.).
Sep 8th, 2014, 07:30 AM
#107
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I'm going to reiterate what mbi114 said, which is the advice in yesterday's newspaper travel section: print out your travel info in case your electronic device doesn't function. It may take a day or two, but you still need to collect the car, find the hotel, etc.
I don't go to the extreme of having two copies, however--just one in the carry-on.
I don't go to the extreme of having two copies, however--just one in the carry-on.
Sep 9th, 2014, 03:21 AM
#108
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And never leave home without the public toilet survival kit.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00...JOI7CIKO4HTD3M
It's refillable, too.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00...JOI7CIKO4HTD3M
It's refillable, too.
Sep 28th, 2014, 09:06 AM
#110
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Regards as to electronics:
When traveling as two or three with three electronics or more, the chances of total shutdown is probably zero.
We rely only on wireless connection and our on-site cheapie GMS phone--and we can live quite well without.
And I am a total "belts and suspenders" person. I still carry hard copies of e-tix and hotel reservations but...
I have yet to stay at a hotel without an internet connection in the past five years. Should every single appliance we carry not be able to connect to the internet, the hotel can. I only need one password. I only need my flight confirmation code(s).
Again, I LOVE my one-page Excel/Word trip summary, but I'm going to do my best over time to reduce the paper I carry.
When traveling as two or three with three electronics or more, the chances of total shutdown is probably zero.
We rely only on wireless connection and our on-site cheapie GMS phone--and we can live quite well without.
And I am a total "belts and suspenders" person. I still carry hard copies of e-tix and hotel reservations but...
I have yet to stay at a hotel without an internet connection in the past five years. Should every single appliance we carry not be able to connect to the internet, the hotel can. I only need one password. I only need my flight confirmation code(s).
Again, I LOVE my one-page Excel/Word trip summary, but I'm going to do my best over time to reduce the paper I carry.
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