|
My Travel Rules
1. Always fly open jaw...into one city and out of another
2. Never check luggage. Carry on only. 3. Non-stop only from Seattle to Europe 4. No less than 3 nights in any location. 5. Never go to Europe for less than 3 weeks. Please add your rules to the list :) |
My Rule:
Never insist on applying the same rules to every single trip. I never say never. (except that I've never had 3 weeks at a time in Europe.) |
Never turn down any opportunity to go anywhere for any amount of time!
Always eat the local fare! |
Open jaw does not always make sense. One could land in Paris, decide to see the Provence on the way to Venice and decide to see Switzerland on the way back to Paris.
I always take a picnic knife with me, and do not intend to buy one each time I am in Europe. So carry on would not work for me. If less than three nights in one place, driving the above mentioned itinerary would probably not work. Overnight stops are not all bad, as long as there are longer stops along the way. Not everyone has three weeks of vacation. One week can be sufficient as long as one limits the places visited. How many positive posts have we read by individuals who have spent just a week in Paris or London? |
And always drink the local wine.....
|
RULES!
We don't need no stinkin' rules... b-( |
Only travel to countries whose names start with A, B, C or a vowel; or whose name ends with "land"; or if it's an island; or a mountainous country; or if it is longer vertically on a map than it is horizontally. I'm mostly very firm on this rule but will consider exceptions on a case by case basis. |
If you don't bring a good map (and possibly a compass), you are not allowed to complain about getting lost.
And what Lorac said about the local wine...also applies to beer. DO NOT forget to pack antiperspirant, especially when visiting rural France (I will never live this one down). Don't ask a question in the local language if you're pretty sure you won't understand the answer. Lastly: a 22-inch roll-away plus a backpack are all I need. If it doesn't fit in those, it stays behind. |
Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.
Best wishes, Rex |
The longer you drive the less you see.
Don't be a slave to any schedule. Tip and thank the server. Tell the restaurant owner if you enjoyed your meal and how you appreciate good service. Before checking out of a room, make a thorough "sweep" of the place. I usually find little things I have forgotten. Take along a spare sink plug. Wear clean socks and underwear -- the rest can be "stretched." |
Clifton, LOL!
Folks, Janda just said these were HER rules, not that they should apply to everyone. I would have to put myself in the no-hard-and-fast-rules camp. Every trip is not different, but certainly there are so many different types of trips that I can't think of any rules that I have that would apply to all. Maybe one: Travel time should never exceed time spent actually there. No flying to Paris for the weekend for me. |
About the only hard and fast rule I can think of I'll make for myself is:
"Always have a good time". Other than that I think most rules are meant to be broken (like New Year's resolutions). About those comments you make: 1) Gee, if I wanted to fly to London for a week, I can't imagine why I'd go open jaw. Or if just doing Ireland and can't get a direct flight from Shannon, why would I prefer an open jaw over a round trip to Dublin, when I'll probably drive a loop anyway? 2) I could never ever fit my two months worth of travel gear into one carry on (unless I become one of those people who sneak on two that are both larger than you're supposed to be allowed. I do need a heavy sweater and warm jacket for the alps and dress clothes for the opera, and hiking boots, etc. Just not possible for me to narrow down that much and still look and feel like a normal human being. 3) Non-stops are great unless you're allowed a stopover on a FF ticket, then you get the benefit of an extra destination for free. 4) I've been to Verona several times and love it. But if I can get back there sometime for the opera (and not have it rained out) I'd only stay one night and be perfectly happy. And if ever going back by Mont St. Michel, I'd only stay one night. No definite 3 night rule for me, thank you. 5) Too bad you have such a rule. I see those American Airlines specials all the time where I can go for one week last minute from Miami to Paris or London for something like $199. I sure wouldn't let myself be talked out of that because of a silly 3 week rule. |
I am flexible, but basically do follow these rules mostly. If I got a fabulous deal to go to Europe for 2 weeks, I would consider it of course. But it would have to be a darn good deal. Everyone has things that work for them. I wasnt trying to start trouble. These are MY rules and they work for me.
|
In the immortal words of (Tom Lehrer and) Lobachevsky: Plagarize.
So herewith: Go placidly amid the glitches & errors & remember what peace there may be in DSL. As far as possible without surrender be on good terms with all message boards. Type your truth spelled properly and with grammatical correctness; and read others, even the dull & ignorant; they too have their story. As far as travel is concerned, my only hard and fast rule is use a clean toilet whenever you can. |
Three weeks? What country do you live in: France?
|
At last, Gardyloo, now I finally get your name -- guardy "loo". Always on the lookout for a clean toilet, huh?
|
Gardyloo, that's not a travel rule, that's a <i>life</i> rule. For me, it's "Never pass up a chance to go."
|
1] For packing light (the best invention since sliced bread) Pack Mate/Space bags which will double your baggage space.
2] Try to learn at least a bit of the language, it will serve you well. 3] Smile! even in the face of a f@#k-up then try to enjoy the ride. 4] Always wear a money belt, and use the hotel/room safe for valuables, and carry a xerox copy of your front passport page for ID. 5]Wear comfortable shoes, but not sneakers, 6] Most importantly, have FUN!! |
Always take half-full luggage to fill with goodies along the way!
|
<b>I am not alone.</b>
http://www.thebathroomdiaries.com |
Go only to places where they make good wines.
|
I have one rule I always follow:
Always have a Plan "B" (and maybe a "C" and "D"). |
Take old underwear and socks (unless it is your honeymoon) and throw them after wearing them.
2 pairs of jeans last 2 weeks. Never, ever, under any condition or situation wear the same shoes two days in a row. Never. Never, ever, wear a fanny pack. Take a back pack instead. Never take a huge map. If possible, never read a map on the street. If it is a chain restaurant, you should think about it. If it is an American chain restaurant, it probably has a clean toilet. Never pass the opportunity to use a clean toilet. Never. It is probably safer to eat at an ugly little cart selling food if it is surrounded with people. If you don't try it, you'll never know. If you like it, you'll have discovered something new to like. If you didn't, be glad that you don't have to do it again. |
1. Get local currency at the airport ATM's when you arrive. Use ATM's to get money throughout.
2. Use your credit card as much as possible to save cash and get good rates. 3. If a connection from the USA to Europe is necessary, make the connection in Europe. Wouldn't you rather be stuck in Munich than Charlotte? 4. Try as many pastries as possible. 5. Stay in centrally located hotels. 6. Stick to your airline alliance. You will acquire miles and they will appreciate it. 7. Hold tight to your wallet. 8. Pack smart but bring a lot of luggage. You'll be sorry when you don't have something you need. 9. Bring an extra empty bag folde flat in your luggage. You will shop. 10. When is Rome... |
The only rule I ever had was not to go all the way overseas for less than 2 weeks. But rules are made to be broken and I grabbed a 'too good to pass up' deal for one week in London at the end of January. To heck with rules!! I'm excited about going for one week!
|
Always travel with the idea that you will return. This way you can go on short trips. For example one week in Paris then two weeks another time in the provinces.
|
Auntgrapes beat me to that rule. My rules are to learn how to say "do you speak english", please/thank you/your'e welcome, basic greetings, count to 10, how to order a beer/wine, where is the toilet and other basic words in the language of the country I am visiting. I know that I am not using perfect pronounciation but people appreciate the attempt and most likely will respond to me in English.
|
Try to travel with people on short and inexpensive trips before you commit to be with them night and day on long and expensive trips.
|
1) Food: If it's the local specialty; try it and don't ask what's in it as long other customers aren't falling over with food posioning.
2) Schedules: Don't get too attached. Breathe and be flexible. 3) Flights: Drink plenty of water. Stretch and breathe. Try to sleep. (Make note to ask other fodorites how they sleep on an airplane?) 4) Enjoy everything, laugh and have fun. Just as I do at home. |
Never EVER travel with your mother-in-law.
|
Patrick
Gardyloo and I had a wee discussion about his name before. You'll find the details at http://members.lycos.co.uk/peterdyson/new_page_28.htm. Do I have rules? 1. Go if you can 2. Don't sweat the details 3. Trust people 4. Stop and smell the roses |
Since I'm a cheapskate, but still want to enjoy myself, here is my main rule:
1. If I want to visit an attraction or play or concert in the city I am visiting, I will do so regardless of price. The cost will be only a tiny fraction of my total trip price anyway. (This doesn't mean that I go hog-wild and get 100-pound seats. It does mean that I make sure don't skimp on the cultural attractions that are one of my primary reasons for visiting.) |
Allways have a cunning plan when on visit!
|
1. Never follow anyone e;se's rules for travel, especially after you've seen what they look like and how they act at one of the Fodors "get togethers."
2. Never, EVER move to Seattle where apparently there are rules out the wazoooo. |
JonJon, was that last post a joke or are you without coffee yet, and being a bit nasty?
|
Accept that it is occasionally more efficient to let people other than oneself set the rules.
Have a budget for mistakes and ripoffs. Be wary of pride, it rarely delivers value for the money or effort it demands. |
I always send postcards home to friends and family from wherever I go...It is a good inexpensive souvenir and many have told me over the years how much they were touched I always thought of them and sent a picture of where I was. I found in my Dad's kitchen drawer what seemed like 100 of them I have sent him over the years....I had no idea he would save them all...
|
Within reason (and budget), buy anything and everything that appeals to you, because you will kick yourself later if you don't.
|
Hi Janda,
It would be inconvenient for me to follow your rule 3, becuse I live in Georgia. |
I was wondering about rule #3 too. From my home airport (RDU) I can only fly to London directly. Nothing against London, but if I want to go to Germany, do you suggest I move to Charlotte?
My rules: - It's your vacation, do what you want. - Wear comfortable shoes. |
| All times are GMT -8. The time now is 10:09 AM. |