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 &quot;Never pass up a chance to go.&quot;

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