orgy7

If traveling too some countries try checking out rates for apartments some offer 1 week deals for the cost of 1 night in a reguler hotel.. some luxury apartment have kitchens and swimming pools.. <BR><BR>

Cam

Go with the flow and try to keep a positive attitude -- don't let the "bumps in the road" (or even the potholes) ruin your trip.<BR>Take good walking shoes and change them midway through the day.<BR>Don't rush -- slow down and meander, people-watch, enjoy the moment. Don't plan every minute of every day.<BR>Don't take something that you can't replace if lost or stolen.<BR>Be kind to your travel companion and yourself -- backrubs at the end of a long day of sightseeing, bubble baths, champagne back in your room, little indulgences.<BR>Keep a journal detailing the sights you see, your impressions, fabulous meals, etc.<BR>

Rex

A tip I can never remember to do. And it will take a critical mass of people trying it, to make it work.<BR><BR>from http://www.travel-board.com/index.php?board=2;action=display;threadid=316<BR>< BR>I never think about this until it's too late - - after passing through passport control, and twiddling my thumbs at the airport gate.<BR><BR>But why don't we get rid of our last few euros right at the airport by standing near the gate of arriving passengers? Why use the bank as a middle man? Departing passengers should simply stand outside the arriving passengers area with euros in an out stretched hand - - and then exchange with arriving passengers one for one for US dollars.<BR><BR>We never think to do this when we are departing.<BR><BR>Anyone ever tried such a thing?<BR><BR>I'd be interested to hear about any such experiences - - and especially if you try it as a result of my posting the suggestion here.<BR><BR>Best wishes,<BR><BR>Rex<BR>

sandi

Research! Read anything you can get your hands on about your destination. It is so much more rewarding to see all those beautiful sights when you know some of the history behind them.<BR>Learn to use the public transportation as soon as you get there. It is cheaper, more convenient and a lot of the time more fun than taking a taxi.<BR>Take as little as possible. You will never see these people again so who cares if you wear the same outfit two days in a row? I take a backpack full of pre-ziplocked underwear, socks, basic hygiene items, and a sweater or jacket. <BR>You will feel more freedom knowing that you can just pick up and go with what you have on your back and a small duffel bag.

Eric

The more you try to see the less you end up seeing.

xxx

<BR><BR>Buy food and wine in markets and have picnics.

Faina

I can add: leave at home anything you can't afford to lose: like expensive jewelery (or the husband <BR><BR>Do your homework: the more time you spend searching the internet and reading books the more time you'll save on vacation.

dontforget

contraceptives

Barb

Print out train, bus, ferry, schedules from Internet before you leave, saves alot of time and you can point at times, etc., when buying tickets. A little spiral memo pad and pen. Used mine every day. A holder for your plane tickets and passport would have been nice. And most important, a journal.

maria

1. valium for the plane ride<BR>2. pack light<BR>3. when things go wrong, stop and have a glass (or 3) of wine in a sidewalk cafe

Lucy

Talk to anybody and everybody, who is not a tourist, that you possibly can. You gain a completly different view point that you may have never had before. Just my personal experience.

whathesaid

"When you travel, remember that a foreign country is not designed to make you comfortable. It is designed to make its own people comfortable."<BR>~ Clifton Fadiman

Roong

<BR><BR>I think it was St. Paul, who did his share of traveling, who had this advice:...."Listen much, speak little, and don't get angry".

Nancy

Keep a journal - I just re-read ours from our honeymoon to Italy and it brought back so many great memories and things I had already forgotten. I also kept a food diary.

Grasshopper

Keep a copy of your passport and your credit card numbers and phone numbers for cancelling them in emergency all in a place separate from the originals.

Larry

All good advice here, as well as other threads you might want to do a search on if you're planning an upcoming trip. We used alot of the advice available here for our recent trip to Germany, Italy and France - back now 2 weeks. Very glad we discovered this site well before our trip. One item I'm particularly glad we took was to get a digital camera with necessary accessories. It was so much easier and flexible then trying to keep up with rolls of films or wondering if your shots will turn out good or not. If interested, do a search on digital cameras here and you'll get all the particulars you'll need to get in step with this technology. We did, and are glad for it.

Shar

Not only a journal on your trip but we always write in the back of each trip thigns to remember to bring or elave home for the next trip. i.e. more film, binoculars, duct tape,less clothes .....We read the last page of each journal so we make sure we have all the things we should bring and leave those things at home that were not necessary. Shar

nancy

Bring a washcloth or shower puff! <BR><BR>Great idea off this board for me was to label film as it is used (bring labels and mark Day 1 or #1). Also suggest the journal include notes on photos taken which are easily forgotten.<BR><BR>Copies of passports, itinerary and emergency numbers in a separate location.<BR><BR>Bring instant coffee if you need an extra jolt in the morning. Coffee, breakfast charges can be expensive at the hotels. It's more fun to get a pastry later at a local bistro.<BR><BR>Along with corkscrew, pack a knife for cutting cheese/bread on your picnic.<BR><BR>Plan, plan, plan - the more preparations the better you will enjoy the trip.<BR><BR>Research this board - lots of great ideas and help here. Thanks everyone.

footloose, somewhat

In (humorous) disagreement with the post above... DO NOT plan plan plan.<BR><BR>Get your basics down (plane, hotel reservations) and let the rest just "happen" to you. Get up each morning and do what you feel like doing.<BR><BR>Also don't over schedule tours, or over book the number of places you visit. I like 3 cities, 3 weeks best, personally.

Linda

I took a very small spiral bound notebook and wrote down info on every photo I took. That was invaluable once I got home and got the photos labeled...already I'd forgotten the exact names of half the places I'd photographed. Today those well-labeled photos are a priceless memory!