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If you have multiple reservations for car, hotels, etc. you may want to email a copy of those and of your itinerary to yourself. That way, you always have it with you and don’t need to look for a paper copy in your bag.

If you plan on using your phone to retrieve that information, be sure you aren’t piling up a bunch of roaming charges.

You could also include a list of medication you regularly take, in case you need to purchase some. If your medication is a prescription, consider including the name and number of your physician.

If you are traveling outside your own country for the first time or traveling to a different country for the first time, you may want to research the laws of the country you are visiting.

Do you need a special driver’s license if you’re renting a car? Do you need specific insurance?

Are there any State Department safety risks?

Will you need to get any vaccinations before you visit? Do you know how far in advance you need to have those vaccinations?

Do you know why you receive two car rental agreements in Germany? One is in English and one is in German. The English one is for you…the German one for the police.

California’s Pacific Coast Highway has been called one of the best US road trips by several magazines. It’s easy to see why.

From sunshine to fog, this drive never disappoints as it jogs along cliff side beaches. Take time to enjoy towering redwoods, serene farms with happy grazing cattle, walks on the beach, and of course…the sunsets.

Ever travel with duct tape and dental floss? Why not? The uses are endless.

You don’t need to take the whole roll of duct tape. Wrap some around a pencil , a straw, or the little package of dental floss.

You can fix just about anything for a short amount of time with these two, from buttons and hems to broken zippers.

I’ll give some ideas later…what are some things you have used them for when traveling?

If you’ve ever lost your luggage when traveling…even for just a couple of hours…you know what it’s like to try to describe it to the lost and found people.

It’s black, the zipper goes all the way around, there’s red tape on the handles, it’s about this big, it has my name on an airport tag…

Sure.

Next time, take a photo of you standing next to your luggage. It still is black with red tape on the handles…but at least they will know it’s your luggage. Think about using a sturdier name tag instead of the paper ones provided at the check in counter. It may help.

You probably know you need to allow four to six weeks to get a new or replacement passport. And, you probably know that in several countries you need six month’s worth of validity remaining on it in order to enter.

Did you know you can expedite the process if necessary? It will cost you about an extra $60…

Did you also know that some countries like South Africa require at least one fully blank visa page in your passport? Without it, you may be refused entry. If you travel a lot, it would be a good idea to check your pages.

If you are looking for an economical way to travel around Europe, check out the Eurail pass or the European country rail pass.

You can view both on their websites. If you are using a travel agent, be sure to ask questions about your destinations and stops. If you want to purchase on your own, it’s definitely easy to do. Think about these things before you make your purchase.

Plan out the cities and days you will need the passes. Are you traveling in only one country or through several? It will make a difference.

Check the beginning and ending times and days of the pass. Friday nights fill up quickly.

Remember you need to validate your rail pass at a railway ticket office before you use it the first time. There may be a line to do so.

If you want an assigned seat, be sure to purchase the correct pass.

You will need to make advance reservations for sleepers.

Don’t leave your luggage unguarded…use a lock or some other form of safety precaution.

Your rail pass is not replaceable…keep track of it.

Recently I read several posts about mistakes some travelers make. Any of these resonate with you?

When you booked your airline ticket, you didn’t leave a comfortable amount of time between your connecting flights. Check the airport where you will be connecting. You can find airport maps online. Do you know how far you’ll have to walk? Are you carrying your luggage?

When you rented a house for your vacation, you didn’t really read the contract. Did you know the neighborhood had a curfew? Did you speak to the owner of the house to find out anything special that wasn’t listed in the contract? Did you look at the check out time or the fact that you had to do the laundry before you left?

When you booked your flight into an out-of-the-way airport because it was cheaper, did you realize it would take you over two hours to get to your hotel? Sometimes less popular airports are great…sometimes not. Check out the logistics.

Do you find local places to eat when traveling? Who do you ask? Do you scope out places ahead of arriving at your destination?

What’s your favorite tip for finding interesting restaurants or cafes?

You can read the guidebooks and ask fellow travelers…but take some time to look around when you travel. Who is eating at the sidewalk cafes? Are they locals or mainly tourists?

Have you ever taken a walking food tour of any city? Recently we took one in San Francisco’s Little Italy. Even though we’ve been there many, many times…we still learned some real local insider tips of some restaurants we’ve walked right past.

It’s worth talking to the locals. You never know what you might learn.

Have a wonderful Valentine’s Day…