When you travel, do you venture off the beaten path? Do you eat where the locals eat? Do you sit at a sidewalk cafe that’s listed in the guidebooks? Or, do you search out one most tourists wouldn’t find?
I know what I do…how about you?
When you plan your trip, where do you start? Do you plan the trip you really want? Or, do you plan what you think you should see and do while there? There are famous sites, museums, art galleries, monuments, and beaches all over the world. If you are only going to the site or the museum because you think you should…not because you really want to…do you think you will enjoy it?
Maybe or maybe not. This is your trip. You should plan it to get the best experience for you. What do you think?
When visiting a city for the first time, do you spend several days there? Or, do you think you can see it all in one day? Especially if you are going someplace like Rome, Florence, Paris, or Cambridge…spend more than just a day. That way you’ll have time to wander around, enjoy the views from a sidewalk cafe, see more than just the tourist spots, and of course people watch.
Cambridge phone booths…
Taking time to sit by the water provides great photos as well as a chance to rest your feet from walking around the city. In Cambridge, pubs provide great spots to relax with a mug of beer. Or, is it a pint? Finding good wine was a challenge…but I managed to do it.
Once rejuvenated…take a punt on the river.
You may know that routine passport processing takes about four to six weeks. You may also know that in certain countries you need at least six months worth of validity remaining on your passport in order to enter that country.
Did you know you may need completely blank pages in your passport? If you are planning a trip to South Africa, they require travelers to have one fully blank visa page in their passports. If not…no entry.
If you are a frequent traveler, you may want to look through your passport now. Make sure you have enough room for additional passport stamps, especially if you are traveling to more than one country on any of your upcoming trips. No one wants to be denied entry based on something you could have taken care of before you left.
Need more info or have questions regarding passports and visas? Go to www.travel.state.gov for more information.
Check out Trip Advisor’s newest app…GateGuru. They say it can help spot delays at your gate, give you information before you arrive at the airport, help you find a place to eat at the airport, and assist with car rentals.
I haven’t tried it…let me know if you have and what you thought of it.
Have you ever used Evernote on your tablet? I have and it’s a great way to take notes. But, it will do more…especially when you’re traveling. These are just a few uses. Use it like a notebook to keep track of expenses or your travel journal. Upload brochures, maps, and menus from places you loved. Add your photos. What else can you think of?
Boats in McCovey Cove just waiting for that home run ball to come over the fence.
San Francisco Fire Department boat at the Giants game.
Driving on the new Bay Bridge. It’s brilliant white seems even whiter in the bright blue sky.
Do you use actual travel guide books or eBooks when planning your trips? Or, do you use both?
Once you are at your destination, which do you use? Again, do you use both?
Just curious…
Beaune, France
Before I book my international flights, I often set up an alert for airfares on a couple of different sites. For instance, if I know I’ll be going to France in May, I sign up for an alert from my home airport to Charles De Gaulle in Paris. That way I have an idea of what fares are if I purchased them right now. Plus, I receive alerts when the fares go up or down. Usually these alerts come once a week.
One site I use is www.kayak.com and another is www.airfarewatchdog.com. There are others but these two will give you a good feel for what you will pay. You can either book from them or go directly to the airline once the fare is in your budget.
Plus, kayak will also show you where you can fly on your budget. List your home airport and how much you want to spend…they show a map with places you can go for that amount.
Another helpful tool is to know what airlines charge for additional services. Check out www.smarttravel.com for their downloadable chart of airline fees. It might come in handy.
