Happy July 4th
Tag: Travel
Off to Europe
Looking for a check list to help you plan your trip abroad? Check out these helpful hints.
Check your cell phone coverage. Do you have a plan that covers you in Europe? Do you need to add a plan? Or, are you planning on buying a SIM card once you land?
Make copies of all your documents. All. Email a copy to yourself and store it in the cloud. Give paper copies to your traveling partner, if you have one.
Register for STEP. I’ve mentioned this previously. The Smart Traveler Enrollment Program was created by the US Department of State to notify local embassies about your travel plans. You will be contacted in case of an emergency or security advisory in your destination. It’s free and easy to register. Though you may not need to enroll every time you leave the country, I always do.
Notify your bank and credit card companies of your plans. No sense having a credit card or bank deny a transaction because they didn’t know you were in Paris and not at home in Denver.
Download any offline maps you can. That way you will always be able to look at a map.
Pay attention to the exchange rate. If you don’t get any money ahead of time, you will want to know what it will cost you once you land.
Before you leave, charge all your electronics. Everything. If you have everything plugged in…don’t walk out the door without the devices and their chargers.
Remember to take a plug adapter to use in Europe or wherever you are going.
No Stress Travel
Your trip is just around the corner. Are you ready?
Did you do your research before setting off to the airport? Let’s say you want to visit the Eiffel Tower in Paris. Maybe even go to the top. Did you know there are thousands of visitors all wanting to do the same thing?
You are sure to be disappointed if you arrive, expect to purchase your ticket, and head to the top. Those long lines? They are full of people who didn’t plan. If you really want to do this, plan well in advance and go online to look at tickets. Once you have your ticket reservation, read the time you need to arrive to stand in line with your ticket.
Perhaps it is your first time in London, and you want to see everything. Not the best idea. For one, you cannot possibly see everything. There is so much to be savored and so many places to explore. Be realistic and decide what is really important to you. Save some sights for the next time. Trust me, you’ll be happier.
Think about your connecting flights, your travel time, and what transportation you will be taking. Remember to factor in the time you need to wait for a bus or taxi or Uber.
Remember to relax. This is vacation, after all.
It is a good idea to schedule but not over plan. Getting lost in the back streets of Venice may be just the most fun of the trip.
Map & Atlas Museum
Map & Atlas Museum of La Jolla
Not your typical museum. Not even what you might think of when you hear map and atlas museum.
Yes, there are maps and atlases. Maps of the world from the 1400s to a map of Disneyland from 1958 to a map of the TWA route from 1930. And, everything in between.
This collection is eclectic, educational, and astounding. With their goal of creating an awareness and appreciation for the geography, history, politics, and artistic beauty of antique maps and atlases, they have succeeded.
Different exhibitions include maps categorized by Exploration, Colonization, California as an Island, and Sea Charts. Other galleries include maps of Europe, Africa, Asia, New England, a 1946 map of California wine areas, the Eastern Mediterranean, and the 1816 first edition of John Melish’s map of the US.
Education opportunities abound for school kids to adults. Keep looking. You’re sure to see something different every time you visit. I have.
The most recent visit featured an exhibit of pictorial maps from Museum Founder Mr. Michael Stone’s collection. Maps including Walt Disney’s Magic Kingdom, Disneyland USA 1958, San Francisco, and one titled A Hysterical Map of the Mother Lode where California was Born and Hell was Raised.
In another room the San Zeno Wheel. It consists of three movable disks that turn on a central axis, a device known as a volvelle. The disks are made of pine, covered in vellum, giving the impression of a huge manuscript sheet. It was originally made for the Basilica of San Zeno in Verona. Just have to see it to believe it.
Next time you’re in La Jolla…stop and visit. Admission is free.
If You Go: The Map & Atlas Museum of La Jolla is located 7825 Fay Street, Suite LL-A (lower level courtyard) in La Jolla. It is open Wednesdays and Thursdays and the 1st and 3rd Saturdays, 11 to 4.
Book It
Travel Sites
With so many travel sites available, what do you use to book your trip?
Travelocity and Expedia: Did you know that Expedia owns Travelocity? Both are fairly transparent when it comes to booking. In fact, there is a feature they use to make sure you understand what you’re getting before you book.
Trip Advisor, the parent of SmartTravel, is probably best known for its hotel reviews. Now, those ratings apply to airlines as well. You may not get the best prices here, but it does give you the option to book with Expedia and Travelocity. I’ve noticed you can also put in non-stop when looking for flights.
Google Flights is a powerful site. Its metasearch capability has no ads. You can give your departure and arrival airports and it will show you prices and dates. It also allows you to get emails and updates. If your dates are flexible, this is a great one to check out.
Kayak has been around since somewhere in the mid-2000s. It’s still one of the most powerful metasearch sites. I like the alert option when I’m searching for flight and their prices.
BookIt.com has many features that others have with one exception. They use a chart instead of a scroll down feature. It just makes it easer to compare, in my opinion.
One Travel is similar to Google Flights in the calendar search method. However, keep in mind they do charge a service fee of up to $35 per ticket.
Travelzoo lets you search broad timelines like this week, next month, or later this fall. You can enter a month or a season.
There are more available. I’d like to hear what you use and what you like.
Luggage…What Kind Do You Want?
What type of luggage do you like? If you’re shopping for new luggage, do you know what you’re looking for? What are your requirements?
You’re probably looking for something that’s durable…especially if you travel a bunch. Do you want a hard shell? Are you concerned it may crack if some airline baggage handler is having a bad day and tosses the luggage onto the belt?
Many new companies who make hard sided luggage have started using polycarbonate. This is a softer material that will flex a little when dropped on hard surfaces. In fact, contact lenses are made from this. It’s also scratch-resistant and lighter than some softer bags.
It doesn’t expand like a soft piece will, so don’t expect to overstuff it.
What about the wheels? Do you want four or two? Four are easier to maneuver. They also roll downhill if left unattended.
How about color? You’ll probably notice more color choices, prints, and patterns in hard luggage. Think about it getting dirty. It will. Is it easy to clean? Is it important to you to find your bag quickly on the carousel? If so, you may not want black.
What are your must-haves when purchasing new luggage?
Paris…Enjoy, Don’t Hurry
Paris Tips
Paris is a great city to explore. It’s also huge and can be confusing if you’re there for the first time. Check out these tips to help your visit be the best it can be.
There are many free things to do in the City of Light. If you don’t want to go to the top of the Eiffel Tower, at least walk to it to check it out. If you go early in the morning, you can avoid many of the crowds. For a great view of the city, head to Montmartre in the 18th arrondissement and walk up the steps of the Sacre-Coeur. Even if cemeteries don’t rank high on your list, you should visit Cimetiere du Pere Lachaise, Paris’s largest cemetery in the 20th arrondissement. Jim Morrison and Oscar Wilde are buried there. It’s old and parts are crumbling. It’s still impressive.
If you are looking to maximize your time and budget, buy the Paris Pass. It’s worth the money and your time. Not only do you get admission to over 60 attractions and museums…you also get to avoid the long lines to buy tickets and then the long lines to get in. All for a one-time fee. Activate it when you are ready to use it for the first time. It’s good for the length of time you purchased…3 day, 5 day, 7 day.
Understand the difference between the Metro and RER. The Metro has 16 lines with short distances between its stations. The RER has five lines that are faster than the Metro. There are fewer stops as well. RER reaches the suburbs.
Unless you like sparkling water, ask for the carafe of tap water. It’s safe and free. Know that menu prices already include a 10 or 15% gratuity. You are not expected to tip. Many Parisians will round up and leave the extra Euro cents on the table.
With so much to see and do in Paris, you might be tempted to push to see as much as you can. There are museums, landmarks, attractions, and more all over the city. My first suggestion…don’t pack too much into one day. Chances are, you’re not going to see everything anyway on one trip. Do a little advance planning for places that are ‘must see’ on your list. Check a map to see what you can reasonably get to. My next suggestion…save some time to sit a sidewalk café for a morning latte or an early afternoon glass of wine. Watch people, soak up the atmosphere, relax. Paris is meant to be enjoyed…not hurried.
Update on Travel App
Since I wrote the previous post regarding Google Trips as an app I use, I have been informed this app will no longer work after August 5.
With that in mind, I am trying a new travel app. Tripit is an app I downloaded and am trying out this weekend. There are two versions; a free one and a paid one. First, I am trying the free one.
I’ll report back and let you know how it works.
Stay tuned!
Travel App
I have a new favorite app for travel.
Google Trips is a travel planner and organizer app I recently discovered, thanks to Angel Castellanos and Angel’s Travel Lounge.
For me, my reservations were automatically gathered from Gmail and put into the correct trips. All were in one place, which was easy to see at a glance.
It suggested some things to do, my saved places, day plans, discounts, food and drink, getting around, and need to know about each separate place. There is a note section, where I had to put some other reservations that didn’t show up in Gmail as actual reservations.
The other piece is the ability to use Google Trips offline. I have access to my info without being online.
I’ve used this several times and love the organization it gives me.
Do you have one you absolutely love?
Do You Plan?
Here are a few more simple travel tips compiled from frequent travelers, flight attendants, and fellow travel writers. Want to know what they all have in common?
Hint…they plan ahead.
If you check your bags, pack an outfit in your carry on. This way, you’ll have a spare set of clean clothing ready to go in case your bag is lost. Be sure to ask the airline about their compensation policies. Depending on which route you’ve flown, you may be reimbursed for purchasing toiletries.
Pack some travel size or small packets of laundry detergent. You can use a sink to wash out some underwear or lightweight tops.
Pack a small first aid kit with the basics like bandages, antiseptic wipes, pain meds, and upset tummy meds. You don’t need to bring it all…just some simple basics.
If you can, travel with carry on luggage only.
Keep backups of your travel documents. You can store copies in a cloud-based server. If you’re traveling with a companion, carry a copy of each other’s documents.
Bring noise cancelling headphones, eye mask, ear plugs, entertainment, or whatever makes your long flight more comfortable.
Learn some basic language phrases when traveling to another country. Please and thank you go a long ways. So does asking for the bathroom.
Talk to the locals about the best place for morning coffee or a late-night drink and everything in between.
Remember your chargers. And, remember to pack an adapter if traveling to Europe.
Try to avoid using the airport money exchange counters as they usually charge a higher rate of exchange. Instead, use an ATM when necessary. You can always get some local currency ahead of time.
Prepare for security at the airport. Have your things easily accessible for security check. If you’re not TSA Pre, wear shoes that are easy to remove, take off your belt, and remove your laptop. Don’t hold up the line by not being ready.