Fresh Tips for a Successful Vacation
It’s nice to get away from the comforts of home, as long as you remember to take the essentials with you.
Well, I’m off again. It’s time to see a little more of this fascinating planet where I reside on a temporary basis. As I always like to say — “Too much to see, too little time.” This time my husband and I are on our way to New Jersey, where we will board a cruise ship and head north. Yes, I said north — from New Jersey — In the early fall when the weather is starting to cool down significantly. Fall in New England and Canada is a beautiful time of year. I am expecting to be awe-struck by the color-rich beauty of this season. I guess, by most standards, I am a seasoned traveler. This will be our eighth cruise. We’ve been to Europe three times. We’ve seen dozens of U.S. states, numerous national parks, and most of the major cities in America. When we aren’t planning a major trip, we have no problem jumping in the car and heading down the road for a day trip to check out a nearby winery or to hike a forest trail.
Experience Leads to Wisdom. I dare say I’ve learned a few things along the way. I’m not just talking about the mind-expanding knowledge that is the biggest gift of extensive travel — although I would never discount that as the major reason to travel at every opportunity. No, even before we pull out of the garage and head on down the road, I’ve learned the critical importance of insightful packing and planning. The proper packing and planning job can mean all the difference between the pleasure of a comfortable trip and the hassle of the never-ending effort to fix whatever went wrong because of poor preparation.
Does Everybody Know Who You Are? Although I’ve never been in a position to have to prove my identity or citizenship, I do know people who have. Traveling (or even leaving your house at all) without proper identification is a case of playing with fire in today’s world. These days, a photo ID is the bare minimum you should have on you at all times. If you’re traveling in the continental United States, a Real ID is a good idea — soon you won’t be able to board a plane without it. International travel requires passports and, possibly, visas to move easily across borders. To complicate your life just a little more, it’s a good idea to make two copies of all these documents — one for yourself to keep in a location separate from the originals — and one to leave with a trusted friend or relative. This may seem like a hassle, but it will be invaluable to your safety if your documents are lost or stolen.
Keep Track of Your Stuff. It’s fast and easy to dump a few things in a backpack and take off on your next journey. It’s also a mistake. Don’t be lazy when it comes to packing. Every piece of luggage, every backpack, every briefcase, every wallet and purse, needs to contain some form of contact information — preferably on the inside of the piece. Lost luggage is more common than you might believe. The excitement of your trip might make you less cautious than usual, causing you to lose or misplace an item. Lost luggage will never find its way back home if there is no way to identify its owner. While on the subject of missing luggage — you might want to consider combining some of your belongings with those of your traveling companion. That way, if one suitcase ends up missing in action, both of you will still have something to wear. A few basic essentials can make all the difference between jumping right into your vacation experience and wasting a day (or more) waiting for a change of clothes to show up for one of the travelers.
Everything Costs More Than You Think. Don’t shortchange yourself (literally)when traveling. Protect yourself with a variety of payment options at your disposal. Cash is good — but don’t carry so much that you look like a target to would-be thieves. Don’t be obvious about your cash supply. Carry it in smallish amounts in various places in your luggage or on your person — no fat wades of cash bulging out of a wallet, please.
If you use credit cards, it’s wise to have two with you. Not all credit cards are universally accepted — especially if you leave the country. Let your credit card company know your travel plans so you aren’t surprised by having them “protect” you by shutting down your card when they see charges from an unknown location.
Underwear Doesn’t Take Up Much Room, So Double Up. While you don’t want to be burdened with an excessive amount of luggage, you also don’t want to waste valuable vacation time doing laundry every day. Take a tip from one who knows — take plenty of underwear! I suggest two changes for every day you will be away (after an active day seeing the world, you will probably enjoy a refreshing shower and a comfortable change of clothes for the evening).
Smile — Remember You’re Happy to be Here. Most people like to record some memory of their travels. If you’re eager to tell the story of your adventure, make sure you take a journal, notebook or tablet to jot down notes of what you see. You can always edit to perfection once you’re back home. Today’s cell phones make picture taking (and sharing) a snap. No more need to lug around forty pounds of camera equipment — unless, of course, that’s your thing. Practice your skills at home to improve your photos and selfies if you’re a novice photographer.
Two Pairs of Shoes — Minimum. Yes, you live in your favorite walking shoe, athletic shoe, flip-flop or pumps at home. Do yourself a favor and take at least one other pair of (sensible) shoes on your trip. Your feet (and your mood) will benefit from a change in footwear. You want to remember the sights and sounds of the trip, not the foot cramps and blisters.
Prepare for the Next Cloud Burst. Weather is fickle. It’s all well and good to believe the weather app on your phone — up to a point. An umbrella or a hooded jacket can come in real handy if the skies turn gray. A trip of any duration holds the possibility of a drastic and unexpected change in the weather. I always like to take at least one change of clothing for weather that is exactly the opposite of what I was expecting. I take short-sleeved shirts even on a winter trip. I definitely take a sweater or warmer garment when I go someplace where I expect balmy weather. I have a suspicious mind and I don’t trust the weather gods to hold up their end of the bargain.
Patience is a Virtue. As a final word of advice to every excited travelers out there — Keep your cool — no matter what. The more you travel, the greater the chance you will experience bad weather, transportation delays, cancelled reservations, political uprisings — whatever! The real joy of travel is the scope of experiences you will have. Take consolation in the fact that even a bad vacation experience will provide you with a batch of dramatic stories to entertain yourself and your friends when you get back home.
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