I love to travel and have been blessed to see a lot of the world so far and am hoping to see much more of it. It got me to thinking about what I learned the hard way about being properly prepared. So, for those of you thinking about leaving the country this year I have some hard earned tips for you.
First make sure your passport has at least six months left on it. Many countries will not let you enter unless you have at least six months left on your passport. Make a copy of your passport and a copy of everyone in your immediate travel group and have each person carry a copy of those with them. On that paper also have the cell number of everyone in your immediate group as well as the person heading up your tour if you are with a tour group. It doesn’t hurt to add the name of the hotel you are staying at too.
If you take prescription medication make sure that the medicine is in the original bottles and that the labels are clear and not ripped. Make sure you bring a few days more than you think you will need as you never know what can happen to delay your leaving. I was at the airport in South Africa once and a women in the group waiting for flights was also on a Buddy Pass as were we and she was very upset. I asked her what was wrong and she explained that she took thyroid replacement medicine and only brought enough for her stay and now it didn’t look like she was getting on a plane. Fortunately for her, I also took the same medicine and was able to help her because unlike her I carried more than I needed.
Living in the United States we are a bit spoiled regarding the safety of the medication that we take for headaches or other routine ailments. You don’t want to be buying those products in some countries such as in the former Eastern bloc. I suggest you bring the following over the counter medicines: head ache/muscle ailment tablets, anti-diarrhea and gas pills ( new and different foods can cause issues), triple antibiotic cream and band Aids, anti- itch cream, sun screen and anti-burn cream. Make sure these are in their original packaging also. If you are someone who can get an infection easily you can ask your doctor for a prescription of a wide spectrum antibiotic. If you have a touchy stomach or are leery of trying different foods then you might want to bring a daily multi-vitamin along too.
I never travel without a money belt. This is worn under your clothes and around your waist. I keep my passport, a copy of the passports and some cash in there.
Make sure you have traveler’s insurance. It is not expensive and can be a real blessing if someone becomes ill or luggage is lost, a trip is cancelled etc. I usually get mine through AAA as I personally find theirs the best where coverage is concerned.
Make sure you pack a power strip so you can plug in more than one item at a time. Many hotels in Europe do not have many outlets. Also, make sure you have a converter for their system for the strip.
If you are bringing your cell phone be sure and check with your carrier regarding the cost of using it in Europe for the time you are gone. Most carriers offer a plan where you can buy a month at a time in order to have service in those countries.
Make sure your credit card company knows that you will be using the card out of the country and which countries you will be in so that they will approve the purchases.
When you start to pack remember not to pack to the top of the suitcase. You will want to have room for souvenirs. If you are talking a typical seven to fourteen day trip then you can manage with less than you think. For a twelve day trip that I am taking this summer I will bring one big suit case and a back pack. First off wear a long pair of pants or jeans for the trip. Even if it is hot where you are leaving bring a jacket or sweater with you and wear it around your waist if you must but then you have a long pair of pants and jacket without it taking up space in your suitcase. Make sure you are wearing your good walking shoes also. Trust me when I tell you that walking all day in sandals or shoes with worn down heels will only leave you with a sore back, legs and feet. I save old underwear and then take it on trips so that I can throw them out each day. You can also sleep in your shirt from the day and save on packing a lot of sleep wear. One nice neutral color skirt with a couple of nice tops should do it for the occasional evening out. If you are on a cruise then washing out a shirt is no problem. If it is a land trip you can do this on the nights that you are in a city more than one day. A couple of easy to wash and hang dry tops are a must. I find that rolling clothes allows you to pack more than just folding them and putting them in to the suitcase. For females some churches in Europe expect women to wear a head covering so a scarf is good to have on hand. In some countries in Eastern Europe churches want women to wear a skirt that covers their knees. When I was in Russia I brought an inexpensive A line skirt that I could roll in my back pack and take out to wear if I wanted to go into one of the beautiful churches. Again, leave space. If you want to you can fill some of the space with boxes of snacks and packets of water flavoring. I bring those because in some parts of Europe “bubble” water is the most common and I don’t like it “straight.”
Do not bring expensive jewelry. You don’t want to stand out as a target. A thief knows the real pieces and will lose interest in someone who is wearing pretty but inexpensive bling. I bring an assortment of earrings and rings but they are all costume jewelry that looks great but if I lose one I don’t have to cry.
When packing your toiletries I find that the minor cost of buying travel size items is best. First you can’t carry anything big in the carry on and second there is less chance of a lot of liquid going all over your clothes. Plus, as you finish one you can throw it out as these take far less space than large bottles. I always bring a small container of a liquid laundry soap in case I do want to do a small load or even a few things in the shower. Keep everything in a storage bag in case of a leak. Bring throw away wash cloths as many countries do not offer them along with their towels. If you are reader like I am make sure it is a book you can leave behind when you are done. If you use a Kindle or similar device remember that electronic devices are often a target so I suggest you stick to a book.
I carry a small backpack in my main suitcase. This is for during the day when I am out and about. It is specially made for this kind of travel and can’t be cut into or the straps cut and it is RFID protected. I always have some of the stomach issue medication with me as well as some wet wipes, small rolls of toilet paper (a month or two before I leave I start to save rolls when they are down to a half inch or so) and hand sanitizer. Also, if you buy souvenirs you don’t have to worry about carrying a bag.
Remember to check each countries or areas policies on tipping. In some countries it is considered rude to tip.
Do not bring an expensive camera especially one that is bulky. Taking pictures on a trip should not be a chore. Use your phone or bring disposables. If it is a picture of something huge it is better to buy the post card. When I was in Cologne, Germany it was impossible to get a good picture of the cathedral as it is so big. I bought a post card and added it to my pictures.
Keep a journal. When you get home I promise you that without one you will get confused on what day you did such and such. Plus, it is a good way to put those immediate feelings and thoughts down when they are fresh.
Those who know me know that I am a Conservative but when I am on foreign soil I am an American plain and simple. I was surprised over the years at the number of people who will bluntly ask your opinion of the sitting President. I always answer that he is my President and and that I am on vacation enjoying their beautiful country and I don’t want to talk politics. I say this with a smile and that usually ends it. I never speak ill of my country or anyone in government when I am standing on foreign soil.
Now, start packing and get ready to have an awesome time as you see more of this beautiful world that God gave us. Get ready to make new friends and memories to share when you get back home.