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Travel Checklist and Travel Tips

A successful and pleasant business trip or vacation depends on adequate preparation. Learn how to organize your air travel, hotel reservations, car rentals, visas, passports, and immunizations.

 

Preparing for a trip or vacation
Traveling broadens our perspective of the world in which we live. Going to foreign countries provides exposure to different cultures, different food, and different languages. Many countries encourage international tourism as a way of boosting their local or national economies, but there are some countries and cultures which view foreigners with suspicion and do not particularly care for strangers in their land. Even in some popular "civilized" travel destinations it is easy to become a victim of thiefs and criminals who will take your luggage, assault you to steal your jewelry and valuables, or cheat you in the price of taxi fares or other services. Your best protection is to be alert, book your tours through trustworthy agencies, and never travel alone to an unfamiliar destination. Make sure that you know the traditions of the land where you want to travel before you start your trip.

Travel arrangements
Scheduling your trip involves careful planning. Travel agents can help you to organize some of your preparations. First of all, take care of your travel documents. Some countries require only passports, but others require passports and visas. Do not wait until the last minute to obtain your passport because this may require several weeks. To get the best deals for your transportation and hotel accommodations, you will need to make your reservations well in advance of your travel. The best bargains can be obtained during the off-season when demand has diminished. Airlines that provide food service can accommodate special dietary requirements if you give them at least 24 hours advance notice.

Along with your passports and visas, you may need to take along vaccination certificates, and prescriptions for any special medicines that you need. Before embarking on a trip, check to make sure that you are allowed to travel with your medicines. Some medicines sold over the counter in the United States may be considered illegal in other countries and vice versa. There is nothing more unpleasant than starting a vacation on the wrong foot by having to explain to the customs authorities why you are carrying so many "drugs".

As a result of terrorist activities, airports have increased their security inspections before allowing passengers to board. Get to the airport with plenty of time to manage the check-in congestion. Also, don't exceed the container size limits of carry-on liquids, gels, and aerosols, otherwise, your toiletries will be confiscated. All liquids, gels and aerosols must be in three-ounce (84 milliliters) or smaller containers, and they must be placed in a single, quart-size, zip-top, clear plastic bag. The locks for your luggage must be approved by the Travel Security Administration (TSA) so that your luggage can be opened for inspection without having to cut your locks.

Passport and Visa 
Check your Passport's  
Expiration Date

Travel Checklist
The following checklist can help you to prepare for your trip.

Types of electrical outlets
North American electrical outlet   European electrical outlet     Australian electrical outlet
North America
   110 Volts   
60 Hz
Europe
   220 Volts   
50 Hz
Australia
   220 Volts   
50 Hz

Voltage Regulator on a Hair Dryer

For international travel, don't forget to take a travel power adapter. European electrical outlets provide 220 volt 50 cycle electrical power. You will need a Plug Adapter to connect an American two-pronged plug into a European socket. WARNING: You may also need a Power Converter or transformer to convert the European 220 volts power supply to 110 volts required by most American appliances. An appliance can be ruined or cause a fire hazard if it is plugged into a power source that it cannot handle. Clocks that rely on the frequency of the alternating current cycles can gain or lose time when plugged into foreign power sources. Some devices, such as hair dryers, have voltage regulators that need to be switched to select the proper voltage. Always verify the voltage setting before plugging in the device.

Traveling with kids
Children get bored easily and have very little patience for travel. Planning a vacation to a holiday destination that is suitable for your children is easy. There are thousands of great holiday destinations suitable for children, from things like Walt Disney World, to camping, to beach holidays. The real difficulty is the journey. Make sure your children are wearing loose fitting comfortable clothes, have plenty of snacks and drinks, and lots of things to keep them entertained. Traditional car journey games such as I-spy are still surprisingly great and have longevity, whereas modern technology allows the whole family to watch movies online. 18 year old children can play poker or deal or no deal from just about anywhere, and that will entertain them for hours.

Watch your Cash!
When traveling, stay aware of your surroundings to avoid being a victim of pickpockets. Do not travel with more than two credit cards, and notify the card companies that you will be traveling so that they will not put a hold on the cards when they start seeing charges from unfamiliar places. If you don't have access to a hotel safe, use a money belt or neck wallet under your shirt to hold your passport, travel tickets, and extra cash. Only carry in your wallet what you will be using for the day. If you run out of money in your wallet, go into a bathroom, and lock the door to retrieve extra money from your money belt. In crowded places, it is better to carry your wallet in a front pant pocket rather than in a back pocket that can be picked more easily.

There are people who are experts when they learn forex trading or manage their finances at home, but it all goes out of the window when abroad. this is a great way to ruin your holiday, so make sure you are not one of these people.

Sometimes thieves work in teams. One of them distracts you or pushes you, while another one picks your pocket. One time, when I was traveling in Spain, a woman asking for charity pushed a baby against my torso while with her other hand she was trying to unzip the belt pouch that I was wearing around my stomach.


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