Dawn of Travel: The Beginning

Thursday, August 13, 2015

The Beginning

My cousin asked me recently if there was anything that I would do differently, given the opportunity. I told him that I had missed my calling and if I had it to do all over again, I would become a travel writer. He looked over his glasses and said, "Well, just what is stopping you?" I didn't have an answer. His wise words stayed with me and evolved into this blog. The only thing that I love as much as travelling is sharing my experiences and adventures with others. It is my hope that my readers will find my tales interesting and informative. Would love to hear your feedback. In the meantime, compose a bucket list and don't waste one second making it happen. There is a great big, beautiful world out there, full of wonderful people with so much to share. Embrace the opportunities. Until next time, safe travels!

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Travel Tips

-Border control agents DO NOT understand humor or sarcasm.
-Always, always, always, contact your credit and/or debit card companies before you leave home and advise them of your upcoming trip. In these days of credit card fraud and identity theft, if you do not do this, your cards will be locked and you will not be able to use them which could be a nightmare. Try to keep cash to a minimum (though I do recommend have a few bucks handy for those moments when someone doesn’t take credit cards). ATM’s are readily available at most places in the world.
-Get yourself a really good tour book and read it, prior to your trip or on the plane so you are somewhat familiar with the cultural norms at your destination. Things that are acceptable at home may not be so in other lands. You never want to insult the residents of your host country. Always remember their way may not be the same as ours but it is not wrong, it is only different.
-When travelling abroad it is best not to talk politics. Not every country has the freedoms that we do, so err on the side of caution and leave the political banter at home.
-Do not let your cell phone roam or you may come home to an astronomical bill. Either set up an international plan before you leave or use your phone only on Wi-Fi. This tip holds true for cruises also because once you enter international waters you will get hit with very expensive charges.
- When you check into your hotel, ask for their business card (one for each member of your party). That way, if you get lost, are too tired to walk or had one drink too many, you can simply hail a cab and give the driver your card. Even if you don't speak the local language, it will be obvious where you want to go!
-Always carry pjs, a change of clothes, a toothbrush, your jewelry or any other valuables and any necessary prescription drugs in your carryon. Keep a copy of your itinerary in your checked bag. In the event that you and your bags get separated, the airline can quickly determine exactly where you are going to be and that will expedite the process of getting those bags back to you and in the meantime, you should be okay for 24 hours.
-When traveling abroad, always leave a copy of your passport at home. Also have a copy in your suitcase or take a picture of it with your phone. In the unlikely event that your passport should be lost or stolen, it is much easier to replace when you have a copy with all of the pertinent information needed.