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Following these simple travel tips will help eliminate most of the headache and worry out of your travel! Planning carefully at home allows the freedom for adventure while you're making memories!
1. Plan in advance. Booking earlier helps ensure space on the vacation you want to take. We've been known to work magic, but planning with us in advance avoids unnecessary headaches.
2. Plan far in advance for Holiday Travel. This is particularly important when arranging your international flights. Air travel expenses go up during the holidays and the earlier you can book your travel plans, the more likely you'll be able to find seats and reasonable flights. If you need suggestions, we will be happy to assist you.
3. Check your passport expiration date. If you travel, you must have a pssport! Make sure passports are current. Passports should be valid for at least six months after your departure date. But we recommend that you check with the consulate in your country for the most up-to-date visa and passport information.
4. Make photocopies of imortant documents. Passport, visas, tickets, credit cards, drug prescriptions, and other critical documents should be photocopied, and the copies carried separately.
5. Know the number of your credit card company. If your credit card is lost or stolen, you should contact your credit card company immediately. Have their telephone number readily available. And make sure you get an alternative to a 1-800 number, as these numbers do not work outside of the US.
6. Break in your shoes. New shoes, especially new hiking boots, can be trouble and can result in a lot of blisters and tears. If you buy new shoes for your trip, be sure to give them a good breaking in.
7. Prepare for altitude sickness. This is a fairly common ailment when venturing above 8,000 feet. Almost anyone venturing above14,000 feet will fell some level of altitude sickness. Symptoms include headache, nausea and a general feeling of malaise. Diaox is a popular prescription for altitude sickness.
8. Travel Insurance - a good idea. Would you drive a car without insurance? You only have a few weeks of vacation each year, protect your investment! Travel insurance can safeguard you from delayed or cancelled flights, weather disruptions, lost luggage, medical emergencies, last minute cancellations and more. Keep all your receipts. It will make submitting a claim so much easier.
9. Pack light. Less is more. You'll want life to be as effortless as possible during your vacation, and packing light is an easy way to simplify. Packing lists are a helpful guide and will usally include (or exclude) items that never crossed your mind. If you think that you can live without it - leave it at home.
10. Keep a journal. Keeping a journal will not only be a precious keepsake of the destination and details of your travels, but it will also be a reminder of the way your trip made you feel. Your travel journal is a personal story of a time in your life when you were able to venture out of the"everyday". Trust me - if you don't keep a journal, no matter how limited, rambling or full of spelling mistakes, you will regret it.
11. Vaccinations. Know what vaccinations are required and which are recommended. Some countries may require re-entry vaccinations. Consult your local Health Department for the most current health precautions for the area you'll be visiting. The U.S. Center for Disease Control is also an excellent source for detailed information on travel-related illnesses. Visit their website or call the National Immunization Hotline at 1-800-232-2522. 12. Sunscreen. An essential to any packing list. A nasty sunburn is nothing to take lightly and can be extremely painful. Sunscreen is very expensive to purchase locally; it is primarily a tourist product and not commonly used by the local citizens. However, please remember to pack it with your luggage, not your carry-on as airport security will remove it from your bags.
13. Money. Taking money out of local ATM machines is the cheapest way to convert to the local currency (even with an ATM service charge). Travelers' check are going out of style in Latin Ameica and may be difficult to exchange - especially in off-the-beaten-path locations. It is better to find an alternative. And carry small bills, because of counterfeit problems, $100 dollar bills are a particularly bad idea and are flat out unaccepted in many locations.
14. Medications. Make sure to pack an ample supply of all your prescription medications. You don't want the worry of running out. It is also a good idea to bring a back-up pair of eyeglasses or contact lenses.
15. Travelling with children - helpful hints. Many governments enforce specific rules at entry/exit points that often require notarized documentary evidence of relationship and permission for a child's travel when the parents or guardian are not present. So travel prepared. When it comes to mealtime, encourage your children to explore something new on the menu. While the majority of our family-friendly trips can be vey accomodating even to the most sensitive pallet - if you have a picky eater, packing a few bags of trail-mix or a small jar of peanut butter are a good idea.
16. Don't forget these items: Flashlight, earplugs, sunscreen, binoculars, synthetic/quick-dry clothing, disposable face-wash cloths or wipes, zip-lock baggies of various size to protect your cameras or such from water, or to separate wet clotheng from the rest of your luggage.
17. Camera. Always bring twice as much film or memory cards as you think you will need. There are endless opportunities for incredible pictures, and you should be equipped with as much film . . . or close to it. Purchasing film locally can be quite costly. When your memory card is full, or roll of film complete, take it out of your camera and put it in a safe place. If your camea is lost, your precious photos will still make it home.
18. Utilize the storage facilities at your hotel. Souvenirs are a part of any travel. If possible, plan your shopping for the end of your trip. If you have to shop prior to your departure, ask about storage facilities at your hotel. Patrons should have no trouble keeping souvenirs or extra luggage at the hotel while they are off enjoying their adventures.
19. Be flexible and expect the unexpected. Some of the best stories come from the unexpected, so be open to the adventure of travel. Flexible travelers are the happiest travelers; they realize that unpredictable experiences are what make adventure travel so unique and so rewarding. When you are in a different country, time and money may not mean the same to you as it does to the locals. Embrace the culture and relax!
20. Be wary of online "experts". In the world of the web, everyone's a critic and everyone's an expert. Online forums can be very useful, but take their comments-both the positive and negative-with a grain of salt. If you have uncertainties, rather than relying on the opinion of an online stranger, contact the travel company that you trust. Rest assured, we have well researched all the details of our tours including destinations, hotels, lodges, excursions and more.
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