| For those of you that are out there traveling | | | | |
| over the holidays, I've compiled a list of | | | | 6) Bring your address book/PDA. Maybe this |
| things to bring aside from the obvious money | | | | one sounds obvious, but important to have in |
| and passport. You'll see that the common | | | | case you want to send a postcard or are |
| theme here involves planning ahead. | | | | scrambling to get a hold of some information |
| Hopefully, these suggestions will help to | | | | from home while you are away (from your |
| relieve some of the stress associated with | | | | lawyer, doctor etc.) |
| what is supposed to be a pleasurable | | | | |
| experience: | | | | 7) This depends on where you live, but always |
| | | | make sure you have medical insurance. |
| 1) Bring one of those inflatable (or | | | | Depending on what province you live in, in |
| stuffed) neck pillows. The inflatable ones | | | | Canada your provincial health plan will only |
| take up no room and are very helpful in | | | | cover so much. You don't want to be stuck in |
| avoiding inadvertently snuggling up to your | | | | a foreign country with a serious injury or |
| new neighbour or the hard plastic wall. | | | | illness and no way to get help (the insurance |
| | | | company will have a number that you can call |
| 2) Carry hand sanitizer with you. It's no | | | | right away). |
| substitute for proper hand washing, but it | | | | |
| will help to keep you safe from invading | | | | 8) Get a bit of local currency before you |
| microorganisms. Believe it or not, even | | | | leave home. This helps with porter, cart, or |
| though you should wash your hands before you | | | | taxi fees until you get to your final |
| eat, it's actually touching your eyes and | | | | destination. As a side-note, this came in |
| nose with dirty hands that can make you more | | | | very handy when we flew into the opposite |
| susceptible to disease. | | | | side of the island of Tenerife than we were |
| | | | staying on, and had to take their public |
| 3) Bring proper shoes. This may sound | | | | transport across the island to get to our |
| obvious, but if you'll be doing a lot of | | | | hotel. This also applies to point number |
| walking don't sacrifice your feet for the | | | | 4--thankfully we figured out the bus schedule |
| sake of style. I learned this the hard way | | | | online before we got there! |
| as I was running 270 degrees through the | | | | |
| circular San Francisco airport during the | | | | 9) Have a survival kit in your carry-on in |
| construction to catch my connecting flight. | | | | case your checked luggage takes a detour. |
| | | | Everybody's kit will be different, but mine |
| 4) Bring a travel guide and map ahead of time | | | | includes a change of clothes that can be |
| ( buy or borrow one from a friend, auto club, | | | | easily rolled up to save space, hand |
| or library) to get the most out of, and | | | | sanitizer, a toothbrush and toothpaste, a |
| safest trip for your money. These guides | | | | paperback book, a couple of packaged snacks, |
| usually have helpful tips and local emergency | | | | and any prescription medication that you |
| phone numbers. | | | | would need. |
| | | | |
| 5) Have a phone card in case of emergency (if | | | | 10) A smile! You may not speak the same |
| you have a GMS cell phone even better). | | | | language, but a smile is universal (giving |
| Always make sure to look up the country code | | | | one will get you further than talking slower |
| and figure out the right dialing instructions | | | | and louder). |
| for you and those at home (along with your | | | | |
| itinerary) in case they need to get ahold of | | | | I hope that this article helps you to avoid |
| you. By the same token, you should figure | | | | any unnecessary scrambling, expenses, or |
| out how to call out of the country you're | | | | stress on your next trip. Happy traveling! |
| visiting before you leave home. | | | | |