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.
Planning a trip
can be exciting, as long as you take the necessary precautions.
Travel
advice will help you decide what you need to bring with you,
like travel
clothing and supplies. Contact your travel agent
if you have any questions during your trip
preparation.
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.
Check your Passport's
Expiration Date
Travel Checklist
The following checklist can help you to prepare for your trip.
Trip Preparation
Don't Forget
to Stop your
Mail
Visas
Passports - check the expiration date two months before your trip
Vaccinations
Hotel reservations, take along confirmation numbers
Travel reservations, take along airplane tickets
Travel insurance to cover the duration of your trip
Driver's license, registration, insurance cards
(leave unnecessary cards at home)
Money or foreign currency (cash, traveler's checks, credit cards)
Carry some emergency cash in a
neck wallet
or a thin sock attached with a safety pin to the inside of
your underwear. (See note below for hints about keeping your cash safe.)
Car keys, house key. (leave unnecessary keys at home)
Stop the newspaper and mail.
A pile of newspapers or a stuffed mailbox tells thieves that you are not at home.
You may come back from your trip to an empty apartment or house.
Turn down thermostat at home
Arrange for someone to water your plants and take care of your pets.
Don't forget to leave the keys and itinerary.
Do not pack your travel documents or money in a suitcase that may get
lost. Take your important documents and money in a wallet or purse that you can access at all times.
Make sure that your luggage has a tag with your name, address, and telephone number.
Tie a colorful ribbon or attach distinctive stickers to your luggage so that you can identify it
easily, and other travelers will not take it by mistake at a busy terminal.
dental floss, toothbrush, nail clippers, nail file
contact lens preparations
camera, batteries, recharger, voltage converter, small flashlight, travel alarm clock, hair drier
swimming suit, beach towels, sun block cream
slippers
sleeping bag, backpack
Cell phone
A printed list of emergency phone numbers or address book may be handy if your cell phone batteries die
or you lose the phone.
First Aid
aspirin or analgesic
decongestant or cold/sinus medication
antiseptic spray
mosquito repellent, anti-itch cream
anti-diarrheal
special medications
Food
food supplements
vitamins
canned food, can opener
For international travel, do not take fruits and non-sterile foods such as dried sausages
because they can spoil and are usually confiscated by customs.
Car Trip
Check tire air pressure, including spare
Tools for changing a tire
Check oil and gas level
Flashlight
Maps
Sun block, sunglasses
This is important on a long trip when the sun may be shining on your arms and face
for a long time.
Trash bags, moist towels, napkins
Insulated bag for cold drinks and fruits
Take water for drinking, for the radiator, or windshield washer.
Soft drinks may be OK for you, but they cannot be used for the car.
Granola bars or other emergency food
You may be stuck in traffic for a long time when you least expect it.
Hiking boots, jeans, long sleeve shirts, coat
Before a hike, spray insect repellent on your shoes, socks, and pant cuffs to discourage ticks and insects from
crawling up your legs
Hunting equipment (rod and reel, guns, ammunition, bows, arrows)
Make sure that you have proper permits for guns and licenses for fishing and hunting.
You may need a tape measure and a spring scale to make sure that your catches are of legal size.
Use guns safely!
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.
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.
or a thin sock attached with a safety pin to the inside of
your underwear. (See note below for hints about keeping your cash safe.)
