Travel Tips

An old proverb says that a prudent man learns from his mistakes, but a wise man learns from the mistakes of others. Nowhere is this more true than when it comes to travel. However, finding truly useful travel tips can be a difficult. What is perfectly good advice for one destination may not at all be applicable for another. Do you stay within the borders of your own country or do you venture abroad? Do you favor civilization or wilderness? What kind of transportation should you choose?

Every Trip Is Only as Good
As You Plan It

Going by car or RV keeps you independent, but driving long distances can be exhausting. Trains are both comfortable and romantic, but they don’t go everywhere. Air travel has become increasingly cumbersome and sometimes downright unpleasant in recent years. Cruises are popular, but they are not everyone’s cup of tea. Photo safaris and other outdoor adventures have their own challenges. Traveling in groups may or may not be your thing, but going on your own may be too risky. Staying at hotels and resorts may be safe, but it can be costly and you miss out on experiencing the life and culture of your surroundings.

Everyone who has ever gone on a vacation away from home knows there can be significant differences between promises (great looking brochures and websites) and the realities on the ground once you arrive. Experienced travelers know that every trip is only as good as the planning and preparation that go into it beforehand. The more information you can gather the less likely you will run into unpleasant surprises.

Whether you are going on a family getaway or a trip of a lifetime, getting packed and ready to go can be a daunting task in itself. If you are like most people, this is probably your least favorite part of the vacation. By the time you’re done, you may truly be in need of rest. If you find it hard to decide which of your favorite things to bring along and which ones to leave behind, consider the purpose of your trip. Are you planning to relax at a beach resort with no need for an extensive wardrobe or are you embarking on a trekking adventure where you must carry all your equipment with you? You can always tell a seasoned traveler from a novice by the way they each prepare for their trips. Most likely, the one with more experience carries less luggage but has all the right stuff. As a rule of thumb, you should always bring as little as possible but leave nothing important behind. Obviously, you can’t be prepared for all eventualities, but you can avoid some common “disasters” if you know how.

Doing your best to protect your healthy is always important, but it is absolutely imperative when you travel. This applies especially in areas where modern medical care is not always available. Certain vaccinations may be necessary and even mandatory for entry into a particular country or region. If you take prescription medications, you need to bring sufficient supplies with you. Don’t count on always having refills available, not even when you travel within your own country. Equally as important are measures you can take to strengthen your natural immune system.

Regretfully, safety issues are now among the most prevalent concerns of today’s travelers. What’s worse is that this precludes many of us from visiting some of the most beautiful places on earth because of changing social and political realities. Potential acts of violence and terrorism, of course, are only one of the many menaces one has to take into account when traveling these days. Pandemic diseases, such as avian flu, malaria and AIDS are equally as important to consider. So are pollutants of food and water and other environmental hazards. All the precautions in the world may ultimately not guarantee safe traveling, but there are ways to exercise prudence and avoid unnecessary risks.

Naiveté and carelessness make for easy prey. Personal safety should always be your first priority. On the other hand, caution should not make you paranoid or paralyze you with fear. Being aware of potentially precarious situations and knowing how to respond if they occur is key. There is a wealth of information from government agencies and professional security experts available on the Internet and I will point out some useful sites.

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