- consider taking leftovers from restaurants to go for stray cats and dogs
- do a search for your "layover" airport online! sometimes there are services and fun things to do, i.e., a spa, or some airports even offer free city tours if its a long layover
- in poorer countries some places will fill water bottles with tap...if unsure order water with gas so you can tell by bubbles if legit
- carry a plastic bag with you: for purchases, sudden rain, sickness
- most people speak English but learn at the very least just three words: thank you hello very good
- do not look street dogs in the eyes...just walk by looking away
- always look down when walking around (safety standards are different in other countries)
- a little tough but giving beggars money sometimes leads to overlords who send people out begging. in India, people have been known to remove limbs to acquire more sympathy. but it's always best to leave a country better than when you came...so be sure to donate to an organization that helps the poor in the area you visited.
- be nice and represent your country well even with the annoying nature of touters.
- first: check vaccination & safety requirements for your place of travel
- second: check visa requirements for your place of travel
- take a photograph of everything you're packing laid out in case your luggage is lost of stolen. leave this photo at home somewhere or on a computer you aren't taking.
- let someone know who isn't going with you your exact dates of travel and to check in on your return, ESP for hikes
- pack less! bring a small bag of laundry detergent.
- turn off data roaming the moment you take off
- update your weather app to include the places you are going
- download a time zones app to keep track of times
- consider postagram or other postcard apps that use your own photograph so you don't have to deal with mailing abroad
- make a photocopy of your passport and keep it separate from your passport as you travel (often times you'll leave your real passport in the hotel safe so carry a photocopy)
- download a language converter/translator app for the country you're visiting
- no matter how lame it seems, always get to the airport 2 HOURS before
- get LOTS of low denomination bills immediately: many people rely on tourism and send money to their families...tipping his a great way to help people around the world in low paying jobs
- create a currency converter cheat sheet, take a picture of it and keep it on your phone
- inform your credit card company where and dates of your travel
- in certain countries, carry around a roll of toilet paper
- in certain countries, bring dog treats (bones). many countries have packs of wild dogs and some could really use kindness
- carry sanitizing wipes - you will use them
- if you have a driver or taxi - always watch that they are staying awake (if traveling with someone sleep in shifts). we have caught many drivers falling asleep.
- photograph pages and maps from your guidebook so you can leave your guidebook at home
- don't forget your electrical adapter for the country you are visiting
- in some countries, it is helpful to have immodium or cipro with you to help with stomach problems
- always verify flight times the night before your trip - they change sometimes
- dress appropriately! and according to the culture.
- carry a water bottle
may 2 2013 ∞
may 1 2019 +