Tuesday, May 15, 2007
Travel Tip Tuesday - Kids Traveling TipsWhat should I bring along on the trip?
* Pediatrician's name, regular and emergency phone numbers.
* Extra eyeglasses or contacts if you have them.
* Medications and prescriptions. Be sure to carry the generic names of medicines with you since the brand names of many medications may vary by region.
* An address book with your child's friends' names and addresses so they can send out postcards.
* A nightlight to help light up an unfamiliar room.
* If your child uses a step up to see the bathroom mirror in your house, you might bring it along.
* Items to childproof a room, such as outlet plugs and pipe cleaners. Use pipe cleaners to hold up curtain cords or close cabinets.
* If you are traveling with an infant, don't forget to bring a bottle brush and some dish soap.
* Baby wipes are good to bring in the car, as well as little bottles of water.
* If it's small enough, bring along your child's favorite toy.
* Their blanket, if they are still of the age where a blanket is a close personal friend.
* Updated pictures of your children in case they wander off. You'll need recent pictures so others can help you look for them.
How should I pack for my children?
* Consider packing each complete outfit in separate clear bags. Keeping an entire outfit in a bag will allow them to pick out one complete outfit so they'll have everything they need to get ready in one place. This will help you to organize your packing for them, and also save them time getting ready on the trip. The plastic bags will help with wrinkling. Since all their items will be together, it will help keep them from digging through all your clothes looking for parts of their outfits. They can then use the plastic bags to collect their dirty clothes.
* Use freezer bags with a seal for all their little stuff so it doesn't end up mixed in all your clothes.
* Put some of your items in their luggage and put some of their items in your luggage. This will give you both something to fall back on in case either of your bags goes missing.
* Just as you should with your own, make sure you completely label the inside and outside of their luggage with complete contact and itinerary information.
* Extra shoes and an extra swimsuit.
Tips provided by YTB.
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Tuesday, May 08, 2007
Travel Tip Tuesday - Business TravelWhen traveling for business...
Make sure you have all of your electrical necessities charged. (i.e. cell phone, laptop, palm pilot) You may want to pack these types of items in your carry on luggage to avoid any delays with the airport security. You will also want to make sure you have an additional copy of any presentation or paperwork that you plan to present for your trip. (i.e. PowerPoint presentation, contracts, charts, or research.)
Tips provided by YTB.
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Tuesday, May 01, 2007
Travel Tip Tuesday - Foreign Car RentalHow are car rentals outside the United States different from those here?
Every country has its own rules, but here's a list of some items you may want to consider:
*You may need an international driver's license or permit in addition to your U.S. driver's license.
*Some countries charge a fee for a permit that allows you to drive on their roads.
*The rental contract may not be in English. See if they have rental contracts or at least an explanation of contract terms available in English. Also, see if they will have any English speaking counter personnel available to assist you when you arrive.
*Your personal insurance or credit card coverage may not be valid or acceptable to the rental company, so you may need to purchase extra coverage.
*Most rental car fleets outside the U.S. are made up of much smaller cars.
*Many foreign rental fleets will have a large percentage of manual transmission automobiles.
*A car with air-conditioning may be considered an upgrade in some foreign fleets.
*Road signage may be in unfamiliar languages and the colors and shapes of those signs may be different than those in the U.S.
*The direction of the lanes may be opposite of those in the U.S.
*Road conditions may be considerably worse than those found in the U.S.
*Gauges may only read in the metric system, 100 kilometers = 60 miles.
*Gasoline is usually considerably more expensive and is often sold by the liter,
3.78 liters = 1 gallon.
*Many countries have even higher taxes on rental cars than those in the U.S.
*Fuel prices are often considerably higher than those found in the U.S.
*Some countries have both a minimum and a maximum rental age.
Tips provided by YTB.
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Tuesday, April 24, 2007
Travel Tip Tuesday - Car RentalsWhen you rent a car, don't accept the insurance options the company wants you to buy. Check with your own auto insurance agent to see if you're covered under your policy, or use a premium credit card that offers travel insurance.
Check the rental car carefully before you leave the rental lot. If you see any damage, have an official of the company note it on the rental contract before you leave.
If you're renting for five days or more, a weekly rental will provide a large discount.
Tips provided by YTB.
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Tuesday, April 10, 2007
Travel Tip Tuesday - Kids Travelling AloneWhat will my child need to carry if they are traveling alone?
* A valid ticket, identification and any other paperwork the airline requires.
* Written contact names, phone numbers, and address at home.
* Written contact names, phone number and address at their destination.
* Complete written itineraries with flight numbers, flight times and gate information if available.
* Include information on whom, when and where they are meeting at their destination.
* Some cash.
* A calling card or instructions on how to call collect.
* On-plane entertainment.
Tips provided by YTB.
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Tuesday, April 03, 2007
Travel Tip Tuesday - Researching TravelWhat type of research should I do before I travel?
If you are traveling abroad here are the top 10 tips you need to make your trip easier:
1. Do some research, learn as much as you can about your destination.
2. Check to see what type of weather the area has so you can plan accordingly.
3. Check to see what type of paperwork and documentation you will need to travel.
4. Find out what type of diseases are common to the area you'll be visiting and take actions to prevent your exposure to those diseases.
5. Check your own medical coverage to see what type of coverage you'll have when away from home. Consider purchasing trip insurance.
6. If you plan on driving, get your car ready and investigate the local road conditions, laws and other driving requirements.
7. Do some research about the costs of local items so you can set your budget. Don't forget to budget for taxes and tipping. Many governments charge high taxes for travel related services.
8.Check the dates of local major holidays or festivals, since services may be limited on those dates.
Tips provided by YTB.
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Monday, March 26, 2007
Travel Tip Tuesday - Shopping AbroadWhat should I know about shopping abroad?
* In many countries of the world, negotiation on the price of an item is appropriate and often expected.
* Satisfaction guaranteed is much more widely practiced in the United States. Make sure you are familiar with their return and exchange policies.
* Many countries do not enforce copyright laws, the logo you see may have nothing to do with the company it represents to you. Check to see if the item is a fake.
* Some items for sale may need a special license for export. This is especially true for antiques, works of art or other items of cultural significance.
* Taxes can make up an even larger percentage of the purchase price than you will find in the United States.
* Duty free may only mean the items are free from duty where they are sold. U.S. Customs have their own guidelines for taxation when you return.
What does Caveat Emptor mean?
* It means the buyer beware. Remember that merchants know that putting up a duty free sign often means bargain to many. There are some great buys to be had, but make sure your purchases are good values. Stick with brand names you know and make sure those brand names are spelled right on the product. In other words, make sure it's not a fake. Also, duty free may just mean it is duty free where you are buying it. U.S. Customs have their own guidelines for taxation when you return.
Tips provided by YTB.
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