15 Tips to Make Your Next Trip a Winner

Up to one third of Americans forgo their allotted vacations and one in five reasons for not taking a vacation is fear of being bored. Just a modicum of planning will go a long way to making your trip a success.

15 Tips to Make Your Next Trip a Winner

• Tip#1 Match your interests with your chosen trip. Some simple questions to determine a trip destination could include big city or wild country, sedentary or active, beach or snow, hot, medium or cold temperatures, cheap or pricey. Is there theatre, opera or a festival? Are there wine tasting or culinary courses? Can you hike, bike, backpack, kayak, ski, golf…..Email me if you need more ideas!
• Tip#2 Keep expectations in check. Unrealistically high expectations will doom your trip.
• Tip #3 Organize passports, visas, shots, and insurance well ahead of time to avoid last minute stresses and surprises. Try scanning your passport page and emailing a copy to trusted friends or family. I always bring a few extra passport pictures too.
• Tip #4 Learn 5-20 phrases of the language in the countries you’ll be visiting. Even simple greetings are appreciated. Pick up a pocket dictionary.

• Tip #5 Educate yourself to avoid making cultural gaffes.
• Tip #6 Set up payment of ongoing house bills and taxes if you’ll be away for an extended period.
• Tip #7 Organize trip finances with a combination of cash, debit and credit cards. Have a backup plan in case your wallet is stolen or your credit cards are compromised. Try and pick up small denomination bills of the countries you’ll be visiting ahead of time.

• Tip #8 Pack lightly and take only carry on if at all possible. Make do with less and buy local clothes when you reach your destination. You’ll likely fit in better too.
• Tip #9 Before you leave prepare a list of your must ‘sees’ , must ‘stays’,  must ‘dos’ and must ‘eats’. Google directions ahead of time. Bring city and country maps and a highlighter pen.

• Tip #10 Bring the toll free numbers for planes, trains and car rental companies you’re using so if there’s a problem you can fix it quickly – often much faster than the customer service lineups. Also bring the toll free number you would need to use if your baggage was lost.
• Tip #11 Allocate an extra day at the beginning of your trip to allow for flight cancellations or delays, missed connections and lost baggage.
• Tip #12 Pack a few bars and snacks so you don’t end up going hungry.

• Tip #13 Although Kindles have their place, especially on long trips, you can’t trade your Kindle. Pack some paperback books and trade them around your group. Throw in some crosswords or Sudoku puzzles and any wait times will be more palatable, perhaps even enjoyable.
• Tip #14 Don’t choreograph your whole trip. Be flexible and prepared to change your itinerary.
• Tip#15 Take your sense of humour along for the ride.

Bon Voyage.

Leigh McAdam

HikeBikeTravel

You might also like: