Your Travel Documents and Money Safety
Once you have your passport, visas, and inoculations, the following suggestions will help you avoid misfortunes along the way.
· Make two copies of the following before leaving home. Leave one with a friend of your travel agent and keep the other separate from your other valuables. You may even want to keep one with your travel companion.
· Your itinerary, passport (first four pages), airline ticket, visa and travelers check numbers, and the front and back side of your credit cards. This will provide you with specific numbers/data/expiration dates and emergency numbers in case you misplace them or they are stolen. Most credit cards have emergency contact numbers on their back side.
· Be sure to always carry your passport with you (better yet, memorize your passport number) for ease in cashing travelers checks.
· Super glue a small piece of Ultra Suede to the back side of your passport so it won’t slip out of your purse or passport carrier easily. Velcro will also work.
· Before buying travelers checks, check into places that may give them to you free: American Express, or your own bank.
· Consider purchasing your airline tickets with a major credit card in case the airline goes under and you lose your money. A credit card company usually has larger resources for such situations so you’re not out the money in the meantime.
· When travelling with a companion, make sure that each of you takes different credit cards, if they are in the same name. Therefore, if one is stolen and you must cancel it for fear of someone using it, you will have a back-up card. Also, you will have a higher total credit limit on two cards than on one, just in case you decide to extend your holiday.
· Take a small amount of money ($50.00-$100.00) in the country’s local currency for arrival, in case the banks are closed and you need it for porters, taxies, or buses.
· Call your bank or ask your travel agent prior to leaving and receive the current exchange rates of the countries that you’re traveling to. Write them down and keep them in your wallet for quick references.
· Don’t forget to take also a small amount of your own country’s currency to use upon departure and arrival from your home city.
· Carry small amounts (50 cents to $1.00) in the currency of the country you are going to for bathroom attendants. This is a custom of many countries and is a must … to receive toilet paper.
· Take travelers checks in both the husband and wife’s name for ease in cashing.
· Share travelers checks between husband and wife or traveling companions in case of unwanted separation or theft.
· If traveling to many countries, consider purchasing our travelers checks in smaller denominations.
· Travel only with the major credit cards you plan on using or will need in case of emergency. Leave all others at home.
· Keep a few $1.00 bills in your pocket for tipping so you don’t need to open your purse or wallet.
· Tear up your carbon copies from your credit card purchases. This helps assure that no one can find your credit card number and misuse it.
· No wallet or purse, use money belts, fanny packs, and back packs. Keep small amount of money in fanny pack and cameras and other valuables in the back pack.
· Keep large amounts of money and your travelers checks in your money belt
· Do not flash your money even in shops or stores.
· Keep valuables in your hotel safe, or best of all at home.
· Rental cars, don’t keep anything in view or in the glove compartment.
· Luxurious luggage lures thieves.

General Travel Tips
· Be sure to break in any new shoes before leaving home.
· Don’t forget to take a small packet of cold water soap just in case you find hot water unavailable.
· Fake pearls make a very elegant statement and look just as nice as real ones without the worry. Leave your good jewelry safe at home/
· If you must take valuables with you, be sure to store them in the hotel or ship’s safe, generally free of charge and much safer than your room.
· Remember to take items that can double for other uses: a raincoat can act as a blanket on a train or bus. A large T-shirt can be used for a night gown, exercise’s, or cover-up as well.
· Carry a phrase book on the language of country you are in.
· Learn the words for :help-fire-police-doctor".
· Clothesline (travel type) for hanging up clothes to dry in hotel.
· Buy film here, it can cost you as much as $18.00 per roll abroad.
· Snacking supplies: like small cutting knife, cheese cutter, corkscrew and can opener, here is a chance to sample a lot of things.
· Converter if you need to have American appliances work on European current.
· Put all squeeze bottles in baggies since pressure changes in flight cause even good bottles to leak.
· Learn about the places you plan to visit, local laws and customs. Consult-Library-Your Travel agent-tourist bureaus.
· Put your name and itinerary inside your luggage. · Find out whether your own insurance will cover you for loss or theft abroad and in case of accident or illness.
· Trip insurance, see if the non refundable portion is more than you would or can afford to lose in case of illness or and emergency.
· Don’t leave your bags unattended in public areas. Traveling light will help. Don’t trust anyone who offers to help with your luggage unless he or she is a uniformed skycap, or a licensed porter.
· Beware of limousine hustlers, who may solicit you at the baggage claim areas. Deal with licensed operators or through the info centers.
· Be polite and low-key.
· Know where you are going when you leave your hotel. Carry a street map (but consult it in a shop or other inconspicuous place). Ask directions from the hotel desk.
· If any of your possessions are lost or stolen, report the loss immediately to the police and other appropriate authorities. Keep a copy of the police report for insurance claims and a an explanation of your plight. Also report: Travelers checks to the nearest office of issuing company or its agent. Airline tickets to the airline company or travel agent. Passport to the nearest U.S Embassy or consulate.
· Let everyone in your group know where to meet incase you become separated or lost. Have everyone carry enough money on them to get back to the hotel on their own or to the meeting place.
· Smuggling: DON’T.
· Don’t overlook the need for some real casual clothes like your favorite sweats, T-shirts, and tennis shoes. These are great for relaxing around the hotel room, exercising, or for long traveling days.
· Shop periodically for trail size items you know you will eventually need, and put them away for your upcoming trip. No need to spend time decanting large bottles to small ones.
· Obtain a calling card or coke number form your long distance telephone company before leaving home. This will expedite and calls you must make and put an end to searching for correct coins in foreign currency.
· When renting a car, remember that some rentals are covered by insurance when you use a major credit card. Check before leaving home and save money.
· Sample sizes of dishwashing liquid, mailed as promotions, are great for getting grease out of clothes, and they are packaged not to break.
· On your travels, collect samples like shampoo and soap from hotel rooms and bring them home, even if not to your taste. (A frequent traveler says she places them all in small travel bags and gave one collection to a friend for a bon voyage gift.) Alternately, keep them for visiting guests to your home or donate to a local shelter.
· Keep a list of all the receipts from your purchases for your return home through customs. For ease, record them in your travel diary at the end of each day, and save time by writing once at the end of each day: about your travels and keeping track of expenditures at the same time. Also, pack all your purchases in the same piece of luggage in case customs asks to see them. This saves time and embarrassment digging for them!
· Place a small piece of plastic wrap over the lid of your bottles before closing. This keeps the liquid from spilling.
· Save clean napkins from the breakfast table for your day’s journey. They can provide a quick clean up!
· A card with typed telephone numbers and names of relatives, bank account, insurance company, etc. can be very helpful in case of an emergency.
· Be sure that your bills are paid and up-to -date if you plan to be gone for an extended period of time.
· Photocopy the pages in your travel guide for your own use so you don’t have to take the entire book along. Or simply tear out the applicable chapters.
· Develop at least one roll of film at the beginning of your holiday to ensure that your camera is still functioning. This is important for both new and old cameras alike.
· Check batteries in your flashlight and remove them when not in use. For emergencies, place the flashlight near your bed when going to sleep.
· Don’t forget to take extra batteries for everything. They may be impossible to find, and expensive, in certain countries. You don’t want to waste precious sightseeing time in a frustrating search. This includes hearing aid batteries.
· Place a small round identifying sticker in the upper right-hand corner of your passport (outside) so it’s easier to distinguish when traveling with a group.
· Check the expiration dates on your credit cards, passport, driver’s license, medical certificates, camera film, vitamins, medications, etc.
· Check with your pet sitters, plant sitters, and child care. Have a second choice on standby just in case someone has to cancel at the last minute.
· Take out some bland index cards or recipe cards and write special events on them, such as birthdays and anniversaries that will occur while you’re away.
· While some people consider it a challenge to bring undeclared items through customs, this can be a disastrous and expensive ending to a nice trip.
· A metal Band-Aid box makes a great first-aid box. Fill it with all the supplies you may need.
· Rubber-soled shoes should be taken for marble floors and cobblestone streets where it is easy to slip and fall.
· Secure the shoulder strap of your carry-on around your foot or chair leg when seated. This acts as an anchor if the bag is grabbed.
· When looking for local activities in a foreign city, check out the daily newspaper. The TV guide section can be understood in almost any language.
· Small cosmetic bags with zippers make great places to keep costume jewelry, different currencies, and other small items.
· Cut a piece of plastic the size as your face powder box and place it in the top. This prevents the powder from spilling.
· When traveling alone, treat yourself to a nice bouquet of flowers to brighten up your hotel room.
· Request or reconfirm any additional assistance that you may need on your holiday: diet requirements, wheelchair assistance, special seating, etc.
· Take only jewelry that you can wear without worry. No need for a safety box and effort of checking it in and out at the front desk.
· Reconfirm your return travel reservations. International flights generally require confirmation 72 hours in advance. Checkin 2 hours before departure on international flights.
· Remember you are a guest in their country, respect their property and their customs.
· Do bring your common sense, some people this is such a small thing to bring.
· Keep in mind we are basically dumb and we do a lot of stupid things.

Sleep
· Don’t try to sleep off jet lag. Do your best to adjust to the local time when you arrive. Try to manage without a nap. If you feel you simply can’t last until bedtime, take a short nap.
· Travelers who are hardest hit by jet lag are people over 50, traveling eastward (who must cope with a shortened day and an earlier bedtime), and individuals flying west for longer than eight hours. Remember, it takes about a day to adjust for each hour of time difference.
· Jet lag can pose particular problems.. It can cause everything from persistent weariness to digestive upset to irritability and a lack of concentration.
· It’s important to get plenty of sleep the week proceeding your trip. When changing time zones, it is good to begin with a "sleep credit." To ease the transition period you may want to adjust your sleeping and eating times closest to the schedule followed at your destination, beginning about 3 days before your departure.
· When you board the plane, set your watch at the time of your destination and try to sleep at the proper time.
· Inflatable pillow or neck rest, the flights can be long.

Keeping Your Body Moving
Experts agree that travelers can benefit substantially from exercise: it eases stress, relaxes muscles, aids digestion and, if done at the right time, can help you sleep. Here are some ways to add physical activity to your travel plans. .
· Start your engines: Make moderate exercise part of your travel preparations. Even a daily half hour walk can give you an energy boost, help you sleep better, and ease and pre-travel stress.
· Explore your new city on foot: If you arrive during the day, get outside and take a walk. You’ll be getting needed exercise and the sunlight will keep you alert. If you will be crossing several time zones and will be staying abroad for more than several days, sunlight can help re-adjust your biological clock. When traveling eastward, it helps to get sun in the morning. For westward time changes, late afternoon or evening sun will help you adapt.
· Work in a workout. Set aside time every day to exercise. It increases your heart rate, raises your body temperature and leaves you wide awake.
· For long distance travelers: Do some cloud stepping. Your body expects to be active during the day and to sleep at night. While on a long plane ride, try to work in a bit of exercise when it would be daytime in your destination city. Stand in the aisle and touch your toes. Walk around the cabin. Roll your head from side to side. Rotate your ankles. If your plane makes a stop, and time allows. Deplane and take a brisk walk through the terminal.
· While traveling long distances, mail home your paper extras and items we all accumulate when traveling but don’t want to throw away: city maps, tourist pamphlets, attractions stubs, and receipts for tax purposes. A good idea is to pack a manila envelope in your luggage and keep these inside until you’re ready to mail it home.

Pack it Up
· It’s most important to check out your luggage long before your holiday to assure all cases are in good working order.
· The best packing advice you will ever receive is: Travel Lightly." It’s advice grounded in logic: fewer, lighter bags are easier to handle.
· Make a list. This forces you to select only the clothes appropriate to planned activities and anticipated climate. Having a list also becomes valuable if your luggage is lost or stolen.
· Plan your wardrobe around one or two basic colors. You’ll then be able to mix and match creating several looks from the same pieces.
· Leave the bulk clothes at home. Choose instead man made fabrics that will fold or roll without wrinkling.
· Pack your suitcase tightly. Place dresses or suits in plastic, dry cleaning bags. Both steps eliminate wrinkles.
· Pack your suitcase tightly. Place dresses or suits in plastic, dry cleaning bags. Both steps eliminate wrinkles.
· Shoes should be put into shoe bags or mittens before going into the suitcase. This keeps them form soiling your clothing.
· Pantyhose, socks, and underwear can all travel in your packed shoes. You’ll save suitcase space and keep your shoes from collapsing.
· Roll loungewear or lingerie to fit in small spaces and keep your shoes form collapsing.
· Use travel size toiletries in plastic bottles. Since cabin pressure often causes liquids to expand, make sure they are not filled to the top. For added protection, place all toiletries in a sealed plastic bag before packing.
· Label your luggage both inside and out. Avoid packing his and her suitcases. Instead, make each bag a half and half. If your bags have ever been lost, you’ll understand.

Packing Your Carry-On Bag
The following is a list of essential items you should consider packing in your carry-on bag, This should be for the convenience of having them on the plane and also just incase your luggage is lost you may need some essential items for two days.
· All medication
· Pen and Paper
· Pajamas
· Healthy Snack
· Camera
· Book/Magazine
· toothbrush and Past
· Travel Alarm Clock
· Itinerary/Traveler checks/Address book/Cash
· Essential Cosmetics and toiletries only
· Valuable Jewelry not worn
· Lingerie/Pantyhose for two days
· Socks, short, for two days
· Sunglasses, Swimsuit and sunscreen (if applicable)
· Earplugs and eye cover
· Change of shirt and sweater if cold weather
· Skin moisturizer and lubrication eye drops
· When in doubt, leave it Out!!!!
Your carry-on bag can only be a total of 45 inches. This would be like 10 inches wide, 12 inches tall, and 23 inches long. Pack all your items in your carry-on in plastic Ziplock bags as they are easier to identify and when you pull them out everything else doesn’t get shoved to the bottom or wrinkled. If your carry-on bag is heavy, or if you will have long distances to walk, you should consider a small two-wheeled collapsible carrier with an elastic cord. This saves the muscles in your shoulders and your back

Now that Uncommon
Money, Money
When exchanging currency, compare the exchange rate and commission fee that is charged.
If you use only the best current rate as your guide for converting dollars, you may not have made the best deal, since commission fees can vary dramatically.

Train Tricks
Remember that the purchase of a rail ticket or a Eurailpass does not guarantee you a seat on the train.
To get a reserved seat, you must pay extra for a reservation.
In most European train stations, you buy your ticket first at one window and then get your reservation at a second window. The double transaction can put your linguistic skills to the test.
Also make sure, when traveling by train, that your are sitting in the car that is headed for your destination.
A signboard on the side of the car carries this information. In =Europe, individual cars frequently are detached form on train and attached to another to another: you could find yourself in an unintended designation if careless.

Train Meals
Many of other countries trains, however do not carry dining cars and make no provisions for meals. You either carry a lunch, or you scurry to a vending machine or food stall if the train halts at a station long enough.
At larger train stations, there usually is a sign beside the track from which you are departing that indicates what cars make up the train. If no dining car is indicated, and your journey is a long one, hasten to the nearest food stall for supplies.

Restaurant Extras
Watch for extra charges in restaurants. Charges that are not customary in the United States can add to a restaurant bill, especially in higher -priced establishments.
For example, that full basket of breads may tempt you, but don’t assume it is complimentary . In all likelihood, the waiter will count the number of goodies you consume and add a couple of dollars or more to your bill. Some restaurants also impose a cover charge. Also the tip may be already added to your bill, so do not add again the usual 15% to the bill.

Coffee Etiquette
If you’re downing an espresso or cappuccino at an Italian coffee bar, stand at the counter to drink it. Taking a seat at a table, and having the waiter bring it, easily can cost twice as much.

Small Change
I have already told you about public restrooms . But again carry extra change. A small fee often is charged for the use of public restrooms. This is no problem if an attendant is on duty who is able to make change. But a number of toilets are coin operated.. Now that was important.

Scrub Away
If you consider a washcloth essential, take one with you. Many hotels, even expensive ones, do not provide washcloths.

Cough, Cough
Be aware it often is hard to avoid second hand smoke. Most countries have yet to heed the health warnings about tobacco to the extent Americans have smoke-filled air can be a problem, especially in small restaurants. If you ask for a non smoking area you will most likely get some very strange looks.

Reserving flights in other countries
Make plane reservations during business hours. In the United States, travelers are accustomed to calling an airline’s central reservation number any hour of the day, seven days a week. In Europe many airlines staff their phone reservation desks only during normal business hours, which may mean only on weekdays from 9 am to 5 p.m.
In contrast, you can generally purchase a railway ticket 24 hours a day at central-city stations. Let us take care of it before you leave. This is just incase you have to take care of while you are there.