International Travel Tips
by c larson (RSS feed) on Aug 11th, 2010 at 2:13PM
Before you start planning your next dream vacation, make sure your passport is up to snuff. Check the expiration date carefully. Many countries do not allow you to visit with a passport that expires within six months of your trip.
For example,
Brazil requires your passport to be valid for six months after your tip. For
Switzerland, it's three months.
Plus each country has its own rules for whether they calculate that expiration date from the day you enter the country or from the day you leave, so double check with the local embassy or consulate for the current requirements.
[Photo: Flickr |
hjl]
by Charley Anne Prescott (RSS feed) on Aug 9th, 2010 at 1:04PM
While you're on vacation abroad, few things compare to an
impromptu picnic in the open air. It is the perfect opportunity for sampling the local foodstuffs, wine, and scenery.
Depending on where you are in the world, tracking down a corkscrew can often turn an uncomplicated experience into a bit of an ordeal. On your next trip, save yourself some time and always pack a handy travel corkscrew.
[Photo: Flickr |
YannGar Photography]
by Marina Martin (RSS feed) on Aug 9th, 2010 at 12:13PM
Next time you want to mail a postcard, skip the hotel concierge and mail it off the same way the locals do: at the post office.
Travelers to international countries stick to their comfort zones more than they realize, and having to perform a routine task in a foreign land is a great way to shake things up. How much is a stamp? Which line do you stand in? How can you convey to the clerk what you need?
The post office presents a unique yet universal challenge -- and a great chance for people-watching!
[Photo: Flickr |
infomatique]
by nick somerset (RSS feed) on Aug 9th, 2010 at 11:03AM
Most travelers are keen to mingle with locals while taking in the sights. Do both and save money by hiking along the fjords and fjells of Scandinavia and/or the soaring majesty of the Alps.
Don't like the idea of lugging your gear over the mountains? No worries. Join one of the following hiking clubs that maintain hut-to-hut hiking trails and get discounts on accommodations. This lets you can pack light and spend each night in the company of local hiking enthusiasts:
Happy trails!
[Photo: Flickr |
Geir Halvorsen]
by Jennifer E. Slawson (RSS feed) on Aug 9th, 2010 at 11:03AM
Carry an envelope to keep every charge slip you accrue -- but before filing them away, write the date, location, and reason for the charge on them.
Your monthly statement will likely list the charge detail in the language of the country where you traveled. Having your own notes on the receipts will give you a way to reconcile to your statement and provide extra assurance that all charges were legitimate.
[Photo: Flickr |
Tim Morgan]
by Lauren Martinson (RSS feed) on Aug 6th, 2010 at 4:35PM
When traveling abroad, it is a good idea to have an extra set of
passport photos packed among your belongings.
In the event that your passport is lost or stolen, you can save valuable time by immediately taking these photos to the embassy or consulate when you apply for a replacement. Without the photos, you may find yourself frantically searching for a photo lab in a potentially unfamiliar city or town.
[Photo: Flickr |
selmerv]
by Kimberly Glutz (RSS feed) on Aug 6th, 2010 at 3:35PM
Traveling abroad and don't have an
iPhone or other smart phone device? Got a
GPS? A GPS can be your best travel companion.
Sure it can get you from point A to point B but many units also have a built in travel kit including --
* bilingual dictionaries,
* world clock,
* currency converter,
* measurement converter, and
* calculator.
It can really be a handy resource when you find yourself physically or mentally lost in an unfamiliar place!
[Photo: Flickr |
u07ch]
by Margaret Webley (RSS feed) on Aug 6th, 2010 at 3:35PM
Hawkers from Brazil to Thailand are excellent psychologists. Very often, when you say "no thank you" to whatever they're selling, they will ask where you're from. This is not just an effort to engage you: they're trying to figure out what approach to use next and what price to offer.
They know that what works on a German will not necessarily work on an American, and vice versa. They also know that a Norwegian might happily pay a price that would seem exorbitant to someone from a country with a much lower cost of living.
[Photo: Flickr |
gripso_banana_prune]
by Melanie Linn Gutowski (RSS feed) on Aug 6th, 2010 at 2:35PM
Before departing for a foreign country, be aware of any national holidays that will occur during your trip. Do your best to learn about even the minor ones that aren't widely known.
My husband and I nearly had our honeymoon derailed by a national holiday during our stay in
French Polynesia. Most businesses were closed, including restaurants, banks and museums.
We were saved by the tourism office, which offered us a chance to spend the day learning about Tahitian culture on the grounds of a closed museum. Otherwise, we would have wasted an entire day of our trip stuck in an urban area with nothing to do.
[Photos: Flickr |
Yandle]
by Melanie Kiser (RSS feed) on Aug 6th, 2010 at 2:35PM
If you're a full-time student, teacher or under age 26, there's a bevy of discounts -- museums, food, transportation and more -- available to you overseas if you get an
International Student Identity Card (ISIC),
International Youth Travel Card (IYTC) or
International Teacher Identity Card (ITIC).
The ID cards generally cost about $20 and pay for themselves within a week's worth of travel, even quicker if you're savvy about using the
discount finder.
[Photo: Flickr |
Ken_Mayer]
by Merlin the Enchanted Cat (RSS feed) on Aug 5th, 2010 at 1:04PM
Admit it! Deep inside you, there is a wild child -- or perhaps a sophisticate? -- waiting to get out. Pack those outfits you've been too afraid to wear. Remember, on vacation you run the show! You can be whomever you want!
Since no one knows you, there are no preconceived notions ... except your own. Express those hidden personality traits you're usually too shy to reveal.
That green eyeshadow doesn't have to continue gathering dust, neither does the purple feathered fedora. Vacation is about enjoying yourself. Have fun and show off!
[Photo: Flickr | dreamglow pumpkincat210]
by Richard Thomas (RSS feed) on Jun 24th, 2010 at 2:13PM
Touts, hawkers and scam artists are a persistent nuisance in countries from
Morocco to Vietnam, yet many a novice (and seasoned!) traveler believes that to remain open to local cultures, they must be polite and friendly to a pushy people who just want money.
In my experience, the best bet is to completely ignore anyone trying to sell you something if you did not start the business transaction yourself. Do not make eye contact or even say "no thank you." If you do business in common markets, the things you want to buy will initiate plenty of genuine, local contact as it is.
[Photo: Flickr |
mckaysavage]
by Carrie Mehl (RSS feed) on Jun 24th, 2010 at 11:03AM
Many countries have limited access to American-made
Bourbon Whiskey, but people outside the U.S. love the stuff. With the American dollar at an all-time low, it's a good idea to have something to barter with overseas.
Some Japanese will spend the equivalent of $40 for a handle of cheap whiskey that costs $20 or less in America. So, bring a few bottles of your favorite bourbon to your country of choice and bring back souvenirs for your whole family.
Alternatively, present a bottle to your host as a deep appreciation for inviting/hosting you.
[Photo: Flickr |
Chris.Corwin]
by Janet Elaine Smith (RSS feed) on Jun 23rd, 2010 at 11:03AM
If you're affiliated with a church group, contact the missionaries in the country you want to visit. Staying with them will offer you the opportunity to see life as it's lived daily by "real" locals; provide a rent-free (or very inexpensive) place to live; and if you offer to help the missionaries with some projects (something as simple as babysitting to give them a day off), you will endear yourself to them forever.
Bonus: you won't have to learn a foreign language, as you'll have the missionaries as built-in translators wherever you go.
[Photo: Flickr |
sanbeiji]
by Cathleen Shaffer (RSS feed) on Jun 22nd, 2010 at 11:03AM
That White Sox hat you're wearing above your "I hiked the Grand Canyon" t-shirt may be a hot commodity in some countries. Many items we take for granted are both unique and highly sought-after in many foreign nations.
If you find something at a vendor's stall you like, offer that vendor something of yours in exchange for that good. Maybe he'd like your hat, or that extra shirt in your bag. While you're not allowed to bring a cache of items into a foreign country to sell, trading items you would normally have in your luggage is perfectly acceptable. No extra luggage room is needed -- and you don't need extra cash on hand, since you're swapping goods.
It's not icky to give someone the hat off your head! Trading souvenirs is fun; you get to interact with the locals; and you go home with souvenirs and a great story on how you acquired them.
[Photo: Flickr | Courtneysue75]
by Marina Martin (RSS feed) on Jun 21st, 2010 at 2:13PM
Guidebooks are all well and good, but they rarely take you off the beaten path. Before arriving in an unfamiliar place, pick an unusual food to track down in your destination; it's even better if you can find the same food in multiple countries.
Finding specific foods is a particularly great way to pound the local pavement. Look for an egg salad sandwich, rhubarb pie, or a Bud Light. If you find it easily, come up with something else to hunt down. You never know what else you'll discover in the process -- and it can help give aimless days some form.
Pro tip: do some research before arriving and select a food item unique to the local culture.
[Photo: Flickr |
david55king]
by C. Krznaric (RSS feed) on Jun 21st, 2010 at 11:03AM
Always carry a small
calculator when you travel internationally. It will save the day when you are trying to figure out how much things cost in "real" money.
Moreover, since math is universal, it will cut across language barriers when haggling in markets -- just type in what you want to pay, pass it to the seller, and let him enter his counter offer.
You'll avoid struggling with the right word for the number, and you won't end up paying cinquenta dolares ($50) instead of cinco dolares ($5) for that sombrero for Uncle George.
[Photo: Flickr |
ken2754@Yokohama]
by Jeff Stutzman (RSS feed) on Jun 21st, 2010 at 11:03AM
I'm a black belt in Kenpo Karate and I
hate missing a workout. The workouts keep me sane and balanced during periods of long travel. During one particularly long stint, I covered 22 countries in 18 month's time. At every stop, I asked the hotel
concierge to book a karate program with the local master.
In Tokyo, I worked with
Shorinji Kenpo in an elementary school; in Stockholm I worked out at Stockholm Athletic University;
Mexico saw me at Kempo Americano; and China was Tai Chi in the park at Guanzhou.
In short: just because you're traveling doesn't mean you can't exercise. In fact, pick your favorite workout and have a blast! You'll probably meet some new friends and have a great time. At the least, you'll feel good.
[Photo: Flickr |
Cheetah100]
by Christopher Seelie (RSS feed) on Jun 21st, 2010 at 11:03AM
Americans are used to either flying to a destination or driving on the interstate. However, don't pass up the chance to take the bus when traveling abroad.
Many bus companies offer more luxury accommodations than the national airline. Moreover, the cost is usually comparatively low -- even for long distance travel. Additionally, bus travel gives you the chance to see the local scenery and meet other travelers. Finally, there is no arduous security, so you can take your razor and as much shampoo as you like.
Just be sure to bring enough water and food.
[Photo: Flickr | E01]
by Alex Pollock (RSS feed) on Apr 26th, 2010 at 11:27AM
Looking for a cheap flight in a far-away place? Most low-cost carriers (like
Southwest in the US) don't list or sell their fares through aggregator websites (like
Expedia and Travelocity) -- you need to book directly with the airline.
To find out what low-cost carriers fly between any two given cities, check out
AirNinja. They let you enter in your starting airport (and a destination, if desired), and show what low-cost airlines have departures from that airport and where they go, complete with links out to the airline's own site for booking. And it's free!
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