|
14. Taking care of feeding and fuelling the human machine is important.
When travelling, it is all about energy and stamina. How far can you go and keep
on going? Whether on a led tour or even for travelling alone, it is wise to have
handy some 'snack packs' and tit-bits.
These could include raisins, nuts, cheese and crackers, small foil envelopes
of tea and coffee, and fresh fruit. Instant breakfast drinks might also help to
replenish and re-energize, when you need it most. Having a snack handy or as a
quick pick-me-up, could be a lifesaver and is considered a necessity, not a
luxury! It will also save you money and exercising the option to have "healthy"
alternatives on-hand, will keep you protected from that dreaded holiday pounds
that add on so quickly as well!
15. Verify flight details down to the smallest detail. Ensure you can
answer questions about your trip and are knowledgeable about the terminology
used on your booking and ticket. For example: What is the difference between
non-stop and direct flights? Yes, the price mostly!
BUT ALSO: Non-stops do not stop while direct flights may stop several times,
but the passengers do not change planes. Check with your travel agent or
airlines if you have any doubt. Know how long your stopover will be, which city,
location or airport the connection flights will be through, how much time
in-between and if delayed what your options are.
16. Forward thinking, anticipating, organizing and PLANNING all protect
your travel interests, saves money and avoids unnecessary costs. A most
helpful currency you have besides your travel funds and monetary resources is
knowledge and information. The more you know about the destinations and places
you will be visiting, the more rewarding, and safe, enjoyable, memorable and
fiscally successful your visit will be! A word to the wise: do not over-analyze
and worry too much, constantly forgetting that this is about being a little
spontaneous as well.
17. In addition to the small bills amount you carry with you, transport
most of your monetary funds in something like guaranteed travellers checks.
These are freely available through most local banks. Keep denominations to low
figures is mostly advised. If however, you are worried about transaction fees on
smaller amounts, get a couple of larger denominations to be on the safe side.
As a precautionary security measure, to save money and avoid difficulty,
delay and inconvenience, remember to keep a list of the numbers of the checks
somewhere separate from the checks themselves in case they are lost or stolen.
Guard ATM and credit cards and do not carry all your money in one place!
18. Verify medical conditions, travel and health advisories. Once you
have picked your destination, it will serve you well to explore all health
matters, including medical insurance and travel coverage you have and need.
Visit your medical practitioner/doctor prior to your trip to ask about
immunizations prescriptions and more. Find out what basic and special medicines
to take along. Ensure you know what to do in case of an emergency. Have the
numbers and all insurance information handy.
19. Optical tools like glasses and contact lenses, cleaning solutions,
eyeglass repair kit etc, are all travel necessities if you wear them. Ensure
they are on your pre-departure, out-the-door checklist. Good advice to
eyeglass-wearers: take an extra pair of glasses, as well as either a copy of the
existing or a new prescription for your glasses, just in case you might need
them.
|
