One of the most frustrating elements of escaping can be the small disasters that threaten to derail a trip. We've all been there- despite the advance planning, the guidebooks, and all the preparations, sometimes the deck is stacked against us. Below we list some common problems, and some strategies we've used to reduce their impact...
Lost in Space: These days it seems our bags at least get lost more often than ever (even on direct flights!) After a good friend spent a fortune tramping around London in search of undergarments and a jacket while his bags took an around the world tour without him, we learned to always pack a full change of clothes in our overnight bag. Yes yes, Mom's been telling us this for years, but we're finally listening...
Antiques Roadshow: No matter where you are, you're likely to pick up some kind of souvenirs from your trip, and if you didn't plan ahead, you're likely to be stuck trying to cram them into your already overstuffed luggage. After our own Turkish lamp incident in Istanbul, we learned to always pack an empty duffel bag in our suitcase. Between the space the duffel leaves in the suitcase, and the duffel itself, you are likely to have enough space to bring home your delightful goodies...
Postcards from the Edge: We're ambivalent on postcards ourselves, but Mom always sends enough to keep the postal service of a small country afloat for a year. After wasting entire afternoons addressing cards, we finally had a brainwave- now we print up addess labels for Mom before she leaves. Labeling the cards is a lot faster than addressing them was, and the pre-printed labels help her remember exactly how many postcards to buy at every step along the way...
One Hour Photo: We made the move to a digitial point and shoot four years ago and have never looked back, though we will admit that film cameras can be easier to maintain in some exotic locales. We've learned that hard way that while AA batteries and film are available everywhere, proprietary batteries and flash cards are both harder to find and substantially more expensive. We now make sure to travel with extra batteries and extra memory cards just in case...
Mean Streets: The last thing you want is for a lost or stolen wallet to ruin your vacation. Always photocopy all of your credit cards (front and back) and your passport before you leave. Keep one set of copies with you (but separate from the actual passport and cards) and leave one with someone you trust back home. If your wallet is stolen, you'll be better prepared to report the lost cards, and having a copy of your passport can certainly speed the replacement process at the Embassy...
Finally, expect the unexpected. No one can plan for every contingency, but you can commit to enjoying yourself no matter what happens. Be flexible- when it snowed on us in Venice of all places, we cursed the weather gods for a bit, then adjusted our sightseeing plans to include frequent cafe stops to warm up and dry off. Best of all, we learned to laugh about the whole thing. Every single person who called to say "Happy Birthday" also said "but it never snows in Venice!" which now serves as our mantra anytime we hit a travel-related bump in the road...
Do you have a favorite travel tip to share?
© 2009 Apartment Therapy
organization: check hours, etc., of anything and everything you want to visit. Not all museums are closed on Monday. Some restaurants are only open for dinner (or closed between lunch and dinner). Special exhibitions in some museums require separate admissions. More that are checked out in advance, fewer problems later on.
view JonathanB's profile
Re: Stolen wallets
Men shouldn't travel with wallets in their hip pocket - even if it's not stolen, I saw wallets simply flop out of guys jeans on trains and busses recently.
Better to get a passport wallet/billfold that fits in the inside chest pocket of your blazer.
view bepsf's profile
Rather than packing an extra duffle that you may be charged for on the plane, use the local postal services and ship your goodies home. I've shipped kitchen knifes from Provence, silk shawls from Barcelona, posters from Paris, and pottery from Florence. It takes a little while, but it's always been worth it.
view kimg924's profile
kimg924: I've had great success mailing back from Europe, but much less success in lesser developed countries.
Depending on the length of my trip, I like to copy the relevant pages of the guidebook so I can leave the heavy book at home. If I only have one or two days for sightseeing, I know I will only be able to hit the highlights. This tip is especially useful if you're going to several different places in a short amount of time- those books really add up in terms of weight...
view mcq's profile
Yes, mcq, I second photocopying relevant guidebook pages. Once or twice, I've just ripped pages right out of the book. I highlight and date any of the attractions or cafes that I visit, so I remember exactly where I've been. Then I add the pages to my scrap book or travel journal.
I also look at postcards and try to recreate the best shots, with me and my friends in the picture. Obviously, this doesn't always work as some photographers use ladders or have access to spaces that I wouldn't. Still, its helped me take better pictures than I would on my own.
view gquaker's profile
For paper docs, email yourself the backup copies to an address you can access online. Even if you won't have a computer with you, if things get so bad you need proof of a passport, chances are you'll by then be in a location that does have a computer.
view home body's profile
Travel with carry-on bags only... I recently went to St. John for our wedding/honeymoon and Los Angeles for business with no checked luggage, and it made it so much easier. With all the transfers, missed flights, taxis, ferries and mad dashes across the tarmac, I was so relieved not to have to worry about where my stuff was. See this video for inspiration:
How to Travel the World with 10 Pounds or Less
view SisterRae's profile
make photocopies of your passport, credit cards and any other important things you have while traveling and keep them in a separate spot, so that if the originals are stolen, you still have the documentation and credit card numbers in some form in case something happens.
view MFlick's profile
You guys worry too much. Salut from France, with no passport photocopy, guide book or list of opening hours, but with my wallet in my pants and plans to check at least one bag on the way back...
view particlebored's profile
All these are good ideas and I like to be prepared but most important is just to go with the flow. I've survived lost luggage in Valencia, a sick child in Florence, and two flat tires in Ravello. We cope with all this stuff at home and survive it, why should we melt down on vacation?
view liebs's profile
i suggest you travel to with an extra ATM card JUST IN CASE (ask someone you trust IE; a relative to bring their ATM card with you) ...i 've heard stories where a European ATM machine eats your card up and you are stuck w/o one!
view jsamoNYC's profile
I second liebs's advice. you just have to be flexible and go with it. The first trip my parents and I took to Europe, it was one strike after another. who knew that the Italian museum workers would be so dissatisfied with their pay? you just have to be prepared for the fact that your plans might not go just as you want or as you expected.
and if you miss something (we were literally just about to enter the botticilli rooms at the uffizi when the strike started), it just means that you have a really good reason to go back.
and you will always have a good story to tell...
view lcg's profile
I did have my passport, camera and all manner of most important things stolen on a european trip (in prague) and yes, having a copy of your passport is invaluable.
Also extra money not with your other money/credit cards/etc...I had to beg/borrow/steal to get TO the consulate/wire transfer pickup. Also note that many consulates are only open for half a day (shutting down @ noon) so get there early. Um, they also made me get a couple more wallet size pics for the temporary passport which I almost was not able to get in time from the rickety czech photobooth in the metro there. I guess I could have done those before hand but that's just inviting disaster.
Anyhow, the lady at the consulate was very pleased I had a photocopy of my passport (how else can you prove you are a citizen of said nation?)
view juliaonhamilton's profile
It snowed on my last trip to Venice, too. There was something wonderful about seeing the gondolas with snow on them.
view Cassis's profile
Never ever check your bags (except on the return trip)... not only because of misconnects but if somehow your schedule changes and you show up earlier and would like to get on an earlier flight, its too much hassle if you have checked luggage.
We love to shop, so we always pack a spare duffle. Even, with the duffle, we are usually still within the one rollaboard and one "personal item" allowed as carryon. The rule is, if you can't take it with you, don't buy it, however nice it is. Sometimes, if its a large piece, we will bring it as checked luggage - at least we have some what of a "supervision" of the package rather than relying entirely on a shipping service. In certain countries (like China), always always make sure you watch them pack the items that you purchased to take with you. Never have them pack in the back and then give you the final packed box...you don't want any surprises when you get home.
Email all important documents to your blackberry including scanned pages of your passport info page AND all visas and travel documents.
Enter all emergency contact in your speed dial including emergency numbers for all the embassies, medicevac, insurance etc. Register yourself with embassies so you get updates.
Final tip and a very important one (especially going to high risk countries), make sure you have everything that you need for a quick evacuation on you when you leave the hotel room daily. Basically, you should always have your passports, any tickets, documentation, cellphone, camera, cash, credit cards. We go on the premise that if we suddenly need to leave the country while we are out and about, we can leave with just the stuff in our pockets and everything in the hotel can be left behind.
view crewtag.com's profile