TRAVEL TIPS BY THE EXPERTS

No question about it: travel agents get around. Most of us joined this crazy business because we wanted an opportunity to travel—lots and cheaply. So, who better than travel agents to offer some sound and useful travel tips? Here, stolen directly from our web site’s “About Us” page is the accumulated wisdom of our staff and agents. For a bit about any of our agents, just click on their name.

Keep track of your photos by pre-labeling your film canisters. This will save the cost and aggravation of having 72 pictures of an iguana eating a banana. Also: read historical novels about the places you are going to visit. Annie.

Always carry basic picnic essentials. Cathy.

Always take an small, empty, foldable bag with you in your suitcase to carry home all your purchases - even if you don't think you'll do any shopping. You just never know what treasures you'll find! Corene.

A friend of mine went backpacking in Europe with a nuclear symbol patch sewn to his pack. He was also carrying an alarm clock that beeped. When checking into the Paris airport, the alarm clock went off and because of the nuclear symbol Paris police ripped his pack apart looking for a bomb. Moral of the story, don't backpack with a nuclear symbol sewn to your pack. Denese.

Unless you're headed to a beach where weather does matter, always travel in off-season. That way you avoid the line-ups, the tacky-touristy atmosphere, and inflated prices. Ignore all restaurant guides printed for tourists (usually found in your hotel room), as they are just paid advertisements. Ask store clerks and other locals for restaurant recommendations. They will usually lead you in the right direction. David.

Take half the clothes and twice the money! Grace.

Always pack a spare jar of Vegemite in case you find yourself in an uncivilized country! Jason.

Travel with an open mind, a positive attitude, and respect for other cultures. Jay.

If you are in a non-English speaking country, learn some basic words first before you go and the rest takes care of itself. Otherwise, trying to find the public washroom in a strange country can be challenging! Linda.

Always photocopy your passport and important documents before you leave home. Leave a copy at home, and take a copy with you in case of loss. Laura.

Don't use the public toilets in Europe. There is something about having to pay to use the facilities that just goes against my grain -- especially when they are so dirty. I just went into the pubs and asked to use the toilet. They were clean and free. Not once was I refused. Lindy.

Carry at least $20.00 in US dollar bills for tips; and photocopy your passport. Margaret.

Leave your valuables at home; just who do you think you're impressing anyway! Marie.

Always expect the unexpected. Be determined to have fun, no matter what. Martha.

If you ever get one of those rooms in the tropics that only activate the air-conditioning when the key card is placed in a special slot, try inserting an unimportant plastic card (eg. phone card) from your wallet. That way, the air-conditioning stays on when you leave, and you don't have to return to a sweltering room. Maureen.

All work and no play makes you boring: take a vacation! Michele.

When travelling the back roads of the Lone Star State at night beware. The big gray rock-like impediments in the middle of the road are really slow moving turtles, and the row of armadillos on either side of the road are waiting until they can see your headlights before they start their nocturnal games of "red rover". If you should see a skunk scuttling across the road, avoid it at all cost: your sense of smell may never recover from a close encounter with one of those little guys!" Mickey.

Always take a change of clothes in your carry-on, just in case your bags wind up in Timbuktu. Bring lots of film. Regine.

Take twice as much film as you think you need (the cost of film abroad can be exorbitant!) If you plan to snorkel or scuba dive, bring your own underwater camera.
Shirley.

When you pack, leave room for the shopping you bring home. (“I had to buy a duffel bag in London to fit all of my purchases.”) Tara.

Pack small items inside your shoes for extra space. Roll up your clothes. If you have to fold items, do it where they will naturally crease, like the elbows, knees, etc. Bring small gifts to leave for the housekeeping staff. Always buy travel insurance. Teresa.


A few extra quotes from friends of ours:

The world is a book, and those who do not travel read only a page. ~St. Augustine

I love to travel, But hate to arrive. ~Albert Einstein

Travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry, and narrow-mindedness. ~Mark Twain

The traveler is active; he goes strenuously in search of people, of adventure, of experience. The tourist is passive; he expects interesting things to happen to him. He goes "sight-seeing." ~Daniel J. Boorstin

Travelers never think that they are the foreigners. ~Mason Cooley

I travel a lot; I hate having my life disrupted by routine. ~Caskie Stinnett

Like all great travellers, I have seen more than I remember, and remember more than I have seen. ~Benjamin Disraeli

Venice is like eating an entire box of chocolate liqueurs in one go. ~Truman Capote


The coldest winter I ever spent was a summer in San Francisco. ~Mark Twain

Vacation used to be a luxury. In today’s world, it has become a necessity. ~Anonymous.

We hit the sunny beaches where we occupy ourselves keeping the sun off our skin, the saltwater off our bodies, and the sand out of our belongings. ~Erma Bombeck

And, the last word on the subject goes to a nice commercial web site, www.freetraveltips.com, which is nicely organized just like any good traveller should be and has truly useful recommendations.