Travel Tips & Advice
Wired Travel
Fed up of carrying heavy guide books around? Want to stay in touch with friends and family while you're a long way from home? It may be time to start travelling wired...
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Food & Drink Overseas
One of the joys of travel is wining and dining on truly authentic local cuisine. Yes, you can get Italian back home, but not like they make in Tuscany! They sell French wine at the local market, but not to compare to a bottle of Bordeaux in Bordeaux!
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Quick Tips for Smart Travelling
Below is a series of quick tips to make your travels smoother.
Vitals - Make a photocopy of your passport. Write any vital information on the back (emergency numbers, blood type, traveler's insurance policy number, mileage plan number, etc). Keep it separate from the original docs. If the worst happens, you'll be glad to have a handy referrence to your vital information.
Packing - Nothing ruins a great trip faster than overpacking. You will be miserable in the airport, miserable throughout your trip and miserable on the way back home. Your feet, back, neck, wrists and possibly your imortal soul, will ache. Rarely will you realize, partway through your travels, that you desperately need a couple of bricks, so leave them home. The same is true of half of the items you might otherwise pack. A good test is to pack and then take your luggage for a walk around the block a couple times. Then imagine you're late for your train. Do you feel like running the 11 blocks to get there on time, or should you maybe go unpack some uneccessary items?
Money Belts, etc - A money belt or small shoulder bag worn under your clothes is a must for traveling abroad where you will be carrying your cash and valuables. Spending cash for the day can be carried in a pocket not easily accesible by thieves, but keep the bulk of your valuables as close to your person as possible.
Sleeping in Public - If circumstances call for sleeping in public places (trains, train stations, bus terminals, etc), it's a good idea to somehow attach your bags to your person. Simply threading the straps through belt loops or a belt makes it more likely that a would-be thief would wake you up rather than get away with your bags.
Carry Food & Water - You never know when you might be out of luck finding an open shop or restaurant. Different countries have different customs and holidays, so it's always a good idea to keep a few lightweight snacks and a bottle of water on hand.
More to come...