Linda Gold says she always takes along “… a book I've been dying to read, a journal, a bathing suit, makeup,
toothbrush & toothpaste, and a cute t-shirt in my carry-on. That way, if luggage gets lost (as it too often does),
I don't get upset. I'll be ok for the next day or so.” Benadryl is also always on-hand for long trips, she adds.
B- Before you go:
Tourism boards are a great free service you can access over the Internet and by snail mail. I just got back from
Valencia, Spain and found the tourism and convention and visitor’s bureau incredibly helpful with recommendations
on where to stay, what to see and restaurant recommendations. Details: www.spain.info and www.turisvalencia.es
Visit the local bookstores and get the right guidebooks for your trip. There are overall guides and specialty books
for every interest and budget. I love the “Born to Shop” series by Frommers. Instead of lugging these heavy books
on your trip though, rip out the pages you want or photocopy them. Your back will thank you.
Don’t believe everything you read. These same guidebooks often say reservations are unnecessary, which is why
my husband and I wasted part of our honeymoon trudging along the streets of Paris in the rain trying to find a hotel
room for the night! At a minimum, make hotel reservations for your arrival and departure day.
C-Cameras and computers
For those taking a digital camera, which is pretty much everyone these days, travel stores sell voltage/plug
converters for the battery charger. If you must bring your laptop, get a converter adapter kit before you go.
The good news is that they are less cumbersome than in the past.
D-Directions
Now there is no excuse for getting lost. Tasman is selling map scarves. These silk scarves of London, Paris, Rome,
New York, San Francisco, Washington DC, Venice and Berlin, are actual detailed city maps that are as functional
as they are beautiful. You can buy this accessory guilt-free since it doubles as a directional device.
For details: www.mapscarves.com
E-Euro
One of the great things about visiting Europe now is the euro. This common exchange rate means you only need
one form of currency and it’s easier to figure out conversion rates. While waiting for my departing plane, I convert
some money at the airport to make sure I have some money for essentials when I arrive, such as coffee or a cab fare.
After that I use my ATM, which doesn’t charge a junk fee, unlike credit cards.
F-First Luggage
If you’re incapable of packing light, follow Hugh Grant’s lead and have your luggage sent ahead to your destination.
First Luggage LTD will ship your luggage to your hotel so you can avoid long lines at customs, an aching back, and
the pain of missing baggage. It’s ideal for skiers, golfers, big families, seniors and high maintenance women who
pack their closets for a weekend trip. Working with Fed EX, First Luggage picks up your suitcase, tracks it, makes
arrangements with the hotel to store your bag before your arrival, and takes care of customs.
From America to Europe, First Luggage charges $575 dollars roundtrip per suitcase, but it may be worth it if your
suitcase is heavier than the airline’s weight restrictions since the airlines are cracking down on overweight bags
and charging fines. There is also a new, cheaper spin-off service called “Carry my Case.” The fee is $300.00 for
customers who are computer savvy since they must use the Internet to fill out the forms, track the bag and makes
their own arrangements with the hotel. The website: www.firstluggage.com
G-Germs
Removing your shoes at the airport can expose your feet to dirt and fungi like athletes foot. Disposable Feetwrap
foot covers create a barrier between your soles and the heavily trafficked terminal floor. For details go to
www.mgellans.com
H-Hotels
Make the site: www.tripadvisor.com your friend. With unbiased reviews written by other travelers, it’s a great place
to check out restaurants and hotels.
If you want to save money and have a more local experience, you should look into trading houses with people
around the world. There are a number of websites you can google.
I-Insurance
Since 9/11, travel insurance is popular. Compare plans at www.travelinsurancecenter.com and make sure you
read the fine print so you know what’s covered and how to get reimbursed. For example, some companies demand
a doctor’s note if you become ill. Check on whether your health insurance covers you abroad, and if not, consider
purchasing travel medical care. Leave a copy of your itinerary with family or friends at home in case they need to
contact you in an emergency. Many European countries, like Spain, will treat you for free—the same price they
charge their citizens.
J-Join
Be sure and join the airline/hotel mileage plus plan before you go. It’s an easy way to get something free for a future
trip. If you don’t belong to an airline’s club you can still go for the day. At $50.00 a day it can be worth it for the
shower, free food and internet access. The clubs will deduct that fee from your membership should you decide
to join.
K- kids
To keep kids occupied consider investing in a portable DVD player so they can watch their favorite movies and
give you a guaranteed hour and a half of silence.
L-Language
Learn a few phrases in the local language to make your trip more pleasant. In Europe a shop owner considers a
store part of their home, so when a customer enters and exits they always issue a greeting. In France, a cheerful
bonjour and avoir, (hello and goodbye), for instance, will assure friendlier service.
M- Money
At one chic boutique in Paris a few years ago, the clerk turned up her nose and said my credit was no good.
Mystified, I called the number on the back of my card and learned the bank had cancelled my Visa when they
spotted unusual purchases in France and suspected theft. While I was grateful they were watching out for me,
it was embarrassing and frightening to be without a credit card. Now I alert Visa before I go on a trip.
Before you leave home, be sure you know your bankcard pin number, not just the password. I’ll never forget the
time I visited Taiwan and couldn’t get any cash because I only knew the letters to my secret pin, not the numbers,
and the Chinese symbols on the ATM don’t correlate to the English alphabet.
P- Passport
You’ll need a passport for European travel and the US government advises applying at least 6 weeks before your trip.
Forms are available at: www.travel.state.gov. If you need a passport faster it can be done…for a price. I once let my
passport deadline slide and had to get it renewed in a few days for a trip to Paris. It cost me $60.00, plus overnight
postage, on top of the regular $97.00 fee!
Make sure you put your legal name, not a nickname or abbreviation on your passport, to avoid problems with customs
officials. My friend at the US Embassy in Paris begged me to ask readers to make a copy of their passport.
If it’s lost or stolen, a copy will make obtaining a replacement much easier.
S-Suitcase
Europeans are more fashion conscious than Americans so if you want to blend in, leave the baseball hat at home.
Wear longer shorts, dressier sandals, and avoid t-shirts. I take everything out of my close that I am considering
packing, try them on and put together outfits for each day.
If you wear glasses, pack an extra pair. Bring medicine in its original labeled container to avoid problems at customs.
Don't bring anything you would hate to lose. Leave at home: all unnecessary credit cards and jewelry.
I pack scarves instead, which can double as a top, belt, headband or map if it’s a Tasman!
T-Travel Agent:
I know it’s a dirty word in Silicon Valley but there may be something better than the internet-a person!
Many people shy away from travel agencies mistakenly believing it’s more expensive than planning a trip
independently. An experienced travel agent anticipates problems. On my first trip to Australia I was at the
SFO ticket counter when I learned I needed a visa, in addition to a passport. Fortunately a United Airlines agent
was able to issue me the document, but a good talent agent would have arranged one before the trip.
Linda Gold says her travel agent made it possible for her to travel with her children. “As a single mom with kids,
then teenagers, I could not have imagined doing vacations without my awesome travel agent,
Velma (Chen-Martin Travel),” says Gold. She took care of EVERYTHING for us--all we had to do was pack and
show up at the airport.”
V-VAT
Most European countries will reimburse taxes to Americans on purchases over a certain amount but you have to ask.
In Spain for example, it’s 16%. It’s a complicated process where you have to fill out forms at the store and go to a
specific station at the airport to get your money. If you’re spending a lot in one store however, it can be worth it.
XYZ
While I’ve learned over the years that planning is necessary for a pleasant vacation, some of my best memories
are the holidays where things went haywire. How you handle mishaps will make all the difference.
Try looking at a missed connection or being lost in a foreign city as an adventure. Maybe you’ll be glad your
schedule was upset…just like some people are happy the Valley’s bubble burst.
