It’s time to travel! It’s summer. The kids are out of school. You have vacation from work. Maybe you’re going to Europe. Maybe you’re staying right around your own backyard. But we want to know your travel tips. Things that make your trip better.
For instance, here at Pimsleur Method we think before you head out on any trips, you should learn the lingo. If you can, learn a bit of the language. Even if it’s just a few basic sentences or words. Not only will you find it helpful, but when a local can see that you have tried to speak their language they will be much more willing to help. So visit PimsleurMethod.com to start learning today.
Other travel tips:
- Store your memory. Always take the memory card out of your digital camera and store it seperately. That way, if someone steals your camera, they don’t have all your pictures.
- Take a lightweight scarf. A lightweight scarf doesn’t take up much space but can become very handy at times. You can transform it into a pillow, sarong, towel, sun shield, blanket and also a way to cover your shoulders and hair if the local culture calls for it.
So now we want to hear from you! Please share with us your favorite travels tips.
1. Comment by Jenn
2/Jun/2010 at 8:38 am
If I’m traveling to a place where I think I might have stomach problems due to the food or water, I take pepto bismol tablets…2 before every meal. This is supposed to help coat your stomach so that you don’t get sick. It has worked for me.
2. Comment by Jorge Gonzalez
2/Jun/2010 at 9:16 am
When going to Europe these days of falling Euro, I checked with my local bank and was able to purchase Euros to take with me, thus locking in to today’s favorable rates and avoiding the commissions and fees that apply when you try to exchange travellers checks or money overseas.
3. Comment by Laurian Bowles
2/Jun/2010 at 9:22 am
This is such an underrated part of the international travel experiences for most of us from the US. We want to travel to a foreign land and then become increasingly frustrated that there is no one that speaks English who can help us. Then when we’re back home, we’re annoyed by visitors who cannot communicate in English! Even if its just please, thank you and goodbye, I always strive to learn something of the language when I travel to a new place…
4. Comment by Brad
2/Jun/2010 at 9:30 am
I travel from Eastern USA to China frequently and have found that the methods discussed in “Overcoming Jet Lag” by Charles Ehret to be very helpful. Ehret’s short book provides several concepts, including maintaining a consistent meal schedule (with focus on high protein breakfast/lunch and high carb dinner); switching to “destination time” as soon as you board the aircraft; and using caffeine to “tweak” your body clock, by drinking coffee or tea at certain prescribed times. One final point is to drink lots of water. I am about 230 lbs, and drink 3 to 4 quarts/liters of water on the 15 hour flight. It seems like a lot but the aircraft atmosphere is VERY dry.
best……. Brad
5. Comment by Duane yarde
2/Jun/2010 at 9:35 am
Separate your travel funds….. Although airlines and airport staff are very efficient luggage can still get lost or arrive late, so it might be best to keep some of your travel funds on your person and the rest in your luggage. That way you can still get by should your luggage get lost/delayed or worst yet robbed!!
6. Comment by tati
2/Jun/2010 at 9:47 am
Unfortunately, no travel for us this year–we bought a house. One of the things we do when we travel by air, though, is to arrive early. I know everyone is told to do this but a lot of people still think they can get to the airport last minute; they are then greatly frustrated by the time they board the plane. I would rather be there early and not worry about the lines at security. I can sit at my gate with a coffee and work on a crossword or read. I’d rather spend the time sitting rather than being aggravated
7. Comment by gbcheeks
2/Jun/2010 at 9:48 am
In America I rarely go around with lots of cash in my wallet. I have my Visa and my ATM card with me at all times, and in general, I don’t change my habits very much when I travel in Western Europe. Make sure to talk to your credit card company and bank before you go on your vacation to ensure that you won’t have any problems using your cards abroad. They often will put holds on your cards if they see activity in unusual places. Also see if there are any extra fees associated with using your cards abroad, just to be sure.
8. Comment by rinhaak
2/Jun/2010 at 10:14 am
gbcheecks is right; always call your credit card company ahead of time. A few years ago I was in Amsterdam with only my credit and ATM cards, neither of which were working (the bank had put a hold on them when they saw international activity). I had no cash, no credit card, and couldn’t use the ATM!
9. Comment by K
2/Jun/2010 at 11:08 am
Great ideas, thanks for sharing them!
10. Comment by Edie
2/Jun/2010 at 2:30 pm
I pack all dark color clothes, right down to the underwear. They don’t show dirt as much, and when it’s time to launder them, they can all go into the same load, which makes things so much easier. I’ve had some great moments in foreign laundromats — people are bored and eager to talk! I’ve gotten great tips on things to see and do or places to eat, puzzles of the local culture illuminated, and I learned a better way to fold fitted sheets! It takes a little time, but beats the heck out of washing things out in my hotel room. By the way, I bring my luggage with me and pack it directly from the drier — also a great time saver.
11. Comment by Jazer
2/Jun/2010 at 5:58 pm
I always have 2 wallets. One wallet contains money, A.T.M. and an I.D. while the other wallet contain my credit card and another I.D. I carry most of the time the wallet with the money while the wallet with the credit card is in the hotel deposit box. That way, if I lose a wallet I still have another one to tide me over.
12. Comment by Pamela
2/Jun/2010 at 8:04 pm
I would LOVE to drink lots of water on the airplane, but I thought airlines don’t allow anyone to bring liquids on board any more. How do you get to do this???
13. Comment by majtms
2/Jun/2010 at 8:05 pm
I always carry a small notebook with me when I travel, to make notes of things I want to see or words I want to translate later. After trip I use the notes to make plans for future trips. Also, it’s nice to have paper to exchange email or snail-mail addresses.
14. Comment by Takashi
2/Jun/2010 at 8:27 pm
As I go through airports, especially in US, I wear a metal-free belt with a plastic buckle, which does not respond to the metal detector and save your time. Since such a belt was not around me, I prepared a hand-made one. I borrowed the plastic buckle of a used pet-savor life jacket from my dog (which happened to be of the perfect size), and combined it with a cheap cloth belt.
15. Comment by Wendy
3/Jun/2010 at 10:48 pm
I always bring ziplock bags with me when I travel. They often come in handy. Also, to save money at the airport, I bring instant oatmeal packets and just ask for hot water at Starbucks or any other restaurant in order to cook it.
16. Comment by Brad
16/Jun/2010 at 8:02 am
A belated answer to Pamela’s question about water on board the aircraft. The rules on water vary from place to place. Currently in the US you are ALLOWED to bring on bottled water which you purchased at the airport after clearing security. In some other places (e.g. Japan and China) this is not true- they don’t allow bottled water at all. So, in the US you are (at the moment) allowed to do this… as long as you enrich the merchant at the airport.
17. Comment by ines
21/Jun/2010 at 4:06 am
I will take a scarf with me on my next trip. Thank you suggestion.