TIPS FOR TRAVELERS
Many residents come to us for information on packing, what to take, security, customs, tipping, baggage, etc. A lot depends on the kind of trip; land tour, cruise ship, time of year and how long will you be gone.
Health is important while traveling. Doctors, dentists and a pharmacy may not always be available. Health care can be shabby at best in some foreign countries. Have a check-up and visit a dentist before leaving the country. Notify the airline, cruise line or tour director if you have any special dietary needs. If you’re diabetic, see your physician or diabetes professional before you travel, especially if you were recently diagnosed or are an infrequent traveler.
If you have a physical disability, get advanced travel information. Unlike the United States, many countries and tour places do not have elevators, ramps, etc. If you’re in a wheelchair, don’t tour Turkey, Greece or China!
Insurance to cover you on an expensive tour is essential at our retirement age. You can never predict what may happen in the future. Remember, Medicare stops when you leave the United States. Private and supplemental insurance may only pay a small amount out of the country. Travel insurance for health care is extremely important. Many of our (Sandpiper) trips include insurance. When you’re not covered, we will advise you! Then it is your responsibility to take coverage to protect yourself. Just be sure the cost of a full one-way economy fare is included and not just the package air price! You would pay the difference.
It is important to take extra medication in case of a trip delay, and duplicate prescriptions ( no matter where you travel) from your doctor, in case you should lose your medication. Better to have too much than run out in a foreign country. Know what medicine you take plus the dose and strength.
If shots are required for your destination, be sure to take care of that well before you go in case you have a reaction. Most shots can be obtained from the Polk County Health Department, but be sure to call for an appointment to be sure they have the right “stuff” on hand. Consult your doctor for a recommendation before getting the shots.
Arrange to pay any bills that may come due while your gone. (1) You might use ATF: Automatic Transfer of Funds with your bank. (2) You can prepay all bills that will come due by “estimating” what you will owe and send them a check. By paying a little more than normal you will receive a credit on next month’s bill. (3) You can write checks with the name of the company you expect a bill from, then have a trusted neighbor put in the amount and mail them for you when they arrive. Most utilities, credit cards, etc. have a penalty for late payment. If you’re gone a month or more, this could cost you a lot of money.
Send an itinerary to a member of your family just in case. They can always reach you at one of your hotels. If traveling by car in the U.S., make frequent calls to a designated family member.
A few other hints, research your destination or trip, have the car serviced if traveling in the U.S., and be sure to check the spare tire before you go! Be sure to call your credit card company and tell them you are traveling especially if you go to a foreign country, have pocket cash for tips and small purchases, and some travelers checks as back-up cash.
LUGGAGE
As I always say: “Always assume your luggage will be handled by a 500 pound gorilla and stepped on by at least one elephant! Buy luggage accordingly!” Expensive is not always the best choice.
A sturdy bag is a must, but anything you buy can be ripped or have parts broken off. Generally airlines are good about replacing damaged luggage on the spot. Inspect your bags upon arrival and if you have a problem, resolve it immediately before leaving the airport.
Generally, a bag measuring 30 X 18 X 10 inches can hold enough clothing for a two or three week trip. If you are taking a tour, or if a coach is involved, you are allowed one large bag and a carry-on. Many tour companies include portage for one bag and will charge for additional bags as much as $5/per day or more. We use a bag that has a zipper extension of about two inches. If we need more room on our journey we just un-zip for extra room. It’s amazing what you can put in an extra two inches! We have gotten by with this on tours.
Hand luggage size 17 X 14 X 8 is acceptable and will fit in most coach overheads. A carry-on with wheels just won’t fit in coach overheads. If the coach is full, there is no room for storage on the back seats. The driver may allow you to stow it underneath!
While the cruise line allows two bags per person, most airlines have extras charges for checked bags, if you are taking a coach at the beginning or end of your trip, you are limited to one bag! We have found that an additional roll bag or carry-on can be placed in your suitcase. If you buy a lot of items, you can hold it on your lap or place under your seat on the coach. Some tours will allow you to put them on the back seat. Just don’t count on the extra room. It’s not always there.
Since 9/11, airlines say you can bring one carry-on and a purse on board. We have seen many items that should have been stowed, brought onboard. It depends on the security at the gate.
Best suggestion, don’t push your luck!
You can buy some clear plastic bags that were advertised on TV that hold clothing, etc. By rolling the bag you squeeze the air out and compress the items. They do work and can be purchased at most luggage shops.
Put a label with your name, address & phone number both inside and outside your bag. Never leave your bag unattended. If found unattended by security, it will be removed and possibly confiscated by airline or cruise personnel.
Sometimes luggage can be delayed during air transport. They suggest a change of clothes in your carry-on. Always hand-carry medication and be sure to take extra in case of loss or trip delay.
It is the airlines responsibility to deliver your luggage to you en-route. Claims for lost luggage should be filled out and given to the airline before you leave the airport.
Recent research shows less than 29% of the travelers use everything they pack on a trip. Use the rule that less is better. “If in doubt, leave it out.”
A simple color coordination plan reduces the quantity of clothing required. For each week of travel, 5 or 6 tops or shirts and three skirts, Bermuda shorts or slacks that are coordinated are enough. Use sportswear for the day. (There may be restrictions on shorts and bare shoulders on some tours to religious shrines.) Plan on wearing clothing more than once! It’s perfectly proper to be seen in something more than once on a trip!
Always try to use wrinkle-resistant, easy care cotton/polyester clothing. Depending on your plans, one or two smart casual outfits for evenings. If you’re on a cruise or planning elegant restaurants or theater, you will need a dressier outfit.
As a general rule, pack one pair of comfortable walking shoes, one pair of dress shoes, sandals that double as slippers or pool shoes, enough underwear and socks so frequent laundry isn’t necessary, a warm sweater for evenings, an umbrella, light or medium jacket and a raincoat or poncho.
Cruises are easy! Swimsuits, or very casual during the day and something dressy at night. Formal does NOT mean renting a tux, bring it if you have it, but a suit or dress pants and sport coat with shirt and tie will suffice. For ladies, a dressy dress or coordinated pants suit. (Nobody has been made to walk the plank because of their evening dress!) Just go with the flow and enjoy!
Going through different climates or elevations will determine if you need some warmer clothes, so layering makes sense. If you are going on a tour or cruise, check the “Helpful Hints” in your travel documents. If you’re driving and staying at relatives, you can pack lighter and wash clothes.
Don’t forget sunscreen, sun hat and possibly swimwear depending on climate. Take a few “zip lock” bags for wet things, just in case!
If you go out of the country, pack a washcloth and bar of soap. Electric appliances may not work unless you have a converter. Converters are heavy with many adaptors. You could ruin whatever you plug in with the wrong voltage. Generally hotels have hair driers, irons, etc. Just ask at the desk.
Be sure your camera equipment is in working order before you leave, and bring plenty of spare batteries. Film (if you still have an old camera) and batteries on the road can be expensive.
Airport security X-ray may or may not damage your exposed film. Do not place film in your checked baggage. Put film in hand carry-on only. You can request a hand check. You can also buy a foil that protects your film, but when security can’t see what’s inside the foil, it will probably be hand checked anyway.
New digital cameras just need extra batteries. If you buy ni-cad batteries, you will probably bring a battery charger. In most foreign countries the current is different and unless you carry a heavy converter, you may not be able to use it. Some foreign hotels have a single 110V plug for shavers. You might get by with this even on 50 cycle. New cruise ships have at least one or more plug in the cabin with 110/120V.
Label your camera and camera bags with your name and tour code and/or address. Never leave cameras in your hotel room. We purchased a small digital camera that fits into a pocket or purse. We have a USB Card for our camera that will let us take over 500 pictures. We’ve never taken that many! If you need more pictures, have an extra USB Card. Since you can edit the pictures and erase what you don’t want or don’t like, you open up more space. I’m not a camera expert, but we have many residents that can help you make a selection.
Never take anything on a trip that will create an emotional or financial hardship if lost or stolen. Leave favorite or expensive jewelry at home. Empty your purse or wallet of anything you do not need. Leave extra keys at home. Leave your address book at home and just take a brief list of important addresses and phone numbers. Travel light!
Cash is needed for tips and conversion to foreign currency. Always take a little more than you think you’ll need. On 9/11, when we were stranded in England for six days, we were glad we had a little extra. When converting to foreign currency, there is a charge for this service. Try to cash enough for the trip. Each time you convert, there is a charge. There is also a charge to convert back to U.S. dollars. It can get pricy!
Credit cards like Visa and MasterCard are accepted worldwide. Be sure to call the company and tell them where and when you are going and for how long, especially out of the country. If you do not, you may be cut-off with one purchase. Discover card is NOT an international card and American Express is not accepted everywhere. Credit cards greatly reduce the amount of cash you have to carry. There may be a minimum you can charge in some places. By the way, if you go to a cash machine, charges usually start immediately.
Guard your money, traveler checks, jewelry, tickets, and passport. Always carry a list of your hotels in case you get lost. There are cloth devices you can wear around your neck or waist with zippered pockets that are very useful. These are available in luggage shops or at AAA.
Carry copies of your documents, ID, etc., with you, but, not all in the same place or pocket, guard the originals! Be sure to make a copy of all important documents just in case you need to replace something.
Carry a wallet in a side pocket and a purse under your arm. Again, don’t put everything in one place.
You’re an American citizen, travel anywhere in the United States by automobile or airplane and your state issued pictured driver license, is all the ID you will require.
A passport, which is valid for more than six months after your planned returned date, is required when traveling outside of the United States.
Plan on taking an airplane and the rules change. You MUST have a state or government issued photo ID if traveling in the United States. No picture ID, and you will not get on the aircraft. In fact, you won’t be allowed to enter the boarding area of the airport.
Acceptable Identification:
First: A STATE (GOVERNMENT) ISSUED BIRTH CERTIFICATE with a raised seal and a State or Government issued photo ID, like a driver license, state issued photo ID or military ID.
Second: A United States Passport is the preferred document.You can obtain passport forms at the Polk County Courthouse at E. Parker St. and Ingraham Ave. (Behind the old Sears Town shopping center.) or at a U.S. Post Office. Base cost is around $95.00 per person and they are good for 10 years from the date issued. You will need two 2” X 2” photographs and other documents as required on the forms. Mail to the address indicated on the form with a check for the proper amount of money.
The renewal is easy! If the old passport has not expired, fill out the renewal form, send your old passport, two pictures and a check. Pictures are readily available at Walgreen’s, AAA, or other sources in the area for a nominal cost.
Always mail your passport renewal by registered, return receipt requested, US Mail.
Note: Leaving the country and the rules change again. Travel to any country including Mexico, Canada and the Caribbean Islands and you will require a passport that is valid at least 6 months after you leave the foreign country. You might also require a Visa.
When traveling today, even in the United States, proper ID is required. You may need it to get into an attraction, theme park, ball park or anywhere a large number of people gather.
Most countries do not require a Visa to enter. However if required your travel agent should alert you. It is always your responsibility to obtain the visa (s) for the countries you are going to.
Sometimes you will need a visa to travel in or if you are just passing through certain countries, including many African nations, Brazil, Australia, Turkey and China required a visa. For Australia, we obtained the visa through the internet. In Turkey, you purchased the visa when you got off the plane, then you went through customs and immigration. For China, we had to fill out extensive forms, send photo ID and send all to a visa service. Be aware countries change visa requirements without notice.
If you go to a country that requires a visa, be sure to photo-copy those pages of your passport including the front pages with the passport numbers. This will make passport replacement easy if lost. You might also carry spare photos for passport replacement.
A good rule of thumb, carry copies of everything!
Be prepared; be sure you have proper documentation. I have heard of people being refused airport entry because they have the wrong documents. Don’t ruin your trip because you brought the wrong documents to the airport or cruise line.
Traveling by air or sea, and going through security is a new way of life. Be sure to arrive about 2-3 hours before your flight. (2 hours domestic flight, 3 hours out of the country.) Plenty of time may be needed!
First, a photo ID provided by a government agency means a state issued driver license, state issued photo ID or a passport. You must show this ID at check-in, at security and sometimes to get to the boarding area, and sometimes as you get ready to board the plane. Don’t complain, they are just doing their job keeping you safe.
New rules apply. In airports, you must not lock your luggage unless you have a “TSA” approved lock. All bags go through X-ray and if they must open and inspect something in the bag, they might cut a non-TSA lock. In some foreign airports you place your luggage on the machine, and wait until it passes through. If they must inspect, you may open the locked luggage and lock again after inspection.
Walking through the metal detector is a new experience! If you have one or two artificial knees and have been setting off the alarms, you’re directed to the side where you are checked with a hand detector or “wand.” You are also compelled to take off my shoes and men must remove their belts for inspection. Sometimes this takes from several minutes to a quarter-hour or longer. If you set off the alarm, you are checked very thoroughly. If you have a favorite pocket knife, nail file or anything sharp in your pocket, kiss it goodbye. It is confiscated. If you have to take it, pack it in your checked luggage. Then there are the new body scanners!
Caution:
When going through the security, never put your carry-on and/or purse on the X-ray machine conveyor until you are ready to walk through the metal detector. Hopefully, someone you are traveling with can go before you to get your bag and/or purse on the other side in case you set off the alarm. If you are told to step aside for security check, someone may grab your things and be gone before you can claim them.
Carry-on luggage:
Anything sharp like a knife, nail file, nail clippers, etc. is NOT allowed. They are taken from you. Bottles of shampoo, lotion, perfume, anything they cannot identify, etc. and small cans like shaving cream, will probably be pulled from the X-ray machine and be hand inspected. They want 3 ounce liquid bottles placed in a quart plastic zip lock bag and placed in the “tub” for inspection.
The most often asked question when we travel as a group: “How much should I tip?” Tipping is a personnel thing, and we hate to comment. Here are some guidelines you might want to follow!
If the suggested “tip” for a guide, driver, walk-on guide, etc. is listed as $3 to $5 per day, start at the lowest amount. You can always increase it to $4 to $5 per day depending on the service you receive. The better and more service you get, the higher the tip. Try to be generous!
If the suggested “tip” is a flat rate (say $3/day), and the service is exceptional, you can increase it. If poor service, you can always reduce the amount. But you should offer a tip!
Tour Director: This is the person who greets you, usually spends the entire tour with you, solves any problems you or the group may have, gets your hotel keys, keeps things moving, fills special requests, etc. How much is their service worth? Again, how good are they? The more they do for you and the group, the higher the tip! Try to be generous!
Walk-on guides: These are local guides who will take a group of tourists on a tour of a city, or specific place (usually 2 to 4 hours). How long a tour? How good are they? That depends on the amount you will tip. One to two dollars per person should suffice depending on time and quality. Many walk-on guides do this for a living or supplemental income. Try to be generous!
Cruising is a little different! You are urged to tip your Room Steward, Waiter, the Assistant Waiter and head waiter. Their service is usually very good. Most ships include the standard tip on your bill. You can have it removed if you are not satisfied with the service. They depend on your generosity for a living! Consider going to a fine restaurant for an eight-course meal. What would 15% of that cost amount to? These people rely on your tips for a living and they work very hard!
The wine or cocktail bill will include a 15% gratuity for each glass or bottle served. It’s part of the price!!
Should you get a free drink for some reason, don’t forget to tip the waiter!
Sometimes arriving at the ship, the Porters on the dock may look for a handout. Do not be intimidated! Giving a dollar and walking away should make them happy.
Note: Any dollar amounts shown were from last year (2020) and may have changed by now!
If you are on a tour, bellmen and maids are usually given minimum tips by the tour company. If they do something extra special for you, you can always leave a little extra.
When traveling on your own, it is customary to tip waitresses, waiters, bellman who carry bags, doormen if they do more than open a door (like getting you a cab or give you directions), room service, maids and any hotel person who does anything out of the ordinary for you.
There is some great news about tipping! Some countries include tips and some do not expect tips. Your travel guide or the tour company will usually tell you what is customary for the country you visit! If they do not, be sure to ask!
Tipping has become a way of life for travelers. Always carry single dollars and some change for tips. Never allow yourself to be intimated by someone providing a service.
Wherever you travel, the history, culture, language and way of life may differ. The use of an expert tour director and local guides will make the trip “come alive.” Traveling on your own is fine, but you might miss some things to see!
The English language is almost universal and communication is usually not a problem. If the person you are trying to communicate with does not speak English, a smile and a “thank you” are universal.
Friendliness and tolerance towards others, including your fellow tour members, tour director and your driver, is essential for everyone's enjoyment of the trip. When you travel, you should become a goodwill ambassador.
During your travels you will encounter new customs and different lifestyles. Enjoy the difference as this process of discovery and understanding is one of the many pluses of traveling.
Always remember, despite the most careful planning, last minute changes are sometimes unavoidable. Support your tour director if changes should happen. As an example, you plan a European river cruise and there is a flood. Boats cannot get under the bridges. Your tour resumes as a coach tour. (This happened to some of our residents.)
Nobody enjoys a chronic complainer. If you have to wait for something or are temporarily inconvenienced, keep your spirits up and go with the flow! Everything will work out!
A smile (or a cocktail at the bar) may help!
Good luck on your travels!