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When visiting any Disney
theme park you will find lockers as you enter the park. Rent a
locker, put all your things in there so you won't have to carry them
around all day. You can easily return to the locker and put things
in and take things out.
- Janet Etheridge, USA
Come to beautiful New Zealand but remember we are Aotearoa - The
Land of the Long White Cloud and though the climate is temperate we
are an island nation and often have Four Seasons in One Day - we
even have a song about it!! Please pack accordingly to ensure you
can enjoy every day as you stay and play. We meet many tourists who
often comment in Winter - "I only have really warm clothes with me "
and it is gloriously sunny, or in summer - "I didn't pack a jacket "
and we have a small southerly blow through - I suppose our retailers
do well!!!
- Paddy-Ann Pemberton, NZ
If
you are going through multiple airports and
changeovers on your travels, ensure you go
online and print a map of the facility so you
can quickly and efficiently find your way to the
gate of interest, washrooms, restaurants, etc.
-
Darci Paice-Bailey, Canada
When
staying in a city for a goodly amount of time,
check out the coupons, on line. Special offers,
half price deals, two for one, percentage off
meals.
If this doesn't work for you, buy an
Entertainment Book. For AUD 60 you get around
AUD 10,000 worth of savings on food (take away
for the kids 5* for adults), there are loads of
discounts on tourist attractions, accommodation
(around the world), even car hire!
I've
been buying them for years and the boys jump up
and down when I open the book and say, "What
would you like to do today?"
P.S.
The boys school has the Entertainment Book as a
fundraiser and yours might too!
- Jonathan Pring, Australia
Vacations are a great way to clean out your
closet. I take old clothes, everything from t-shirts to underwear,
that are old, need replacing, or just worn out. After wearing them,
I just leave them in the hotel room. It's a great way to get rid of
old garments plus it makes room in your suitcase to put souvenirs.
-
Steven Barnes,
USA
Always have more small
change of notes when traveling. I was in an underdeveloped country
for a working trip last year. I took out my wallet to pay for items
I bought on the street and the seller just took my note and
reluctant to return the balance to me. I did not mind if the balance
was of a small amount, but it was a disgusting attitude. It took a
long time before i talked him out AND I truly advise you or anyone
on earth to be aware of the foreign notes and to have smaller change
with you when traveling. It's not worth the time and argument.
-
Jeffrey Tan, Malaysia
Many
people, including myself initially, are under the mistaken
impression that thick cotton socks are best in cold weather (10
degrees - 18 degrees C). I learnt the hard way that this is not
true. After a day of hard walking, I would find that my poor feet
are deathly cold at night and no amount of massaging could bring
warmth back into them. (I had to soak them in warm water, which is
bothersome considering I am dog-tired and dying to get some sleep).
I couldn't understand
why my footsies should be semi-frostbitten despite a double layer of
thick cotton sports-socks until a recent TV documentary on how to
survive in sub-zero temperatures apprised me of my folly. Cotton
socks, no matter how thick, simply lets the cold, and worse,
moisture, in. Solution: Wear woolen socks. And if you are allergic
to wool, wear your woolens over cotton socks. There! The solution to
happy feet in the coldest of climes.
-
Aaron Samuel, Malaysia
Never throw out that last drop of champagne. Instead, rub lemon
juice and sugar over your hands like a scrub and rinse with the
remainder of the champagne that under no circumstances you can
possibly drink. Beats a milk bath!
- Saskia Pryce, Australia
Museum and attraction tickets may be expensive in Europe. Check
whether local multipurpose cards are available (Verona Card, etc...)
that cover both public transportation and entry to museums. Even
better, check public holidays - most museums are free of charge on
big holidays or first Sunday in month. We visited France for May 1st
weekend and entered all major museums (Louvre, Picasso, etc..) free!!!!!!!
- Tamara Tutnjevic, Switzerland
For single traveller: when entering washroom with wet/ less hygenic
floor, often we face problem of handling our luggage. Always standby
newspaper/ plastic cover sheet in our luggage and place it on the
floor. This can prevent our belongings from getting dirty or wet.
Dispose after use if necessary.
- Chua Ya Lan, Malaysia
After recently
travelling Europe & U.K. for 27 days you do have a few cups of
coffee & other refreshments. Our Tip is ensure you have small change
up to a Euro. Perhaps even "budget" at maybe 4 Euro a day.... to use
the public loos. Even burger King in Amsterdam charged .30 euro. At
least they are clean!
- Mark Wilson, New Zealand
If you have a dripping tap/faucet in the bathroom of your hotel,
simply tie a length of cotton or dental floss to the tap and instead
of the water dripping out, it will run down the length of the cotton
and aid a less disturbed sleep.
- Helen Duffy, UK
If you travel in Southern Europe, and stay in Places with No A/c?
Buy a SMALL electric fan and a Transformer to get 110w (Radio Shack)
or Buy one there and leave it when You fly home...it will be worth
its weight in Gold
- William R. West, USA
Do research on national holidays before you travel. You might not
just end up with a trip but with lovely memories of a countries
unique celebration that you would otherwise never be part of.
Culture is awesome!
- Austin Paice, Canada
If you are going to be staying in a city for more than just a few
days, consider renting a studio apartment. They are often less
expensive than a hotel room, and you have the added benefit of a
kitchen, which saves money. You can dine out for one meal a day, and
shop at the grocery store for coffee, breakfast, picnic supplies,
and snacks. Really gives your budget a break!
- Lola, USA
Always ensure that when getting a taxi that it has a meter and that
the meter is reset before you start the journey. Take time to
research your destination on the internet. It can help to get more
out of your holiday and save you wandering around aimlessly.
- Bernie Lund, UK
Here's a great tip to make your hotel stay more problem-free,
especially at night! Carry a small "night-light" in your bag and
plug it into the bathroom outlet wherever you stay...When you wake
up in the middle of the night, you'll be able to find your way
without putting on the entire bright, blinding overhead light...and
you won't awaken your roommate! (Just remember to take it with you
when you leave...It's easy to overlook when departing!)
- George Haber, USA
Plan your trip out well
before you go. Use the internet as a helpful tool and definitely use
the holiday flash website! You can easily book your hotel stays and
figure out your budget for the trip as well as find links for fun
things to do. As a bonus you might even win a free hotel stay like I
did!!!
- Darci Paice-Bailey, Canada
If you are a non-smoker or if you have allergies to nicotine ensure
you let the hotel know upon booking your room. Many of them have
designated non-smoking rooms to make your stay more enjoyable.
- Jeff Bailey, Canada
I visited all 3 Baltic countries (Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania) in
August, within the space of one week. Each country has its own
currency, which is distinctly different from that of the other 2
Baltic countries. What to do with excess currency when leaving a
particular country?
I stayed at different hotels in each country. When I paid my bill, I
gave all my local currency to the cashier at check out, and put the
balance on a credit card. I was fine until I reached the next
country; if I had to buy petrol, water, or a little food, I paid for
it at a petrol station using a credit card.
- Sam Chen, USA
Always have a copy of yr passport in yr luggage. In unfortunate
events that you have been pickpocketed, you still have a copy of yr
passport to identify yourself and get your travel arrangements or
documents verified!
- Ai Lin, Singapore
Most hotels in Europe don't supply tea/coffee making facilities in
rooms and buying coffees/teas can become expensive on a long trip,
so we always take our small drink heater with adaptor plugs. This we
use for heating up soup or other canned food as well as for boiling
water. We always carry coffee, teabags and dried milk powder which
can be acquired in local supermarkets.
- Jan Geoghegan, Australia
If you are travelling to Italy in the summer months, July and August
or in the winter, January and February remember the sales are on and
you can buy some great Italian designer clothes at half price
usually orless. Leave with a relatively empty suitcase and return
home with a full case of great clothes at bargain prices.
- kim beeston, Italy
When travelling on a long trip and you are having overnight stays on
the way, instead of having to lug your big suitcase, I pack in a
small bag a change of clothes, pj's and toiletries suitable just for
the one night.
- Kaye Frankland, Australia
When I travel I make sure that I can manage all my own luggage If
you can't manage you own luggage then you have to much. One suitcase
and one carry on, also one change of clothes in carry on incase you
luggage goes missing.
- Sue Smith, Australia
When going overseas always photocopy everything from your passport
pages to your visa cards. Take a copy separate to them with you and
leave a copy at home with your relative so if lost you have an easy
identification copy.
- Carol Walker, Australia
Do you always wonder whether you are getting a bargain or being
taken for a ride when travelling overseas? How many Yen, Franc,
Pound or Peso is it to the dollar?. As long as you have a pocket
calculator and the local exchange rate you will never be confused
again. Just remember the word "RAMROD"!.
If you want to convert
from American dollars or your "At home currency" to the local
currency, simply Multiply. Example: $20-00 X 119 (Japanese exchange
rate) = 5950 Yen, or "RAM". However if you wish to convert from
local currency back to dollars, take the Overseas amount and Divide
by the exchange rate. Example : 1000 Mexican peso/9 = $111-00 or
"ROD".
Now you will never pay too much for a cup of coffee or miss out on a
bargain ever again!
Note: The daily exchange rate can be found in the business section
of any daily newspaper or at the local foreign exchange booth.
- Susan Miles, Australia
Before going on any trip, I make it a point to read books/pamphlets
about the country. That way I will be prepared as to what to expect,
like its customs and traditions, food and weather. I know what
clothes or even food to bring. And I prepare a personal itinerary so
won't miss the places I would like to see based upon what I've read.
Lastly, I bring my readings along and a street map.
- Edna U. Salgado, US
I always take snacks with me for in between meals, because I am
going overseas to see the history and not to eat as much as I can.
Before I start doing sightseeing,
I always start my planning by getting a map of the city, and then
plan my tour for the day. Leave shopping for last after you have
seen all the interesting shops.
- Annelize van der Linde, South Africa.
Always take more film than you think you will need. You can always
use it when you get home but you might not be able to find it where
you are travelling.
- Sonya Kyes, USA.
For non-American travellers: Always carry some US dollars,
especially in small denominations, for emergencies. In non-Euro
countries (except Great Britain of course) only convert to small
amounts of local currencies - some times you cannot change it back
to a usable currency, especially in places like Uzbekistan.
- Kerrie Staples, Australia.
Always plan ahead or read up on those places of interest that you
may not want to miss before your next trip... Cos due to time
constraints you might end up not being able to visit those places
you would have wanted to.... Sleep well & eat well, Bon Journey....
- Ng Boon Hong, Singapore
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Traveling in Malaysia is really fun. To me,
backpacking is best in Sarawak BUT it can only
be enjoyed if you:
1) Travel Light --> Avoid traveling with too
much clothes & leave your IRON behind.
Sarawakians are wonderful and can provide u with
iron if need be.
2)
Do not forget your handy cam because there'll be
so many awesome events.
3)Please visit the longhouses especially during
gawai. The experience is unforgettable.
4)Do
not worry about where to eat. There are amazing
eating outlets everywhere.
5)
Contact the tourism board to make arrangement
for tours and a group mountain-climbing trip.
6)
Check out the beach...
Remember, taking a trip around the east of
Malaysia is worth a try. If you do, you'll be
glad you did. Happy holiday!
-
Amadi Esther, M'sia
After freezing with a 4 hour layover at the La
Airport, I vowed I would never travel anywhere
again without a sleeping bag and a good book. I
bought a sleeping bag that fold in to a 8 inch
square which fits neatly into my hand luggage.
Layovers? No worries, now I snuggle up in my
sleeping bag with my book in comfort!
-
Gaylene Temple, OZ
I don't know how many of
you people likes to take photographs when u go traveling but in my
case, I always have two or three extra fully-charged batteries in my
pouch. This is to ensure that I can take as many photographs I like
without worrying when the battery will go flat. I'm sure everyone
likes to have nice photographs to show friends and families, so do
keep extra batteries with you when u travel so u do not have to
worry. Happy Travelling!
-
Joanne
Lee, Malaysia
5 Travel Sleep Tips
1. Create a
Sleep-Friendly Environment - Mimic your home sleep environment as
much as possible from bed to pillows to lighting.
2. Iron and Organize - Relieve stress by preparing your attire for
the next day in advance. Unpack your toiletries. If you have
forgotten any essentials, call the front desk and get a replacement
before going to sleep.
3. Test the Alarm Clock - To put your mind at ease about waking up
on time, arrange a wake-up call and set the alarm clock.
4. Avoid Alcohol - While alcohol may make you feel sleepy
initially, it can actually interfere with a good night’s sleep.
5. Get Outside and Move Around - Exposure to sunlight helps to
adjust your internal clock, so try taking a walk upon arrival or a
light jog in the morning. If you are traveling for business and work
cannot wait, try to find a room with lots of natural light and sit
near a window.
- Ting Bongco,
Vietnam
When travelling by train in Italy you should remember that all
stations have many stairs up and down when changing platforms. You
should take this into account when carrying yuor luggage as it can
be very awkward going up and down many stairs.In addition ther is no
help available at stations to assist you .
-
John McAulay, UK
Do some research on the place where you plan to visit before you
depart e.g. weather condition, tourists spot, food specialtise,
culture habbit etc.... Make sure you have a sufficient fund to cover
the whole journey. Brings along some basic medication from your home
country for emergency use. For ederly must make sure you prepare
enough for your daily regular medication which normally required to
consume daily.
- Adeline Teh, Malaysia
If you want to visit Beijing’s tourist spots and avoid the local
tourists crowd, be sure to miss the May Labour holidays (first week
of May) as the local tourists numbered into the thousand and you
need to jostle to get a good snapshot of anything! There are two
other occasions when China have similar holidays during the year; be
sure to ask your tourist guide to avoid them!
Before I travel abroad, I always print out a cheat-sheet from the
internet. I will print the exchange rate of home currency to the
destination currency and vice-versa. It saves me the trouble to
bring a calculator along as it shows multiple denominations, from
tens to thousand. It is real handy whenever I like to compare the
relative cost in my home currency against the destination currency
for – food, hotel, souvenirs, etc. The site I prefer is oanda.com
(“currency exchange” googled top 10).
If you are making a trip to Nepal, bring along lots of ball-point
pens. They are light, small and easy to squeeze into the luggage.
“Why so many?” you may ask. It’s because good pens are expensive and
hard to get there. In most tourist places, such as the Tibetan
tourist centre near the city of Pokhara, you may exchange a pen for
a beaded bracelet!
- Pin Keh, Malaysia
I think before getting a hotel even though someone might of seen it
online or not you should always take a walk through to see if you're
satisfied or not.
- Shereena Bogner, USA
Do a scan of all your important documents ie: Passport- front page
and visa when applied, flight ticket, travellers check receipt, etc)
send it as an attachment to your personal email account and, in case
of theft or loss you can get a print and get new copies.
- Jeff Bailey, Canada
Fill in all departure cards before you leave then you can go
straight to the front of the que at the airport, rather than filling
them out in the que or on the plane.
- Linda Bartlett, New Zealand
When travelling in
Singapore, Please do not forget to carry a little umbrella in your
bag. It comes very handy since Singapore being a Rain forest region,
it may rain any time of the year, especially in the evening and
night.
- Easwaran, India
I choose my hotels by the fact they advertise the way I can get to
it by buses or underground. If hotels do give complete information
(prices and frequency, etc) it makes the choose easier.
- Carol Bernaz, France
When travelling to
Hamburg in Germany, remember that all shops are closed on Sundays.
Restaurants are of course open and Service/Gas stations are also
open and carry a wide range of goods if you get stuck.
- Kerry Gittins, Germany
When traveling be sure to pack copies of your itinerary (with travel
agents info), passport, and credit cards in each suitcase including
your carry ons. This will insure that if anything is lost or stolen
that you call call and check on it and that the airlines will know
where you are.
- Joann Deas, USA
Before I take a trip to Europe I always make sure I have enough Euro
dollars that can get me from the airport to the hotel if I need to
take a cab. It saves time looking for an ATM at the airport. It also
comes in handy if I want to tip someone.
- Carol Lundrigan, USA
When travelling in hot humid tropical countries, it pays to have a
pair of flip-flops. They are light, cheap and comfy for most terrain
and they certainly are easier to dry as compared to your sneakers or
sandals. Besides it helps to keep your feet dry and airy, avoiding
contracting any foot fungus or diseases.
- Yong Keng Kum, Singapore
When travelling through wine regions eg. the Barossa in South
Australia, take an organised tour! After sampling the many wonderful
Australian wines it is very easy to exceed the alchohol limit and
drive over the limit. Unless there is an organised 'skipper' in your
group please book a driver.
- Verna, Australia
When my sister and I travel we have three rules:
1. Don't take what you can't carry.
2. At least one day for reading or relaxing (usually on a beach).
3. When in a safe locale, do our own thing during the day and meet
for dinner. There's a lot more to talk about, and avoids the
problems that come when spending 24/7 with someone for over a week.
- Nantar, USA
Be attentive to your partner's words, actions, and attitude. This is
your vacation together, a time when you immerse yourself completely
into your partner's ideas and actions.
-Ronald Kim, USA
When you are travelling in Singapore, don't forget to buy the
translink gude book, caused it will tell you every single
transportation that you can take especially bus track and mrt, and
it's definetily usefull, cost you so small but a lot information
available including interest place to visit.
- Novia Ng, Indonesia
Never decide to visit
Santosa island during the Chinese New year holidays. The place is
packed and one has to line up for a long time at each place. The
laser show is awesome.Avoid chinese new year week in Singapore.
- Bireswar Bose, Canada
The moment you arrive at the airport collect all the brochures you
can. You can browse through them on your way to the hotel.More
importantly talk to your cabbie , for he's the person who best knows
about all the tourist attractions in his city. Once you arrive at
your hotel check in , freshen up , move down and gather all the
possible information about sites to see ,economical shopping and
places to eat NOT from the tour desk but from maybe the bell - boy
or someone on those lines because advice from them is true
advice...and thats the only way you can get a feel of the place you
are visiting.
-JANHAVI KANDALGAOKAR, India
Always label your luggages (including hand held luggage) from 1
onwards. This way, you will be sure that you have all of your
luggages with you all the time.
- CN Chan, Malaysia
In every places that you'll visit always bring your camera. You'll
never know when are you coming back to that particular place. And
sometimes its nice to have fun with your old photos.
- Leslie Añonuevo, Singapore
Flying home, I always seem to have local currency left over. So when
I am duty free shopping at the departure airport,offer all notes and
coins and get the salesperson to charge the difference to your
credit card!
- Bob Muir, Australia
Always plan the trip beforehand and read all you can about the place
that you want to visit so you wont miss out anything and be more
prepared.
- Norazian, Malaysia
Baby wipes, Baby wipes,
Baby wipes did I say Baby wipes or a similar brand. Bring a
container full. If you have kids or if you don't, THEY ARE A MUST.
- Dave Ming, US
Be sure to check out all of the airlines/ hotels sales and specials,
travel alerts, driving directions, currency converter, airport
information, passport information, agents on-call 24 hours and
travel brochures, vacation guides/map.
- Irwan Salman Adam, Malaysia
Look for accomodation that has pictures of rooms available on their
website. If they don´t, give them feedback. Too many places do still
not post pictures for the potential customers to view, and pictures
make a great difference!
- Piia, Finland
Planning ahead is essential for a successful holiday. BUT no matter
how good the plans are something can always go wrong. Don't sweat
it! Remember to enjoy all of the moments; sometimes when planes
don't connect and you miss a day somewhere, you get a chance to
discover a treasure in a place you never planned to spend too much
time in. Relax and look for the unexpected opportunities.
- Percita Dittmar, Australia
Another good tip to remember would be: when making a telephone call
back home, it is better to buy the phone cards available from
various shops. Phone cards offer better rates than if you make the
call from a hotel room.
- Joyce Nesamani Simson, Malaysia
When you travel, it is good to avoid heavy meals, as they trouble
you with frequent toilet trips. Even if toilets are everywhere,
these trips will distract from your programme. Our solution is
simple; we take bread and sandwiches for our meals, and we don't
forget our mineral water. It is very important to keep these in your
backpack.
When you go for an outing, be sure to bring your passport.
When you are approached by a stranger, try not to entertain them
because anything could happen.
Try to minimise your expenses by getting economic packages.
Make sure that you are punctual when using services such as trains
and flights. They are not sitting there waiting for you.
Lastly, do not forget about your camera. If you are using a digital
camera, make sure that you have enough memory and battery power, in
order to avoid difficulties when capturing memorable moments.
- Mohamad Izani, Malaysia
Research about the place you are about to go for a trip. Check out
the places to visit, food to eat and things to do. Buy a map Travel
light. Complete toiletries (pack small, travel-sized packages) Don’t
forget your camera or videocam. A pair of walking shoes. Be friendly
with the locals. Don’t be afraid to explore the place on your own.
Learn more about the place you are visiting.
- May Celicious, Philippines
New Zealand is made up of two islands - the North Island and the
South Island... If you ever plan a trip to New Zealand, please make
sure to make it at least a minimum of three weeks to explore both
islands to see all of the gorgeous sites New Zealand has to offer to
tourists....
- Delicia de Sales, New Zealand
When travelling by car, place a wet washcloth or two wrapped in
aluminium foil in your car. That way, the cloth will stay cool for
when someone gets sick. It’s good for little sticky fingers too.
- Suzanne Kornguth, US
Always keep small bills in your coat pocket. It makes it easy to tip
taxi drivers, bellmen, and the like.
- Elizabeth Schoch, US
Always research your destinations and travel light, and do enjoy the
wonderful excitement of new and amazing things.
- Agnes Russell, UK |
