Hot travel tips
Article and photos by Birgit Moran
Thinking of a trip? There are some basics to score great experiences and memories. No matter the type of trip; family, couple, adventure, rest and relaxation, or educational, research impacts results. For those who don’t mind surprises and missteps – a self planned itinerary can lend itself to wonderful and memorable moments. Here are some planning tools and tips:
Check guide books (most can be found in the library) for the places you are considering. There’ll be basic information about culture, currency, safety, climate and transportation, which are a very good idea to know before you go. Go onto the websites of places you are considering visiting. Cross reference with tripadvisor.com or other travel review sites.
Besides websites, there are apps like “TripIt,” which allow you to create a travel itinerary and share it with others. Others include: “GateGuru,” which lets you browse nearby services in large airports; “Flight Tracker,” which lets users get instant updates on flight status; “Google Translate,” which helps when you really need to relay information but simply can’t talk it out.
Contact the hotel or bed & breakfast directly if possible. Narrow your choices down with a third party search (Kayak.com, Expedia.com, Orbitz.com, Hotels.com, etc.) but before booking, try to e-mail or call the property directly and you may end up with a better deal.
Be flexible. Things can and often do go wrong. Don’t let the unexpected ruin the experience, but have it add memories by maintaining a sense of adventure and engaging those you are with in problem solving. At at minimum, try to find some humor in the situation. Often, these experiences are those that are remembered with the most impact. Happy travels.
