The "Tips From A Traveler" Story

It was an ordinary day.  Putting together a list of items to consider when planning and taking a vacation trip to just about anywhere, but with the Caribbean as my guide for this list.  I have read list after list in just about any magazine dealing with travel and after traveling for more than 15 years, I thought I should make my own list to share with you to show you what I feel are the most important items you should consider when traveling.  If you find at least one item on my list that helps you I'll consider my list a success.  So  here goes ..... 

1. Perhaps the most important item on my list is making sure that your passport is current when traveling outside the United States and it's territories.  Tough to spend hundreds of dollars on a vacation and find that when you get to the airport that your passport has expired or will expire while on vacation.  Don't wait until the last minute either, since having to rush to get a new passport can be extremely expensive.
2. You will have many calls and emails to make before you head to the airport.  Don't forget to :  (1) call the newspaper to stop your subscription; (2) make sure you call your credit card companies to tell them what countries you will be traveling to so they will allow charges in those locations; (3) make reservations for your pet at a kennel or plan to have a pet-sitter for the length of your vacation; (4) make calls to the security company if you have one to tell them of your dates; (5) buy travel insurance if it is not included in the cost of your trip.  Failing to do so could be a costly mistake; (6) double check the monetary system of the place you will be traveling to and see if you need to exchange the US dollar for another type of currency; (7) you may feel less stressed if you plan to stay at a Park, Sleep and Fly hotel or motel the night before your departure, since the price of the one night stay and getting free parking may be considerably less than having to get up real early, driving to the airport and paying for the parking.  Anything I can do to avoid the stress of getting to and from the airport are worth the trouble; and finally (8) make a list of things you plan to do around you home like put lights on timers, turn off the water, pull the blinds, set your heat or AC so as to conserve it and arrange for some one to mow or shovel if you are going for an extended period of time.
3. Have you booked your vacation yourself?  Why not try a travel agent to see how the price may compare.  They will help with little items such as transfers from the airport to the hotel and perhaps getting a better price on a car rental.  I even use the travel agent to book my flights even though I don't use them to book my hotel or villa.  The reason: If there is a flight change or cancellation, you may not know about it until you try and get boarding passes the day before leaving on vacation.  Could be too late then.  If there is a change of any nature, my travel agent calls immediately to tell me so I can work with them to change the flight plans.  Well worth the $25 for that service.  
4. Will you need a car rental?  I like to explore on my own in most locations I travel.  Should I get a car at the airport or wait until I get to the hotel or villa?  Depends on how many people you are traveling with as to whether you get the car at the airport.  If you don't want a large car that can hold everyone plus their luggage, you may want to get a transfer and rent the car at the hotel or villa.  And, don't let the car create problems for you.  Get the number of the rental agent so you can contact them if the car fails you or you get a flat tire.  Don't forget the insurance coverage!!  Could be a costly mistake if you do.  If you are traveling to a US island or territory, you're regular car insurance will probably cover you, but make sure you take a copy of the policy along with you to show if there is a problem.  If you need insurance, some credit card companies will cover the collision part of your insurance and you may need to buy the liability insurance through the rental company.  
5. Have you thought of renting through a website rather than going through a travel agent?  Sites such as VRBO, Booking.com, HomeAway, Flipkey and Housetrip are sites that you can explore to find lodging.  We have used VRBO in the past and have been satisfied with the result.  
6. Make sure you are honest with yourself about the location of your vacation before you book it.  Do you enjoy sitting on a beach?  Do you like to explore historical sites?  Do you enjoy trying new types of food?  Make sure you plan your vacation so you will not be upset when you get to the location and don't enjoy yourself.  Don't plan to go to a beach site that has no other attractions if you don't like sitting on the beach all day.
7. Don't stick to the tourist tours all the time.  This is one reason I'm not real fond of cruising.  Usually a tour every place you dock and you can miss so much during your vacation.  Venture off the beaten path and you'll be surprised what you may find.  On a trip to Antigua we asked a taxi driver to take Carol and me, along with traveling partners Jerry and Just Sue, on a day long trip around the island.  We set up a price beforehand and spent the day exploring the architecture, beaches, food, tourist locations and even got to see where the taxi driver lived.
8. Before you go, check out as much as you can about your destination.  Going online is naturally the first step, but picking up a travel book can be a help.  There are many forums and blogs that may be of help to you.  Google your destination to find out all you can before you travel.  Don't forget to have a map of the location to take along in case you can't find one when you get there.   
9. Don't try to do too much in the time period you have for your vacation.  Try and spend some of the trip relaxing around the pool, on the beach, or just relaxing in your room.  It is vacation after all.  
10. And finally, watch out for the timeshare salesmen.  I know it is their job, but don't waste a day of vacation sitting in on a lengthy time share presentation unless you really want to buy one.  We have encountered timeshare salesmen who will feign a car problem to get you to stop to help only to be approached about a time share opportunity.  

Well, hope one of the above will help you plan your ultimate trip in the future.  I'm sure you have heard most of the tips before, but maybe hearing them from someone who has actually traveled for a few years may help make them authentic.  Enjoy your self and your vacation!  It was another extraordinary day in the life of an ordinary guy.