The "LDub's 15 Travel Suggestions For A Great Vacation!" Story

It was an ordinary day.  Just got off the phone with a friend who will be traveling to a Caribbean location in the near future.  Was asking about one thing after another in order to make their visit easier and more fun.  I questioned him why he would call me and he said, "Because you have taken so many trips to the Caribbean that you probably know everything there is to know."  Wow!  Carol and I have been traveling since 1999 when I retired from teaching and have traveled to most of the Caribbean islands as well as a few other countries.  Didn't really think about it, but I guess I could be of help to someone who has done very little traveling in their life.  So, to help them, I made a list of things they may want to do or consider before they travel.  Check out my suggestions and see if they may be of help to you.  It was another extraordinary day in the life of an ordinary guy.

1. If you do not have a passport and are traveling outside the United States or its territories, get one in plenty of time before you plan to travel.  It may take a few weeks before you get the passport, so don't wait until the last minute.  If you have a passport and haven't traveled for some time, check out the expiration date.  The US State Department recommends that your passport has at least 6 months of validity beyond your travel date to avoid expensive and lengthy travel disruptions.  You may be refused boarding of your plane or even refusal to allow you to enter the country upon arrival if you don't have 6 months of validity left on your passport.  Don't learn the hard way.  It is recommended that you renew your passport 9 months before you travel. 
2. If you have medical problems or are on special medications, make sure you visit your doctor and find out if travel will harm you.  Also, make sure you have enough of any medicine needed to last you during your vacation or if you may have to remain an extended period due to an unwanted occasion.  I always make sure I have the medicine in the bottle it came in with the label in place.  If it is a prescription medicine, make sure you have it in the prescription bottle or package it came in.  
3. If you have an early flight and have to travel for an hour or more to get to the airport, you may want to make arrangements to stay overnight the night before your flight.  Makes it easier in the morning and you don't have to worry about traveling in bad weather the morning of the flight.  Plus, if you make arrangements for Park & Fly, you stay at the hotel the night before you leave and can leave your car at the hotel for up to two weeks at most locations.  Parking on the day of flight can be costly in some locations.  
4. If you enjoy to take photographs with a camera, make sure it is in good condition and you pack all the necessary lenses and filters a week or so ahead of time.  Make sure all batteries are charged and you have an extra SD card or two to take with you.  
5. If you wear hearing aides, such as I do, make sure you have extra batteries and any other parts that are removable and changeable on the hearing aide.  I also take a small plastic container that I can keep the hearing aides in while swimming or in case you visit a place that is rather noisy.  
6. If you have pets, don't wait until the last minute to make arrangements to board them.  Also, relatives and friends may not like to keep the pets for you, but don't know how to get out of it.  Don't put them on the spot; find a boarding location.  We have someone come in the morning and feed our cats and usually a second person come in the evening to do the same.  And...we pay them for doing it.  Make sure you have plenty of food for the pets available for those who will be feeding them.  Make these arrangements about a month or more ahead of time if possible.
7. Make sure all the batteries needed for your iPhone, computer, laptop, etc. are charged and make sure you take the charger with you.  Some countries have 220v instead of 110v so you may have to take an adapter with you.  Check that out a month ahead of time so you have time to buy one if necessary.  I have found that many items now allow both 110 and 220, but make sure you read the info on them just to be sure.  Make sure you have copies of anything important on your phone or computer just in case you have trouble with the device or may have it stolen.  You can usually buy a new one, but all your old info, such as photos from an event a month or two before your trip, may be lost.
8. Carol and I love to go over our itinerary many times before we travel so we can decide what places we want to visit on any particular island or if there are any special restaurants we want to eat in during our trip.  Might you need a reservation that is hard to get?  Do it before you leave if possible so you know you will not miss it. 
9. How about a rental car to be able to travel at your convenience.  Check out prices, but also check out how reliable the place or person you rent from may be.  Make sure you have INSURANCE!  Both on the car and on the other person you may run into by mistake.  You may want to have an extra driver put on the policy in case you become ill and can't drive.
10. Do you have enough cash for vacation?  Some countries don't use the same type of money that you may use.  When we travel to St. Martin we can pay in US dollars, but find it may be better to pay in Euros.  If we charge something in St. Martin, I always charge it in Euros since the rate will be better and my credit card company doesn't charge a fee to do so.  If you plan to use a credit card to charge items, make sure of the expiration date on it before you leave.
11. Do you have something special that you want to pack to take with you?  Maybe something to give to your hosts at another location.  We at times take an item that can be found only in Lancaster that we want to give to our hosts.  Don't wait until the last minute to get that.  And, when we travel we sometimes pack a noodle to use in the water or our snorkel gear.  If you have to buy that when you get to your location, you may have to pay more for it and when you go home you will then have two of them.
12. Most airlines allow 50 pounds in your check-in suitcase.  Make sure you weigh it and then put the scale in that check-in suitcase to be used again on your return trip.  One time I put it in my carry-on and it was questioned at the airport since it had a large metal hook on it.  Do you take way too may items with you that you will never wear?  I know people like that!  How many things can you wear on a week vacation, especially if you are on a beach vacation.  Eliminate some items so you have less to carry.  If you are traveling with someone, maybe you can put everything in one suitcase instead of two.  You will save you $50.  And, don't wait until an hour ahead of time to pack your bags.  Do it a few days ahead of time.  You know you will forget something if you do it last minute!
13. Most people have come to rely on their phone for directions when they get to the location where they are going.  I'm not one of them!  If I know I will need directions or a map, I take them with me when I go.  We have been to St. Martin close to 15 times and I have the best map that tells me the names of streets on the island.  Really neat to be able to lay it out the night before we plan to go to a location to check out directions.
14. Finally, get a good night's sleep before you head to the airport.  That is unless you arrived at the airport the night before and are staying at a location near the airport.  That to me is the best way to do it unless my flight is at noon or afternoon.  
15. Enjoy your vacation.   I assume you deserve it!