While 95% of all trips go off without a hitch, go ahead and prepare for a crisis. Whether it be a theft, bad health, or even an emergency back home be prepared to get out of any entanglement. This additional piece of mind will go along way in contributing to a successful trip.
A few tips you should always follow...
1. Always bring your passport and an alternate form of picture identification.
2. Have an alternate form of payment available
3. Make 2 copies of everything front and back, your travel documents, tickets, itineraries, credit card, etc. Give one copy to someone back home you trust and and pack the other in your luggage. Next, scan everything again and email it to yourself. Now you have access to the documents in perpetuity from an Internet cafe, your hotel or consulate.
4. Don't forget to notify your credit card company or bank that you will be using the card abroad.
5. Make an Emergency Contact List of every conceivable address, phone number, acct#, expiration date, etc. you may need. Place this list in your luggage and email it to yourself.
#15 Don't Buy Too Much Car Insurance
This is a very easy mistake for even experienced travelers. You are standing at the counter and all of the sudden a fear overwhelms your better judgement and your allow the car rental salesperson coax you into maxxing the insurance. Its an easier sell than flowers on Mother's Day. Go ahead and make the annoying 20 minute call to your insurance provider; it could save you $20-30 per day. There is also a decent chance your credit card company insures you. Make that call as well, what could it hurt.
#14 Fine Dining For Less
If you crave that fine dining experience, but don't want to pay $500 to $1000 per person then here is a little secret...go for lunch. You can get the same table, the same service with the same view for a fraction of the bill. Many fine dining restaurants offer a reasonable afternoon prefix meal. So, if Gordon Ramsey in London is on your wish list, but his prices don't fit your budget, try lunch.
#13 Tag your Luggage
Seriously, if you haven't noticed, Samsonite made more than one black rolly-bag. Nothing can be more annoying than watching your bag a half mile down the carousel being accosted by one insolent traveler after another on its way to you. I always feel as if my luggage needs a hug after I rescue it from all those groping mitts. Make your luggage discriminately yours with tags, ribbons, and bumper stickers so you'll stop touching mine. Just kidding, sorta.
Also, only put your name and phone number on the outside of your luggage. I don't know if thieves really stalk baggage tags to see who is leaving town, but why take that chance. Your emergency contact info should already be inside.
Pick of the Day(6-3-0)...Cleveland
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