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Tips for your First Soft Adventure Trip: (printable section)
Ask lots of questions you need to know how much experience is warranted.
Tip: if special gear is recommended, this is not for novices! Do not bring valuables; many outdoorsy places do not have a safe. Wear new shoes a minimum of ten miles before a trip. Same with socks, backpacks, and any other weight creating carry-with-you item.
If you are afraid of something, ask for the alternative . If it is to stay behind, ask if you will be accompanied especially in remote areas. Similarly, ask what happens if you are the slowest walker!
Consider your flexibility. Test your flexibility in the next massive traffic jam and see if you can to relax when things are not going according to schedule!
Assume road conditions will be poor.
If you want to photograph a native, ask first but ask for him or her to show crafts or children in the photo also. You will more likely get her permission.
Ask for the size of the group; a small group makes rafting, hiking etc easier. If you are a sightseer par excellence, ask how much time is for shopping
Soft adventure does mean you have to trust your tour operator who presumably knows the trip is safe. If you are a second guesser, this mode of travel is not for you.
To double check on a tour operator for issues such as safety read on the web the local English newspaper of the area you are visiting . You can pick up accidents, crime, and, alternatively, non events which might have been hyped in your hometown press.
Contact several large travel insurance companies and ask if they cover your tour operator.
Analyze the itinerary for nights in each place, for jet lag , and for parts of the trip you find hardest. If you are traveling more than 4 time zones, pay attention to the beginning when sleep is most disrupted. This precaution also applies when the altitude or food/water are very different.
Assume early mornings for all nature trips and be a good sport. For any trip which includes birds or wildlife, assume you will be up at 4:30 or 5AM. Similarly assume some really long drives as any place remote will not be around the corner.
Special diets can be difficult on soft adventure trips. .Bring your own supplies. Especially be aware that low fat meals are difficult to prepare for outdoor or Third World country dining. Bring along your special diet written in the language of the country you are visiting.
If you are allergic to animals, ask if any are used to carry supplies or to carry you in cases of emergency or used for fun, such as a camel ride on the desert.
If water is an issue, bring iodine pills but taste iodine treated water beforehand: some people cannot tolerate it. You can use iodine treated water to disinfect fruit and vegetables in a container in your room.
If you have a physical limitation, test yourself so you can be honest to the tour operator: if you can walk a mile, do it to make sure you know the difficulty.
Small planes, helicopters, vans and "sherpas" cannot carry large suitcases-be prepared to leave behind clothing.
Good things to bring along: lipsticks and stamps as gifts, a beach ball globe to show where you live, tape for repairs of all kinds, one hefty bag, flashlight and batteries, water bottle, safety pins. ( in many countries, there are no tampons)
Still undecided, check out seniors' tour groups to see if they are including your intended adventure.
Read, read, read especially European or Australian guidebooks which cater more to adventure. Favorites are The Lonely Planet. Rough Guides, Moon Publications, Let's Go and Berkeley from Harvard and Berkeley.
(C) Copyright The Women's Travel Club
The Self as a Souvenir: Benefits of Travel for Women: (printable section)
Whether working, playing, entertaining, mother or daughtering, women tend to be there for others before themselves. We are the volunteers, girl scout leaders, cookie purveyors, school project managers and inventory analysts of camp trunks and lunch boxes. So what does these roles have to do with travel and women?
Today women make most of the travel decisions in the family but we do not necessarily take vacations where we want or do what we like. The Women,s Travel Club is a tour operator for women,s trips. For many years we have been asked , why should women travel with other women? Putting aside the obvious-- many women do not have families/friends who wish to travel-- there are many reasons for women to travel with other women:
Women rarely set aside time for themselves. The hostess in us serves others first. We are usually the caretakers for elderly parents and young children. We are more often the support staff, less often the boss. One of the beauties of travel"and travel alone"is that you can focus on yourself. There is a joy in listing museums, buildings, streets to see. You can decide to walk out of the Science Wing of the Smithsonian, eat Dutch cookies for lunch, spend an hour trying on Parisian hair accessories, and not explain your silliness to anyone. Self indulgence is not life threatening; in fact. the lack of it in our lives probably is. Even though the trend in travel today is to learn, a word not used in the past. It is a kind of learning that fulfills us. Look at what the Disney Institute offers: photography, gardens, athletic challenge.
Women of the current working generation are entirely too serious even though casual Friday has replaced the business suit. Travel gives you an outlet to be just a little crazy for just a little bit of time. Men do it on the 19th hole and in the Sharper Image. Women need to let loose more often and why not in the form of a trip. Of course, do put safety first, but after that, go find the girl in yourself and in a place far from your responsibilities. It is not a chore to leaf through old magazines on Portobello Road or slurp gelato on a stoop in Venice..Here is a suggestion before you go: read the suggestions of Harvard juniors and seniors from their excellent series of guidebooks: Let's Go Series. Much more lighthearted than traditional guidebooks.
One of the big differences between men and women in travel is we have differe nt priorities. Men like to eat; women want to get on with it. In our experience, most women will opt for a lighter lunch, less waiting time and more shopping and sightseeing. Women use guidebooks, research more and often know precisely what they want to do. A woman traveling alone simply gets more done.. And doing a lot on a trip opens the door to more serendipity and fun encounters.
Solo travel is the quickest and easiest way to grow your independence. Women returning from their first trip solo or with other women feel they have accomplished a certain something. How often we, as tour operators, hear: I never thought I could XXXXX without my husband or without help. And yes, you can figure out a tip amount in Irish Pounds, how to hail a cab in Rome, how to order a glass of beer in Dehli. Women traveling with other women learn a lot from each other; we like to teach and share our travel tips. We want you to take a taste of our tandoori chicken if you so much as glance at it.
Women are more gregarious and we share more than men. Women find that travel without friends and family, can bring you in contact with interesting people. A casual chat in the airport can turn into dinner with another woman alone. Travel friends made on a temporary basis supply a perfect combination: opportunism without obligation. Travel friends are sort of a one night stand that brings you a loan of a guidebook or tip on a great street market. PS when in Paris: don't miss the Ternes/Poncelet food market! And in London, go to Church Street and eat at the Sea Shell nearby.
Women are generally more open to appreciating others' lifestyles and cultures. We like to meet children in a village not just photograph them. When we buy a craft, it comes home with a mental description of the person who sold it not just with a receipt for customs... We are people people, a trait that enhances our lives. Read the great travel writers: Dervla Murphy writes about how she felt and the people she met; Paul Theroux writes about what he saw and the hardships therein. The obvious exception of The Snow Leopard, written by a man but full of feeling and growing. We comprise more than half of the adventure travel segment-we like exploration of ourselves in unusual situations. We began with outward bound type trips in the 80's but most of us now want a cultural adventure but a bed to sleep in.
Being alone and away from it all, gives you time to think, another long forgotten pleasure. Again more than men we use travel to regroup. Statistically women tack vacation time onto business trips much more often. We need extra days to hang out. Being away for even one extra day, gives women time to kick it off and relax. Women are more concerned with the hotel,s amenities than their male counterparts; we want to combine travel with an aromatherapy shower or massage. We use travel even business travel differently than our male counterparts. (Wyndham Hotels and New York University have interesting studies on this phenomenon).
So why should women travel alone? Travel with other women? Or travel at all?
Because it is good for us top to bottom. Travel cleanses the mind, touches the soul and lightens the heart and usually but not always trims the body. Travel can mean new friends and a re-connect with that old one, yourself.
The first time we took our children on a trip, they were 5 and 7 and we set off for a much needed vacation traveling from Seattle to three national parks in Montana and Colorado. Our boys were born overseas so airplanes were nothing new but this was the first trip since I had gone back to work. That meant we parents were exhausted, our boys had missed having mom at home and the time was a precious earned two weeks.
The plane ride was uneventful ,except for the multiple changes of aircraft, we overnighted in Seattle, did a bit of sightseeing, rented our car and started off. After a day or so, the boys began singing their new theme song: "I,m sick, I,m hungry, I,ve gotta go to the bathroom and I,m gonna vomit.the Caaaar Blues" As we traveled along the song got longer and more complicated. It was fortunately all a joke because we had a great, vacation. And by the way, son number one is now a professional comedy writer in Los Angeles!
However, the song isn,t a joke to many families who have not prepared for travel with children. There are some simple suggestions to make your trip safe, fun and a vacation for everyone. After all, we adults are usually the ones who need the rest and who do all the worrying for the family. Besides always keeping a calm exterior NO MATTER WHAT HAPPENS!
- Before starting out on a trip, prepare your children with maps, information, and if you are on line, do some surfing about your destination. It is fun to have kids involved from the beginning. Order free brochures from tourist authorities of countries and from chambers of commerce of towns and cities.
- Do a test day. Take your children on a long one day driving trip; make sure it is a bit tiring and a very long day. You will get an idea of what can go wrong, who gets tired, carsick, or at least where some of the hitches are found. You will probably also be testing your own endurance and ability to be a tour leader,.
- Pack as light as possible for the whole family; especially if you are a single parent with a brood of kids. Remember that when everyone is tired, it will be you who carries the luggage. When I traveled by train in Europe with my children without my husband, I always took hotels near the railroad station to make carrying luggage easier. As a test carry the luggage around the block without help from the kids. Similarly have the kids pack their own backpacks and test their ability to carry what they have chosen plus one change of clothing for them. Label any especially loved blanket or toy so you at least have a chance of recovering it if lost. And assume some of their things will get lost.
- Avoid baggage, clothing and backpacks which have the children,s names emblazoned as a safety precaution. You do not want strangers to know their first names. Talk to them about dealing with strangers and stress the don,t do it message once again. The exception is that if they get lost, they should try to find a person in a uniform or a family with children. The logic about the uniform is that this person is at least probably working for a known company or is military or such.
- Assign seats in the car especially if you have a large family. There have to be some tough rules if a trip will succeed. By assigning seats, you will not lose anyone along the way.
- Have your itinerary and important contact numbers on the children somewhere out of sight if they do get lost. Along with that is important medical or other information. You should bring a recent photo of your children with you to identify them again if they wander off. Finally you should be aware of what color they are wearing each day and perhaps assign a color they must wear so that you can quickly find them in a crowd or again, give information to others if they get lost.
- Hotels are easily checked for friendliness to children: call ahead of time or again use the internet and see how their site is prepared and whether they show children in the photos of patrons. Obviously a swimming pool, cafeteria, etc are signs that the hotel gets lots of kids.
- When you check into the hotel, you can child-proof it yourself by taking certain measures:
- check that the windows and doors do not front on the street
- check that the window locks are higher than children,s reach and that they cannot get caught up in any curtains or blinds.
- Show children how to get in touch with the front desk if necessary as 911 usually does not work on hotel/motel phones and explain to them not to open the door unless a code is used. You can then create a code for say room service or other to use to enter their room
- Remove shampoo and other such from their reach so that they do not ingest these.
- Check that the bathroom cannot be locked from inside-if necessary tape open the lock. By the way tape is a great item to bring along for instant repairs.
- Check that children can actually see out the peep hole and that they can double lock the door if necessary. Older children should be shown the fire escape map; younger children should be shown the emergency exit.
- Scan the room at their level looking for other dangerous objects such as a bottle opener, coffee maker, iron etc.
Most of all have a great trip and make it fun, with a few favorite toys, some car games ( the old standards still work) and a balanced not too rushed itinerary. One of the benefits of a great family trip"and it does take advance planning and work"is that you children will want to continue traveling with you even through teen years and later. From my personal experience, my boys now 24 and 22 are still keen to join us ( work permitting) but now their motivation is that the trip is FREE.
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Go for at least 4 nights if you want a true perspective.
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Arrive at a reasonable hour even if you need to leave work early.
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Meet with spa coordinators immediately...
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Choose a spa that fits your needs; overseas spas usually emphasize beauty rather than exercise, nutrition etc.
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Some spas are really resorts with a few spa facilities.
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A good gauge of a spa is the number of professionals on staff.
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Does the manicurist also do facials; if so, this is not a true spa.
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Read health and fitness magazines for a few months in advance and formulate questions; this is your chance to ask specialists everything: don't forget to have questions for the cook, hairdresser, class instructors, hikers, nurse etc.
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Have a goal; this helps you to schedule properly and make priorities. i.e.: weight loss. stress reduction, learning about new ideas, menopause considerations etc.
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List all the machines from your hometown gym; you can get a trainer to teach you how to use them more effectively.
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Figure out how fast you walk so that when you join a morning walk you know your level. Instructors will say " this is the 12 minute mile group" etc.
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Before you pack, find out about laundry facilities so you don't over pack. If facilities are not available, buy 9 Hanes Beefy T Shirts to wear on top--they will be cheaper to throw out than most spa laundry services.
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Leggings and spandex shorts are easy to pack and to wash in your room.
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Do carry some exercise clothes on the plane and wear your sneakers.
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If luggage is delayed, you will find the spa store very pricey!
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Packing in two small bags increases the chances that one will arrive with you.
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Do not overindulge immediately on fresh salad, fruits or high fiber foods. Ask about ingredients, ie. some chocolate sauces contain prune nectar. You will pay the price!
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Spread your appointments so that your body has a rest from exercise; i.e.. book a massage and longer services on the second and fourth days as you will probably be too tired to continue exercising.
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Use your services for information you cannot get from your hometown: ie don't waste time on a manicure if the spa offers for the same price a physical trainer or hydrotherapy.
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Ask a physical trainer for a short stretch routine to do in your room before you jump into the early morning walk, especially if you are not in great shape.
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Bring minimum make-up and no jewelry; most spas are very casual and women wind down quickly. Spas are not a fashion show.
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Do bring something from your college or your children's' school especially if you are going alone. Great way to identify new friends from the same background.
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Try one new class or lecture each day even if you walk out before the end. These include meditation, tai chi, alternative health proposals. Try two new services; even picking what you consider "off the wall". Professional spas do not offer services which have no benefit.
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Remember you will drink lots of water; get rid of your bathroom and locker room qualms. Some of those spandex girls used to look like you so don't be embarrassed. In the same vein, never look at the other people in a class; you are there for yourself not to compete with anyone else.
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Keep an open mind and you will learn not just from the professionals but from the other guests.
Less than 100 rooms. On a well trafficked street with busy neighbors (restaurants, late night food stores etc.). Small lobby Reception and concierge desk near the front door and/or the elevators. Privacy space between guest checking in and guests waiting. Room numbers should be written on key envelope, not mentioned aloud. Amenities like parking and a gym should have attendants at times when you might need them. Parking lot should be well lit and secured. Plastic electronic keys with no identifying numbers of addresses. Sufficient staff to walk you to your room upstairs late at night. A tea room usually means there are many women guests. If little information is available, ask a female employee not in reservations whether she walks in the area at night. (Call the restaurant, for instance.)
Near the elevators. Away from the emergency exit should someone pry it open to avoid the elevators. With double locks, preferably a bar lock. On upper floor and away if possible from catwalks and terraces. Do not use the Maid Clean sign-call housekeeping if necessary. Do use the Privacy Please sign if you wish people to think your room is occupied. Put expensive clothing on hangars under other clothing. Lock up all valuables in the safe and larger items in your suitcase (computers for instance). Ask the concierge to book your restaurants and say "please take care of her, she is coming alone and will need a taxi home".
Study a map ahead of time. Dress down and do not look like a tourist: new sneakers and sweat shirt from your favorite university or sports team. No jewelry even fake gold. Do consider wearing a wedding ring. Wear a money belt, looped into your belt loops. Keep valuables away from the street side. Only carry one credit card and photocopies of important documents with you. Use zip lock bags to divide money for small purchases and for larger ones. Become familiar with foreign currency before you have to use it. Do not talk to people on the street if they ask for directions, change etc. You will still look somewhat like a tourist so why are they asking you? If you must ask directions, ask families, women with children and phrase it "Where is the xxx, I am meeting my husband there". Remove id tags if you have been at a meeting. Lodge a rubber door stop under hotel door for extra security. Bring a flashlight.
Use covered luggage tags and your office or relative's address. Use the toilet next to the wall and put items in the corner. Be careful on overnight flights or when you use the bathroom about your valuables. Talk to women and female flight attendants on the plane about the area you will be visiting. Hire a taxi to lead your rental car from the airport to the expressway. Use public transportation even with chickens to a city center rather than an unmarked taxi. Don't stop if someone tries for your attention or if your car is bumped until you get to a lighted and busy area. Beware of rental car problems like flat tires within the first 24 hours ; cars are checked before leaving the lot; this might mean sabotage. Stay close to your valuables when entering airport security poles. Rent a mobile phone or bring your own. If you use plastic security wrap on luggage, be sure to have access to scissors when you arrive or know the word in the local language. Bring a compass so you know your driving direction. Keep all items away from view in your car, including maps and guidebooks. Do not rent hatchback cars.
Take children on a long day experimental trip to see how they fare when tired and hungry. Pack lightly as you will end up carrying the bags. Talk to children about the danger of travel and about not being overtly American, if you are going abroad. Pin the name, address and phone number of the hotel on each child's clothing. Ask the hotel reception when booking how close is the nearest playground; you will get an idea of their attitude to children and the neighborhood's safety for them.
designed for a two week casual leisure trip...
Copyright: The Women's Travel Club 1999; All rights reserved
Clothes:
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3 pairs khaki or other washable neutral pants
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5 white and gray short sleeved T-shirts also for use under other shirts or under pajamas
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one nice leather belt
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3 white or gray long sleeved T-shirts
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7 pairs underpants and 3 bras
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7 pairs white or beige socks if going to temples or mosques in Third World, have a pair handy so you do not have to walk barefoot on the floor.
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1 pair walking boots instead of white sneakers white sneaker announce tourist way off in the distance
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1 pair leather flats (less casual than loafers) I like to bring one good pair such as Ferragamos
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1 fabric purse-- with decent shoes, you can carry this even to a cocktail party
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1 really good blazer again in case you get invited somewhere special-people who dress nicer are more likely to get bumped up on the plane.
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1 large wool or cotton scarf ( on the beach, to cover arms in churches or as a wrap, helpful in rain over your coat)
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one coat if necessary
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1 good silk scarf and several cheap bandannas (great for bartering)
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1 vest to dress up outfits and for added warmth
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2 long sleeved nicer shirts (washable silk)
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1 pair leggings useful for unseasonably cold weather, as a buffer to cold rooms etc. If all else fails, switch the sheet and blanket and have the blanket closer to your body
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1 pair heavy tights
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1 pair pajamas or big T-shirt and leggings
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1 thermal underwear shirt-short sleeved top
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1 GAP rain jacket (sold in its own pouch)
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1 skirt ( should go with blazer and be midi length)
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1 fanny pack wear in belt loops to avoid losing it to someone who cuts it; waterproof packs are also available if you will be swimming and do not want to leave your fanny pack behind. Also one backpack with lock.
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one khaki hat- for heavy rain wear put a hotel shower cap underneath
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one wedding ring ( even if you are not married-it can be a good deterrent)
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3 pairs colored pantyhose
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If you need to dress up on your trip, change all clothes to black with one skirt of another color such as green with scarf, shoes to match. I find navy and red boring; green or other different colors (with black, mustard,cobalt blue) make your wardrobe less monotonous.
Cosmetics:
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A small amount of everything you use within 4 days of the trip; everything else leave home. Start putting it on the bathroom counter so you know ahead of time how much there is. And you embarrass yourself if there is a mountain.
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one cheap washcloth non American hotels do not usually supply them (pack in a zip lock bag)
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one small bar soap ( if traveling in Third World)
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one tube of shampoo - camping shops carry a clothes wash and shampoo combo; hotel shampoo is actually also good for washing underwear)
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antiseptic handiwipes ( please note antiseptic) or Purell
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one Vaseline intensive care with sunblock
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sanitary napkins and panty liners (do not use Tampax when in Third World Countries)
Medicine:
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This is a very personal category and you will need to discuss with your physician.. Below are those items of a more generic nature:
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one package of sterile bandages and antiseptic cream
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one hot water immersion coil ( 220 if necessary) and cup plus tea or other
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acidophilis pills
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Immodium (liquid not pills)
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one six pack raisins
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Vitamin C and one a day vitamins
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a small selection of over the counter medicine such as cold or sore throat medicine
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Melatonin or other sleeping pill for extreme jet lag
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A message written in the local language which alerts others to special needs such as food allergies or personal medical information
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photocopy of any prescriptions in the generic and of eyeglass prescription
Other: -
one rubber door stop for great security
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one box of plain cookies and one box peanut butter crackers
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wordy magazines such as The New Yorker which you can leave behind
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one parachute material bag to carry home things you cannot live without
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one hefty bag ( for heavy rain, wet laundry or to sit on)
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photocopies of passport picture page and visa pages if a visa was required for the trip, airline tickets, insurance card, itinerary with addresses)
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one packet of canceled American stamps ( for children's gifts)
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pictures of the children in your lives the best way to meet women in other countries
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one inflatable world globe beach ball inflate it to show others where you live
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one cheap plastic compass to keep you in the right direction; and it is fun to look at on exotic plane itineraries
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one knife and cork screw or a Swiss knife Leatherman is a bestseller; tools to fix anything in one implement
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one plastic water bottle plastic security strap should your luggage be beyond help and one extra lock
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alarm clock and battery
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camera battery and camera, film
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zip lock bags for receipts, money, important papers and different currencies
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eyeglasses
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one inflatable pillow and blinders
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ear plugs
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guidebooks and or photocopies of guidebooks
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hairdryer and converter ( available in Radio Shack)
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adapter ( for the shape of the plug not the voltage; converters are for voltage)
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a personal diary a great way to get to yourself again or to busy yourself when eating alone
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pre-addressed envelopes for developing your photos
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chip clips for hanging your laundry
Money:
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Travelers checks in dollars
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Two credit cards Visa is more acceptable outside of the Americas ;only carry one with you at a time Keep the numbers separate.
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Three personal checks you will be amazed as who is willing to accept a personal check instead of credit cards. Remember lots of people have brothers in law in New Jersey who don't pay taxes in Switzerland.
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$400 in cash adjust to where you are going and the first available banking hours. Note ATM machines are the best rate of currency. You should have $25 in single dollars for some tips and for bargaining.
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Bring a few bargaining chips for Third World countries: cheap lipsticks, plastic sunglasses, T shirts with your city name, anything electronic, barrettes and hair accessories, old jewelry worth under $50.
Final Reminders:
put your name and office address inside each suitcase, double check the bar code put on your luggage by the airline and treat yourself to laundry to avoid over packing. Never travel with jewelry or anything you would hate to lose. Feeling relaxed on a trip not impressing 'the natives' is the point! If you cannot carry your suitcase one city block, you are in trouble.
SOLO SUMMER: How to Choose a Group Tour if You Are a Woman Traveling Alone (printable section)
Look at photos of passengers in brochures to pinpoint the demographics of a tour. What age and gender are the clients?
Ask about room share possibilities AND how long the company has been arranging these. Ask if there are other single travelers?
Choose a group with maximum 25 who travel in one bus and stay at the same hotels. Read the small print to see if a bus is provided if the group is limited in size. Ask how many free seats are on each bus so you know if you need to sit next to a stranger everyday.
Inquire about hotel neighborhoods so you are comfortable going out alone. Are these centrally located hotels in safe areas? If out-of-town or at the airport, is there a shuttle bus provided so you are not isolated during "down time.
Analyze "free time to see if you will be alone often and where you will be during "alone time. Some trips have afternoons free, read the itinerary carefully. Ask about options for those times and how many need to book to assure they go.
Make sure the trip has a welcome dinner or cocktail party. If not, ask what they do to integrate solo travelers; some cruises invite solos to parties or will give telephone numbers ahead of time.
If you are concerned about being alone in a hotel, ask for a room next to either the guide or someone else in the group.
Ask for wake up calls from the hotel to make sure you don,t miss the group departure.
Ask about languages spoken on the trip so you are not one of few English-speaking travelers.
Arrange flights through the tour company to be assured of transfers and follow up if flights are late.
If your transfer does not show; ask for help from other transfer agents; they are usually happy to call your company as many are freelancers working for the same outfits.
Even if inconvenient, fly from the most popular gateway so you meet other passengers before the trip begins.
If on a cruise, take the pre-cruise hotel option for at least one night to avoid missing the ship.
Does the guide carry a mobile phone? In case you are lost or have a serious problem, how do you get in touch?
Ask about meal seating. Is there a common table for solos? Are there assigned tables in each dining room or is it a free-for-all?
Pack in two suitcases to share the risk of baggage delay. This will help you if you are not picked up at the airport and need to move luggage yourself.
Before you go, take a few one-day excursions alone and make an effort to talk to people along the way and have restaurant meals by yourself. Solo travel is a learned skill. 11/04/05
Tips for Sharing with a Roommate on a Trip
Snoring Ask straight out if this is an issue. If the person lives alone and does not know- mention the possibility ahead of time and agree on what to do if either of you snores. Possible solutions : ear plugs / window ajar for street buzz/ a scarf around your ears or face it you might have to take a new room. Proper etiquette is for the person who wants to change to pay for her new room.
Smelling The number two issue is perfume or heavy use of products with chemical smells. We suggest no perfume on tour. Go through routine products to make sure you are both happy with the steam wafting from the shower or acetone from the nails.
Smoking Although not as much as issue before, sharing with a smoker means a smoking room, a smoking floor and smoking tables at meals. Smokers are handicapped even isolated on tours as buses and increasingly restaurants do not allow smoking.
Sleeping The number four concern is room behavior including television viewing late at night. Prior to a trip, ask for a run down of what your room share does from the time she comes home until bedtime. Ask what machines she routinely uses: tv, hairdryer, electric curlers, white noise machine, heater, air conditioner. These will tell you a lot about her electronic noise level and the room temperature she expects. It will also tell you if she spends 45 minutes each morning blow drying her hair!
Stamina Compare walking, stair climbing, ability to carry luggage, deal with jet lag and exhaustion, And importantly, deal with new situations. No matter how considerate you want to be if your physical abilities are different, you will probably not travel well together. And in confronting new situations which might be frustrating, agree to tell each other if your ugly tourist side has shown.
Spending Be honest about the budget,. Do you use porters? Always tip? Expect to take taxis instead of the bus? Order expensive drinks? On what will you splurge and for how much? If you are big spenders but on different items, either work it out ahead of time, or go your separate ways for your splurges. Agree to accommodate each other in 2 splurges you do not agree on.
Seeing vs. Shopping What you expect to do each day should be agreed on before you book; go over the itinerary and see that you like the daily routine. Each of you needs to pin point her most active and tired times. Everyone gets time alone. Shopping Agree to part company if shopping annoys either of you. Or impose a time limit. Never expect your share to help you carry the stuff you bought!
Singing Room noise can be a persistent problem--incessant talking, tv watching, long distance calls to make sure your office and friends are never without you, and worst of all singing at quiet piano bars. Faxes and calls after bedtime are a no no.
Schmoozing or incessant chat with strangers, waiters, airplane mates. You must agree that you will not go off with anyone you meet and that you will not give your name away to strangers not on your tour.
Schnorring A term my father used for people who don’t pay their fare share, drinks most of the dinner wine and pays half and is always out when the porter comes.
Miscellaneous: Room Key and Safe key. There is usually only one of each. Make sure you do not hog it! Common bills: put cash in a zip lock bag and pay for common expenses from it. Hotel bills and other join costs: pay them fairly at the time they are incurred. Do not wait; you will forget who owes what. Health and emergencies: you should both carry your emergency numbers. In the case of a health problem that delays a return home, the emergency contact should be notified and expected to come over to help. Should you have to keepsake your share’s wallet, watch, etc. put it in large bag, seal the items, and write your name over the seal in front of someone. Leave this bag closed until the emergency contact arrives and make them sign a receipt.
Fear of Flying: Financially That is: Hidden Costs of Travel
- Fuel surcharges: most companies are locked into long term contracts for fuel. To calculate extra costs, they use a fuel index, usually based on markets world wide. On some competitive routes like JFK-London, additional fuel costs can be more than the actual ticket! Fuel surcharges by law must be included in your trip price.
- Airline ticket taxes: the odd extra amount on an airline ticket is a total of various taxes levied by government authorities. These taxes pay part of the FAA and overseas government air budgets, are used for airport improvements, security fees, passenger and baggage screening etc.
- Credit card costs: Companies that accept credit cards pay a percentage of each sale to the credit card company. Credit cards with benefits like frequent flyer miles cost the vendor a higher fee.
- Deviation fees: if you are flying on a group airfare and wish a change from the routing, the airline charges to compensate for individual ticket work.
- Stop over fees: if you have a connecting flight and wish to stopover for a night internationally, or more than 4 hours domestically, you pay this fee. And you will pay additional taxes because. for instance, you have used airline airport facilities twice.
- Handling fees: fees charged by the tour operator for overnight mailing, facilitating visas and other non-trip expenses. These can be high if you are booking last minute.
- Classes of service on airline tickets: the number of seats in each fare class on a flight is restricted by the airline; generally. booking late will result in paying for a higher fare class.
- Currency surcharges: some fees and taxes are charged by airlines in other currencies. If the $US is weak these costs will be higher.
- Re-booking fees: if you cancel and re-book your airline ticket, cruise or hotel, you will have to pay again, as if your booking is totally new.
- Visa fees: certain countries require visas and charge for them. Visa companies facilitate this process and add a handling fee to their service.
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