Travel Tips

At the bamboo forest outside Kyoto. 

Several people have asked me how we are able to travel so well and so often. To them it seems overwhelming. For me, it’s a way of life. Here is how Ruben and I manage it. Take from this what serves you. There are lots of right ways. For those friends who are already hardy travelers, tell me what I’ve missed in the comments. There is always more to learn. :-)

We don’t go on tours or cruises.  They’re more expensive, structured, and you hang out with other Americans.  We prefer to plan and go by ourselves. We can stay longer since it’s less expensive, we have more flexibility, have never felt unsafe, we create a smaller carbon footprint and we aren’t trailing like little ducklings after a tour guide rushing us along.  We can fly 'under the radar.' BUT, if you prefer tours or cruises, I understand. It is definitely low effort and feel like less risk. And if you have no time or desire to plan, then others do the planning for you.

Nowadays, you'll be met with large numbers of Asian and Russian tourists on large tours in all the world's most famous places. There is a burgeoning middle class in all those countries who now have the ability to travel and are taking advantage of it. With this huge number of people exploring the planet we worry about the impact of big cruises and continuous tours on the planet’s vulnerable ecosystems (in cities, countryside and oceans), so please choose consciously. We saw this in Yellowstone Park, for example, where you needed to begin to see sites by 8am to have an hour or two before the buses, traffic, and crowds descended. Then the park just got overrun.

Tourism is growing exponentially every year. For example, Portugal, over the last four years has gone from 8 million tourists a year, to 15 million, to 22 million, and it is projected 28 million in 2019. Their infrastructure is struggling to keep up, as is happening in so many other countries. In Kyoto we found out that in by May of 2019, this relatively small city had already had 8 million tourists from Asia alone already that year. They were astounded. Ruben and I choose not to travel at all to over touristed sites, locations and peoples that are exhausted, or to choose off season times. We live in a city struggling with the problem so feel the unfortunate impacts ourselves. Joyfully we live outside the tourist zone in Barcelona so come home to peace and quiet.

We book accommodation and transportation in advance.   It’s harder to be a nomad with the explosion of tourism worldwide.  I still have friends who backpack and stay in hostels they only book a day in advance and simply deal with the consequences.  I used to do that. Now I like more ease in my travels. But we seldom stay in hotels preferring airbnb or homestay options.  However an old classic low key hotel is fun once in a while.

We do sometimes take 1 or ½ day tours after we’ve arrived in a country/city.  We book as small a tour as possible.  We like history, cultural and tours in Nature.  For example: In Japan we went on a cultural heritage day tour to the tiny town of Nikko an hour and a half north of Tokyo to see the beautiful temples, and did an Airbnb ½ day tour of Fushimi Inari near Kyoto to hike the mountain and see its bamboo forests and shrines.  We did Airbnb 2 to 3 hour Hidden Gems and WWII tours in Prague, and we took Viator one day tours of the Cliffs of Moher, the Aran Islands, and one to Connemara Park out of Galway. Airbnb Activities tours are our favorite, with less than 12 people max, often with only 2 or 3 others, they have a small footprint and the guides are well informed.  Viator tours use a small or large bus and cover a lot of ground. For example: we went from Dublin to the Giant’s Causeway and Belfast, took another to Newgrange, and toured Sintra, Portugal, outside of Lisbon with Viator day tours where it would have been impossible to accomplish it on our own.

Ruben in front of the John Lennon wall in Prague.

The rest we do ourselves.  It’s fun.  It takes more planning, but you get to do exactly what you want.  And with Google, airbnb, home stays, booking.com, GPS, Trip Advisor, Skyscanner, Kayak, and so many more, you have LOTS of help.  Read reviews. Look on google maps. Everything you book sends you confirming emails that outline expectations and instructions.   You pay in advance and you’re ready. 

We go shoulder season and off season and are rewarded.  We visited Andalusia in Spain in January.  It was cold and windy (mid-50s during the day) but when we visited the Alhambra and Alcazar we stood in amazingly lovely rooms all by ourselves with no other tourists nearby.  It was magical. We also saw locals practicing for Holy Week processions with all the floats. Worth the cold. And museums, shops, restaurants, etc are less busy, less stressed, and friendlier with a bit of time to chat.  It’s just nicer.

   

A rainy day view of Hong Kong and across to Kowloon from the trail at the top of Victoria Peak.  Notice the lack of other tourists.
 

Another shot from that same path around Victoria Peak. 

These are all roots from Cypress trees, I think.

If you must go to the BIG name destinations in the summer, get off the beaten path quickly.  When we were in Hong Kong in May at the top of Victoria Peak, all the other tourists stayed within 50 feet of where the tram left us off. It was full of T-shirt shops, restaurants, and one spectacular view.  We hiked the lovely trail all around the top of the peak almost to ourselves. Lots more views! No rush. We were not on a schedule. This happens a lot! Go where the tourists aren’t. For restaurants, look inside them. If there are locals there you’ll find better food that is less expensive.  We ask other locals beforehand (hosts, tour guides, concierges, etc) and use review sites for information if needed. And we read menus outside posted on the wall. Don’t succumb to restaurant hawkers. Ask to read the menu first. Some restaurants have cover charges (Tokyo) or cover charges for outside tables (Paris). Find prices out first.

Decide what will really make the trip a highlight for you and make sure you can do that.   If you’re going to The Louvre in Paris, make sure you can get entry tickets for the days you’re there.   Book ahead. If you want to see the Mona Lisa there is now a new protocol. You have to do book ahead for La Sagrada Familia (Barelona), the Alhambra (Granada), Guinness Storehouse (Dublin), Topkapi Palace (Istanbul), etc.  Just saying. We also prefer to do the first tour of the day at big sites. You have the place, for a brief moment, to yourself.  We had friends who booked the last time of the day at La Sagrada Familia and didn’t have enough time before it closed. Many times the ‘recommended time to allow’ posted on a website isn’t enough.  We found that at the Book of Kells in Dublin.

Allow time to plan:  I take 4 months or more to plan a trip planning a little at a time so that I don’t burn out, it feels like fun, and I learn about those hidden gems.  Read blogs.  Ask others who have been there.  Read reviews on travel sites. Read novels about the history or culture of an area.  Look at YouTube for advice. They’re all great. Buy travel guides. I used to love Lonely Planet guides since they are geared to the budget traveler.  Some friends love Rick Steves guides.  I now find online information sufficient. I exchange itineraries with 3 or 4 friends who are like minded.   There is a LOT of information out there.

Save good links in a document that will become your itinerary.  It’s horrible to invest an hour in research and then lose the link.  I found the hike to Sendan Kyo, (an hour out of Hiroshima by local bus), in a travel blog.  It is through a fabulous river gorge, and almost no one else was there that May day. Also, we booked the Hypogeum in Malta at least 4 months in advance and were lucky to get tickets.  They limit entries each day to this underground stone age temple. Only one tour an hour with max 12 people. I found this booking advice on a Trip Advisor review. Another friend told us about the book ‘Ireland’ by Frank Delaney.  We loved it. It made the history come alive for us before we went.

Know Your Limits: What calls to you about this destination?  Is it easily accessible?  Do you love the food? What would make this trip a success for you?   Not everything will work out. We went all the way to the top of Newfoundland to see icebergs and the days we were there were fogged in and no boats sailed.  Sigh. We settled for seeing lots of baby bergs from the car. And instead we went to the L’anse aux meadows National Historic Site, the settlement site of early Vikings.  We loved it. Joyfully we loved lots about Newfoundland. We had a similar disappointment at Glacier National Park. Global warming is real. Luckily we got up close and person with a glacier in 2017 in Switzerland. 

It's a small world now, full of modern people with common concerns. I've been in malls on three continents where the only difference is the language and the store names. We're all alike in our basic desires.

 

Sign in Vienna announcing the strike for Climate Change awareness.

Time Limits:  Ru and I don’t like to be gone more than 3 weeks.  After 3 weeks we just want to be home. And we build travel days in our itinerary just to land and get our bearings.  On those days we check in, go to the grocery store for essentials. Walk around the neighborhood. We don’t pressure ourselves to do more.  If we feel like doing more, it’s a bonus. We also don’t like to pack and unpack too often so limit our cities or destinations in a trip to no more than 4.  If you do want a really long trip, then plan time off within the trip. When I traveled for several months in Asia, I planned vacations where I just lay on the beach for a few days and read novels. It's tiring to be on the go all the time in a different country, especially if you are moving around a lot.

Budget Limits:  We like paying costs ahead of time.  Then there are no big cost hits. We eat a breakfast of cereal and fruit in our lodging, or we might book a B and B.  (We’ve even eaten cereal in hotel room glasses. It works.). We eat our big meal out at lunch (less expensive than dinner) and a small nosh at dinner, either at home or out.  If Ru wants a before dinner drink, he has one of vodka and juice at home while we’re relaxing before dinner. We choose airbnb locations that have washers and dryers, refrigerators and microwaves, and are close to public transportation or destinations.  None of this feels like a sacrifice to us since it means we have more to spend on what is really important to us. Another benefit of traveling off season is when we stayed at an airbnb in Cordoba (Spain) right next to the fabulous Mezquita (Mosque-Cathedral). It was totally empty at night and  stunningly beautiful. 

Language Limits:  Most travel involves countries where you don’t speak the language.  And I still find myself worrying about finding a bathroom when I need it and getting food that I like.  Let me allay those fears. I was in Hong Kong (in 1990) when I tapped a woman on the shoulder and with only the look I gave her, she directed me to a bathroom by walking me there.  I understand that there is even an app now that will tell you where the public restrooms are in many cities in the world. In some countries or cities they cost a bit so carry small change, and I always carry tissues just in case.  Don’t worry if you are in known tourist spots. They’re prepared for the crowds. The restrooms may not be up to your standards but they are there.  In Spain they are less frequent than I would like, and sometimes you need to buy a coffee in a cafe if you need a restroom quickly. But coffee isn't expensive, and it's very good. Ask for cafe solo (an espresso) or un cortado (an espresso with milk), or té (regular teas) or infusion (herbal teas).

Our guide with a British tourist in front of my goulash and BIG dumplings at lunch on the tour of the Bohemian Paradise Geopark about an hour outside Prague.

Finding Food that you like may be a fear that keeps you from fun explorations.  But nowadays most places have menus in English (also listing ingredients) that they will hand to you automatically - at least they do that to Ruben and me.  If they don’t have menus in English, you still have options. In Greece on Mykonos thirty years ago, the waiter took me into the kitchen for me to point at what I wanted.  This also happened to us in 2012 in Tulum, Mexico when the restaurant had lost power and staff wanted to show us what was still available. In Japan they have pictures of the food in the window of many restaurants.  Snap a photo. I also have used the ‘Bring me what that person is eating,’ and it has worked well, too. Google helps out here, too. We can often find the dish on a recipe website which shows us everything we need to know. I’ve never been to a country where I haven’t liked at least a good part of the local food. We love to experience new food as a part of our travel experience.

Not Knowing the Currency is another fear.  I recommend taking time to look over and study the coins and bills. Then find a ratio that works for you.  It was close to 100 Yen to a dollar when we were there, and One Koruna in the Czech Republic equals about 4 cents, or about 25 Koruna to the Euro.  We just use a ballpark figure that is easy for us. And we take our time when we buy something. We also Google recommended tipping practices. In the Czech Republic and other big cities there is now a guide book called ‘Honest Guide’ whose purpose is to steer folks away from scams and inauthentic tourist places.  Honest Guide also does Youtube videos. Some Brits we met highly recommended it to us. Ru likes the app ‘XE Currency Converter’ for information about exchange rates.

Overhead:  Is the country politically stable?  Will it be crowded and/or expensive?  Will we need travel insurance? What side of the road do they drive on? Do we want to see more cities or countryside or both.  Would we need to rent a car. (It’s more stressful for Ru and he doesn’t drive in cities.) What is the crime rate? What is ground transportation like?   Sometimes, there is too much overhead. I haven’t wanted to return to Turkey since Erdogan got into office. I have several places that I’m just casually gathering information about until the time feels right.

Leave room for surprises:  Gradually enough unknowns become knowns and you have a basic plan.  It’s like planning a curriculum. It is continually developing. For Dublin we planned full days.  We were covering small distances in a small heavily touristed city we could visit Kilmainham Jail AND the Guinness Storehouse AND the Book of Kells in one day.  We managed it because we were walking between them and had it mapped out. And we had an amazing gift. We were the last timed entry to see the Book of Kells and it was very crowded.  But we lingered. We were the last 2 people in the room and the guard let us stay as long as we wanted. Just us. Our noses 2 inches from the glass. In Galway we left some days wide open.  There were national parks we wanted to hike and didn’t know what the weather would bring. It was a good thing we did. Ru had a cold. It was cold and rainy. We cancelled our rental car and booked a day tour to Connemara and Kylemore Abbey which we loved!  The guide told us wonderful stories of the history and culture of the area. Someone else did the driving. Ru got the rest he needed. Another unplanned gift.

 

A rainy day in the New Territories outside Hong Kong in Sai King at the reservoir delighted by the columnar basalt.  We were the only 2 people on our tour with our guide.

No Trip Goes Exactly As Planned:  There will always be more than you are able to see so don’t push yourself.  It’s your vacation! The rainy days are often more glorious than the sunny ones.      Enjoy what is available to you. Think of the unplanned glass as half-full. Or completely full. Traveling for pleasure is a gift that is denied to many.  It’s good practice for living this way every day! There will always be unplanned gifts from the universe if you are open to them.

Now for the Particulars:

Flights:  We like the app Skyscanner to look for the best flights.  Then we book through the airlines. Most of the time the prices are about the same and if there is an issue you’ve eliminated the middle-man.  Book on a Tuesday or Wednesday. Remove cookies from your computer so that it looks like a first time look. You’ll get better prices this way.  To and from the West Coast of the US we use Norwegian and Level airlines. Last time we used TAP (Portugal Airlines) to Boston Logan. TAP 2 years ago had a bonus where you could turn a quick layover into a 5 day layover at no extra charge.  We like Vueling inside Europe. We only use Ryan if we have to. We avoid airlines in financial trouble or with bad ratings.

Lodging:  There are lots of other equivalents to airbnb.  Many that do rural stays and home stays, too. We also do B and B’s if they’re not too pricy because some places have fewer options.  In Hong Kong we used a hotel and they upgraded our room to one with a kitchen at no extra cost since we were off season and were pleasant people.  It’s all good. We especially like lodging where the hosts live on site. Hosts help with local tips, extra towels, and problems that might arise.

Ground Transportation:  It’s easy to book bus and train online, too.  Check out subway cards and maps. After trying local apps we like Google maps the best.  Find out how to get to and from the airport before you arrive. You’ll be tired and will be more liable to just take a pricy cab. The Aerobus in Barcelona is fabulous.  In Hong Kong Ru found us 5 day senior passes on the subway at about 20 cents per ride. In Barcelona, the T-10 is the best value at about $1.00 per ride on bus/tram/subway/funicular.  If you buy a one-ride ticket, it’s more than double that. We got 5 day LEAP cards in Dublin. We LOVE public transportation. Besides, you get great people and city watching and lots more possibilities for your trip to open up. In 1990 I toured completely around Hong Kong Island on public buses.  I loved it. Nowadays, you can even follow the route on Google Maps to make sure you get off at the right spot.

We take photos of maps or hiking trails so that we don't get lost.
This is the map of the old walled part of La Seu D'Urgell in Catalunya.

Currency:  Use a bank ATM to get local cash from for the best rate - usually. In Japan the best rates are from the 7-Banks ATMs found in 7-11 stores, and in the airport.  I never would have guessed that. We learned this tip on a YouTube about travel in Japan. Japan is a cash culture.  Gotta plan for that. On every trip, we take a bank card and a debit card.

Travel Insurance:  Buy it or not? Health Insurance or Trip Insurance?  Our health insurance in Spain covers what we need when we travel and we do check it beforehand.  We don’t bother with trip insurance.

SIM Card or Pocket Wifi.  Pocket wifi in Asia. SIM card in Europe.  We like having a data plan. It’s worth it to us.

Electrical Adapters:  We each have an adapter blue cube from Vguard that goes all over the world with us.  Ru also packs a power strip.

Laundry:  We pack a line that looks like a long bungee with clips on it and laundry soap that comes in small (like dryer) sheets.  Takes the worry out.  

Clothes washing detergent sheets.  Thirty in this tiny package.  They work great.

Online:  We take our phones, our IPads, and our Kindles.

Water Bottles:  We pack empty water bottles and just keep refilling them with local water.  We also have collapsable water cups that we can use in cities that have fountains, like Barcelona and Rome where the water is fine from the tap. Don’t let Nestle con you that you need bottled water.  We don’t go to places with iffy water. If you must, boil water in advance for what you need. I HATE single use plastic.

Meds:  We take a little tin of Antacid, Lactaid, Ibuprofen, Benadryl.  And a basic first aid kit with bandaids, triple antibiotic ointment, and anti-itch cream. 

Miscellaneous:  We take a tiny sewing kit.  Now we take a yoga mat that folds up nicely in my small suitcase, our exercise band, and a couple small blow up pillows for reading in bed.  It all fits with my clothes in a carry on sized case. Here’s why…... 

Clothes:  Besides what we wear or carry on the plane we keep it simple:  Small nylon backpack for day use. For layering: 1 pair of jeans or shorts  (depending on the weather), 1 sweater, 1 sweatshirt, 1 rain jacket. Sleepwear, 4 or 5 days worth of T-shirts and underwear.  That’s it. So what if we get sick of these clothes, it’s lighter and easier. I only pack the jewelry I wear every day. Nothing flashy.  Nothing I can’t bear to lose. I also pack a silk undershirt. It has saved me countless times.

Essential layers! The first week in September in Howth, Ireland and it was cold and rainy. We needed all our layers on that trip.

Passport Case:  I have a nylon belt case I wear under my clothes.   I don’t even know it’s there and I carry our passports, credit cards and bigger cash right on my body at all times.  I only keep out a day’s worth of cash.

Be Pickpocket Proof:  Be smart with your purse or backpack or wallet.  There is a lot of information written about this.  Always be aware of your surroundings. Pickpocketing is a crime of opportunity.  In crowded public places keep your possessions close to you and inaccessible. The same pickpocketing and scams take place in Rome, Paris, Barcelona, and London.  Golden rule for scams - If it feels too good to be true, it is. Unless you’re drunk late at night, are flashing around cash, and/or are particularly isolated you probably don’t need to worry.  Act smart and are alert to your surroundings. The US is a more violent country than most other countries. 

Be Smart: We take photos of our luggage in case it's lost, and photos of our passport in case it's lost. And we share these photos in case one phone is lost. Phones sure can be handy. We also carry a USB drive with other papers that we might need. You might need to take pictures of meds or eyeglass prescriptions or whatever. It just takes the worry out.

Learn a Little of the Local Language:  Please, Thank you.  Excuse me. Hello. Goodbye.  Do you speak English. I don’t understand. Help.  One, two, three. Where is the bathroom? How much does this cost?  

These essential phrases will take you a long way in feeling confident, safe, relaxed, and successful in doing what you want, AND in building good relationships with people from that country or culture.   We put phonetic pronunciations right in our itinerary or on a small card in our pockets. It ALWAYS feels awkward to say the words out loud until you get an affirmative response. Then you relax. Locals really appreciate your efforts.  BUT if you’re in a line of people being helped, say at a train station, ask first if they speak English. Don’t fumble with the local language if it slows up the line. Employees get grumpy.  And they usually speak at least enough English to do their job.

Hong Kong was handy because English is so widely spoken there.

They even help the tourists keep from getting run over.

But wait to go there until the political situation is quieter.

And you can always use your phone. Type in English what you want to say then have Google translate it and show that to the other party. It works well. I never made it beyond 'Thank You' in Thailand. Forgive yourself if you're having a hard time. Smiling goes a long way, too.

Have Fun!!!  Spread goodwill and kindness.  Travel responsibly and consciously.  We are all educating each other about how to live with each other and how to save the planet.  May we bring peace, health and awareness to the planet one person at a time.

Good reading for discovering your style - for one trip or for all your travels.  And for figuring out how to get the most out of your travel. How Overtourism Killed Spontaneous Travel  https://www.cnn.com/travel/article/museums-galleries-advance-bookings/index.html