Travel Advisory

A lot of readers of my travel blogs expressed interest in exploring Europe someday and although I am in no way a travel expert like Rick Steves and I've only been to a few places, I'm feeling rather inclined to share a few nuggets of wisdom to make their own journey easier and smoother. The best way to ensure a carefree and relaxing trip is to prevent problems before they happen. The more you learn about travel basics, the less likely you are to have difficulties.
Compared to those who have backpacked throughout Europe, our trips were on a slower pace and of shorter duration. Despite that, we still found ourselves wishing we did some things differently. Prior to our first trip last year, we read up on websites such as Lonely Planet that gave a lot of valuable information but we found the journey the best learning experience in itself.
Planning for a trip can be quite daunting and overwhelming but exciting as well. Just looking forward to seeing those new and foreign places will be incentive enough in getting the task done. Of course, your itinerary will be determined on the places you are planning on visiting. I would suggest looking up maps to determine their geographic locations and relative distances and to figure out transportation needs and transfers. You can also then plan on the length of time to spend on each places and the accommodations needed. Create your own time line or calendar so you can keep track of all the important information including flight info, fares, hotel addresses/tel #s, train departures and arrivals, train stations and fares, tour schedules and fees, daily itinerary, etc. Adhering to a certain schedule might not be your kind of spontaneous fun but it certainly keeps you on track so you'll be able to visit all or most of the places you want to see.
Choosing hotel accommodations can be a painstaking task. It certainly is an issue especially since the standards and rates might not be comparable with most US hotels. Unless you have someone's recommendation, it will be to your advantage to research and read up on reviews from other travelers. For us, we opted to choose from a fairly known chain of hotels, Accor Hotels, since we had an okay experience with them last year. They might still not be according to your standards but were generally commendable enough. Choose hotels that are within the vicinity of the sightseeing destinations and with easy access to public transportation. It's cost effective and adventurous as well.
Once you have all the travel details taken cared of, it's time to start packing. Yey! This also needs a lot of preparation. I would recommend making a list. Check the TSA website for the updates on restrictions. For a hassle-free and speedy security screening, follow the 3-1-1 For Carry-ons and the list for Permitted and Prohibited Items. I would also further suggest to wear slip-on shoes and to avoid wearing a belt with metal buckle or any clothing with metallic accessory to avoid any delay in going through those detectors. If carrying electronic devices, find out which ones need to be checked in and which ones need to be taken out of the carry-ons separately. That includes the laptop computer if bringing one.
When researching for last year's trip, the common tip we got was to travel lightly. Well, we really thought that we got it made since our luggage was about half the size of what we usually bring when visiting the Philippines. Na-ah! We still found ourselves having difficulties when we had to go through turnstiles and revolving doors and whenever we have to quickly get on and off the trains and buses. Some train stations don't have escalators or elevators so we had to haul our luggage up and down the flights of stairs. Poor Kenny had it really tough last year ;-( Despite having two wheels on my luggage, it became so heavy eventually and it felt like my arms were falling off from carrying it around. For this last trip, we invested on a couple of Samsonite 22" Spinner luggage. They were equipped with four wheels that can swivel in any direction for greater maneuverability. Instead of the usual two wheels, spinners have four on the bottom that can turn 360 degrees. Just like regular rolling suitcases, they can be tipped backwards and pulled but they can also be kept upright and rolled in any direction, making them particularly useful in tight spots. Pushing the bag sideways, for one, can come in handy in a narrow airplane aisle. Truly a great buy!
Since our luggage were just a size over the regular carry-ons, it forced us to not over-pack. It took a few trials of packing and unpacking to finally decide on what were essentials or not. Heeding the advice of travel experts, we brought travel size toiletries and made sure our clothes were easily mixed and matched as well as weather-appropriate (Note: regularly check the weather forecast of the places you're visiting). Although we originally planned on getting some of our clothes washed by the hotel laundry service, their steep prices (about $12 for a pair of jeans?) were so discouraging so we ended up washing them ourselves in the bathroom sink. Therefore, make sure your clothing pieces are easily washable and quick to dry. I would suggest washing dirty clothes upon arriving at the next location so you'll have enough drying time. Bring a small container for detergent and also use the hotel's liquid soap for washing. I'm proud to say that we never had to spend a single euro for laundry this time. Back to the basics (kuskos), ya'll ;-)
One other tip that I can't stress enough is picking the most comfortable and durable footwear possible. Traveling around Europe means a LOT of walking and most often on cobblestone streets and paths. Your feet will thank you if you wisely choose practicality over style or fashion. If they are a new pair of shoes, break them in first before the trip or you'll have painful blisters to deal with. Not the best way to enjoy your vacation at all.
Once you are all packed up, go through the checklist and make sure your travel documents are in order. Make two copies of your passport identification page to facilitate replacement if lost or stolen. Do the same with the debit and credit cards you're using. Leave one copy at home with a trusted relative/friend and carry the other with you in a separate and secure place. Also leave a copy of your itinerary with family and friends at home so you can be easily contacted in case of an emergency.
One more thing that is important is to familiarize yourself with local laws and customs of the countries you are visiting. While in a foreign country, you are subject to its laws. Knowing a few common phrases or words in their language can be helpful as well.
Hmmm... what else? I'm sure a lot of readers out there can add more to my list. Feel free to do so. It will be much appreciated, I'm sure. So, for those who are in the process of planning for their first or next trip, there's no need to stress yourself out. There's so much information out there. Don't forget to load up your Ipod with your favorite tunes, take as many photos or video footages and blog about your adventures if possible. It's always fun to read back on your entries and relive your journeys all over again. Happy trails, everyone!