Tips and Tricks: How do you plan a trip? Several of you have asked that trip planning be the subject of a President’s Message. I resisted writing about this because you are the most experienced travelers on the planet. However, to answer the question, “It depends.”
Factors include destination(s), computer savvy, travel experience and budget. Planning a vacation in the south of France requires vastly different considerations than a camping trip in the Congo. But be prepared to sit at the computer for hours. Like you, I draw from numerous sources (Frommer’s Travel Guides; search engines like Rome to Rio, Kayak and Google Flights; consolidators like Expedia, Tripadvisor and Hotels. com). I consult and make bookings directly with the airline and hotel; I print a hard copy of the confirmation and download the app to facilitate communication in case of changes. Planning takes time.
There are also considerations of personal style. The late Tim Carlson (former board member and founder of TCC’s Northern California chapter) traveled with brief notes about where he wanted to go and what he wanted to see. The only certainty in Tim’s travels was where his flight landed and details about his flight home. I am on the opposite end of the planning continuum. My itinerary is planned. I know where I’m staying, what I will see, and how I’m getting there. I don’t waste time; I want to see and do as much as possible and move on. I often travel solo and the itinerary reflects my personal preference to book arrangements in advance. Understanding who you are asa person seems to be one of the astonishing realizations we gain from travel!
A good piece of advice about trip planning is to connect with your fellow members through TCC WhatsApp. Those of you who offer recommendations in response to member requests are much appreciated. Thank you. Those of you seeking recommendations, don’t hesitate to ask; chances are a member will respond with timely and useful information.
My mother used to say, “If you don’t ask, you definitely won’t get.” For a lot of reasons, a recent flight from Addis Ababa to Malabo was really, really important. Missing that flight would seriously throw my Congo trip into disarray. As fate would have it, the travel demons delayed my flight to Addis and it was apparent that I would miss my crucial Addis-Malabo flight. What to do? I followed my mother’s advice and asked for help. I explained my dilemma to the head flight attendant, and she told the captain. He called ahead, and as a result, the ground crew was waiting for me in Addis. I was the first person off the plane, and I ran, ran, ran to my gate and was the last one to board the flight to Malabo. I don’t travel around the world expecting airlines to hold planes for me, but when there is a need, ask. You never know when Lady Luck will smile in your direction.
I rarely check luggage, but when I do I tie on a big yellow strap and photograph the suitcase. On the back of the photo, I write the measurements and details about color, material and manufacturer. That photograph goes in my purse. I have stories to tell about how this practice has proven very valuable. Yes, the Apple AirTags are a nice application of GPS technology, but they do not take the place of a photo of your checked luggage.
Have you figured out how to travel with only hand luggage? It takes practice. But it’s a skill worth practicing. A quote in an Adventures Abroad brochure bears repeating: “There are two kinds of travelers: those who pack light and those who wish they had.” Because I pack light, I’m definitely not a fashion statement as I wear the same things repeatedly. Pauline Frommer’s line gives me some comfort: “It’s more about you seeing the world, rather than the world seeing you.” I like that quote. Dorota Wydro’s line is also good: “Don’t waste money buying new clothes. Instead, visit new countries where people haven’t seen your old clothes.” To pack only a few things means that washing becomes a daily pursuit and that demands a whole chapter to be explored another day.
On an unrelated subject, what are you planning to do with your travel notes and memorabilia when you don’t have a friend or family member interested in inheriting them? Your recommendations about scanners don’t capture the tuff of a lion’s fur you found on the fence, the rough crepe paper-like toilet tissue you brought home from Bulgaria, the cashew nut you twisted off an apple-like fruit in Guinea-Bissau or the pamphlets, postcards, bar coasters and other things you collected along the way. You can’t scan these things. I even think my photos and observations about my travels have value and that my scrapbooks should remain intact. Further suggestions about plans for your travel memorabilia are invited.
This quote is attributed to the Prophet Mohammed: “Don’t tell me how educated you are…tell me how much you’ve traveled.” margobart@travelerscenturyclub.org
