TRAVEL BASICS

Whether you’re a seasoned traveler or just getting started in your life of adventure, every tourist needs a few travel basics to make the experience as enjoyable as possible. Because I’ve been blessed to travel all over the world and have learned valuable lessons along the way, which I desire to share, I’ve put together several tips to help you plan your next adventure.

As you consider the tips below, be sure to let me know which ones are most helpful. I enjoy hearing about other family adventures and look forward to hearing about yours as well. Bon voyage!

1. PLAN, PLAN, PLAN

In my opinion, you can never over-plan for an upcoming trip. From the moment you select your travel dates to the moment you arrive safely back home, planning your itinerary is a basic necessity for getting the most out of your travel adventure.

I prepare a “trip narrative” for every trip I take. This includes my plans for hotel stays, restaurants, things to see, and available activities. I spend a lot of time researching each destination. One of my favorite online tools is Trip Advisor. I write everything down in a clear format, so I have a clear visual of what my options are. Here’s an example of a trip narrative I wrote for Nashville. It will give you a good idea of what to include in your own itinerary.

If you have an assistant, the trip narrative and detailed plans are something they could help you put together! I’ve developed two forms for my personal assistant, entitled Domestic Travel Checklist and International Travel Checklist. Feel free to use my checklists to help create ones that fit your travel needs.

As you make your plans, keep all of your information in a travel binder so you’ll end up with a comprehensive resource for the future. My wife and I have revisited our favorite places many times, and the trip narratives have saved us both time and money. 

Once your basic plans are made, consider contacting a travel agent to help you fine-tune the details. By being well-informed in the first place, you’ll be able to ask the right questions and get the best advice for things like transportation, lodging, and excursions. Keep in mind, travel agents aren’t necessary, but they can fill in the blanks and help finalize your plans.

Another thing to consider is to hire local travel guides before you even reach your destination. This works especially well for cruises, as I like to know what to expect for each excursion. Travel guides help us discover the best spots in that particular city and efficiently utilize every moment of our time. Some of the benefits of having travel guides are to arrange private transportation, keep us on schedule, and get us back to the cruise ship at the end of the day. I’ve always found this type of preplanning to be money well-spent.

Truly, you can’t over-plan your trips. While certain things will be out of your control, the better you’ve planned, the less headaches you’ll experience. So, plan your way to that next destination with confidence! Remember, once you have arrived, hold your plans loosely and be open to new ideas you discover along the way.

2. ALWAYS HAVE SAFETY IN MIND

When traveling anywhere – domestically or internationally – always have safety in mind. These days, it’s not only your physical safety you have to worry about but also your financial security and protection of personal data. Here’s a basic list of things to consider while traveling:

• Photocopy your passport and driver’s license and keep copies of them in a second packed location
• Consider obtaining an international driver’s license for driving abroad
• Keep an updated medical insurance card with you
• Have your vaccination information on hand and include a list of known allergies
• Carry no more than two credit cards and have the phone number of the credit card companies in your phone
• Consult with your travel guide or hotel staff when booking taxis or other public transportation for the safest way to travel
• Know what areas of the city are safe/unsafe 
• Keep your hotel key card with you without the envelope that has your room number on it
• Consider carrying your wallet and other valuables under your clothing (hidden from view)
• Know the emergency number for your location if it differs from 911

I buy medical travel insurance through Med Jet. It ensures I will be flown back (by private jet) to America or Europe for medical treatment, which is what I prefer. This gives me peace of mind, knowing my family will obtain the best medical care in case of an emergency. Thankfully, we’ve never had to use it, but it’s well worth the annual investment.

Your safety when traveling is of utmost importance, and I highly encourage you to take the necessary steps to ensure your family and valuables are protected. 

3. WHAT TO TAKE AND WHAT TO LEAVE

Some people travel with everything but the kitchen sink, packing way too much and taking things they’ll never use. Knowing what to take and what to leave behind is a basic travel skill that’s easy to develop – especially when you have a plan.

Fortunately, I’ve created detailed packing lists for both domestic and international travel. I hope you’ll find them useful and be able to adapt them to your own travel needs. Without a list, you’ll almost always forget things. 

Keep in mind, you won’t need as much as you think. If you have proper identification, secure payment methods, and a comprehensive travel itinerary, you can often do without the extra baggage. In summary, use detailed lists when packing, as they will spare you the headache of realizing you’re missing certain items once you arrive at your destination.

Planning trips can feel overwhelming, but it doesn’t have to. By doing your research and creating trip narratives, you’ll have detailed itineraries to follow as you work with a travel agent, travel guide, or venture out on your own. Whether you’re a travel pro or just getting started, stick to these travel basics and get the most out of your next adventure!

ACTION TIP:

Purchase a binder for future trip narratives and keep your travel itineraries in one place!

Do you have an experience related to what you have read? Please share it with us in the comments section and help others learn too.