The Smart and Savvy Traveler: Travel Tips for All Experience Levels in Travel

 

No matter how experienced a traveler someone is, from a novice who wants to learn how to travel, to the most experienced amongst us, there is always more to learn. Just when we think we have it all together and can travel seamlessly, a major world event occurs that upends our well- honed travel patterns and brings us back to square one. The September 11 terrorist attacks and the global pandemic are two events that come to mind that certainly had me scrambling for travel tips on what to do. But getting a blood clot on an overseas flight, or not being able to successfully handle altitude, are two common travel dilemmas that can occur even when the world is running like clockwork.

There certainly is no recipe book, but I travel frequently with Overseas Adventure Travel, when a group tour makes more sense than independent travel. They provide a very comprehensive book of travel tips that was once more geared to the novice, but now includes tips also geared to the more experienced traveler. Don’t be put off by the title about 101 Tips for Solo Women Travelers. Men can benefit as well!  

I wanted to go into additional detail on four specific areas that aren’t addressed as much as I have written about, since I have done extensive research on the following topics which are of interest to all.

What I Learned During my Coronavirus Vacation

I thought 2020 was going to be a year of perfect clarity. A year when we could look back with

hindsight on all that we learned, and as travelers, all that we saw, and glean from it lessons that would move us forward in life. This is after all, what travel does to those who are paying attention. And it is the definition of 2020 vision. Instead, I have thus far learned something far more meaningful, as events this year kept me mostly indoors looking at the four walls in my home and my coffee colored carpet. I had much to think about during our period of lockdown and slow reopening, which was intensified by nationwide civil unrest and early curfew in Los Angeles and other major cities.

OAT Travelers Sharing Their Love of Travel Via Zoom

Photos: Jann Segal

OAT travelers just cannot stay away from travel and sharing their love of both travel and Overseas Adventure Travel trips. On April 29, 35 OAT travelers met for the first time all at once via Zoom. The invitation to join the Zoom meeting  was made in the Facebook group Friends of OAT Traveler Discussion Group (not sponsored by OAT). The meeting was successful, and everyone was enthusiastic about meeting regularly on Zoom and focusing on discussion topics. One popular suggestion was to have a topic per continent per week, and let everyone share their experiences on various OAT trips , Africa or Asia for instance, and the trips they enjoyed the most. This Zoom social gathering both let people become engaged with the thought of future travel, and it provided some  much needed  "travel therapy “ at a time when travel isn’t an option.

The Smart Traveler: When Things Don't go as Planned

Things do not always go as planned on a trip. You can travel with as much planning and care as your mother would approve of, and still the unexpected happens. Travel surprises can occur on every trip, but the smart and experienced traveler can always find a solution, and return home that much more a savvy traveler.

The Smart Traveler: Travel Insurance

Travel Insurance is a necessary evil, especially as you get older, or have less people in your life who can help you in the event of an emergency. If you plan a long trip with a complicated itinerary or travel on an organized tour, there is plenty that can go wrong that could cost you money. So the question is not really whether or not you should purchase the insurance. It is how to best maximize that purchase so you will get a return on your money. If you travel often enough, and if you are smart in the way you make your purchase, travel insurance can actually pay for itself.

Travel Strategically During Troubled Times

When times are difficult and world events make you wonder if things have really come to an end, you may also be wondering where it’s safe to travel next. There is no stock answer of course; it all depends on where the crises are in the world, and type of crisis it is. Three primary types of crises come to mind: an economic or financial crisis; a health crisis, and a geopolitical crisis.

An economic or financial crisis

Photos by Jann Segal

An economic or financial crisis, such as the Great Recession of 2008 which some are still feeling, can put a damper on your travel plans. This may also include unemployment or the fear of unemployment. There is however, no need to stop travelling. Inexpensive countries, less expensive accommodations such as guest houses, inns and hostels, or even camping are all options. If you are used to taking the high road in your travels, taking that different path may open you up to experiences you may have never encountered otherwise. For inexpensive destinations consider Central America, South America, and parts of Asia. Less expensive accommodations and even camp sites are available everywhere. And it truly creates local color. Staying in the US can be a more expensive option, but if you do local camping to state of national parks, it can cut back on travel dollars.

A health crisis

Health crises may cause you to say home and completely avoid airports until it is over or at least contained. But if the wanderlust is still veering you overseas, try to avoid routing through countries where there is the greatest problem. It is international travel that helps spread illness of any kind. Travel with good hand sanitizers and avoid budget accommodations. Spend a little more to be in clean and safe accommodations. Consider it a form of insurance. If you have never stayed in more upscale European hotels for instance, it can be an eye opener and a completely different experience.

A geopolitical crisis

In a geopolitical crisis, you have no choice in terms of what to avoid. After the September 11 terrorist attacks, attendance at places like Mount Rushmore was up at least 15% from past years. People avoid other trouble spots like the Middle East, but that does not mean the entire Middle East. If Israel is having problems go to Egypt or Jordan, and visa versa. Many second and third world countries have problems, but once the problems have been taken care of, a new country is open for your travel business at great prices. Columbia, El Salvador and several others in the Americas are shining examples of this. A geopolitical crisis is also an excellent opportunity to see more of the United States. Many people strive to see all 50 states. If you have that desire, a crisis like this is a perfect time to do so. National Parks and Presidential Libraries are perfect destinations.

Whatever events unfold and however you decide to handle them, remember to travel strategically and watch the national and world news. The BBC is excellent for world travelers and really keeps you up to date. Follow world events on the internet as well. Wherever you go in your travels, stay safe and healthy.

Three Reasons to go to Europe Now

Photo by Jann Segal

With so much happening in the the world today, it seems that Europe would not be a safe bet for travel, right? Well, unless your personal safety is at risk (and for the majority of tourists it is not), the decision not to go right now could be a mistake. You can always avoid countries (or parts of countries) that are politically inconvenient for you if that is an issue. Europe is large enough in geography, cultural diversity, and scope to offer you the vacation you are looking to have, and at a price you are willing to pay.

Unraveling the Mystery of Higher Airfare

With a government investigation currently underway about the alleged collusion in airline pricing, this author felt it was tine to share some details on how to find a better price in airfare.The results are alarming.

Tricks for Purchasing Less Expensive Airline Tickets

Photo by Jann Segal

There are many tricks for purchasing less expensive plane tickets, some I leaned from my travel agent mother. Its best not to book a flight for travel during high season if you want to save money.  Shoulder season (spring and fall relative to hemisphere of course) are always the cheapest for hotels and airfare. This is true for organized tours as well. As for booking air, well, I was always taught to avoid Saturdays, Mondays and Fridays, since they have the highest rates. I read recently that for some destinations Saturdays can be a better time to book air, so it’s best to check around. And not all hotels or airlines are created equal when it comes to price.  Some carriers purchase a great hedge contract on fuel and can offer much lower prices than the others. . They all purchase hedge contracts on fuel, it just depends on who has gotten the best one. It is typically reflected in the air fare.

Where to go? Deciding Where to Travel Next

How do you decide where you want to travel? I am pretty much open to going anywhere it is safe and where there will be no health issues for me. Those are my only two criteria. In the US I intend to see all 50 states (only a handful left ...yay!!), but for international destinations, safety and health calls it. I wanted to go to Peru, but had to pass on Macchu Pichu because I get altitude sickness at about 9200 feet and would not be able to leave the higher attitudes to acclimate. So since I didn’t feel like dealing with an extreme headache, I took an Amazon River trip instead. I would love to return to the Middle East, but well, safety and political factors keep putting that trip on hold. Fortunately there is a whole world out there, so I try to see what I can when the country becomes available to visit if it was not before. Some Latin and Asian countries are now open for travel where they were not before, and are getting safer all the time. As for the rest of the US...I am a presidential library buff, and as luck would have it, the states I have not yet seen, and which have little else to draw me, have a presidential library or some other form of presidential history I have not yet seen. 

Explore the World and Discover...How Many Countries has it Been Now?

People travel the world every day, and make a lifetime career of this wonderful hobby. Many never know how many countries they have been to. Some don’t even care. However it seems that if one is going to take the time and effort to see the world over the course  of years, it would at least be an interesting factoid (if nothing more) to know how many countries they have traversed. Because of the way countries are defined and the separate lists that exist for this, in many cases it can be more than expected.

The Smart Traveler: Tips for How to Handle Jet Lag

How your body handles jet lag can make the difference between planning your next overseas adventure, or deciding to either travel in the US or not not travel at all. There are however, some very tried and true tricks for beating jet lag, especially on long overseas flights. It took decades of travel to learn them, and it was trial and error, but this author finally learned how to overcome a 17 hour time difference literally overnight. It may not work for everyone, but here are three major things to consider. 

The Smart Traveler: Look for Europe Border Changes

With the rise of so much terrorism worldwide, and no way to stop it any time soon, the European Union is considering bringing back passport controlled borders. Depending on the tourist’s country of origin, in some cases, that might also include a needing visa. In some cases, it might just mean a photo ID.

The Savvy Traveler: Ways to Avoid Blood Clots While Flying

The Savvy Traveler: Ways to Avoid Blood Clots While Flying

A blood clot is a serious condition that can be caused from flights over 5 hours in duration, and when the plane reaches 30,000 feet or more. It is also referred to as DVT, or deep vein thrombosis. If you’re worried about getting a blood clot on a long light, or have ever had one, here are some tips to help you avoid getting one on your next flight. Please note only a few of these tips are written in the fine print in in-flight magazines, but some of the international carriers are now starting to include some as part of their in-flight safety instructions.