Planning, Booking, and Packing - Whew!
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I thought it would be good to concentrate this post on some planning tips. Hope you find this useful and worth a bookmark for later! Please bear with me while we get through the mechanics. I promise more fun later, when we get into actual trips and observations.
Booking A Trip
Andy and I are not the kind of people who book a whole trip in advance, racing
from one site to the next with no flexibility to rest or change plans
based on what we learn along the way. We are not "
If This is Tuesday, This Must Be Belgium" travelers (if you don't know the reference, look
up the 1969 movie with Suzanne Pleshette and Ian McShane!). If you are, you'll find my blog too loosey-goosey, I
think. One of my sisters, for instance, just came back from a completely
planned 10 day trip, with a private guide. But, frankly, she can afford
that, and doesn't mind the structure. I did that kind of trip once.
Never again!
Travel Agents
I know that travel agents still exist, and in 2014, the group I went with used an independent agency. Most of what she did for this bulky group was fantastic, and if you are traveling with a group of people to go independently or on a tour, this is a good way to offload at least some of the time it takes to book hotels, flights, and tours. I've noticed when I've used agents, they tend to use Viator for tours, however, and I personally haven't had good experience with that company on two different occasions.
So, if it's just my boyfriend and me, I now prefer to book the elements myself, checking out different options for what they include, the reviews of the tour, when they leave in the morning (we are
not early risers!), and where they start and end. Ultimately, your time and level of confidence in your own ability to book elements of a trip will determine what you do. Just remember, vacation is supposed to be FUN! So, if you're not smiling and can afford it, look for what you can do to offload some of your planning.
Remember, this blog is about saving money, and I always find I get better rates when I plan elements myself.
Online Third Party Agencies or Direct to Airline/Hotel (i.e. Kayak, Hotels.com, Travelocity, Orbitz, etc.)
I tend to look at several of these over a period of days or weeks to look for the best airline and/or hotel deal. However, I've heard and experienced that they insert 'cookies' and can incrementally raise the prices they show you (they know your computer unless you clear your cookies between searches - if you don't know how to do this, I'm sure there is another blog somewhere on that!), if you don't want to clear your cookies between searches, use more than one computer! And, it's good to sign up for their pricing alerts, as well. Perhaps they'll offer a better deal if they don't hear from you for a while.
Sometimes, while multiple windows are open, I see a good rate on one of these third party sites for a particular airline. I'll also open a browser window and look at what the airline is selling that flight for. Sometimes, it's cheaper to just go direct to the airline or hotel. In fact, on our recent trip to London, the hotel actually preferred that we book direct, and guaranteed that we would not see a lower price. By booking direct, you save them fees and hassle. And, you can communicate with them directly with any questions about the area, transportation, etc. I felt like I already knew our last host before we arrived! By the time we left, we both felt as though we had a new friend.
Third Party Sites: Potential Problems to Watch For
Up until my most recent trip, I'd had excellent experience with third party sites. In fact, last year, when our initial Delta flight was cancelled due to weather issues all over the country, it appeared as though
Hotwire took it upon itself to re-book us. Delta said it wasn't them, so they assumed it was Hotwire. Delta didn't want to book us again until the day we were to get back! So, whoever did the re-booking, thank you! We had to wait a few hours and we were re-booked on Air France from Delta, and that was a God-send. If it wasn't for Air France, we'd have missed our connections because, again, of weather delays.
Beware of the third party sites you choose, though. I never knew until I had a
bad experience on our most current expedition. This time we used CheapOAir.com, part of Fareportal, who also owns OneTravel.com. It's not just me, check reviews. They make the whole process more difficult, have lousy customer service, and charge you for things you wouldn't have to pay for through other entities. Personally, I'll never use them again.
Again, sometimes the best fares are direct through the airline. When you're looking at the listings, if it says it's one airline, but "operated by" another, check the fare for the actual airline that is operating the flight. Chances are, the flight will be cheaper, and you'll experience less hassle overall.
Reviews
There are companies who pay people who haven't even used their services
or products to put up good reviews. So, read the worst ones, not just
the best ones, and look for the consistent stories. On Amazon, I look for the verified purchasers, hoping they are real. But this makes us all more responsible, I think.
In the end, however you decide to book your trip, REVIEW REVIEW REVIEW. I like to post reviews on TripAdvisor and Google primarily, but you might have your favs, as well. Help other travelers with your experience. Good reviews help those who treated you well, and warn other travelers about the bad actors. Reviewing helps us all. But don't just do it for spite. Before writing a negative review, please try to work things out with the company offline. You might be surprised that things get resolved to your satisfaction.
Insurance
I know that not everyone has had good experience with trip insurance, but as mentioned in my previous post, it saved my shirt in 2011, so I always get it now. Check
www.InsureMyTrip.com to compare some rates, but also check the individual insurers' sites. And, read the fine print. Different policies cover different aspects. For instance, if you want pre-existing medical conditions covered, you need to book it within a certain period of time after you book your flight, usually 2-4 weeks. And, if you want 'cancellation for any reason,' that's harder to find than it used to be, and more expensive.
Know Something About Where You're Going
Books and Audio Tours
I generally buy a Rick Steves book. It might be a small quick peek at sites, or it might be a more involved book. But for me, he has good explanations and tips. And, you can download his audio walks. I used that in Vienna and found it very helpful. There are others, of course. But I suggest actually
going to a bookstore and looking through what they have to find what resonates with you, rather than ordering online. Then read through it in advance, and make a top 10 list of the sites you for sure want to see. Some of them require booking well in advance. We found that out the hard way about the Eiffel Tower last year. The lines are long there, so without a skip the line kind of tour, generally booked well in advance, you'll spend a day there. Ultimately, we like to stay flexible, so we don't book more than one or two things in advance.
Of course, there are also travel programs you can watch on PBS or YouTube. We watched YouTube videos teaching basic French phrases before we went to Paris, and watched several PBS/Create Network shows to get a feel for what to expect and what we might want to visit.
Check the official website for the place you're going
I generally do this anyway, but it was also a tip we picked up in a class.
www.VisitLondon.com is the one for London. There are also sites for England overall. Same is probably true for other cities and countries. There could be discounts for what you want to do, events you can incorporate into your planning, etc. Here is the Visitors Guide for
Los Angeles.
Discount and Skip the Line Cards
Some are worth it, some are not. In Paris, if you plan to visit museums, and sites like the Arc de Triomphe or Notre Dame, we found it of immense value. We purchased the Paris Museum Pass, as it covered what we wanted to see. There is also one called the Paris Pass, which covers more sites, so it all depends on how much you want to do in a day, counting the transportation. We saved money and also skipped a lot of lines. It doesn't help with the Eiffel Tower, but most other known sites and some you didn't know make it invaluable. A comparison of the two cards is here:
www.archaeology-travel.com
The card for London expected you to see a LOT of sites each day for it to be worthwhile, so our hotel advised against it, and we agreed once we checked into it. Since most museums in London are already free and aren't that difficult to get into, it just wasn't worth it for us. If you have kids, it might be a different story. Every city is different. You can order in advance in most cases, or find out the best place to pick it up upon arrival. Generally, you can get them at the airport.
Hotels
I admit, we go a lot by gut when we look at hotels online. We try to save money and look for a bit of charm, so try to stay away from the chains. We look at
Airbnb, and several travel third party sites. We don't just look for cheap, but also for what they include, where they are, how far from transportation, and read a lot of reviews. We've done well so far. I find that not staying in the center of the city, but within easy train distance, works well for us, and gives us a bit more for the money than being in the center of the action.
Paris: We found a small hotel off the beaten track in an upscale residential area that doesn't even show up on the main Paris tourist map that you get, which offered breakfast for a charge. However, quickly, we found a wonderful Patisserie around the corner, so we saved by going there for pastries and sandwiches. The hotel was a nice walk to a couple of different Metro stations and bus stops, and not far from the best view of the Eiffel Tower, the Trocadero. And, the price per night was less than most others we looked at.
Hotel Nicolo. We were attracted by the picture of their courtyard, which, frankly, was too cold to sit in, in the shade, in April! I'm sure there are others you can find using this strategy. If you don't need a pool, a gym, or to be in the center of the action, this strategy could work for you, too. Also, book well in advance. As it is a small hotel, it sells out, and prices go up as you get closer to your departure/it fills.
London: Using the same strategy as Paris, we found a little hotel b&b called the
Star Hotel B&B by doing online searches. It includes breakfast. The street was louder, but it, too, was not in a district shown on the typical city map, but easy to get to the city and to attractions. It had its own charm, and was recently remodeled. Like most European hotels, the rooms are small.
We looked at
Airbnb, too, but noticed that many of the rooms we liked had comments about the hosts canceling on the visitors just days in advance of trips, so we didn't feel comfortable doing that in London. I don't know what's going on with Airbnb in London, but we also saw an article about unhappy hosts. So, until they figure that out, we will stay away from Airbnb in London.
Getting Ready To Go Out of the Country - Packing and More
Getting ready for a big trip is always interesting. My boyfriend and I are quite different in how we prepare. I am a list-maker. I add to it, change it, share it with him, and start packing well in advance. I use the packing bags that remove air and therefore let you fit more into the suitcase. He, on the other hand, says he's going to start a week out or so, but generally packs in the last two days. He folds and rolls his clothing up in such a way that they don't crease and it all fits. I don't know how he does it. Between us, we generally, get everything packed!
1. If you're flying overseas, obviously, remember your
passport, and it should have, as I understand it, at least 6 months remaining before renewal. I'm no expert on that, so check for your individual circumstance.
2. Remember to bring your
phone, computer, etc. cords, and at least adapters for the country you're visiting. Generally, unless you're plugging in your toothbrush or hair dryer, your electronics plugs should be set for 120-240 already, but check. If need be, bring a converter. There is a difference. Check with your hotel to see what might be needed. I bring a couple of adapters, a converter, and at least one power strip, as we have several items to plug in. You can find which plug to get on several online sites or go to a travel store. I just found this site that looks good for distinguishing between plugs,
here.
3.
Phone Plan/Getting Around - I find that having my smartphone on these trips is invaluable for one reason...Google Maps! Generally, the cheapest way to get around cities is with public transportation (more on that by city). If you want to get from Point A to Point B in a city like Paris or London, put your destination in Google Maps, and you'll generally get several options that include walking, trains, busses, or driving, with how long it should take to get there. Perfect! In order to use this, however, you need to have a data plan for your phone or tablet. Both AT&T and Verizon have flat rate daily plans that allow you to use your phone exactly like you use it at home. This is what we both do. But it needs to be planned in advance. I've had problems on landing with AT&T, but Andy's Verizon plan works perfectly as soon as we arrive.
3.
Medications - Don't forget to put these in your carry-on.
4.
Spare Undies - When Air France lost my luggage last year, and I didn't pack spare clothes, my 92 year old mother was quick to reprimand me. Always pack a day or two worth of undies and spares in your carry-on!
5. Those gallon sized bags for carrying on
liquids. I found recently, that they are much stricter overseas than they are here. We've carried bigger bags all over in the States, and even when we went to Paris, but in London, on our return, they made us throw things out if they didn't fit in THEIR bags. So, even if you think you have TSA Pre or something like it, that can get thrown out over there.
6.
Xrays and Airport Security when you have Joint Replacement, etc.
Frankly, just plan to spend more time getting through security. My U.S. Representative was no help when I explained that we were delayed repeatedly when it's clear my boyfriend's knee replacement sets off the airport scanner. He just said to carry a card from the doctor. We tried that at first, but it seemed that it made things worse. I don't know if this is a training issue for the TSA or what. But we just explain it before going through the scanner, and they'll do what they do. They always frisk him, and delay him. If anyone has any ideas on how to get the TSA to understand that Boomers often have artificial joints that set off the equipment, please share what you've learned. We can't be the only ones who experience this.
When we traveled home from London was just days after the U.S., France, and England bombed Syria, so they were being more careful even than normal. You never know what might come up.
Sorry for the long post, but I wanted to give you as much as possible up front. You'll probably see some tips repeated later, but perhaps you'll want to bookmark this post for an overall plan. Hope so.
In Service,
Sondra
