Yotel London Gatwick Cabin Hotel

I am not a morning person.  At all.  Not even a little bit.  My husband can definitely vouch for this.  One of his least favorite things to do is to wake me up before I'm ready.  On our recent trip to Malta, in an effort to give me a few extra hours of morning shut eye and save him the drama, we tried something very different.  We stayed in a cabin at Yotel London Gatwick the night before an early flight.  Let's just say there were mixed reviews. 

Day Trips with British Airways

I have an epic case of itchy feet.  I want to go to all the places, all the time.  But Matt has it much worse.  He loves loves loves to travel!  Even the not so fun things like airports and flying (I still really hate flying.), he loves this stuff.  This is a man who has a spreadsheet showing every flight he's ever taken (over 600) and exactly how many miles he's flown (over a million).  He's even been known to fly out in the morning and return in the evening, just so he can go somewhere.  In fact, he's taken several day trips like this.  It's usually with his mates because I've been reluctant to suffer two flights in one day.  But I did join him for his latest trip to Hamburg, Germany.  So, I'll let him tell you all about taking a day trip with British Airways and I'll show you some photos from our time in Hamburg.

Moorish Spain to Morocco - Group Tours

I'm completely addicted.   To travel, that is.

With nothing on the calendar this month, I'm going a bit stir crazy.

It's one of those periods that we all experience, a time of transition, blah, blah, blah.

I passed my Life in the UK test (yay!) and we have an appointment with Immigration next week.

Hopefully, I'll have my Indefinite Leave to Remain in the UK soon.  Fingers crossed.

A few other things are also in the works and should all work out soon.

 Then we can start adding a few more trips to the calendar.

 Patience is not one of my best virtues and I'm chompin' at the bit.

I must go to ALL the places!

Recently I came across a post by Nomadic Matt called

Why Pretentious Travelers Fill Me With Hate.

It really struck a chord. You gotta love a good rant.  Especially one you agree with completely.

Being a fan of cruising, I deal with this often.  (You really should just try it.)

But we travel all sorts of ways.  We cruise, we wing it, we plan, we drive, we fly, we take trains.

As long as we're going, we're happy.

Get this...we even take guided tours!

Gasp.  I know, right?  "And you call yourself a traveler."

There is definitely a trade off when you book a guided tour,

but just maybe it's a trade off in your favor.  Let's discuss, shall we?

Pro and Cons of Group Tours

   
Let's get the Cons out of the way.

•  Loss of Control, spontaneity and flexibility.  Uhm, yeah.  Hard to argue with that.  You certainly do lose a bit of those things when you are on a tight schedule and are responsible to a group of people. 

• Not getting what you expected or would have selected on your own. The group has a reservation for dinner but you just want to stop at this food truck.  Did anyone even look at this hotel on TripAdvisor?   Why are we taking the 4am train for crying out loud? 

• People.  You mean I have to spend 11 days listening to this know-it-all, blowhard?  If I have to hear one more crack about Americans.  Could everyone just please stop talking... and breathing?

• Herd Mentality.  You've all seen them.  Groups of people following the lady with the red umbrella.  Not a chance in hell of blending in and becoming one with your surroundings.  Your main goal is to just keep up. 

So, those are some pretty serious Cons, aren't they?  Let's see if the Pros can outweigh them.

• Money Savings.  Group bookings are usually much cheaper than if you were to book everything by yourself.

• Convenience.  What could be more convenient?  All of the logistics are planned out for you.  Just show up and enjoy the ride.  

• Access.  Reputable tour companies have relationships and connections that get you better access.  Early entry before opening hours.  Behind the scenes tours.  Special experiences.

• Troubleshooting.  If things go wrong, you have someone on your side to take care of the problem.  They've likely dealt with this exact issue and have a ready solution.  They want you to have a wonderful time. 

• People.  Okay, people aren't all that bad.  Sometimes, they're pretty awesome.  You might just make some lifelong friends.  And you have someone to talk to when your spouse has put in their earplugs and checked out for a few hours.

• Safety.  There is no denying there is safety in numbers.  Not to mention the tour company has your safety as their number one priority. 

I'd say those are some pretty solid Pros.

Which is why when we were planning our trip to Morocco we booked a guided tour.  

Matt has traveled with Explore! half a dozen times now.

I was a bit skeptical but wanted to give it a try, since it's something that he really enjoys.

We took their 11 day Moorish Spain to Marrakesh Tour in April of last year
with three days in Spain and eight in Morocco.

Explore has been around since 1981 and offers over 450 small group adventures in 120 countries.

Going through their tour catalog is better than the Sears catalog at Christmas.

They offer walking, trekking, cycling, family, wildlife adventure tours and more,

all at various levels of Style, Comfort, Type and Pace. 

So, how did this tour stand up to those Pros and Cons listed above.

We all know that I have control issues.  So, there were times that I didn't want to go along with the group.  Sometimes I just gritted my teeth and went along, usually happy afterwards that I did.  There were also times, when Matt and I made a command decision and turned left when everyone else was going right.  We were always sure that when we did so, it didn't affect the schedule in any way.  But, sometimes it just had to be done. 

The itinerary was very full and a bit like drinking out of a water hose.  I've already written 18 posts about our trip and there are about 8 more planned.  It was overwhelming.  But, looking back, we were able to do so much that we never would have done had we been on our own.  

We don't obsess too much about safety when we travel, but we always try to be informed and careful.  I felt completely safe throughout our time in Morocco.  In addition to our tour leader, we had local guides wherever we went.  We were led through the Medinas by people who lived there.  We met some wonderful people who were happy to safely show us around their home turf.

Explore offers four Comfort Levels on their tours: Basic, Simple, Standard and Comfort.  This tour was at the Standard level.  Our rooms were okay.  Clean, safe and relatively comfortable.  I did write over and over in my notes "Towels sucked", so that was an issue.  One regret I have is that we didn't stay in a Riad (traditional Moroccan house).  It definitely would have added to our experience of Morocco.  Here are some photos from the various hotels.   You can see some were nicer than others.

With a tour group, obviously the biggest factor is your travel mates.  Our Tour Leader Dee was wonderful.  She is a traveling, yogi, tour guide superstar.  Anyone who can get 16 adults through 11 days of train travel without once losing their cool, is pretty special.  We're friends on Facebook now and I'm sure we'll meet up with her again someday.

We were with a group of mostly Brits that ranged in ages up to their seventies. But, let me tell you, they were experienced travelers, fit, active and ready to go.  I was one of the youngest in the group and struggled to keep up with them some days. They were a great group (with the exception of the know-it-all I eluded to earlier. But he gave us some great stories.)   Compared to other tours Matt has done, it was an older group.  I'm sure that each tour is different depending on when, where and how long the trip will be. 

No matter how flexible and friendly people are, traveling with a group is a challenge.  I often always felt very conspicuous.  A group of 17 white people dressed so obviously as tourists traipsing through the Medina with their cameras clicking must be a very jarring sight.  

I'm also a classic introvert, so being around people all day is draining.  There were times when I would put on my sunglasses and listen to my iPod just to get a moment's peace.  I'll admit that I struggled with this, but because of my personality not because of those around me.  Matt, on the other hand, is an extrovert and thrives on the social interactions.  Some of his closest friends are people he's met on an Explore tour. 

So what's my verdict?  Will I go on another guided tour? 

If you'd have asked me the day we got home, I probably would have said "No."
But, just look at everything that we experienced...

Top Five Reasons to Visit Spain
Ronda, City of my Dreams 
A Moment in Ronda
Museo de Ronda
Church of Santa Maria
Plaza de Toros de Ronda 
The White Villages of Spain 
 Speechless in Morocco
Fes, Morocco
Time Traveling in Morocco
Made in Morocco
Cats of Morocco
Roman Ruins of Volubilis
Rabat, Morocco
"Rabat.  She is a pretty city."
The Hassan II Mosque in Casablanca
First Impressions of Marrakesh

(with more still coming.)

Now that I've had time to process everything, the answer is absolutely "Yes!"
In fact, we already have our next one picked out.


Matt has traveled all over the world, but this travel thing is still new to me.
Morocco is the most exotic and different (from-what-I-know) place that I've been to so far.

It was a definite challenge but I'm so proud of myself for doing it and getting so much out of it.
It was an absolutely magical and mind-broadening experience, that I'll never forget.

Going on a guided tour is a great way to see Morocco.
Trips like this are what travel dreams are made of,
even if there are a few travel snobs out there who might disagree.

 
What are your feelings about traveling with a group?  Happily or Hell No?

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Cruising 101 - Booking Your Cruise

It's time to talk about cruising again!
Even though we don't currently have one booked, a cruise is never far from my mind.

So far in my Cruising 101 Series, I've given you some enticing reasons why you should cruise.
We've talked about Brits and cruising. I've given you some basic things to consider when selecting a cruise.

Matt has talked to you about solo cruising and I've compared a US cruise line with a European cruise line.

Now that you're convinced that a cruise is for you and you've selected the perfect cruise,

it's time to take the big step of booking that cruise!

There are a few things to consider when it's time to book that cruise. 

The first is should you use a travel agent or just book online?  

For my first cruise, I was booking for a family group of six and I was pretty clueless as to how it all worked.  A trusted travel agent that specialized in cruising was immensely helpful in figuring out all of the details.  She got us the best rates, made sure we took advantage of a last minute price drop and helped us with travel insurance.  I would recommend finding a Cruise Specialist with a really solid, word-of-mouth reputation and letting them help you out, especially with that first time booking. 

Another option is to book through a third party discount cruise website.  I've never actually tried this, but if the deal is right, you can check out the reputation of the company and you read the fine print, it might be a good option. 

 

Since that first cruise, I now book everything directly with the cruise line's website.  Once you are booked, you can log in to the passenger section of the website to complete all of your pre-cruise paperwork, find answers to frequently asked questions and get information about extras and excursions (which we will talk about next time.)  Between the booking and the cruise, there are often phone calls to customer service with various questions and I've had really good luck with the customer service.

When should you book?

If you've picked out your cruise, it's best to book as early as possible as they do often sell out.  (Last minute bookings are for people who can be a little more flexible and chase the bargains.)  Typically, a 10% deposit is required to book a cruise with payment in full about 90 days out.  The further out you book, the more time you have to make payments.  

Be sure to read the cancellation policy for any cruise that you book.  And consider cruise insurance, should anything go wrong with the booking.  Once I'm booked, I monitor the prices for any drops or deals that I might be able to take advantage of prior to the cruise.

You also have some very important decisions to make at the time of booking involving eating and sleeping.

Two of my favorite things to do on a cruise.

What time would you like to have dinner each night?

Many cruise lines offer two dinner seatings in the main dining room(s), early or late seating.  The nightly shows are scheduled around these seatings.  So you may eat first and then go check out the show or eat after the show.  It's purely a matter of personal preference.  We usually pick the late seating as it gives us time to get back on the ship after a long day in port with plenty of time to relax and get ready for dinner.  If you don't get the seating that you requested upon booking, or if you change your mind, a visit to the Maitre d' will often solve the problem.

Most cruise lines are also now offering a more flexible dining option where you select the time that is best for you.  Then you just reserve a table the night before.  We tried this on our Baltic Cruise and were happy with it.  Although, we did kind of miss having a set table, wait staff and companions for the entire cruise.  It's part of cruising that we really enjoy.  We are still in contact with dinner mates that we've met while cruising and we enjoy the social aspect of a scheduled dinner seating. 

Which cabin will be your home for the cruise?

There are basically four types of cabins:  inside cabin with no view, outside cabin with a view (window/porthole), outside cabin with a balcony or a suite.  I've never stayed in a suite, but I have stayed in the other three types.  Obviously, a balcony is always my first choice.  It just depends on the prices.

The Baltic Cruise that we went on was more expensive so we opted for an outside cabin with a window and were completely happy with that.  The inside cabins are the same size and just as nice, but you never know what's happening with the weather and sea conditions outside.  And I want to experience the ocean as much as possible on a cruise.  But, if that's what I can afford then that's what I'm taking.

Each cruise ship then has a larger variety of cabin categories based on the room type, size and the deck where they are situated.  You can make a decision on the category of cabin that you want and book a "Guarantee."  This means that you will at least get a room in that category (or you may even get really lucky and get an upgrade.)  But, the cruise line will select the location of your cabin and you don't have any say in where you will end up on the ship.

This was the option that I picked for that first cruise.  I ended up in the very front tip of the ship at the lowest passenger level, which meant three things.  I really felt the movement of the ship.  I heard the constant loud smack of the water against the hull of the ship as it sliced through the water.  And each morning when we docked, I was awoken very early with the sound of the massive metal anchors sliding to to the seabed on their massive chains.  Do you know how long it takes them?  It seemed like forever.  Don't get me wrong, I had an amazing cruise.  But, since then, I've selected the actual cabin that I will be staying in for the cruise.  

I study the deck plans, compare pricing and book a specific cabin number.  I prefer to be mid-ship, mid-level which is where I feel the least movement.  (I've only experienced seasickness once during really rough seas, but I still prefer to be in a more stable area of the ship.)  I also look at the deck plans to see if I'm over or under a nightclub or dining room that might affect the noise levels.  And I chose a cabin that is close to a set of stairs and bank of elevators which makes getting around easier.  Some of those long hallways can seem endless.

We always use the cruise line website to book a specific cabin.  But, you can also do this if you book over the phone.   They will tell you which cabins are available and you can cross reference with the deck plans to make the right choice.  

If you go this route be sure to pay close attention to the details on the deck plan.  Does the room have an actual window or it just a porthole?  Is there an obstructed view?  Is it a family room with pull-down beds?  Is it adjoined with another room?  There is a chance that you could be asked to switch if there is another passenger that needs that specific type of cabin. 

 I guess, it all boils down to how much control you want to have.

(I've never denied having control issues.)

You can relax, make some basic decisions and just go with the flow.

Or you can do some research and make some more specific choices.  

 I'm a big researcher and I find that the more I know ahead of time,

the more relaxed I am during the actual cruise. 

If you are considering or planning a cruise, I can't recommend www.cruisecritic.com enough.

You can find out more than you will ever want to know about cruising.

You can even ask about a specific cabin on the forums to see if anyone can send you pictures.

It's been invaluable to us.  (They are in no way endorsing my recommendation,

I just really think it's a great website.)

My next post in the Cruising 101 Series will cover some of the extras that come along with a cruise

such as drinks packages and excursions.

I'm also going to put together a post of Best Tips.  So if you are a cruiser,

I would love to include your tips in that post.  Send me an email at selena_jones@me.com.

 

Do you have any tips or questions for booking a cruise?

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Travel Planning

*I received two complimentary Eyewitness Travel Guides from DK Travel for my review.

Early this year I posted my Fifty by Fifty plan.

As the year is quickly coming to a close,

I thought it was time to revisit
and to see how the plan is coming along. 

 I started the year at 23 countries and I'm now up to 33.  I hope to end the year at 34 after our trip to the Christmas Markets with the Gluwien Gang.   I'm thrilled with that!  

Only 16 more to go and only 3 years to do it.  I can't believe I might actually make my goal.  

This is also the time of year when Matthew and I sit down and make our tentative travel plans for the upcoming year.  We usually plan two big trips each year and then try to squeeze in several weekend trips throughout the year.  A new country is always fun, but it's certainly not the primary criteria.

In 2014, we plan to spend a long week exploring Scotland.  We will be joined by my Dad which I'm over the moon about!


Our other big trip will be a week or maybe two exploring Eastern Europe (Croatia, Serbia, Bosnia, Montenegro,  Macedonia and maybe a few more).

Our Extended Weekend Wish List still includes Italy (Venice) and Iceland has made it's way to the top of that list.  Other places on that list are Poland and Czech Republic.  We will continue to explore England whenever possible.  There might even be some opportunities to visit Southeast Asia.  Fingers crossed.

This year as we plan our travels, we will have a brand new amazing tool that we will be using for every trip.

 I'm sure you've all used the DK Eyewitness Travel Guides.

Dorling Kindersley have been publishing their award winning travel books for years.

They are beautiful and chock full of information, everything you need to plan your travels.

They are some of our favorites and we have several on our bookshelves. 

The exciting news is that DK Travel will soon be launching a brand new digital product

that puts all of that comprehensive content at your fingertips. 

When I received an email asking it I'd like to review this handy new travel product,

before it even launched I was jumping with joy. 

I can tell you that I absolutely love it!

There are two parts to the DK Trip Planner:

The first is the website.  This will be your first stop in planning your trip.  Here you will have access to all of DK's own trusted travel content.  You can either view pre-made itineraries or create your very own.  I'm most excited about the customization.  You can scroll through all of the attractions in a city and add them to your daily schedule.  It will tell you everything you need to know; description, opening hours, price.  You can look up dining options and add them to your day.  Every location is even mapped for you.  When you are done you have a customized and complete itinerary with all of the details included.  I was in travel planner heaven!

The second part is the App.  This accompanying free app allows you to purchase itineraries (for £1.99) and synch them to your mobile device for use offline while you're on the move.  What does this mean?  No more roaming charges or wi-fi drop out when using the app.  Included in the app is access to the offline maps with all of the itinerary points plotted out for you.

 "Essentially, DK Trip Planner will allow you to make your very own guidebook, that is completely personal to you and includes the info you want and need.  If you decide you want to go to the Louvre, DK Trip Planner will tell you, how to get there, how much it'll cost, when it's open, if there are any events on and what else is nearby that you might want to see, as well as if its disability friendly and loads of interesting information about it.  All at a much lower price than buying a physical guide."

I've been having a blast with my very own Beta version for the past week

and I can tell you that is exactly what it does.  I feel like an actual travel guide editor.

They will be launching very soon.  Visit DK Trip Planner and subscribe to their newsletter,

to be one of the first to hear about it.

I am so proud to be just a small part of it!

What do you think?  Will you be trying out this new App?

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  I received two complimentary Eyewitness Travel Guides from DK Travel for my review.
All opinions are 100% my own.
As always, I promise to be open, honest and transparent with my readers.
If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to ask.

Brits and Cruising

It's time for another installment of 

Cruising 101 with Selena.  

But I might need to change that badge,

because today's post is written by my husband Matthew. 

He is becoming quite a frequent "flyer" around here and we are working on ways to make him a regular contributor. 

I don't know how you feel about that,

but I think he is a wonderful addition to the blog.

He is, after all, one half of the 

"We" in Oh, the places we will go! 

Today he's going to give you a

British perspective on cruising.  

 

Selena blogged recently about Why You Should Choose to Cruise!.  She referred to a guy we’d met who felt that cruising was not travelling.  I’m with most of you in that I think he’s an idiot, but having been born and raised in the UK, I can understand some of the preconceptions he may have relied on in forming his opinion.

Preconception #1 - Cruising is for Old People

The British cruise industry during the 70s and 80s was all about transatlantic crossings on luxurious (and expensive) super liners.  The cost limited the clientele to those with pots of cash and who tended to be quite old.  As the North Atlantic can be inhospitable during deep winter (see the Titanic reference below), these ships spent the winter loaded with super-rich grave dodgers who could afford to spend £100,000 on a four month round-the-world cruise.

There still are a handful of noble ships which spend their year in this way, but these days the vast majority of cruise ships ply more fun, port-oriented routes.  You’ll find grey hair on most cruises, but overall there’s a much younger clientele cruising at a much more affordable price.

Spot the grey hair. 

Preconception # 2 - Cruising is Stuffy and the Opposite of Fun

The next perception was that cruising is an ordeal.  Having to dress like Carson from Downton Abbey for every meal.  The only dancing was ballroom (but don’t worry, if your husband or wife wasn’t a dancer there would be a staff member happy to accompany you around the dance floor).  Activities were limited to hare coursing, badger baiting or fox hunting.  Or if that was too energetic, you could just relax in the bar comparing jewellery with your neighbours.

I'd like a cheese omelette, please.  Via.

Obviously, this is nonsense.  You can take ballroom dancing lessons if you want, and there’s nothing wrong with dressing up a little for the occasional dinner.  But the range of activities available on even modest sized cruise ships should be enough to keep the most introverted people entertained.  And if you’re an extrovert, go wild!

 

Not a badger in sight.

Preconception #3 - Most Cruise Ships Sink

Obviously most ships don’t sink.  To be fair though, the few that do tend to stick in the memory.  Everyone will be familiar with the Titanic, although not so many people realise that a third of its passengers survived the sinking.  Brits will also remember the sinking of the Lusitania, from which 1,198 people died.  However, there were some particular circumstances to that sinking which are unlikely to be repeated today:  the ship was hit by a torpedo from a German U-Boat.

More recently, we’ve seen the sinking of the Costa Concordia, through which 32 people died.  But I’m threatening to depress myself – perhaps I’ll leave cruise ship safety to another post.  Let’s just say that the risk of drowning on a cruise ship is similar to the risk of dying from a lightning strike – not something you should spend a great deal of time worrying about.

Still Afloat.

 So if we can summarily dispel these myths, cruising is great fun.  However British cruisers do suffer a couple of handicaps that are real, although they can be easily overcome.

No man is an Island, but Britain is

Cruises originating in the UK do have a handicap, which is that Britain is an island in Northern Europe.  So get to anywhere exotic (sorry Jersey), you have to cruise for several days, which does rather eat into your holiday.  In my opinion, sea days are a bit of a waste of time if you are a traveller, but Selena doesn’t necessarily agree on this point.

 

Sea day or shore day.  Which do you prefer?

 You can either head North across the North Sea, which is big, prone to bad weather and so can be quite vomity.  (Is that a word?) And you’ll end up even further North than Britain, which reduces your chances of encountering good weather.  Or you can head South across the Bay of Biscay, which is also big, is also prone to bad weather and so can also be quite vomity.  (I've decided it is.)  But at least after 3 days sailing, you’ll be in Lisbon, which should be warmer.  Try not to think about the 3 days you’ll spend sailing back.

Obviously the solution to this is to fly to join your cruise there.  Book early enough and the additional cost of the flight will be very reasonable, and (in my opinion) you’ll have a better holiday as more of it will be spent exploring exotic ports, rather than wishing you’d bought that sea sickness wristband from that infomercial.

An exotic port.  Chania, in Crete.

European Cruising can be, ahem, a little demanding

Ryanair is often ridiculed for flying you to airports only remotely associated with the city they claim to represent.  Oslo’s Torp airport is 69 miles from Oslo, and Frankfurt’s Hahn airport is 78 miles from Frankfurt.  But European cruises often do the same thing.  Civitavecchia is 50 miles from Rome, Le Havre is 126 miles from Paris and Warnemünde is 150 miles from Berlin.  All 3 are stops on many cruise itineraries which are advertised as giving you a day in the European capital they notionally serve.

If your cruise takes you to “Athens”, you feel an obligation to actually visit Athens, even if you’ve actually docked in Piraeus and you need two hours on Google to work out how to actually get into the city.  Which can make a European cruise a rather stressful experience, if you choose to travel independently.  Joining an official tour offered by the ship is the obvious solution (which also removes the nagging fear of getting lost and missing the boat) but shuffling around in a large, organised group is not for everyone.

So my solution here is simple.  Fly to Miami and join a Caribbean cruise.  Okay, this is adding a little more cost, but Caribbean ports tend to be very close to the city centres, and even if they’re not, there tends to be a small tourist village adjacent to the pier where you can have a rum cocktail and legitimately claim to have visited the country!

Enjoying a beer cocktail in the Virgin Islands.

I can't tell you how excited I am to have Matthew working on this series with me.

We're lovin' the discussions that are happening in the comment sections.

Keep it coming!

In future posts, we'll be sharing tips on how to choose the right cruise, planning shore excursions and more.  If you have any questions that you would like for us to address, just comment below or send me an email.  And if you are interested in doing a guest post in the series, I'd love to hear from you. 

Do you think Brits and Americans feel differently about cruising?
What about you Canadians... how do you feel?

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Top Five Tips for Being a Good Traveler

This post originally appeared as a guest post for Melyssa on The Nectar Collective. 
She's an American expat living in Japan and if you don't already follow her blog, you must!



I have a small confession.   Sometimes I'm not the best traveler. (This is where you pretend to be shocked.)  Maybe I'm tired or grumpy or sick or it's Tuesday.  I start complaining about everything.
My husband Matthew calls it my "Princess Bubble."    

Suddenly everyone is on a mission to invade my space and tick me off.  They're walking too slow in front of me.  They're walking too fast up behind me.  They're talking too loud.  They're mumbling and I can't understand them.  They're blowing smoke in my face.  They ran out of Pinot Grigio Blush. (Now that one is just unforgivable.)  Being the master of nonverbal communication that I am, I don't hide my discomfort very well.
(Let's just say I'm really good at pouting.  I make an effort.)  

But when you're traveling, a positive attitude is a must.
It can make all the difference between a dream trip and a fiasco.

So, here are my Top Five Tips for Being a Good Traveler.  

 

1.  Do your Travel Homework.  The more you know before you go, the better.   Read and research as much as possible before you hit the road.  Study a map of the city you are visiting.  Familiarize yourself with the transportation system.  Have a plan of the places you want to see and restaurants you want to try.  Logistics are your responsibility so don't be a lazy traveler and depend on others to figure things out for you.   Besides, this is the best part.  All of that knowledge will come alive once you've experienced your destination.

2.  Go with the Flow.  Once you've done all of your homework and hit the road, it's time to relax and enjoy.   Not everything will go according to your well researched plan and that's okay.  Construction at the hotel, plane delays, lost luggage, massive crowds or closed attractions because of a special event.  There is so much that you can't control, so you have to be prepared to adjust.  Sometimes those little bumps turn into the highlight of the trip.  Although sometimes they just completely suck.  (But they always make great stories.)

3.  Research and Respect the Culture.   This is the biggest complaint about bad tourists.  They are clueless and don't respect the culture of the place they are visiting.  Exploring culture and customs is the best way to learn about a new locale.   Consider social mores and religious practices when planning your travel attire.  Be prepared to cover up when visiting a religious site.  There are typically a lot of customs around food and dining.  You certainly don't want to offend anyone so do a little research in this area before you go.

4.  Learn the basics of communication.   Learn how to say Hello, Goodbye, Please and Thank You in the local language of your destination.  Such a little thing can go along way.  Don't be afraid to ask how to say something correctly.  Just the fact that you're making an effort is endearing to most people.

5.  Be Polite and Positive.  This is the most important tip for being a good traveler.  Just be nice.  So simple, but so important.  Even when you aren't getting the same in return, try to stay positive.  If you feel like the Princess Bubble is about to deploy, stop for a rest, some coffee or gelato.   Time for a little attitude adjustment.  Take a deep breath and regroup.   This is your vacation so make the most of every moment. 
 
I realize that often being a good traveler is easier said than done.  The fact that my poor travel attitude has a special name tells you how often I struggle.  But, when I remember these five tips, I always manage to have a great time.  

Happy Travels!!

What are your top tips for being a good traveler?

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