Since I do travel to Africa and Central and South America, I usually take a suitcase of things to leave behind....like school items or children's clothing or simple toys like jump ropes. Usually a waitress or someone at the hotel will know where to take those items to help out a school or an orphanage.
I will add that the suitcases become storage for a family if you leave it behind. Or it can be taken home with purchases. Remember, nothing with batteries or cheap plastic toys.
Ditto on the trains. My disabled husband and I spent a month in the UK traveling on trains between lovely villages and cities. The British Rail system has something called Traveler’s Assist where you can sign ahead of time for someone to meet you at the train station, help with baggage and direct you to the next train or exit. Sometimes we were even bumped up to first class. All of this with no tipping.
Do ask questions even boarding the train. Trains in the UK sometimes split, with one part ending up in one place (with you sitting in the other part that doesn't get there!) Happy rails.
When I was 12 years old, my aunt hated to put me on a plane to fly alone from NYC to Heathrow. Due to fog in London, we landed in Manchester and went through customs. When we finally landed in London, the "Universal auntie" wasn't there. When the substitute arrived, she put me on a train at Charing Cross to Folkestone. But, I ended up in Ashford in the middle of the night because I was on the wrong end the train!
US trains do this also and assigned seats put you in the correct car so you will not get left behind. The conductors also remind you to be in the correct car before a city where there is a decoupling
Did the same to us in the Netherlands! Thought it was a busy stop and everyone was getting off—and finally a conductor came along and told us to get off this part of the train wasn’t going anywhere!!!!!! Hah!
Great article! For those who have the time, I highly recommend travelling to Europe from North America by sea. No airports, no jet lag and 2 weeks to decompress and read. Most cruise lines have repositioning crossings that are very affordable. Train travel in Europe has the benefit of arriving and leaving from city centres. No expensive taxi rides to and from airports miles out of town.
We avoid hotels by renting an apartment. It's so much nicer to return to a spacious and generally gracious apartment after a day of sightseeing. Plus residential neighborhoods are like living in the city - nearby grocers, small shops, non-hotel people. Next time you're planning travel to Paris, try Guest Apartment Services. They even arrange airport transportation. (We also use VRBO). Definitely stay for a week or more in one spot. Most memorable: our day trip by regional rail from our Paris apartment to Giverny - Monet's famous garden with waterlillies.
Let me recommend reading Rick Steves' works on travel to this or that city/country. Especially, his tips/demands that one 'travel light.' Most travelers think they need to have multiple changes of clothes for each day, but in fact, some several shirts, slacks, a skirt or two, and good socks will more than suffice, especially if these pieces of clothing are made of washable synthetics that can be washed/rinsed nightly in the hotel room basin and then wrung out and hung to dry. And, only one or two pair of well-worked-in shoes are necessary. One's feet are the key to an enjoyable day. (ps: cotton anything does not dry quickly; avoid the bluejeans). Dress in layers that can be removed and tied around one's waist as the day warms. Find/buy a mesh shopping bag that will expand as you gather your memories. And, always ask the hotelier for his recommendation for at least three cafes/restaurants in which to dine. S/He'll ask for your preferences in food and then suggest this or that. And, for American travelers in large cities, smile pleasantly as you pass by the sidewalk salesmen for their restaurants; uncommonly un-good places. And, one more thing, be daring and try to ask a local for his/her suggestions. RS has a phrase book; they work pretty well for us non-native speakers---most Europeans are polyglot, speaking, among other languages, English. And, a small but good digital camera, not a phone camera. the pocket digitals are good, have telephoto capability and especially sharp lenses and light metering. OK--travel light, use one roller suitcase for a carryon plus one good and comfortable backpack that you can reverse and carry on your front (much less easy to slit and steal). And, one more: always, ALWAYS! use a waist-level money belt under your slacks; your passport, papers, money, and stuff will fit safely in those, and they're really hard to steal. Bonnes vacancies!
Wise advice, especially about asking people for their recommendations. Order in French in Paris, even if you mangle the language. The effort won't pass unnoticed. Make the effort, especially now. It's more important than you realize.
Me too. I love travel. I visited my cousins in North Carolina last week, and instead of going straight home(Southern California), I decided to go to Bend, Oregon. It was so much fun. I’m concentrating on Oregon.
On 5/26, I’m leaving for Ashland, Oregon for the Shakespeare Festival. Let you know how it went. Enjoy your trip, Jen. Safe travels.
I just spent almost a month in France. To a person, everyone I spoke with (my French is pretty good!) scratched their head and asked why Americans had elected Trump. “What were they thinking?”
I just moved to California after 30 years in Oregon. I miss it very much. It is the most incredibly beautiful state. I hope you get a chance to see a lot of of it.
Born and raised in San Francisco, lived all but 2 years of my life in the Bay Area, and retired to Portland last year after my first visit in 2018. Expected to like it. Never expected to fall in love — hard!
In 1971, my roommates and I made a 6-week grand tour of Europe. Unfortunately, President Nixon was there at the same time, and Europeans’ anti-Nixon stand carried over to American travelers. Fed up with being ignored or harassed, we decided to staple cut-out maple leaves to our backpacks and pretend we were Canadian. Problem solved. Keep that in mind if Trump decides to visit Europe.
A friend and I were in Austria the day Nixon resigned. The headline in the newspaper read NIXON KAPUT! It was a wonderful thing to start the day with. I have to say we met with no hostility in any of the 5 countries we visited, before or after that day.
Have a great trip. Enjoy your well deserved time away from the craziness. Love your thoughts on how real Europeans (not those talking to the camera) feel about us.
Yes have a great time. I'm enjoying this breather from the days news already. And so sorry to say it, do read something in wired mag about digital safety at the US boarder. At a minimum make sure your phone opens only w a password, not finger or face, and that it is off when you meet w us customs. People in this administration would love to get at your contacts and conversations. So so sorry to be a downer. And know we appreciate all you do and want you and your contacts safe.
What great insights! My husband and I may travel out west this summer and we are not experienced travelers at all! Raising 8 kids took all of our time and most of our money over the years. I just semi-retired this year and have no clue how to plan a long trip.
Seriously, thank you for these tips. Now I can get to work planning with some great guidance.
I recommend flying to Denver, Portland, or Seattle, renting a car and then driving around in a big loop to see all the fabulous national parks. They are mind blowing. The Canadian Rockies are also incredible
For decades I've been the trip planner for my husband and myself, and even more often for groups of family and/or friends. Give yourself plenty of time for exploring options and pinning down your top priorities BEFORE you commit to travel and lodging bookings. Make reservations that allow you to cancel with full reimbursement if you do so before a deadline near your reserved time. I agree with the person who advised about booking apartments instead of hotels. I've been using airb&b, and have had good luck. Being able to avoid eating out for every meal is a HUGE money saver. In some places (especially Ireland) the owner/host leaves goodies (homemade bread, butter, jam, sometimes even cheese, crackers, and wine!) to welcome you. Make sure you get clear instructions about the location of your place and HOW to get access, plus a reliable way to contact the owner if you run into any hitches.
When we fly to London or Europe (yes we do fly), we book a hotel room for the night before. We explain to the hotel manager that we are taking an overnight flight, arriving early, and want to have a room available when we arrive. We began this practice after spending hours falling asleep in a park in Rome, with our valuables tucked under us, as we waited for our room. It’s worked well. Many people recommend staying up when you arrive but we like to get a few hours of good sleep and then spend the afternoon sightseeing. Of course, if you’re staying longer, you can rent an apartment, which we have also done.
I’m retired in Oregon after living most of my life in California, have traveled extensively, and have loved to plan all our trips. Hit me up for advice. Seriously.
I loved reading this even though my traveling days are behind me. I look forward to more, including the surprises you encounter. One of my biggest surprises was being sidlined to Bulgaria for 3 days awaiting the next flight to London from Nigeria. What a delight that was as I learned to navigate in a land with a different alphabet (restaurant dining was not an option - no translation, but street dining was because the food could be seen.) Bon voyage.
Rome and Florence , Barcelona are inundated with tourists almost year round post-Covid. Happy Trails!! I love love love travel and traveling !!! Enjoy every moment as your zest
For life shows us daily. Thank you for Contrarian, it is the “trip” we all need even from cell phones and arm chairs
Frankfurt is definitely to be avoided! Missed a connection to Oslo when inbound from NY on a Lufthansa flight! 2 hr lee way. And due to security and a work slowdown ….
Thank you for including “small museums” on your list. As former director of a “small, yet mighty” marine science center, smaller museums offer something that is unique to each one, even if it’s “yet another historic house”. They are usually far less crowded, and as a visitor once told me “we love coming here as much as we love the New England Aquarium (big if you don’t know it), but here we can get really close to the animals, set our own pace and we learn something different because we get to talk one-on-one with your docents.”
Since I do travel to Africa and Central and South America, I usually take a suitcase of things to leave behind....like school items or children's clothing or simple toys like jump ropes. Usually a waitress or someone at the hotel will know where to take those items to help out a school or an orphanage.
Love this suggestion!
I will add that the suitcases become storage for a family if you leave it behind. Or it can be taken home with purchases. Remember, nothing with batteries or cheap plastic toys.
Nice. I have been to Nairobi to visit local school i support and did the same! Very rewarding
Ditto on the trains. My disabled husband and I spent a month in the UK traveling on trains between lovely villages and cities. The British Rail system has something called Traveler’s Assist where you can sign ahead of time for someone to meet you at the train station, help with baggage and direct you to the next train or exit. Sometimes we were even bumped up to first class. All of this with no tipping.
Do ask questions even boarding the train. Trains in the UK sometimes split, with one part ending up in one place (with you sitting in the other part that doesn't get there!) Happy rails.
When I was 12 years old, my aunt hated to put me on a plane to fly alone from NYC to Heathrow. Due to fog in London, we landed in Manchester and went through customs. When we finally landed in London, the "Universal auntie" wasn't there. When the substitute arrived, she put me on a train at Charing Cross to Folkestone. But, I ended up in Ashford in the middle of the night because I was on the wrong end the train!
Oh-h-h! how disconcerting--auntie knew. But, you're here!
US trains do this also and assigned seats put you in the correct car so you will not get left behind. The conductors also remind you to be in the correct car before a city where there is a decoupling
Good to know, thank you.
That was a lesson I learned the hard way in Germany! Which car you sit in matters!
Did the same to us in the Netherlands! Thought it was a busy stop and everyone was getting off—and finally a conductor came along and told us to get off this part of the train wasn’t going anywhere!!!!!! Hah!
Great article! For those who have the time, I highly recommend travelling to Europe from North America by sea. No airports, no jet lag and 2 weeks to decompress and read. Most cruise lines have repositioning crossings that are very affordable. Train travel in Europe has the benefit of arriving and leaving from city centres. No expensive taxi rides to and from airports miles out of town.
Just make sure they let you back in when you return!!!!
We avoid hotels by renting an apartment. It's so much nicer to return to a spacious and generally gracious apartment after a day of sightseeing. Plus residential neighborhoods are like living in the city - nearby grocers, small shops, non-hotel people. Next time you're planning travel to Paris, try Guest Apartment Services. They even arrange airport transportation. (We also use VRBO). Definitely stay for a week or more in one spot. Most memorable: our day trip by regional rail from our Paris apartment to Giverny - Monet's famous garden with waterlillies.
I leave next week for a visit to Paris. Second time staying in Guest Apartment Services. Highly recommend! And Giverny is an easy, lovely day trip.
Let me recommend reading Rick Steves' works on travel to this or that city/country. Especially, his tips/demands that one 'travel light.' Most travelers think they need to have multiple changes of clothes for each day, but in fact, some several shirts, slacks, a skirt or two, and good socks will more than suffice, especially if these pieces of clothing are made of washable synthetics that can be washed/rinsed nightly in the hotel room basin and then wrung out and hung to dry. And, only one or two pair of well-worked-in shoes are necessary. One's feet are the key to an enjoyable day. (ps: cotton anything does not dry quickly; avoid the bluejeans). Dress in layers that can be removed and tied around one's waist as the day warms. Find/buy a mesh shopping bag that will expand as you gather your memories. And, always ask the hotelier for his recommendation for at least three cafes/restaurants in which to dine. S/He'll ask for your preferences in food and then suggest this or that. And, for American travelers in large cities, smile pleasantly as you pass by the sidewalk salesmen for their restaurants; uncommonly un-good places. And, one more thing, be daring and try to ask a local for his/her suggestions. RS has a phrase book; they work pretty well for us non-native speakers---most Europeans are polyglot, speaking, among other languages, English. And, a small but good digital camera, not a phone camera. the pocket digitals are good, have telephoto capability and especially sharp lenses and light metering. OK--travel light, use one roller suitcase for a carryon plus one good and comfortable backpack that you can reverse and carry on your front (much less easy to slit and steal). And, one more: always, ALWAYS! use a waist-level money belt under your slacks; your passport, papers, money, and stuff will fit safely in those, and they're really hard to steal. Bonnes vacancies!
Wise advice, especially about asking people for their recommendations. Order in French in Paris, even if you mangle the language. The effort won't pass unnoticed. Make the effort, especially now. It's more important than you realize.
Yes, easy to imagine how DJT has perpetrated "the Ugly American" image.
My #1 rule of packing light is - I’ll never see these people again, & they don’t care what I’m wearing.
Packing light and dressing well are not incompatible.
Me too. I love travel. I visited my cousins in North Carolina last week, and instead of going straight home(Southern California), I decided to go to Bend, Oregon. It was so much fun. I’m concentrating on Oregon.
On 5/26, I’m leaving for Ashland, Oregon for the Shakespeare Festival. Let you know how it went. Enjoy your trip, Jen. Safe travels.
I just spent almost a month in France. To a person, everyone I spoke with (my French is pretty good!) scratched their head and asked why Americans had elected Trump. “What were they thinking?”
and the most oft expressed, “Il est fou!” Here's my quick post on Avignon, with photos! https://debbieweil.substack.com/p/re-bonjour-davignon
C'est vrai!
Fou furieux.
If you have time, come out to Manzanita on the north Oregon coast. Been living here 8 years. MAGIC.
I just moved to California after 30 years in Oregon. I miss it very much. It is the most incredibly beautiful state. I hope you get a chance to see a lot of of it.
Born and raised in San Francisco, lived all but 2 years of my life in the Bay Area, and retired to Portland last year after my first visit in 2018. Expected to like it. Never expected to fall in love — hard!
I highly recommend dinner at The Lark at the Ashland Springs Hotel.
I had dinner at Lark’s. Fantastic!
In 1971, my roommates and I made a 6-week grand tour of Europe. Unfortunately, President Nixon was there at the same time, and Europeans’ anti-Nixon stand carried over to American travelers. Fed up with being ignored or harassed, we decided to staple cut-out maple leaves to our backpacks and pretend we were Canadian. Problem solved. Keep that in mind if Trump decides to visit Europe.
A friend and I were in Austria the day Nixon resigned. The headline in the newspaper read NIXON KAPUT! It was a wonderful thing to start the day with. I have to say we met with no hostility in any of the 5 countries we visited, before or after that day.
Have a great trip. Enjoy your well deserved time away from the craziness. Love your thoughts on how real Europeans (not those talking to the camera) feel about us.
Yes have a great time. I'm enjoying this breather from the days news already. And so sorry to say it, do read something in wired mag about digital safety at the US boarder. At a minimum make sure your phone opens only w a password, not finger or face, and that it is off when you meet w us customs. People in this administration would love to get at your contacts and conversations. So so sorry to be a downer. And know we appreciate all you do and want you and your contacts safe.
Love your travel mind-set. Maybe because I like to travel the same way!
Also, here's hoping you have another, well-deserved, enjoyable travel adventure.
What great insights! My husband and I may travel out west this summer and we are not experienced travelers at all! Raising 8 kids took all of our time and most of our money over the years. I just semi-retired this year and have no clue how to plan a long trip.
Seriously, thank you for these tips. Now I can get to work planning with some great guidance.
I recommend flying to Denver, Portland, or Seattle, renting a car and then driving around in a big loop to see all the fabulous national parks. They are mind blowing. The Canadian Rockies are also incredible
For decades I've been the trip planner for my husband and myself, and even more often for groups of family and/or friends. Give yourself plenty of time for exploring options and pinning down your top priorities BEFORE you commit to travel and lodging bookings. Make reservations that allow you to cancel with full reimbursement if you do so before a deadline near your reserved time. I agree with the person who advised about booking apartments instead of hotels. I've been using airb&b, and have had good luck. Being able to avoid eating out for every meal is a HUGE money saver. In some places (especially Ireland) the owner/host leaves goodies (homemade bread, butter, jam, sometimes even cheese, crackers, and wine!) to welcome you. Make sure you get clear instructions about the location of your place and HOW to get access, plus a reliable way to contact the owner if you run into any hitches.
When we fly to London or Europe (yes we do fly), we book a hotel room for the night before. We explain to the hotel manager that we are taking an overnight flight, arriving early, and want to have a room available when we arrive. We began this practice after spending hours falling asleep in a park in Rome, with our valuables tucked under us, as we waited for our room. It’s worked well. Many people recommend staying up when you arrive but we like to get a few hours of good sleep and then spend the afternoon sightseeing. Of course, if you’re staying longer, you can rent an apartment, which we have also done.
I’m retired in Oregon after living most of my life in California, have traveled extensively, and have loved to plan all our trips. Hit me up for advice. Seriously.
I loved reading this even though my traveling days are behind me. I look forward to more, including the surprises you encounter. One of my biggest surprises was being sidlined to Bulgaria for 3 days awaiting the next flight to London from Nigeria. What a delight that was as I learned to navigate in a land with a different alphabet (restaurant dining was not an option - no translation, but street dining was because the food could be seen.) Bon voyage.
Rome and Florence , Barcelona are inundated with tourists almost year round post-Covid. Happy Trails!! I love love love travel and traveling !!! Enjoy every moment as your zest
For life shows us daily. Thank you for Contrarian, it is the “trip” we all need even from cell phones and arm chairs
Frankfurt is definitely to be avoided! Missed a connection to Oslo when inbound from NY on a Lufthansa flight! 2 hr lee way. And due to security and a work slowdown ….
Safe travels. Amen on avoiding the Frankfurt airport.
Thank you for including “small museums” on your list. As former director of a “small, yet mighty” marine science center, smaller museums offer something that is unique to each one, even if it’s “yet another historic house”. They are usually far less crowded, and as a visitor once told me “we love coming here as much as we love the New England Aquarium (big if you don’t know it), but here we can get really close to the animals, set our own pace and we learn something different because we get to talk one-on-one with your docents.”