Beitel travel advice

No one wants to be stranded.  In fact, it’s something of a nightmare for anyone who finds themselves trapped somewhere else, especially on your so called luxury holidays in a foreign country!  If you find that you’re stranded somewhere, here are some things to keep in mind. If you become stranded due to someone breaking into your hotel room, contact the management right away.  They may be able to help you find your missing belongings.  At the very least, they should offer you accommodations until you can get everything straightened out. You also need to contact the authorities and give them a very detailed list of exactly what was taken.  It’s important that you tell them as much information as you can, especially regarding your passport and credit cards.  You also need to alert your credit card companies and bank that the cards have been stolen.  This way, they can let you and the authorities know the instant someone tries to use the cards.  If your plane or bus tickets were stolen, notify the proper agency here, too, so that they can cancel the tickets. If you’re in a foreign country, you should also visit your government’s local embassy.  This may require travelling to a larger city; in that case, call the embassy and see if they can arrange travel or if someone can come meet you.  Your embassy will be able to assist you in wiring money or accessing your bank account so that you can get home. While being stranded does not happen too often, it never hurts to be prepared for it.  Leave a copy of your passport, identification, and all other important documents with a trusted relative or friend.  Also make sure this person has your itinerary, mobile phone number, and any other contact information you can give them (hotel phone number, room number, flight information, etc.).  You may also want to take a copy of this information yourself and secure it in a safe place, such as in the bottom of your toiletry bag or some other bag that no one would think to steal.

If you’re visiting San Francisco, you should take the time to check out Alcatraz Island.  This historic site has been a prison, a lighthouse, a military base, and finally a tourist attraction.  Taking the tour of the island is very interesting, and it’s certainly worth an afternoon.  You can take the ferry ride from Pier 33 straight to the island.  The pier is located near Fisherman’s Wharf, which is located on many bus and subway lines, so getting there from most San Francisco hotels is very easy.

There are two tours available: the day tour and the night tour.  Most people go during the day.  Both tours include the ferry ride to and from the island.  You can also purchase an Island Hop ticket that takes you out to both Alcatraz Island and Angel Island.  No matter which ticket you buy, it is recommended that you call ahead and reserve tickets.

The ferry ride will take about 15 minutes, and once you’re on the island, you can stay as long as you’d like to—just be sure to catch the last ferry back to the pier.  It’s important to note that there are no restaurants or concession stands on Alcatraz, so you won’t want to be on the island around lunchtime.

When you first arrive on the island, a tour guide will give you a short introduction and then turn you loose with a guide book.  You can also rent headphones for an audio tour if you’d like to hear all about the history of the prison and military base.  There are several educational films and exhibits you can visit as well.

Going on holiday with your pets can be a lot of fun, but it also involves a few extra things to take care of.  If you’re on top of these, however, going on a trip with your pet won’t be any more stressful than travelling alone. Check with whatever form of transportation you’re taking to see what their pet policies are.  Most will require your pet to be in a good-sized carrier with food and water, and many will require your pet to be placed in the checked baggage area.  You may need to give your pet a mild tranquilizer if he or she becomes too nervous or starts trying to escape. Note that you cannot take a pet on international trips – they will have to be held in quarantine upon arriving.  The quarantine period is usually four weeks or more. You will need to take bowls for your pet to eat out of and some food.  You will also need to take a leash and, if you’re taking a cat or small indoor dog, a litter box of some sort.  If you plan on taking your dog outside to use the bathroom, be sure to take gloves and a bag to clean up any messes.  You don’t want to leave any waste lying around where another person could step in it. Finally, try to come up with an activity to do with your pet each day while on holiday.  You don’t want to simply take your pet with you only to leave him or her locked up in your hotel room all day.  Go to a park or at least take your pet for a walk each day to give him some exercise.

Going on holiday alone, with friends, or with your significant other is very different from going on holiday with your children.  The experience of travelling with your entire family can be very rewarding, but it also presents some new challenges.

First, you have to keep an eye on your children.  In some locations, especially very crowded, busy locations, it can be easy to lose track of one another.  If your children get lost in a foreign city, they will probably panic, and you’ll be just as panicked as you look for them.  Always make certain your children know the name of the hotel you are staying at in case you do get separated.  Another good idea is to designate a meeting area in case you do get separated.  This might be the fountain in the middle of a public square, a specific store in a mall, or the gift store of a museum.

Obviously, having your children along on a trip is also going to impact your budget, but it may not be as expensive as you think.  Some hotels offer discounted rates for younger children, as do some airlines and train lines.  Inquire before you make your reservations.  Also look into children’s prices on tickets for events and admissions.

Travelling with children also may mean more luggage and that may mean extra costs.  To defer this, consider sharing a larger suitcase with your kids.  If you have two kids, they can share a suitcase.  If you only have one young child, you may be able to fit all of their clothes in your suitcase or split their clothes between you and your spouse.

Finally, remember that you will need to schedule some events just for your children.  Don’t expect them to sit through concerts and plays if you’re not prepared to go to children’s museums and theme parks.  Plan a trip that gives both adults and children things to do, and you’ll find the entire family will have a great time.

Visiting Madrid can be somewhat expensive, especially if you live in the United States or other far off locations.  You have to pay for airfare, for your hotel, and then for incidentals like food and any souvenirs you purchase.  However, if you’re in Madrid to see some of its famous museums and other top attractions, there is a way you can save some money: purchase a Madrid Card.

The Madrid Card gives you free entrance to a number of tourist attractions and discounts at others.  You can also get discounts at some restaurants.  There are 40 different museums that offer free admission to Madrid Card holders.  They include many of the most famous museums in Madrid, including the Reina Sofia, Thyssen-Bornemisza, and the Prado.  Some of these museums and attractions can cost three or four Euros each.

Another service that takes the Madrid Card is the Madrid Vision tourist bus.  This bus circles the city and stops at all major tourist attractions, some shopping centres, and some Madrid hotels.  There are three different routes that run throughout the city, and if you don’t want to spend most of your day walking, you’ll want to take the bus. If you have your Madrid Card, it’s completely free.  Otherwise, you will pay 16 Euros per person for a day pass.  You also get access to the Discover Madrid walking tours.

In addition to these discounts, the Madrid Card comes with two guide books that highlight some of the best sights of the city and list all of the attractions that honour the card.  They also list the restaurants and clubs that provide discounts (generally 10 percent) to Madrid Card holders.

The Madrid Card can be purchased for one day (45 Euros), two days (58 Euros), or three days (72 Euros).  One of the nice features of the Madrid Card is that your “day” countdown doesn’t begin until you use the card, not from the moment you purchase it.  If you plan to see a lot of museums, take the bus, and eat out a lot, you will easily save money using the card.