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.

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.

Lodging is one of the most important aspects of a holiday or business trip.  While your company may select your hotel for you if you’re on business, if you’re going on holiday, you may have many different choices.  However, you want to be sure you select a hotel that best fits your needs.

What amenities do you need in your lodging?  Some hotels offer luxuries like fridges, microwaves, and even small kitchenettes, but you’ll find these rooms are sometimes more expensive.  You also have a choice in beds—do you need one large bed or two smaller ones?  Will you need a roll-in bed?  If you’re getting two rooms, can you get them with an adjoining door?  Take all of these considerations into account when you’re booking your lodging.

You also need to consider location.  Finding a hotel near places you want to visit is a good idea since it will cut down on transportation time.  You may even be able to walk from your hotel, saving you money on taxi rides.  Also check to see if your hotel offers shuttles to the airport or not.  Some hotels do have free transportation back and forth to the airport, but some do not.

If you’re travelling with children, inquire about discounted rates.  Some hotels charge less for children under 12, and some allow babies to stay for free.  Likewise, be sure to check how many adults are allowed in each room.  Some charge one price for two adults and a different price for three or four adults.

Many people like to purchase souvenirs when they’re on holiday or even on a business trip.  However, there are many different things to keep in mind when you’re purchasing souvenirs.  If you aren’t careful, you may end up spending either too much money or not having enough bag space for all of the souvenirs you purchased. One way to keep your souvenir buying under control is to make a list of everyone you wish to purchase souvenirs for.  By doing this, you won’t make any impulse buys.  You should also decide how much money you want to spend on each person on your list.  For some, like co-workers or acquaintances, you may not want to spend much money.  For your close friends, though, you might want to spend a little more.  Don’t forget to put yourself on that list—you’ll want a souvenir or two from your trip. Bag space is another consideration.  You don’t want to buy too many souvenirs or purchase too many large items.  If you do, you may find yourself without enough space in your luggage.  Think of small gifts for those people whom you don’t wish to spend a lot of money on.  Fridge magnets, small snow globes, pens, and pencils are good small gifts.  T-shirts can also be folded up fairly small.  Try to avoid purchasing fragile souvenirs unless you have room to put them in your carry-on bag.  Be sure you have something to use as padding for these breakables (such as t-shirts or heavy sweaters). If you don’t have much space in your luggage or that much extra money in your budget, think about sending postcards in place of a souvenir.  Often, you can find very interesting postcards or cards with great images on them.  If you don’t have addresses, you can even wait until you get home to distribute your postcards.

If you’re travelling out of town for an extended period of time (or even for just a week or so in some cases) you may want to hire a house sitter.  However, there are some cases in which this really isn’t necessary.  How do you know if you need a house sitter?  Review these items and if you find that you answer yes to them, you should hire someone to stay in your home while you are out of town. Do you have pets?  If you do, you will need someone to come feed and water them each day.  With dogs, you’ll also need someone to let them out if you don’t have a doggie door.  You might be able to get a neighbour to do this, or you may have a friend or relative who live close enough to drop by your home each day.  If these aren’t options, you will either have to board your pets or hire a house sitter. Have neighbours been robbed?  If others in your neighbourhood have been robbed or if crime seems to be an issue, you should certainly think about getting someone to watch your home while you’re away.  While lights on timers and an alarm system may help deter thieves, it’s not the same as having someone visibly staying in your house. Will you be gone for longer than a week?  If so, you may want someone there to water your plants and do other small household chores.  You may also want to offer a long-term (more than a week) house sitter meals as well as a small payment for staying so long.  Items like milk, eggs, and fruit may go bad while you’re away, so someone might as well eat them.  You can even use this as a form of payment, allowing you to cut your budget a bit. If you answered yes to any of these three questions, consider hiring a house sitter.  You’ll feel better knowing someone is watching your home while you’re away, and you may even avoid coming back to a fridge full of rotten food!

With the many different baggage restrictions on flights, buses, trains, and ships, many people who travel, especially abroad, have had to learn to pack lightly.  While some may find this impossible, there are some ways to pack lightly that are quite simple.

First, examine the outfits you plan on wearing.  If you won’t be doing anything that requires formal dress, excellent.  That means you can pack much lighter.  If you are, you have a few obstacles.  For women, travelling with a formal dress may be difficult, and you should simply resign yourself to ironing it when you arrive or, if necessary, even dry cleaning it.  For men and women wearing dressy jackets, you may consider wearing them while travelling.  While it does mean you run the risk of getting them dirty, keeping them out of your bags both saves you space and keeps the garment somewhat wrinkle-free.  You can also wear your heavy coat instead of packing it.

Jeans are a great way of saving space simply because you can often wear the same pair for several days.  Likewise, you may be able to wear an over-shirt twice before washing it if you don’t get it dirty.  T-shirts and underwear, however, should be changed daily, especially if you’re in a warm environment and may be sweating.  However, if you don’t mind spending a little extra money, you can always go to a shop and buy new socks and underwear when you arrive and throw them away when you leave.  This can be expensive, but it does save space in your luggage.

If you’re travelling with someone, think about combining your luggage.  By going with a slightly larger bag, you may be able to eliminate a piece of luggage.  This can save you money since you won’t have to pay for shipping it plus make it easier to haul your luggage around.

Carry-on bags are another good way of saving space.  If you’re only going to take a book or a few snacks in your carry-on, think about adding your toiletries and other small items to the bag.  You may even be able to fit an extra pair of shoes in your carry-on.  Just be sure it still meets the size requirements for a carry-on bag.

Finally, don’t over-pack.  Think about what you’ll be doing, and don’t take too many changes of clothing.  If you know you’ll be buying a souvenir t-shirt, you may even take that into consideration and wear it after buying it.

If you’re planning to do any international travelling, you’re going to need a passport.  However, many people don’t know exactly what getting a passport entails, and once they find out, they realise that they can’t get their passport in time for their international trip.  If you’re looking to travel abroad, here are some things you need to know about getting a passport.

First of all, it takes time.  It’s best to start your passport application a good nine months to a year before you really need your passport.  True, there are often ways of expediting the process (usually be paying an express fee), but you still need to start the process three to six months before your trip.  There is a good amount of paperwork to fill out, but the main thing is processing time.  It simply takes a while for the paperwork to get through all of the necessary offices.  Also, you need to include a few months extra to handle any problems with your paperwork.

Second, be sure to read all of the requirements for the passport photo.  It’s your responsibility to take this photo and include it with your application.  There are restrictions on what you can wear (no hats, for example) and on the size of the photo.  If your photo doesn’t fit the requirements, your application will be put on hold until you correct the issue.

Finally, once you have your passport, be careful not to lose it.  I’m not talking about losing it while travelling, although that can be a very real concern.  Some people actually put their passport away in a “safe” place before their trip and then can’t find it when they need it.  Yes, you want to put your passport somewhere safe, but be sure you know where it is so you don’t panic the day before your trip.

One of the biggest expenses of any trip is eating, since you’re almost always forced to eat in a restaurant unless you’re visiting friends or relatives.  This means you’ll be eating breakfast, lunch, and dinner out, plus you’ll probably buy snacks and drinks in between meals.  That adds up very quickly.  Even if you eat at fast food places, you’ll probably still spend £10 to £15 on food.

However, there are a few ways to get around that.  First, if your hotel room has a mini-fridge and microwave in it, you’re all set—all you have to do is visit a local grocery store and stock up on a few items.  You can purchase soup that comes in its own microwavable bowl, frozen dinners, and even a small container of milk to go along with your cereal.

However, many cheap hotel rooms don’t have these accommodations.  Despite this, a trip to a nearby grocery store can still be fruitful.  Even though you won’t be able to store milk in your room, you can still get dry cereal, donuts, or bagels for breakfast.  For lunch, you can get a loaf of bread and make a cheese sandwich.  Some apples or other fruits also stay good for several days.  Likewise, you can often find pre-cut carrot sticks and broccoli to snack on.  Trail mix, pretzels, and crackers can round out your snack selection.

Instead of buying drinks for your hotel vending machine or from the gift shop, go ahead and purchase some soft drinks or bottled water from the grocery store as well.  Many hotels have an ice machine somewhere in them, so you can easily cool these drinks down.

These tips will help you save a little bit of money on food, but if you’re on holiday, don’t forget to have a little fun and eat out.  Sampling the local cuisine is one of the most exciting parts about travelling, so if you have the money, don’t limit yourself to sandwiches and fruit.

Travelling alone can be a grand adventure – but it can also be a great risk. Here are the steps to take if you are venturing on a solo trip.

If you are used to being alone, continue your regular routine as much as possible when on the road. If not, spend your time before your trip in a variety of solo activities so you get used to the solitude: eat at restaurants, go to local museums etc.

If you are going on a solo camping trip, go for a trial run to make sure you can comfortably carry all the equipment you need and you know how to use it. An overnight camping trip can also give you the confidence you need to make a longer camping trip.

Ask a trusted friend or relative to keep a copy of your itinerary, your credit card information and other important personal information while you are away. Ask them to take care of your home: bring in the mail, water the plants, care for pets etc.

Make yourself inconspicuous: Wear clothing in neutral colors and avoid wearing flashy jewellery. If you are a single woman, consider wearing a fake wedding ring to deter male interest.

Carry a whistle. If you get into a situation in which you are concerned about your safety, don’t be afraid to blow the whistle. It will deter potential crimes and may bring help.

Avoid walking in darkened areas alone. Walk confidently and be alert wherever you go.

Bring a newspaper, book or magazine when dining alone.

Avoid referring to a map or guidebook conspicuously when on the streets. This marks you as a solo tourist and easy prey to potential thieves.

Do not book a room on the ground floor. Rooms in the upper floors are harder to break in to.

Carry information for the local police, embassy and your flight and accommodations with you so you can quickly get help if you need it.

Keep your important documents in a safe place, preferably on your person.

Be cautious when speaking to strangers, even those with whom you strike up a quick rapport. Be friendly but guarded when talking about your travel plans or personal life.

If you will be staying for an extended period in one place, get to know the hotel staff and local residents. They may be able to keep an eye on your welfare and also offer advice about the area.

If you choose to drink alcohol, stay within your safe limits. If attending a party or social function, always hold onto your drink to avoid anyone tampering with it.

Travelling alone is a perfect time to try new activities. If you have always wanted to try skiing or mountain biking, popular resorts should provide ample opportunity to do so. It is also a perfect time to do whatever you want to do: You don’t have to follow anyone else’s itinerary or interests. With careful planning and preparation, your solo trip will be a fun adventure you will long remember.