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Post by nightowl on Apr 12, 2009 17:35:20 GMT
I am not setting myself up as some sort of expert, but we all pick up tips and good ideas when we travel, and I thought, with the holiday season coming up,it might be an idea to share them.... 1) I never go abroad without a "rubber-sucker" type Universal Sink/Bath Plug. Very inexpensive, you may go years without needing it, but when you DO need it you'll be sooo glad you've got it!! i221.photobucket.com/albums/dd161/GWDAdmin1/Smilies/Default/smiley.gif2) Clothes Pegs. May seem a funny thing to take away with you, but they have numerous uses, 4 or 6 take up very little space, and I never travel without a handful! i221.photobucket.com/albums/dd161/GWDAdmin1/Smilies/Default/smiley.gif 3) Carry several £5 and £10 notes. Our currency is very unique now (and I'm very proud of that!  . But we have to remember how unique it is. Tips in Euros to staff etc., can usually be fairly easily changed into exchangeable notes. But consider, many English people tip a pound coin, not really thinking, and of course the receipients are very grateful i221.photobucket.com/albums/dd161/GWDAdmin1/Smilies/Default/cheesy.gif . But these people cannot change these coins into usable money unless they have paper money!! I only have experience of North Africa (Morocco, Tunisia, and Egypt), but I know how grateful porters and hotel staff are to be able to change their £1 coins into a note which they can change into spendable money. They are often so desperate to change them that they will sometimes happily shovel them into your hands, before they have even seen your note, amost tearfully grateful that you may be able to help them. Gives you a good feeling if you can help them i221.photobucket.com/albums/dd161/GWDAdmin1/Smilies/Default/wink.gifYou can sometimes make a very grateful and useful friend this way i221.photobucket.com/albums/dd161/GWDAdmin1/Smilies/Default/wink.gif Think about this problem if you tip a £1 coin in the rest of this big world. It may be absolutely useless to somebody in a far-flung country, and I am sure that's not what you meant it to be! i221.photobucket.com/albums/dd161/GWDAdmin1/Smilies/Default/wink.gif i221.photobucket.com/albums/dd161/GWDAdmin1/Smilies/Default/smiley.gif Like I said, Maybe silly things that don't seem that clever or important, but may be handy, or greatly appreciated i221.photobucket.com/albums/dd161/GWDAdmin1/Smilies/Default/wink.gif |
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Post by Jasmine on Apr 12, 2009 21:55:49 GMT
Only one I can think of at the moment:
Split up your packing between suitcases if you can - we're often advised to do this but I didn't use to take any notice. One of our cases was lost one holiday and I had put all our clothes in one case and all the toiletries and beach towels in another. It was our clothes case which was lost - only temporarily but it was still a pain. Now I divide clothes up so everyone has something and we take a change of clothes in our hand luggage.
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Post by Amo on Apr 13, 2009 7:23:49 GMT
And with the suitcase division thing, make sure you have all clothes in all suit cases, not a his case and a her case. Babywipes and sanitary hand spray, I don't even travel in UK without them.  A couple of spare plastic bags. |
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Post by Chuckles on Apr 16, 2009 9:38:03 GMT
Start sorting clothes out in plenty of time and if you are anything like me if they are clothes you only ever take on holiday, try them on before you pack. Order curency in plenty of time. The Post Office do commison free, del to your door if over £500 and you can do it online. Must do mine  I usually do a list of all the little things I need to take, phone charger, tablets, etc etc |
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Post by Ladygardener on Apr 16, 2009 9:46:16 GMT
I have lists for everything too Chuckles. I always take a little home made first aid kit with me. It contains the usual pain meds, something for upset tummys, plasters (handy for blistered feet etc...) and an antiseptic spray or cream for bites.
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Post by Jasmine on Apr 16, 2009 10:15:26 GMT
Check whether you need a visa if you are putting your own holiday together. A friend of mine got all the way to Heathrow to find she couldn't go to India because she didn't have the visa she needed.  |
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Post by Ladygardener on Apr 16, 2009 15:58:46 GMT
Gosh, how disapointed you'd be if that happened. Bear in mind too that some countries need your passport to be valid for at least 3 months from the date of your entry into the country or they won't let you in.
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Post by Jasmine on Apr 16, 2009 17:56:16 GMT
...and the States want 6 months to run on your passport.
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Post by nightowl on Apr 17, 2009 11:32:12 GMT
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Post by Chuckles on Apr 20, 2009 18:32:36 GMT
I bet they don't NO Wished I'd thought of this the last two days. Lock your front door and don't answer the phone ;D I've had visitors 2 days on the trot for the whole afternoon  |
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Post by Auricula on Apr 21, 2009 23:08:15 GMT
Take wrapped,boiled sweets and biros when you go to far flung countries of the world - the children love them |
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