On Travel

This is the main article. I use traveling to Rome where the cruise line starts as an illustration. It should apply to other travel planning. Most are just common sense. It may be repeated in Personal Impression.

Cruises vs. land tours

·         Most food and entertainment are included in cruises.

·         Today the food quality of most cruises and entertainment are deteriorated.

·         Check out how far away are the ports. Avoid too many days at sea. Guided tours usually offer more attraction visits.

·         Check the location of the sea port to the attraction. Driving 80% of the time should be avoided.

·         With low prices to attract customers, many cruises charge extra on excursions. They can make money in casinos, liquors and specialty restaurants. Some of these restaurants actually are valued compared to the quality.

·         Prefer local cuisines especially when the meals are not included.

·         Recently I had a self-guided tour in London. I spent a total of about $1,500 per person in off season. It is the biggest bang for my money.

·         It is better spend a year planning for cruises and half a year for guided tours. We have found both air fares and hotels increase in prices substantially for cruises especially in smaller cities. I reserved rooms for my group in Burlington when the Boston hotels jumped in prices for a cruise. It has an airport express bus from the airport to Woburn and the hotel told me there was a free shuttle from the bus stop to the hotel. 

Where to go

My cruise started in Rome, so I did not have a choice to choose cities. However, I would avoid the following countries or cities due to:

·         Political unrest or at war (most countries involved in the Middle East conflicts today).

·         Sanitary problems (such as India).

·         Pollution (such as Beijing but a short period is fine).

·         Safety concerns (many South American countries and India).

·         Some countries require visas and valid passports if you do not have time to apply/renew one.

·         Personally and for my older age, I avoid the two Poles, Tibet, India, Turkey, Egypt and some Middle East countries including Iran, Iraq and Jerusalem due to extreme climates, political unrest, wars and/or poor sanitary conditions.

·         If you go to Europe from the US, recommend you to have a side trip in Ireland or Iceland on your way back if time permits.

·         Many European countries do not require visa for US citizens. To be safe, I would apply the visa first before I book the tour.

·         Most guided tours are economically arranged and you do not have to worry about how to go to the attractions. You are tired and drained after vacations on most tours. On the other hand, many go to the same place every year without tours. It is more relaxed and gives you better understanding of local cultures. You have more time to explore local food and drink.  

When and what to avoid

·         Summer in West Europe (as most are taking vacation and it is flocked with tourists).

·         Golden tourist weeks and Chinese New Year in China and the national holidays.

·         School holidays/vacations if you have a choice.

·         Winter in many colder countries such as the Baltic.

·         Hurricane season in Caribbean countries (late August and September) and tornado season in the tornado alley in the US.

·         Typhoon season (usually during summer) in Asia. 

·         Snow storm. Our trip to E. Europe was in the start of March. Luckily we avoided two snow storms and no flight delays or cancelations, but unluckily we had the blackout on the day we went. We had a light snow and a few days were quite chilly. Never want to do it again even fitting someone’s schedule.

·         During conventions, they will charge you as much as the market can bear in airlines, hotels and restaurants. Check them out for the cities you want to travel to by googling “city name, month and year, convention”.

·         Avoid helicopter and hot balloon rides unless they’re run by reputable companies and your enjoyment is more important than your life. In any case, buy full insurance.

·         Avoid unsafe countries and countries with high tendency of terrorists’ attacks.

·         You should go before you are too old to travel.

·         Bring enough prescription drugs plus extra just in case. Do not skip them. Avoid excessive exercises. Avoid food that would deteriorate your health problems. Fancy foods are usually not healthy.

·         Eat a lot of vegetables and fruits.

·         Turn off the notifications in your mobile phone. I was awakened during my vacation to Europe. The caller thought it was OK to call as if I were in Boston.

·         Some hotels in some countries are not safe. Watch this video from a female tourist travelling alone in India.

·         In off season, there are bargain air fares and hotels.

Make compromises

We cannot eliminate so many places and times to travel. Besides wars and natural disasters, we can reduce most problems by the following:

·         Talk to your doctor to have all the shots that help you in case of eating contaminated food.

·         Avoid street foods especially in emerging countries. If you see they do not have water supply to clean the utensils, stay away. Eat more fruits and food with disposal skins such as bananas. One old lady in Thailand selling street food uses the same bucket of water for the entire day.

·         Eat hot food (or cold food) supposed to be hot (or cold). My friend got sick after eating sushi in a fancy restaurant.

·         Do not eat raw food such as raw oysters and sea food except in Japan.

·         Some foods offered in many Scandinavian countries are not to our American taste.

·         Americans should expect small portions in most foreign countries.

·         Try local food but not excessively.

·         Do not drink tap water unless you know they are safe. For some cities, avoid water even for brushing teeth.

·         Many countries are not safe for single female travelers.

·         Check whether your planned trip is in season for any possible storm.

·         Avoid snowy regions unless there are good reasons such as skiing. Same for connecting flights.

·         Picking pockets is quite popular in Europe including St. Petersburg. When you carry a bag carelessly and/or a camera, you’re the target. Sometimes they work as a group. Do not talk to strangers especially beautiful girls. Gypsies are very skillful in picking pockets.

·         Now, snatching mobile phones is getting popular.

·         If some beautiful girls help you or ask directions, be careful.

·         I was helped by a girl in buying train tickets from a machine that I thought it was free service. She asked me for big tips.

·         My friend told me some money was stolen from the hotel safe in South America.

·         Ransom for kidnapping is quite popular in South America.

·         They have devices to read your credit cards. I put an aluminum foil around my credit card and I use Euro instead of the card wherever possible.

·         Many live on $2 per day in India. Stealing or cheating you $10 could be the entire expenditure for the whole week.

·         Be especially careful in non-tourist areas especially in high crime areas.

·         Do not be too friendly unless you trust your strangers.

·         More relaxed and less expensive during off seasons.

·         The legal-brand products are protected and enforced in Europe. Leave the imitators home and do not buy them in the street.

·         We used the tours in China. They are low priced due to promotions. They make the money from the commissions they make by taking you to shops and factories. Avoid buying these over-priced merchandises as much as possible.

·         Check the merchandise you are buying. They could replace them with defective items or expired medicines. 

·         Enjoy the over-priced shows they take you as they cannot make money on the tours alone.

·         In China, typically breakfasts are great especially in big cities. The more remote the place is, the worse is the food. However, the scenery is far better in remote locations. If I want to see concrete forest, I would visit New York City. If you want to eat the food you want, stay home.

·         If you plan the tour yourself, try to have a local tour for some attractions that individuals cannot take full advantage of.

·         Thailand has a lot to offer. Japan is very expensive to stay. Hong Kong has lost its shopping paradise due to its high rents.

·         Vancouver and Toronto have the best Chinese food in term of quality, safety and price.

·         Do not over eat in cruises. The delicious foods are usually not healthy. Have a full breakfast if you have an excursion later. Cut down in greasy food. For example, have one scramble egg instead of two and one beacon strip instead of multiple stripes. Eat a lot of fruits and vegetables.

·         I missed many delicious (but not too healthy) meals many times. Try local offers.  Make reservations early on specialized restaurants on days at sea. Even at extra cost, most are usually great deals.

·         Tipping in the cruises is pretty compulsory and the basic tips are included in the bill automatically.

·         In Europe, tips may be included in the bill. Beer and wine could be cheaper than mineral water.

·         Bring a compass to save some walking; the sun always rise in the east.

Saving money

·         Again, travel in off season and it would save you a lot of money.

·         The tour provider (cruise or land tour for example) usually does not want to undercut the prices by their travel agency except for special promotions. Hence, travel agencies usually provide us with better prices.

·         The prices of air tickets fluctuate. Google to check what currently is the best day(s) of the week to order tickets. Wednesday is supposed to be the cheapest day to fly. Check what the cruise line offers. If the port starts in one city and ends in another, most likely the cruise line has better deals.

·         In my case booking a trip to Madrid and return home from Barcelona, you may want to trip “multi trip” instead of two one-way trips to see whether it would save you money.

·         Avoid using credit cards in foreign countries if possible. Bring enough foreign currency. If you need to buy local currency, try the banks while money changers are convenient but expensive. However, one of my credit card offers better rate than my local bank and there is no transaction fee.

·         Book the air tickets as soon as possible. I prefer 6 months earlier. When the airlines find out their tickets are selling, they will raise prices and vice versa when they’re not selling. If you wait for 4 months before departure, you’re risking the rising prices. If you book too early in advance, I recommend you to buy protection insurance.

·         Usually air fares are more expensive from Friday to Sunday. My return flight from Poland required me to stay overnight in a stop in Copenhagen but it saved me $400 per person. It is worth it for the budget-minded retirees.

·         If the ticket price is rising and/or the choice is getting more limited, it means most likely it will rise again. More than one time, the final prices were far higher than the advertised prices.

·         I do not know whether the following is a trick or not. I searched for several sites and settled for a round trip to Munich for about $630. One site popped up with the old price and a new price for $920 and asked me better to buy now before the price was up again. I was worried as the prices had been rising slowly. On the next few days, the price went back to $630 level.

·         Many airlines today charge luggage. If possible, use carry-ons that you do not have to pay fees. Check the fees from the airline you fly. The cheaper airlines have more requirements such as smaller luggage and requiring on-line board passing. Some charge extra even for water.

·         Most airlines charge extra for assigning seats for economy class. Some allow seat assignments a few days from boarding. Try to call the airline to see whether you can assign seats if the site does not let you. If you arrive earlier to the airport, you should have better seat assignments.

·         Most airlines allow the cheap ticker holders to reserve seats 24 hours (some even 48 hours) in advance.

·         Plan more than one hour between transfers especially you need to pass customs.

·         Do not forget to bring small travel items such as earphones, chargers and selfie stick.

·         Usually it is cheaper to buy the entire flights even they are separated. In my case, they are Boston to Madrid. Madrid to Barcelona and then to Boston.

·         Avoid paying advance if possible. The trip could be cancelled for various reasons such as a snow storm or personal health problem.

·         Subways (a.k.a. Metros in some countries) and buses are convenient and cheap. Some have special discounts.

·         Taxi is a good choice when the distance to the airport is close and you have more than two persons.

·         As of 2018, the liquid size is restricted to 3 oz. and should be saved in a transparent sandwich bag for carry-on luggage.

·         Compare total prices between different offers from different web sites minus any future discounts. I found a 10% difference for the same room in the same hotel from different popular sites.

·         Upon arrival, ask for free hotel upgrade especially during slow season.

·         Hotels and cruises charge according to demand. When we had 10 rooms reserved with my group, they started to charge more. I found one at half price on similar hotel next door.

·         I found out one new cruise charged far less than the price I paid. I called and they gave me free upgrade.

·         The prices of cruises fluctuate. Basically if they can sell a lot, they will raise prices, and vice versa. When they have unsold cabins, you can ask for free upgrades and other goodies. However, if you wait too late, you may have to pay higher airline tickets.

·         Usually you want to arrive one day earlier before the cruise. The hotel in some seaports such as South Hampton jack up the prices when there is demand. Book early. The other option is stay in London for more attractions but you want to make sure you have enough time to go to the port.

·         The train service in Rome is excellent. It is very simple to use the machine to buy tickets. Some ladies assisted us. Avoid them as they’re trying to get as much tips from you as possible. There is no free lunch.

·         Use the internet to find the cost and the train schedule.  Most trains to the same location have both an express train and a slower train. Depending on when will the express train arrive, a slower train could be faster.

·         In Rome, we used the train to go to the seaport for our cruise ship. It is about an hour ride if my memory serves me right.

·         We took a cab from our hotel to the train station. We could walk over there easily even with luggage.

·         From the internet, we booked a shuttle from the airport to our hotel. It is cheap and there are many other options. They stopped every hotel during our ride. We’re not in a hurry so the free city tour was worth it.

·         There are trips from the South Hampton (the cruise port for London) to the airport or London visiting one or more attractions. Windsor Castle is worth the visit for sure. Ensure your flight is late to have enough time for the visits.

·         If you book your cruise via the agency, they may charge you booking fees ($25 to me one time). However, some sites may give you extra benefits.

·         Cruise lines always have promotions such as free on board credits. Ensure there are no restrictions such as excursions. From my experience, some excursions cost less in the site than on board. Some popular excursions may be sold out, so purchase them early.

·         Check out the cost of taxi ride from the cruise port to the airport. It could be cheaper for three passengers when there is no traffic. For more passengers, look at the private shuttle services offered from the internet.

·         In Shenzhan, I found out some attractions were free for citizens over 70 and half-priced for those over 65 and the public transportation was free.

·         The best bargain is the public bus from the hotel to the airport in Hong Kong. Ask the hotel receptionist how far is your hotel from the bus stand and how to pay the fare.

·         I could have dragged my luggage from the train depot in Hong Kong to the hotel that is three blocks away. Know the locations.

·         Timing is everything. Some cruises could be sold out and some offer last-minute deals.

·         I prefer early dining for health reason. I have to take buffets if I return late from the excursions.

·         In Rome, order the entrance tickets to Vatican Museum on-line to avoid the long line especially during tourist season.

·         If you have not, try to avoid the crowd by going in the afternoon.

·         Most attractions in Rome are within walking distance. Get a good map and plan your walking trip. Take the bus if you’re tired especially in the hot summer days. Two days and three nights is fine for most. One extra day would be more relaxing. Try TripAdvisor.com.

·         Avoid eating right in the attraction or places you see a lot of your fellow tourists. Just around the corner or you could find a lot of local folks and they could be the best eating places.

·         Do restaurant search before the trip (preferred) and during the trip. If you really want good food at good prices, use the internet for research.

·         Most hotels in Europe have breakfasts included. If not, include the breakfast cost for comparison.

·         Try to find a hotel close to the train station or subway station.

·         Ask for hotel free upgrade not during tourist season.

·         Uber may be available in your toured city.

·         Hotels usually provide free maps. Ask them for assistance in planning your trip.

·         Hotels usually provide free Wi-Fi. As of 2018, Google and Facebook are not available in China.

·         The online travel agency gave us a big discount for ordering excursions. We took the package of three ports. It turned out they were very decent and good value.

·         We also had onboard credit. You cannot use the credit to book excursions before the cruise (that is why it is called ‘onboard’).

·         Using the onboard credit, we booked another excursion. The excursions seem to be more expensive if booked on board and some popular excursions were sold out.

·         The difference between Caribbean cruises and European cruises is you need to take the excursions in Europe as they have so much to see. Do not save the money by touring yourself.

·         The cruise lines make their money in excursions and drinks.

·         There is always a main show in every cruise. Some folks may see it two times. Try to arrive early for this show.

·         You should plan at least one day (3 days for us in Rome) before the cruise.

·         Rome, Barcelona and Copenhagen that I have visited have a lot to offer. Actually I have been to Rome three times. The ruins are still ruins, but I found something new every time. A special pass for transportation and museums was offered in Copenhagen and it was worth every penny.

·         AAA also provides travel checks and exchange of currencies for its members with some restrictions.

·         Banks could be cheaper in exchange currencies. Specialized shops could be the most expensive but they are convenient. Your tour guide’s rate could be in between.

·         We paid Euro in Europe and exchanged some local currency in Copenhagen. I prefer to use credit card as seldom as possible. Remember the password for your credit card. The best rate is exchanging local currency in a local bank if you have time.

·         Notify your credit card companies on what countries you will travel before you leave home.

·         Some credit card does not charge fees for conversion of foreign currency. It could save you some money for small transactions.

·         Pre pay some bills and credit cards before you go to avoid late charge fees.

·         The best way to make money is via tourists and they will not come back for defective merchandise. Check out the receipt. I was tricked more than once. Examine the merchandise right away. The merchant may switch defective items or products that have been expired.

·         Use cash (local currency if available) to buy if possible.

·         Do not buy on impulse.

·         You can bargain in many stores especially the smaller ones.

·         Check mail stop if you’re away for longer time.

·         We stopped in Munich for a few hours. We took the escort service for sightseeing. You just tip them (not compulsory) at the end of the service. Use the internet to book this service that is available in many cities. Our ladies were knowledgeable and friendly.

·         On our way back, we stayed in Dublin for three days. It has a lot to offer too. If we have time, we should visit outside Dublin. Book the air to include stop over. Later add-on would cost you a fortune.

·         Some may want to understand the places before they go. Internet is your best friend. I try to avoid doing the same for the cruise as it would take out some surprises. The social director uses the same jokes for all cruises. Just me.

·         Pack as lightly as possible. Do not really require a suite for the formal nights in cruises. Just a tie, long pants and a jacket will do for men.

·         Do not save money of not tasting local cuisines.

·         Do not save money of not attending local cultural events such as Flamingo dance in Spain and Irish dances/songs.

·         Do not save money by not taking excursions. The tours from the cruise ships are more expensive but they guarantee not missing the ship.

·         Learn more on the attraction before the actual visit. YouTube and TripAdvisor should be good sources.

·         Compare visa requirements. The high price of visa for Vietnam from my travel agent was so high that I cancelled the planning to visit there. They had a cheap way to order a visa on-line that I skipped.

·         Your photos are your best souvenir. Tourists are the best customers as they do not have time to compare and they cannot return defective merchandises. Too many costly lessons!

·         In China and many countries, you need to carry your passport everywhere such as hotel, attractions… Sometimes the elderly get a discount by showing the passport.

·         If there are several beautiful girls asking you for direction, be careful on your wallet. For a group, they try to hit the oldest one first. They are fast and could pass the wallet to a cyclist. Luckily they are trained not to make too much trouble by taking the cash only.

·         There are usually bargains. Most are either last-minute offers or offers for many months ahead. You have to take actions right away as the offers could be only temporary. Get the air fares and hotel costs before you reserve your trip. Also check whether your passport has not been expired and whether there are requirements for visas.

·         Two choices to go to Barcelona from Madrid are by plane and by high-speed train. It is easy to go by train as the train station is in downtown where most hotels are. Surprisingly the train cost far more and it was hard to order unless you know Spanish. The flight was run by a cheap airline with stricter carry-on restrictions. We ended up buying new carry-on luggage.

·         TripAdvisor provides suggestions of many eating places. You can also Google such as typing “Asian restaurants around here”.

·         For large group, ask for group discounts for hotels, cruises and air tickets. Sightseeing tours are usually far cheaper than the cruise lines’ charges. Ensure they will come back before the ship leaves.

·         Most cruise lines have a side trip on the way to the airport at the end of the cruise. It is a better deal than staying in the hotel for an extra night. Need to book your air fare as late as possible for the return flight.

·         Public transportation is convenient in most big cities and many are available from the airport to the city center. Use internet to find them.

  

Health

My friends (most over 70) had ammonia and cough during the last trip. One stayed in the hospital for 5 days. The trip was too exhaustive.

·         Bring your prescription drugs and ensure you have extra.

·         Bring basic over-the-counter drugs such as stole softener, cough medicine…

·         Eat enough health food before and during the trip such as fruits and vegetable.

·         Avoid street food, sushi (except in Japan), meat and egg not fully cooked.

·         Do not over eat.

·         Ensure enough exercise such as stretching during the long flights.

·         Dress appropriately. It is better to carry and wear more clothes than not.

·         Do not over-exercise such as climbing a thousands of steps if your body does not allow so.

·         Most seniors cannot go to Tibet or similar places for health reasons.

·         Do not talk to stranger when he approach you. I was asked to show me my wallet by a so-called ‘policeman’.

Observe local cultures, laws and regulations

·         Observe local laws/regulations. Shoplifting in China could cause you 5 years in prison and execution for having sex with a minor. That’s why China is relatively safe. Crossing streets is a different story.

·         Be careful of drugs that are illegal in the countries you visit. Jail time punishment is common.

·         Helping an old lady to carry her luggage could end you up in jail if it contains illegal stuffs.

·         Avoid politics and sensitive topics – you’re a tourist, not an activist.

·         Chicken/Fish heads displayed on finished dishes are quite common in Chinese.

·         We are used to fish without bone and skin. Chinese like them with skin. Most fishes in the river have small bones, so be very careful.

·         Not flushing the toilet after use is punishable in Singapore.

·         In China particularly in less developed areas, the holes are used instead of toilet seats so you can stretch out LOL. Bring your own toilet paper and do not throw the toilet paper into the hole.

·         Eating in subway cars is a no-no in Hong Kong.

·         Turn off notification in your mobile phone. Folks may send you messages in the middle of the night due to local time difference.

Group discount

I have arranged a cruise and a local tour with my classmates. Here are some of my experiences.

·         The hotels in Boston jumped from around $200 to $400 in a few days. It could be due to our fellow cruisers and/or some events in Boston. I looked for hotels further away from Boston but accessible to public transportation. Finally I settled with Residence Inn in Burlington. My classmates can take Logan Express to Woburn and the hotel is supposed to have a shuttle service (at worst call local taxi services).

·         Talked to the manager and negotiated a low rate and sent it to my classmates. The hotel found out there was rising demand and they raised the prices and availability. Fortunately most of my classmates booked at the low rates. Always ask for senior discount (if qualified) and free upgrade upon arrival.

·         Some cruise lines do not offer generous group discounts. This cruise line actually raised prices when they noticed rising demand. On a new cruise ship, I complained on the current price lower than the one I paid. They gave me a free upgrade to one with two bathrooms (no use for two of us).

·         Signed up group dinner in a specialty restaurant (the one you have to pay) on the day at sea as it is usually fully booked.

·         We may find local tours in Barr Harbor and Quebec City that are more popular.

·         One local agent offers a one-day tour of Boston at $45 per person.

# Filler: The world is round, honey

My spouse complained I made the wrong turn. I replied eventually we would be right as the world is round. Time wise I was wrong but logic wise I was right.

My planning table

It is more for my own purposes. Add/change items that are related to you. Ensure you have the updated passport / visas, your credit card (compare fees in foreign countries) and any prescription drugs. You should do most items including laundry at least one day earlier. I lost power one day before one of my trips. If you do not want to turn off the main water supply, at least turn off the ones to your washer and water heater. 

No.		Status
I	Months before trip
1	Check visa and passport to ensure they are valid.
2	Need for shots including flu shots?
3	Prescription drugs enough for the trip.
4	Book cruise. Some cruise lines offer tickets with competitive prices.
5	Buy air tickets. Wednesday the best day of the week?
6	Book hotels. Prefer city center area as long as price is reasonable.
7	Check out transportation from airport to hotel (and/or hotel to cruise ship port).
8	Make hard copy of reservations and/or take pictures.
9	Take photos of the above documents including passport and visa numbers/IDs.
10	Need currencies of the countries you travel?
11	Estimate and get the foreign currency or currencies you need. Bring enough USD.
12	Check out any appointments during your trip.
13	Check out weather, crimes/protests for your destinations.
14	May need electric adapters for some countries such as China.
15	Write down the credit card and travel check issuer info just in case.
16	Need to buy travel insurance?
II	Week before
1	Pay all bills.
2	Notify credit cards for countries you want to travel.
3	Stop mail.
4	Check airline requirements for luggage.
5	Check you have enough prescription drugs for the trip.
6	Some small items such as ear plugs, selfie stick, hair shampoo, chargers…
7	Cut and dye hair – you’re lucky if you’re bald. LOL.
III	Week
1	Pack your luggage according to the number of days and where you go.
2	Check light to turn on/off automatically.
3	Pack enough (one more if possible) prescription drugs for the trip. It is safer to carry half in carry-on.
4	Check any financial transactions such as expiring CDs and/or stock orders.
5	Stop any recording of TV shows.
6	Empty pictures from your mobile phone and cameras if needed.
7	Load e-books to your mobile phone or buy a book(s).
8	Check mails and pay all bills.
9	Ensure enough fibers such as bananas, plumes and nuts.
10	For some cheap air tickets, you are not allowed to assign seats before 48 hours of departure (as disallowed in the web site). However, try to call them and I had one time be assigned good seats.
11	Let your credit card companies know which foreign countries you’re travelling.
12	Ensure enough first aids and drugs.
13	Save and then empty camera storage chips.
14	Charge everything for the trip including camera, selfie stick and mobile phone.
15	Buy phone card for countries you want to travel depending on your needs.
16	Check out local transportation, attractions, restaurants…
17	Arrange transportation to airport.
18	If your plane leaves 1 a.m. or after, ensure the day of the week is correct.
IV	Day
1	Pack last items such as toiletries, pajamas and slippers.
2	Turn off water to washer.
3	Arrive airport or seaport early.
4	Store your important and/or expensive items in a safe place (days earlier if it is outside your house).