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PRICELESS TRAVEL TIPS from our contributing ROAD WARRIORS
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• The most important thing I do when you arrive in a new destination is find a spiritual guide. The local spiritual guide (ie: tarot card reader, fortune teller), is the person who knows the best places, the best ride, best prices. He is the person who has all my confidence.
-- Eunice Adorno .....................
• Learn how to say, at the very least, hello and thank you in the native tongue of where you are visiting.
• Remember, you are a guest in their country, so the least you can do is respect them with a few words in their own language.
• Be adventurous and do something you wouldn’t normally do: sky dive, scuba, whatever. But remember to be safe.
• Talk to locals, try to get tips from them on their favorite places to eat and see.
• Get travel insurance. Very basic, but I’ve used it a lot and it has saved me thousands.
• Get an open ended ticket if you can, chances are you might want to stay on a bit.
-- John Paul Pietrus
• Pack your toiletries bag in your carry on luggage. Grab a meal in the local markets. They have the best food, for very little money.
• Always have your hotel’s business card on you. You won’t have a problem if you get lost.
• If the local water is questionable, brush your teeth with bottled water. Always skip ice in your drinks.
• Never pack your house keys in your checked luggage.
-- Lauri Lyons .....................
• Remember to pack extra underwear and socks.
• Carry medication with you and not in a checked a bag when on an airline.
• Bring a camera and camera charger or plug adapter.
• Always bring your phone and phone charger.
• Pack a bag of snacks.
-- Thyra Helgensen .....................
• Wear stretchy pants on airplanes.
• Get off the beaten path as much as possible, when reasonably safe of course.
• Take the winding road, there’s usually so much more to see.
-- Crystal Cartier
• Do not keep your money, passport or anything valuable in the pockets of your backpack. It will be gone before you know it.
• Wear a fanny pack or small shoulder strap purse similar and put valuables in there instead. It may look very unfashionable but I have never lost anything valuable by carrying everything in a small purse close to myself.
• Save free samples of shampoos, conditioners and other toiletries. They are especially handy and do not waste a lot of space and weight allowance when you are packing for and coming back from your wonderful trip.
• Make sure you double check the TSA website for items you can and cannot bring back into the country. Otherwise the TSA agents will be enjoying your gourmet food instead of you.
• If you see any foreign insects anywhere on your belongings or even your body, do not squish it. Try to find an object to flick it away, or trap it with a container. Never ever squish a bug.
-- Rachal Tai
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