Cruising is popular all year round but there are some especially good bargains available right now. Not a day goes by that cruise offers don't clutter up my e-mail box and I advise you to jump on one if cruising is in your future travel plans. I'd like you to just be aware of these seven money-saving tips:
1. The costs given per person in all ads and e-mails trying to entice you do not include port charges and taxes. A 3-night cruise to the Bahamas may be advertised for $179 per person in an inside cabin. Your Government taxes and fees can then add another $300 per person! Suddenly, the cruise cost doesn't sound that cheap anymore.
2. Book an interior room if you are not claustrophobic to really cut down costs. A balcony cabin for sitting outside gives an air of roominess. However, the inside cabins are surprisingly large and are you going to spend all day in the room? I hope not.
Travels With Sheila has already discussed how important it is to notify both bank and credit card issuers what contries you intend to visit. Both to eliminate identity theft and avoid problems using your credit card. Below are more mistakes, all made by us. Number One, was added to "beware of" a few months ago in France and this one tip alone will definitely save you money:
1. We were taken aback when a hotel checkout person asked, "Do you want the bill in dollars or local currency?" Huh? We didn't think twice and said, Dollars. Big mistake. When the Visa bill arrived, this particular transaction had a higher rate of conversion. In layman's terms, the bill would have been less if charged in Euros rather than Dollars to Euros to Dollars. Another charge on the same bill had a higher rate from a restaurant in France that automatically charged us in Dollars. If we had carefully read the slip while signing, we would have seen "Dollars" next to the charge, and could have corrected it then and there. Duh...live and learn. You want to see the currency of the country you are visiting on that credit card slip. Euros, Yuan, Pesos...not Dollars.
This process is called "dynamic conversion." The merchant converts the bill to U.S. dollars (or your currency) right then and there. The problem is that the merchant can use any exchange rate they want at that particular time, not the going wholesale rate applied when the charge hits your bank for conversion which is going to cost you...MORE MONEY! Watch out for it...;
- Don't pack clothes in plastic or garbage bags inside suitcases. I've personally experienced: suitcases sitting on the tarmac in driving rains; opened a bag only to find something leaked all over my clothes while in the cargo hold; and, had smelly, dusty everything from dust thrown up while jolting in cars over incredibly bad roads (the dust also turned my dark hair a muddy shade of brown). If you trek, all good tour operators will tell you to pack in garbage bags since your duffel will either be on a llama, horse, mule or back of a Sherpa.
- Don't carry warm clothes in backpacks while day hiking. Mountains make their own weather and we've begun day hikes in 80+ degrees, that progressed to rain, and turned into snow towards the top of the mountain. It may sound laughable, but these articles are always in our backpacks when hiking. Goretex or rain pants, Goretex or rain jacket, warm hat and gloves. Unprepared hikers have frozen to death or become hypothermic from not carrying proper clothing with them.
New Currency Conversion Tool for Internet or Mobile Phones
TravelsWithSheila recently received an e-mail with a fantastic new method to keep local currency rates at your fingertips while traveling through a country. Currate.com has access to daily updated conversion rates, and you can see the actual images of over 180 world currencies. Anyone who travels with a mobile phone that has built-in browser capability can access.
A case in point is our recent trip to the Baltic States with two weeks in three countries, each with its own currency (actual rates as of September 2009). Estonia uses the Kroon (EEK - don't you love that world - EEK?) 1 = $10.65, Latvia uses the Lat (LVL) 1 = $.47, and Lithuania uses the Lita (LTL) 1 = $2.35. Totally confusing! EEK's, Lats, Livs...how much easier it would have been to have this on a mobile phone instead of trying to find out what the daily changes were.
It doesn't make any difference how many hours are spent on planes, past experiences or countries visited. My nightmares begin around a week before any trip fraught with anxieties similar to my annual night-before-Thanksgiving one where the turkey is still frozen and family is arriving in one hour! I toss and turn worrying about:
1. Will I get sick (or injured)? We travel with almost every remedy known to mankind but something always happens. Whether it be ripping a toe nail off getting into a boat in Ethiopia, falling down a flight of wooden stairs in Laos, ex-Marine developed a serious eye infection in China, or the ordinary diarrhea, constipation, colds, etc. Something will probably happen and past experience has given me good reasons to be anxious;
Margie from Los Angeles, A Gutsy Woman who Travels
It was during our infamous, 25 day trip throughout Pakistan that we first met Margie. Margie was the trip's M.D. who would travel with us throughout and be there in case of emergencies. This gives you an indication of the trip severity since Wilderness Travel has an M.D. accompany trips for only what they consider severe circumstances despite mandatory medical evacuation insurance. Let's face it. If something serious happens to you out there, there's a more than excellent chance you will die on the spot. Medivac will never get to you in time.
Margie's credentials are awe-inspiring. The first woman to be accepted into UCLA Medical School with children (at that time), Head of Surgery, etc. but if that isn't enough, she and husband, Art trek, hike, downhill and cross country ski, climb Half Dome in Yosemite, grab ice axes, put on the crampons, and raft Grade 5 rapids.
Ask Travel Questions and Comment on Travels With Sheila
A big thank you readers for your travel questions and comments on Travels With Sheila. It's exciting to share travel advice and experiences and whether you are looking to backpack or for a luxury experience, Travels With Sheila is here to help so keep those e-mails coming. As a reminder, I am not a travel agent and receive neither commissions, kick-backs nor free stays from anyone. However, if National Geographic called, I wouldn't say no! Below are just a few of the very interesting questions and comments received on already published articles and from my You Tube channel:
The Gorillas of Rwanda: Hi Sheila, my friend and sorority sister, Dian Fossey was indeed an adenturer, spending 14 years studying the gorillas. Ironically, her mother wanted tDian to be a lady, educated with culture, etc. Dian wanted none of it and you know the rest of the story...I, too, am 76 and want to visit Austria/Vienna where music abounds - your latest confirms my desire. Portia
There are probably hundreds of mistakes a traveler can make depending on destination, length of trip, group or individual touring, different cultures and weather-related issues. Here is the first in series of seven big ones that I have made and how to avoid them.
Number One - Failure to inform your ATM issuer and credit card companies about your international destination(s), country-by-country. With fraud and identity theft at an all time high around the globe, you will be unpleasantly surprised when after handing over the credit card or inserting your trusty ATM card in the machine, the nasty word DENIED pops up. It may not happen on your first transaction but I'll bet a dozen doughnuts it happens on the second. Make that telephone call and inform them exactly what countries are on the itinerary. That way you'll avoid the embarrassment and panic of hearing, "...so sorry, madame, your card has been denied..."
India can be dirty, hot, congested, and chaotic. India has heart-wrenching poverty, some of the worst roads in the world, and demands constant vigilance regarding water and food but India is also one of the most colorful countries in the world with extremely friendly people. Know before you go with my favorite 25 Travel Tips, in no particular order, with five "don'ts":
1. U.S. Citizens can apply for a 10-year visa to India that doesn't cost much more than a 1-year visa ($150 vs. $85 - as of 4/09). One visit is all it takes and, you'll be back since it's impossible to really travel throughout India in one visit.
2. Try to fly on India's two best domestic airlines. Jet Airways and Kingfisher Airlines...View image. Avoid flying all domestic routes of State-owned, Indian Airlines if there's another choice.
Using Consolidators for Economy and Business Class Air
Looking for a way to save big money on air travel? I am always on the lookout for ways to stretch the travel budget and recently received an e-mail from Bargain Travel spelling out exactly what a "Consolidator" is and what great savings can be had if you are thinking Business Class. This e-mail was so interesting that I asked Bargain Travel's permission to pass on to you.
Consolidators are companies that negotiate with airlines to buy up seats that wouldn't otherwise be sold. Think of them as a type of wholesaler. The tickets they sell are primarily for international flights but there are many available for domestic flights as well. Consolidators buy in large volumes, so they can offer their tickets for substantially less than normal published fares. You may find consolidator tickets available for flights shown as sold-out through the airlines, and the reverse can happen when consolidators may not currently have the exact itinerary you are looking for even though the flights may be available directly from the airline.
- A woman refused to pay the fare and the conductor called the police who were waiting for her at the next stop. Busted;
- We've forgotten to composter (stamp the ticket in the little machines, obligatory before you board a train) and sat in a bucket of sweat hoping the conductor wouldn't fine us - he took pity on the two idiots and didn't;
- We've jumped on trains going in the wrong direction. Oops. Had to get off at the next available stop and catch a train heading to the right town;
Growing up in a Chicago apartment, trekking and/or sleeping in a tent was the furthest thing from my mind. All I knew, came from watching Smoky The Bear and Bullwinkle The Moose. A vacation meant sitting on a Chicago beach or by a pool, sun-tanning and taking an occasional dip to cool off.
However, I grew up, married, had children, started running and even tried some day-hiking. A new world opened up and I sweet-talked "ex-Marine" (husband, Steve) - who never wanted to set foot in a tent again after being in the Marine Corps - into a trek. For overachieving me, Nepal sounded like a reasonable place to begin so I booked a 7-day "Easy" Trek.
Post trek, City Hick #1 (me) had learned quite a bit including:
Funny and Strange Plumbing in Developing Countries
Plumbing reached a hysterically funny new low at the Muong Chanh Hotel, Lai Chau, Vietnam. Just to clear the record, no one has ever referred to me as a "Princess" and I'm as at home peeing behind a bush along the road...squatting over holes... as sitting on a" white throne" in an average Western-style bathroom.
I've puked alongside a major highway in Pakistan while semis stopped to watch me... stayed in a Chinese dump where the toilet hole was cut into a 3-foot high, raised marble slab and a person had to lay on their back with butt in hole to use ... learned how to use and cope with an all-in-one shower. One of these usually has a wall shower head located between the toilet and sink without a shower curtain or shower door to keep the water from spraying all over the entire bathroom. Remove toilet paper before using! But just as we learn to adapt, there is always another new experience waiting around the corner.
The food prepared and eaten on a high-altitude hike or trek is like nothing else you may be used to. High-carbohydrates, low-fat diets are usually the rule. Carbohydrates help replace depleted muscle glycogen stores, and require less oxygen for metabolism. A person can expend as much as 6,000 calories a day (almost two pounds a week) depending on the altitude and temperature extremes...a weight-watchers dream come true because the food is rarely tasty.
This trek was no exception. The cooks try their best and it's not easy cooking at altitude but the food was generally awful. (My comments only, feel free to disagree.) A high-altitude trek cook always prepares a hot cereal for breakfast. Cream of Wheat, Oats, Kasha...whatever it was and no matter how I tried to make it palatable with honey, brown sugar, white sugar, syrup...anything ...nothing helps because I just detest hot cereals.
Sheila's 7 Favorite Countries to Hike, Bike, Walk in Europe
A million lifetimes isn't enough to explore Europe on foot, bicycle or just sightsee. Each time we visit and choose a different country area to explore, it's love at first sight. In Europe, you can begin the day in one destination, hike/bike or walk around lakes, up and over mountains, visit charming towns on the way and return at night on the fast and efficient train and bus systems. Public transportation and chairlifts are bicycle/children/people friendly, there is always a refuge or mountain hut to stop for lunch and every region, without exception is gorgeous.
Here are seven of my favorite areas along with personal favorite towns. It will come as no surprise to anyone that Switzerland is #1 followed by Austria #2 because they are "no brainers" thanks to wonderful signage on almost all routes. France is a close #3:
It's tough out there. Difficult to make a living and pay for basic expenses let alone even think of spending money on travel. Travel has always been one of my "basic necessities" and the current climate means I have to dig even deeper and cut more corners to afford this important part of my life.
While trying to find creative ways to economize, brochures keep arriving in the mail with offers that, I believe, are not only way beyond the realms of normality or what people can afford and make me wonder:
- How the heck did my name ever get on these lists? and
- What are these operators thinking? Perhaps they should ease up on heavy tranquilizers and take the needles out of their arms...
Morocco is an extremely popular destination, perceived as a "safe country without any problems" and you can be fairly certain that there won't be any. Besides that, Morocco is clean, efficient and easy to get around. A few suggestions:
- Head south towards the desert area or base yourself in Agadir and take day trips to towns like Ouazazarte, Taroudant and Tafroute;
- Tafroute is located in the heart of the Anti-Atlas. Take time to trek or wander through the scenic boulders, mountains and typical small, mud-bricked villages. Tafroute bears a big resemblance to Arizona;
Comment and Information About Hiking The Coast to Coast Across England
I received the comment below on Travels With Sheila from Giuseppe, in Florence, Italy and thought I'd let you read my answers to his questions...
..."Hello,
I'm an italian guy, aged 49, and I'm planning with my daughter aged 12 the trail from St.Bee's to Robin Hood Bay, approximately next august, 2009. I've visited your site, really interesting and full of news about this adventure, and if possible I would like to have 3 informations: which kind of training is it necessary (or do you suggest) to prepare the walk, if in your opinion a young girl of 12 is too young to approach the trail, and if is it strictly necessary to be organized with tent equipment. Thank you very much in advance for your kind reply, and compliments again for your travel site!"...
Fast and Easy Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan Information
The 'Stans is not that easy to do it on your own. Lonely Planet's Central Asia Guide will help or surf the many different websites. You really need fluent Russian and infinite patience along with the time to arrange everything. Fortunately, there are pages of tour operators who run 'Stan trips, Silk Road Trips, etc. and take most of the hassle/glitch factor on their shoulders. Asia Travel who ran our independent trip is still operating.
You don't visit these countries for the food or hotels. It's your chance to experience important stops on the Silk Road that have been around for 2,000-5,000 years and monuments that are unique to this area.
When it's time for some serious shopping, browsing and pondering over "stuff" you don't need but now find that life would be unlivable with it, you can't get any better than a day spent in any one of my favorite 7 Flea Markets.
Marche Les Puces, Paris, France. The granddaddy of them all is the one at Porte de Clignancourt. This flea market dates back over two hundred years and operates Saturday, Sunday and Monday. This gigantic market covers 7 hectares/17 acres and between 120,000-180,000 visitors rub shoulders each weekend. It definitely doesn't get bigger than this. Go in the morning when it's a little less crowded and pick an area. Walk down Rue des Rosiers, the main street which leads into the separate markets. For example, Vernaison, with everything from furniture to beads; and Dauphine, everything from rare antiques, to books, prints, art and vintage clothing. Trust me...you'll never make your way through them all but it's fun trying..
Don't know if you are a "Bazaar" or "Market" person but I certainly am and even ex-Marine (husband, Steve) has been known to go into ecstasy when we've walked into one of these surreal markets. I separate markets into two categories: Those for looking at the people dressed in colorful outfits; and the ones for serious shopping.
These are my top 7 favorite "looking at people in colorful outfits" to date...you never know what's around the bend... true, "not for tourists" ethnicity and a photographer's dream:
Things are really tough financially around the world right now and everyone is hurting. This presents a major problem if you still want to continue traveling. It's difficult to justify an expenditure on what is perceived as a "luxury" rather than a "necessity" but travel has always been a necessity for me. You just have to get a little more creative.
To that end, I heartily recommend Adventure Center listed on the side-bar of this site. Take a look at what they have to offer and you won't believe the prices. If picky me has taken 16 trips with them, they must be doing something right! Another reputable organizer is G.A.P Adventures. G.A.P. is also a world leader in the adventure travel industry.
Forget the lion, African elephant, African buffalo, Black Rhinoceros and Leopard that make up the Gamehunters "Big 5". I'd like you to consider another group of animals/species to see before time runs out. Four are endangered. One is not. And then there are two on my future list...
Number One, the Mountain Gorillas of Rwanda/Uganda. Don't think that you can just go to your local zoo and see one of these incredible apes that have 95% of our genes. No siree...Mountain Gorillas don't do well in captivity. You can watch the movie Gorillas In The Mist (or read the book about groundbreaking Anthropologist, Dian Fossey) but nothing...and I do mean nothing...compares with your first sight of them in the wild. It absolutely brought everyone in the eight-person group to tears. Our Gorilla visits with the Hiro and Amahoro groups took place in Rwanda but there are also groups in Uganda. Keep in mind that you must have have the ability to hike in to wherever the Gorillas are situated that day so don't leave it for "someday"!
Looking for a winter destination that's sunny and warm? India is very easy to arrange. Do it on your own with help from Lonely Planet (most tourists seemed to be carrying a copy) or one of the many websites available. Prefer group travel? Check out Adventure Center (on the side bar), Intrepid Travel (bookable through Adventure Center), iExplore, GAP Adventures, Wilderness Travel and Geographic Expeditions to name a few. I only recommend tour operators that we've used or have faith in.
India has good-excellent food, gorgeous hotels ranging from extreme luxury to rock bottom for backpackers, and friendly, helpful people. Impossible to see this diverse country in one trip, and only you can decide which of the many options below will suit you. Read through posts on TWS detailing some past trips and for more information, check out Incredible India
Seven Warm Winter Destinations - #6 Easy West Africa
Looking for a winter destination that's sunny and warm? West Africa is one of those places where I only recommend group tours to minimize the hassles of traveling the African continent. Yes, you can do it alone if you are extremely adventurous and willing to put up with some needless discomfort like paying bribes. Roberto, owner of Trans Africa, says that's the price you pay to travel in West Africa - knows who to bribe and how much to give. Check out Adventure Center (on the side bar), Intrepid Travel (bookable through Adventure Center), iExplore, GAP Adventures, , Wilderness Travel and Trans Africa. Trans Africa is a reputable company based in West Africa who arranged our West Africa group trips.
You don't visit West Africa for wonderful food, or luxurious hotels, although there are some of both. The popular adage is..." you go to South Africa to see animals and West Africa to see the people"... It is all about tribes and unique experiences. Read past posts on TWS detailing trips to Mali, Burkina Faso (how can you not love a country with a capital named Ouagadougou - "wah-gah-do-goo"), Togo, Benin and Ghana, each and every country completely different. Voodoo, Ashanti funeral rites, festivals, Timbuktu, camping in the vast desert.
Looking for a winter destination that's sunny and warm? Cambodia is easy to arrange. Do it on your own with help from Lonely Planet (most tourists seemed to be carrying a copy) or one of the many websites available. Prefer group travel? Check out Adventure Center (on the side bar who booked our "Heart of Cambodia" tour), Intrepid Travel (bookable through Adventure Center), iExplore, GAP Adventures to name a few.
Cambodia has good food, gorgeous hotels ranging from extreme luxury (Raffles) to rock bottom, and friendly, helpful people. The country shares borders on the north with Thailand and Laos, and Vietnam on the east. The main historical site is the Khmer temples of Angkor Wat. Head south to Sihanoukville for beaches. Cambodia is another inexpensive country to visit. Read through past posts on TWS detailing the entire "Heart of Cambodia" Adventure Center trip...
Looking for a winter destination that's sunny and warm? Laos is easy to arrange. Do it on your own with help from Lonely Planet, Tourism Laos or one of the many other websites. Prefer group travel? Check out Adventure Center (on the side bar who booked our "Spirit of Laos" tour), Intrepid Travel (bookable through Adventure Center), iExplore, GAP Adventures to name a few.
Laos has wonderful food (think french baquettes), gorgeous hotels ranging from extreme luxury (luxury is still comparatively "cheap") to rock bottom, and friendly, helpful people. Mountainous Luang Namtha in the North shares its borders with Myanmar and China and is home to large numbers of minorities. There are a minimum of historical sights, the mighty Mekong River, parts of the Ho Chi Minh Trail, places to veg out, and is downright cheap to visit. Read through past posts on TWS detailing the entire "Spirit of Laos" Adventure Center trip, one of the best ever...
Looking for a winter destination that's sunny and warm? Thailand is one very easy trip to arrange. You can reserve almost anything you want on the spot with the exception of the Christmas/New Year period when hotels are booked solid and prices reach their peak. Prefer a group? Adventure Center (on the side bar), Intrepid Travel (bookable through Adventure Center), iExplore, GAP Adventures to name a few. There must be thousands of tour operators you can use. Contact the Tourism Thailand Organization for more information.
Thailand has wonderful food, gorgeous hotels/resorts ranging from extreme luxury to rock bottom, and friendly, helpful people. There are mountains, historical sights, white sand beaches, crystal clear water, incredible islands, national forests and reasonable in cost (if not downright cheap) to visit.
Looking for a winter destination that's sunny and warm? Think Myanmar (formerly known as Burma), one of my favorite countries. Please don't get all huffy over the Dictatorship, Human Rights, etc. If you truly want to make a difference in the people's lives, visit. The Burmese are thrilled to welcome us to their country, and intereact. Gracious, sweet people who need tourism badly, starved for outside contact, and we have a chance to make a positive impact on their lives. Without outside tourism, they will become even more isolated. Extremely easy to arrange a private tour or visit, contact Diethelm Travel. Diethelm has planned four trips for us using our favorite, wonderful guide Than Toe Win.
Myanmar has wonderful food (I know you're surprised to hear that), hotels ranging from extreme luxury to bare bottom, and friendly, helpful people. Myanmar is also a mountainous country filled with tribes, historical sights, white sand beaches, and reasonable in cost (if not downright cheap) to visit.
Sri Lanka has wonderful food, gorgeous hotels ranging from extreme luxury to bare bottom, and friendly, helpful people. Sri Lanka is also a mountainous country filled with historical sights, white sand beaches, national forests and reasonable in cost (if not downright cheap) to visit.
Hiking Questions To Ask and An Overnight Train to Prague, Czech Republic
Every trip, every vacation, every day in our lives is a learning experience (trite, but true) and this trip into the Polish/Slovakian Tatras was no exception. It taught some new lessons and questions to pose the next time I thought a hiking/trekking trip sounded "interesting."
- Exactly what is a "C" moderate trip in this particular country?
- Will we use chains bolted into the side of a cliff? Ladders? Crampons? Ice Axes? (We didn't need these two but ask nonetheless.)
- Is there exposure and, if so, how much exposure? For just a short portion or throughout the entire trip. "Exposure" means route sections where a fall could cause serious injury or death. If you are afraid of of heights, avoid these like the plague!
Tipping in China - Damned If You Do, Damned If You Don't
"...Oh, little grasshopper...tipping in China is a most perplexing subject today..."
We are ready to throw in the towel. When do you tip and how much? A few recent situations:
Case #1 - We tip the bellman who brought the suitcases to the room, shut the door and read in the hotel information packet..."please DO NOT TIP the staff"....
Case #2 - We don't tip at the next hotel and the bellman stands there. And stands there. And stands there for a most uncomfortable length of time, giving us the Chinese evil eye.
I've been working and driving around the Chicago-area for over 50 years, and a Volunteer for the City of Chicago at O'Hare Airport. (You may have even seen me walking around O'Hare wearing a red shirt with a big "ASK ME" button.) Based on all that, here is some basic information that should make your life simpler while visiting my hometown.
Flying into O'Hare or Midway?
- From O'Hare, take the BLUE Line to downtown Chicago for $2.00 a person. You can take a taxi to your hotel from the Blue Line exit for very little or walk to it.
- From Midway, take the GREEN LINE. There are also buses going North on Cicero outside of Midway Airport. It goes to the Chicago EL, heading to the Loop, also $2.00 a person.
No matter how well you think you've planned a trip, something is bound to go wrong and/or forgotten. For example:
- I keep a generic packing list on the computer with sections covering everything from winter sports, trekking and hiking to sightseeing;
- Laid everything needed out carefully, and checked off the above list;
- Double check passports and visas. (I even put a paper clip on the proper visa page if we need one. Saves looking for that one elusive visa page.) ;
- Have started to notify the credit card company that we're traveling out of the country so they won't deny authorization. (Guilty of forgetting that one before a trip to Buenos Aires and discovered this mistake when a credit card purchase wouldn't go through. A fast, collect call to the credit card company resolved that issue.); and
- Triple-check hotel reservation dates. (Bad me.. We once arrived in Switzerland and discovered that I had reserved for the next day! The nice hotel found us a room for the night.)
Do you want to visit Thailand? Laos? Cambodia? Do you think that a tour to any or all of these places is beyond your means? Think again. Today's Chicago Tribune detailed a deluxe tour offered by the Art Institute of Chicago with accommodations at five-star hotels, internal flights, many meals, entrance fees, etc. at the staggering price of $7,740 a person! And...this doesn't include international airfare...
ex-Marine (husband, Steve) and I could never afford trips like these. If you can, go for it. Instead, I completely recommend you browse through the Adventure Center offerings on the sidebar of this site. They have 94 different tours operated by several tour operators into Southeast Asia.
I firmly believe that family traveling is one of the most rewarding parts of life. It's an opportunity that may never come again and just takes a lot of planning and flexibility. We had three glorious days to talk and share experiences with Sarah's undivided attention. Not like the usual phone calls or visits where I ask.."What's new?" and they reply..."Nothing"...while I.M.'ing to friends, i-Pod earbuds on, the television on and heavy metal music all going at one time. There was just the three of us for almost four straight days.
Sarah's, 13-year old teenage thoughts:
- Rome was a ball and is already planning where she should travel when she graduates college and lives with her parents (Michael...Paula...are you ready for this? No job...just travel?)
- What is a bidet and how do you use it?
- Roman baths were gross. How could everyone bath together and why was it a big social event?
- The people at the 5**** Hassler Hotel across the street were snobs.
photo taken by Sarah looking down the Spanish Steps
The days are getting shorter, Daylight Savings Time has gone, and it's time to make Winter travel decisions...if you haven't already booked. So many places to go....and now is the best time to make plans...unless you're looking at travel over the holidays. It may be too late for that but keep your eyes peeled for last minute deals. A few of my many favorite sites that deal in last-minute and pre-planned packages are:
We've been traveling by train throughout Europe for over 30 years and if there was a mistake to be made, been there...done it! Think traveling by train is a no-brainer? It isn't...and that is why I finally wrote my first e-book: Sheila's Guide to European Train Travel. European trains are a marvel of efficiency with huge networks covering almost every big and little town on the continent.
Sheila's Guide to European Train Travel spells out the best tips, simply broken down, to save time, money and hassle. Which country should I visit by train? Should I combine multiple countries? Do I want a point-to-point ticket or Train Pass? What is a Train Pass? A "silence" car? Does the train personnel speak English? How will I know the track my train leaves on? Are there supplements? And much more. Traveling can, and should, be fun and easy! Don't wait until you retire...or the kids are older (they love train travel and can walk up and down the aisles without disturbing anyone)...or you have enough disposable income (who does)...or the world is a safer place...or you win the lottery (neither of the last two are going to happen)! You still can travel on a budget and visit Europe's charming towns, big cities and remote locations via train. And nothing compares with a view like this from your train window...
"Travels With Sheila" is becoming more sophisticated and entering new dimensions (for me) - streaming video in the near future, e-books, travel consultations and Webinars. ex-Marine (husband, Steve) and I just returned from Eastern Tibet and attended a rather strange Tong Ren festival, only held once a year. In the past, participants skewered themselves through cheeks and backs while the main Shaman slashed open his face. Anticipating this gory display, I broke down a bought a camcorder. Alas, the Head Lama decided..."this is not a good thing for people to do"...duh....and there was no skewering this year. Just as well. The thought of sticking what looked like shish kabob skewers through cheeks gave me the heebie-jeebies, but I still have some great video of this trip. As soon as I learn how to edit, etc., you'll see it. Fortunately, I've gotten as far as actually loading the film clips on my computer! Making progress here!
Long ago, ex-Marine (husband, Steve) and I took a group hiking tour to Japan. Two weeks spent hiking in the Kita Alps, sleeping in little family-owned Ryokans on futons, using the communal Public Baths, visiting an Onsen (Hot Spring), the Tsukiji fish market, Tokyo, and staying in a beautiful Kyoto Monastery. An exhilarating total immersion into Japanese culture and wonderful experience.
We decided to celebrate our 10th anniversary by spending two days in Hong Kong after Japan. One of ex-Marine's good friends said..."You have got to stay at the Regent Hotel. Pay whatever the price is but get a room overlooking Hong Kong Harbor on a high floor. The views are stupendous and worth every penny." Understand that this friend was as cheap as cheap can be and if he paid the kind of money the Regent Hotel was asking, it had to be worth the expenditure espcially since we would be celebrating. (Ten years is an accomplishment in a first marriage. In a second marriage, 10 years is a humungous feat..with ex-mates...blended families, etc.)
If you are potty-trained in the United States, using a bathroom doesn't require much thought. Whether it be flushing the toilet, filling the bathtub, turning on the shower or sink...easy, right? But venturing out into sometimes remote destinations requires a completely different mindset unless you stay exclusively in major tourist hotels.
We've discovered that taking care of personal hygiene requires a little adaptation and flexibility in each unique circumstance:
- Hiking, in the bush or along the road, find a secluded spot and do your business. Apologies to all eco-friendly people...I have never developed the knack of burning my own toilet paper...and opt for the scuffing out a dirt hole with my boot, covering and tamping down;
- The other "hole in the ground" eastern-style toilets are a little more difficult. Straddling, balancing, keeping your pants from getting wet...while holding a purse, backpack, toilet paper...not easy;
- Even a regular flush toilet takes some time figuring out if there is a chain to pull, button to push in top of tank, or a handle that pulls UP instead of down to flush.
I thought that we'd seen them all but recently experienced two new toilet-types during our Uganda/Rwanda trip:
Pick a country in Europe...France, Austria, Switzerland or Italy. It's not too early to make reservations for Winter, 2007...and it may be too late. Colorado and Utah have wonderful ski resorts but Europe has most of the biggest ski circuses in the world. You can ski from country-to-country, across borders, during one day. Expensive? The airfare is the most expensive part but there are wonderful fares right now that bring the costs w--a--y-- down. An example: AA Switzerland Air Sale to Zurich from $379! (ends 12/4)
ex-Marine and I are heading to St. Moritz to snowshoe in March (read today's "Better Fitness" article in the Parade edition of your newspaper for more about snowshoeing) and St. Moritz offers "Tophit" packages, ranging from 2 day/2 night-7 day/7 night, including: all lifts, local transportation, hotel with full breakfast. The costs? A Basic hotel will run $514 US, a Deluxe Hotel, $1,300 US. Compare these prices with $546 for a 7-day Aspen/Snowmass lift ticket.
We have noticed four major changes over our 30 years of European Travel.
1. Food - The Portion Sizes. The two of us used to walk away from a meal, starving, because European portions were much smaller than ours. A quarter of a chicken was normal for them, but not for us Americans used to eating a half-chicken, probably raised on steroids. How that has changed! Portions are now Huge with a capital H. Dinner the other night included: soup, salad bar, a dinner plate of Mixed Grill (small steak and pork chop) surrounded with enough French Fries for three people, grilled vegetables and desert! This was a normal, half-pension size meal for 8 Euros! Not that we're complaining and not enjoying every single morsel! Unfortunately, we can eat up to and beyond any amount of calories expended exercising. We admit it - willpower is not in our vocabulary.
A rafting trip can be a perfect solution for a family trip. It met and exceeded my expectations as we watched our grandchildren rise above (and conquer) adversity, inconveniences: being filthy, wasps, cactus, coping with the outdoor "groover" (toilet). They learned new skills, developed new interests and had many unusual experiences: erecting tents and camping in the wilderness, kayaking,...View image... running rapids, ...View image...seeing petroglyphs, map reading, hiking, catching fish, seeing snakes, to name a few.
They learned to pull together - loading and unloading rafts, sharing toothpaste, playing games and finding things to amuse themselves. Yes, they had: no I-Pods, Television, cell phones, Ps2, gameboys, internet, computer games...nothing to do but talk to each other and amuse themselves. What a novel situation! And, most surprisingly, they never complained! I'm sure they hated every minute when the going got tough (and hated me for bringing them) but no one ever whined..."I want to go home." It might have been a different story with parents along.
We piled out of the hotel on our tour bus headed for dinner when Roger asked where Bob was. No one had seen him and Bob hadn't left any message about not joining us for dinner. With that, Roger went back into the hotel to ring his room. To make a three-day story short, they had to break down Bob's hotel room door, and found him unconscious.
Bob spent a week in the Lhasa hospital with both Cerebral and Pulmonary Edema caused by Acute Mountain Sickness (AMS), and then had to be medivac'd by special jet to Singapore once he was stabilized. TRAVEL INSURANCE!
Keep in mind that Bob was in excellent condition. He was a biker, in good health but AMS can strike anyone. There are several important precautions everyone should take to avoid Acute Mountain Sickness:
My first trip to Europe, in 1972, was a good old TWA get-away tour. An "if today's Monday, it must be Paris" trip...and it was great! Paris, London, Amsterdam and Copenhagen in 14 days. My recommendation:
Take a package trip. Yes, you have to cram a lot into a short period of time but rearrange your thinking from, "I'll never have another chance", to "I don't have to see everything...I'll come back again". You can't do it all...I can't do it all. Even with 130+ countries under my belt, there are so many places I'd love to go back to, so many places to still see, and so much I've missed. It's just a fact of life - so deal with it and go!
The comments I hear most often from friends and neighbors is "how can you spend so many hours on planes?" "Why don't you just travel around the U.S.?" "Drive?"
My theory - sooner or later - age and my body won't be able to take those distances. I haven't received any sign from above (or below), that I will live a very long time with intact knees and any kind of memory. I'm hopeful, when the time comes, the ex-Marine will push my wheelchair, carry the supplemental oxygen and bags of medications. Until then, go for it!
Another reason is the cost of flying domestic. My son lives in Oklahoma, and it is rare find a fare for under $350 round trip from Chicago! Right now, you can fly to London, Ireland, Paris and other places for the same Fares!!! No offense, Oklahoma City, but I'd rather fly to Ireland.
