There’s something almost magical about being aboard a bus on a long road trip, something that can’t be matched by air travel at thirty thousand feet. Sure, riding in a plane will take to your destination in less time, but also gone will be the many pleasures that come with seeing the gorgeous countryside scenery by way of bus-line. Imagine all the quaint and historical villages that could be yours for the viewing.

When traveling over long distances, bus lines will always be a viable option, and they can offer quite a fun time if you understand and avoid the possible quirks along the way. When hearing of riding by bus you might conjure up memories of old, beat up smoke traps busting out of nondescript villages, but these are no longer the buses of today.

These days you can ride in style, in the lap of luxury, in buses that can be said to be almost as good if not better than the first class section of the best airlines. With blankets for each seat, the ability to recline in various positions, lights above you for reading, as well as your own personal climate control system, you are in control of every comfort and convenience. On a few of these bus lines you can hook up to the internet, and stay connected from point of departure to destination.

Comfort is not the issue it once was. In fact you can be downright cozy as you travel through the countryside over long distances. There are just a few things you need to be certain of to make your ride as comfortable and easy as possible.

Remember that your bus is not the only bus traveling on those same roads. Because of new laws regarding free trade, you can choose from more than one company for your trip. This means that you should take some time researching the available bus lines at your disposal before you deciding on one.

While comparing bus lines, consider the size of the seats, any luggage restrictions, fare amount, how many places the  bus will stop along the way and trip duration. Another thing to keep in mind are the discounts that some bus companies offer to those travelers making advanced reservations.

As with the airlines, bus service companies these days would like travelers to arrive at the bus terminal early, anywhere from half an hour to sixty minutes early, in order to check in. Buses won’t sit around waiting for late passengers, whether at the point of departure or any stop along the way, so make sure you’re on the bus and ready to go when the bus is. Don’t carry a suitcase that’s too large to fit in the overhead compartment, and whatever size baggage you do put above, make sure that it won’t fall from the compartment once the bus starts to roll.

As to your seat selection, you’ll want to sit in a convenient place. This means that if you are a frequent potty break passenger, or one who can’t stay in your seat for too long, then an aisle seat will provide the comfort and freedom you need.

If you can hold off on your restroom visits for a while and don’t mind staying put, then pick a seat next to a window, or you’ll find yourself getting up and down for the person next to you who is the frequent traveler within the bus. If you intend to relax and recline, then the back row of seats will not be for you, and if you want to spend time at night reading, then the front row of seats will not be for you. And you might want to stay a little bit away from the location of the toilet, to avoid any unwanted situations that a close proximity might bring to you, if you know what I mean. (read more…)

It isn’t too difficult to locate a decent car rental company when you’re traveling in another country. Most rental companies can be found in popular tourist spots around the world. But consider this question: As a tourist in the area, will YOU be able to drive legally there?

If you’re thinking about driving in another country for either business or pleasure, then you’ll want to take the time to learn the driving do’s and don’ts of those particular countries. Those rules are readily available by glancing at any one of the numerous travel books available today. Don’t sidestep this important advice. One key piece of information to verify is whether the country your visiting will let you drive using just your own government issued driver’s license.

Typically most visitors are permitted one to three months of penalty free driving after the initial day of arrival into the country. Obviously this would based on physical possession of a valid drivers license of your country of origin. There are a few countries where you’ll need to you get what is called an International Driving Permit first, before you can get behind the wheel. You can pick up this permit either at home before you travel, or upon arriving at your destination.

You’ll next want to familiarize yourself with the local traffic laws as well as the roadway conditions and similar items about your destination. You’ll likely want to avoid maneuvering through and around any streets littered by massive potholes, and you’ll likewise want to avoid ruining your vacation by being penalized for any traffic law violations. In countries where you’ll be driving on the opposite lane (from the one you’re used to), try driving a bit slower until you feel comfortable driving in this different manner.

Before arriving at your destination, be certain that you’ve spent enough time researching all the car rental companies available to you. You’ll want to know ahead of time what it’ll cost you, what cars will be available for rental, and any regulations or laws required by these service companies. Doing this will allow you to find the kind of car you need without costing you a great deal. If you haven’t planned ahead, simply stop at one of the various car rental stops when you step off the plane, but do so knowing that the price will be higher.

You can typically get insurance on a rental car at most places, for no extra cost, but you will need to review the policy closely before driving off. If the coverage detailed in the policy isn’t to your liking, then feel free to decline what the service offers you and elect to carry your own.

You’ll want to also have a way to reach the car rental service, should you need to reach out to them at any time. If you find yourself in trouble on the road, either by becoming involved in a crash or having trouble with the car’s engine, don’t wait before calling the car rental company.

You’ll also need to have with you at all times either a traditional folding map of the area you are driving through, or at best a working GPS unit. Either of these will make going along unfamiliar roads easier, as well as being able to direct you to all of the places of interest that tourists long to see.

If your habit of good driving served you well at home, then be sure to make it serve you triply as well in other countries. Just because you are driving in another country doesn’t mean the rules that kept you safe at home won’t be applicable in your tourist destination. Everything from keeping your doors locked as you drive to ignoring hitchhikers’ requests to be picked up must be followed just as if you were home. (read more…)

Traveling without any check-in luggage is a lot easier than traveling without any carry-on luggage. Nowadays even the airlines urge travelers to have only one carry-on item and nothing else.

This makes your time spent at each airport shorter, and also it’ll greatly lower the possibility of losing your luggage. But because of increased security measures, there are limitations to you can bring on your flight. It would be a good idea to familiarize yourself with the do’s and don’ts of your carry-on baggage, thereby removing any kinks on your trip.

The number of carry-on baggage pieces that you can bring will vary depending on which airline you’re traveling aboard. You’ll want to find out from the airline, and while you’re checking on quantity, check on both the limits of weight and size for each item too. You’ll also want to go over the limitations set by the airlines, or you may end up needing to check your baggage in at the gate. In addition to your carry-on items, there are some airlines that will also let you carry on a laptop, an umbrella, and books. During your check in at the airport, ask your airline about these so you won’t have to worry about cramming these into one carry-on bag.

You won’t be able to carry on anything that can catch fire or that is considered a danger, no matter what airline you’re traveling with. Anything that can be considered even remotely dangerous to the safety or health of the other passengers or to the airline’ efforts to keep the plane safe, will be prohibited from being carried aboard. These are items such as containers whose contents are under pressure, items that are infectious, magnetic, radioactive, contain poison or corrosive materials, gases and explosives and anything else that falls under this criteria.

They even go so far as to ban items that replicate flammable items and explosive devices. Pepper spray is another thing that is forbidden in flight.

Items that most people have problems with are aerosols, gels and liquids. It isn’t that they can’t be brought on board, but travelers must be cautious of the size or quantity of what they are bringing on-board the plane. More than 100 ml, or 3 ounces will no be allowed, and all these should fit inside a one 1-quartz plastic bag. That is all you will be allowed. Keep in mind the 3-1-1 rule and you won’t get confused or forget.

Another important detail that trips up travelers is to think of the limited liquid rule as just pertaining to water and toiletries. Did you know that items such as jellies and jams, syrups and sauces all fall under this rule? Even snow globes and other similar gifts must comply with this rule.

Now, there are some exceptions to this liquid law. Formula for babies in all their forms from bottled milk (including breast milk), to baby food, are not a problem. So are prescription medications that are either aerosol, gel or liquid in form.

It’s a good idea for travelers to pack a smaller bag that can be folded and put in your carry-on baggage. Because of weight limitations and limitations to the number of carry-on baggage pieces, you might be asked to check your carry-on.

Should you get caught in this position, it would be no trouble to open up and take out all of the items of a personal nature, from documents to toiletries, prescriptions and other important things, place them in this backup bag, check in the rest and head onto your flight. (read more…)

It’s true that a significant amount of most travelers’ money is spent on dining. While eating great food is something everyone looks forward to, when traveling eating great is not something that can  always be afforded. Yet, we don’t necessarily have to go hungry by trying to scrimp on the food budget. There are ways to eat cheaply but good, if you follow these tips.

Most hotels offer a free breakfast provided guests staying there. Of course, it isn’t really free, since you have to pay to be a guest of the hotel. But it is something that can help your food budget. Eat as much as you can before beginning your sightseeing and daily excursions. Keep in mind that many hotels have a time limit on their free breakfast. Wake up in time so you don’t miss it. Your breakfast money will be better spent on other things.

Lunchtime is usually less expensive than dinnertime. If you want to eat grand, then lunch is your best bet. Afterwards you’ll have a little more for a nice dinner.

At dinnertime and when dining in a restaurant, consider forgoing the drinks. They can run as high as three times the cost of buying them retail. Another option is bringing your own bottled water into the restaurant, particularly if the place you’re visiting has warnings about their drinking water. A great tip is to go into a local supermarket and buy up a lot of their bottled water. You’d be amazed at how much money you’d save by doing that. As you go about being a tourist have a couple of those bottles of water with you; you’ll discover that buying locally on the street or in a convenience store can cause sticker shock.

You probably wouldn’t want to choose restaurants near popular places of interests for tourists. They have high prices. Go where the local people hang out and dine. It is amazing just how different the prices are between the tourist eateries and the local eateries. Ethnic neighborhoods are another great place to eat as they price their food to fit the local’s budget not the tourists. On top of this, ethnic foods in these areas are delicious.

Have snacks with you when you travel. Trail mix, granola bars and chocolate bars are great for curbing appetites. Fruit from local grocery stores don’t cost a lot and are another great appetite suppressant for the road. Having a light snack in between larger meals like lunch and dinner will help keep your wallet happy when you sit down to eat.

Having a portable heating device can also save you a ton of cash. Coffee, tea or cocoa can readily be made in your room at the hotel. You can also go the route of instant meals like oatmeal and noodles using hot water with your nifty heater.

Low cost dining can keep more money in your wallet for the more memorable expenditures of your travels, such as day spas, souvenirs from the locals or even a great night out. By being smart with your money you’ll see just how much your budget can last. Practice these tips on your next journey, and you might even have enough left over to take yet another memorable vacation. (read more…)

Often when traveling abroad you might find yourself in a tough spot; your language isn’t spoken much nor do the locals understand it. When this happens, getting the most basic of necessities can be challenging.

Your speech may likely gravitate towards the broken down, syllabic or even an enunciation of the most fundamental English words with obligatory gestures, flailing hands and arms in a feeble attempt to communicate. Of course, that won’t necessarily mean that your point will be made, but it might get the locals assuming the exact opposite of what you originally intended your messages to mean. Avoid these and other complicated and sticky situations; learn some of the local language and survive.

As with most international travelers, you might be hard pressed to find the time to learn even the basics of a new language. However, learning full sentences or even fragments might not be necessary. Getting by with a few simple words is usually enough to get the locals to understand your message. The key is to find a way to pinpoint the right words to communicate effectively.

For example, at times you might need to use the restroom. And you might find that the local toilets are not in the places you’d expect, so you’ll definitely need to learn what the local word for restroom is. It might be that you’ll have to learn to pantomime the movements for going to the restroom in order to get your point across. But learning the the actual word would save you the embarrassment.

Stop is another useful word to learn, especially if you’re planning to use the local transport services. You might have your own local bus system down pat, but the bus systems where you’re traveling might not work the same way. Gesturing the word stop might be easier that it sounds. Worst case scenario, your gestures might be misconstrued as drunkenness or disrupting and the police might get involved.

You’ll want to become familiar with the names of the local cuisine. This author once knew someone traveling throughout southern Asia. He was not a pork eater, despising the thought of it. As he was dining in a restaurant, he reminded the waiter that he didn’t want pork. Upon thinking about the order, the waiter asked “Moo?” Naturally the pork abstaining friend agreed. Unfortunately my friend was in Thailand, where the word “moo” means “pork.”

The two most important words to add to your list to learn are “yes” and “no.” Sure you can get by with a shake or a nod, but you’ll only get so far with those gestures. For example, someone may ask you questions requiring a “yes” or a “no” response. But if you’re needing to be specific in communicating whether or not you want something, like in the restaurant example above, then you’ll avoid the confusion and heartache of not communicating clearly even with these basic words.

There is no greater way to immerse yourself in another country’s culture than through their locals. By learning words like “hello”, “excuse me” and “thank you”, you’ll win their hearts and minds. Polite and courteous people always make friends no matter where they go or where they’re from. Take the time to learn as many local words as possible. Your journey will be much more easy going and could quite possibly keep you out of trouble at the same time. (read more…)