So people ask us “how do you prepare for your big trips?”. Well, almost a year in advance really. If you don’t want to get disappointed, frustrated and sick, then you’ve got to do some planning.

The first thing is of course the research. What is it you really want to see and what’s the best time of year to see it? Once you’ve decided on that, then it’s time to look at hotels and flights.

Should you use  travel agent or the internet?

We use both actually. There are flights that honestly do not come up on the internet for the price that you want. You can find it on Expedia or directly through the airline but when you have multiple stops (like we have), the price isn’t right. A travel agent have access to  consolidator that allows them to select those flights that you ogle. For example, on our trip to Hong Kong with a stopover and then a flight to Bali a few days later, doing those one way or multiple flights on Expedia didn’t get us the prices we were looking for or even the best times. The travel agent was able to get us the right flights and we saved a few hundred dollars along the way.

Now if it’s just a simple return flight from one destination then I always book directly with the airline as the travel agent will charge you a standard fee (approximately $25-50 per person).

Hotels or Airnbn?

We’ve used both. It depends where you want to stay and how much you want to pay. For example, on a trip to Amsterdam we wanted to be front and centre but didn’t want to pay for it. Airbnb got us a houseboat (yes, right on the canal) right in the centre of everything for a fraction of what we would pay at a hotel.

Another go to site is Homeaway.com. We’ve reserved lots of condos through the site and always to satisfaction.

What do you pack for a long trip?

Ok. The worrywart in the family (I.e. Danielle) likes to be prepared so everything first aid is on the list especially when going to areas like Africa or Indonesia or South America. You don’t want try and find a pharmacy or a doctor for minor issues. Being prepared with the proper supplies means you just reach into your bag for that Imodium or salt tablet! Getting a cold? Got the Fishermans friend and Tylenol cold. Swimmers ear from too much snorkeling or diving? Got the Polysporin! Blisters from too much walking? Put that moleskin or Band-Aid on!

Chris likes to pack for survival so a multi-tool to fix anything that breaks (or open that bottle of wine) and a flashlight handy for where we stay in case of emergency.

Just make sure you pack your first aid kit and multi-tool and not put in your carry on but in your check-in luggage. God help you if they happen to find a safety pin for that stretch bandage!

We pack and repack clothes several times. Do you really need 4 pairs of shorts and 10 dresses? If you are going more than 2 weeks then just pack for 2 weeks. Plan on doing laundry at the condo, hotel or cruise. You just can’t bring enough to last you 30 days or more. Your flight luggage restriction will cost you mighty if you exceed the weight or bring more luggage than allowed. And for the record, it’s better to pay for an extra suitcase than overweight.

That was a hard lesson learned in Venice when one suitcase was overweight and we ended up paying 150 Euros for it! It would have been cheaper to buy a cheap luggage at the airport and pay the extra 30Euros for it!

Insurance

Highly recommend that you buy some out of country medical insurance. If your employer’s medical plan doesn’t cover you or your significant other, you can check out AAA or CAA which have great rates for year long multi-trips which you can also top up with more days for longer trips.

What to leave behind

Ok, so this may be a bit of a downer talking about this but crap happens.

It’s a good idea to leave your itinerary and contact info with your beloved family (who will no doubt give you the stink eye as they are left behind). But things happen at the house and with family.

More downer stuff here…

Also give them your lawyer’s name for your will and your insurance info in case you are incapacitated so they can call your insurance on your behalf. If you only carry it with you, who’s going to know that you have it?

Leave that Rolex and diamond earrings in the jewelry box. A) you’ll attract too much attention for the wrong reasons B) the customs folks on your way back in the country may want you pay duties for it unless you have proof that you’ve bought it back home and not abroad.

And lastly…

Don’t forget your passport and keep a copy of it (scan on your phone)! It makes it way easier to replace and many duty free stores will accept the scanned proof that you’re not a native when buying those nice expensive earrings or watch. Keep a copy of your credit card and the back of them so if they are lost or stolen you have the number to call and the card number.

A few tips we hope will serve you well.

Cheers!