Google Maps is the Best!

For the last 6 months I have been helping my sister plan a trip to Scotland. Since vacation perfection was the goal, I researched everything. My new favorite way to find restaurants, accomodations, and tourist sites is to use Google Maps.

First, I type in something like "bed and breakfasts aberdeen scotland". Then when the google list of sites come up, I choose the map function. Up will come a map of Scotland with a bunch of red dots, some containing letters. At the side of the map will be a list of the lettered dots; addresses, phone numbers, and even some reviews included. If you move the curser over the dots, details of the place will open up in a small window and many include the b&b's website address. You get so much in one place it's fantastic! Google Maps often includes many places that haven't been reviewed on travel sites such as http://www.tripadvisor.com/ so you may find an undiscovered gem you may otherwise have overlooked.

Don't Forget

To avoid some of the hiccups that can happen on a vacation, here's a few things to make sure you do before you leave:

1. If you are taking a train or commuter flight between cities on your trip, check to see the baggage requirements and limits. They often differ from a regular flight. Most times you can pay extra, but often for small planes, they will only allow one bag, no exceptions. This is due to weight restraints. You wouldn't want to have to leave all your souvenir goodies behind, so check first and make arrangements. It may mean taking another form of transport.

2. Call your credit card company and notify them that you will be traveling out of state or out of country. Most will freeze your account to protect you when they see unusual charges. And although the protection is necessary, it can be a pain to reinstall service when you are out of the country.

3. Make sure you have given someone you trust your travel itinerary and any phone numbers, beside cell's (such as your hotel numbers), that they can reach you at in case of emergency back home. If the power goes out at your home for 3 days, things might be spoiled when you get home (happens all the time on the Olympic Pennisula during the winter). The neighbors or a friend can advise you on the situation and help you rectify it before arriving home.

4. Bring appropriate baggage so that you'll have room for anything you plan to bring home. It's cheaper to pay the $35 extra bag fee upfront then needing to buy a new suitcase on the road.

5. If you take perscription medicine, and refill monthly, did you get enough for trip? This can be a bit tricky if your insurance company will only allow a month supply to be issued around the same day each month. Either plan the trip around those dates, or arrange ahead of time with you doctor and insurance to have the medicine you need. This is especially important if you are taking a long trip.

The Perfect Souvenir

When going on your vacation, you want to bring home that special souvenir. The best things to bring home are often those that represent the area you visited, or that the place is known for. In some instances it is obvious: ie.- England is known for beautiful ceramics; Murano, Italy is known for glass. It seems that we may know the wares of far away places better than those closer to home. Did you know that there are some fine glass blowing factories in Kentucky and West Virginia that give tours and sell to the public? In any case, do some research. Then when you arrive at your destination you'll have some ideas of what treasures you hope to find. You can always change your mind if you see some unique item you just have to have, but by having an inkling of what you want, you save precious time. Instead of hunting hours or even days, you can find the store you want, spend a couple hours or less making a choice, and then go back to sight seeing and enjoying local entertainment.
So often the typical souvenir is what is found in "tourist traps", aka: stores that hold cheap touristy items. They can be fun, and if you like that kind of thing, go for it. But although these stores can be easily accessible, they aren't always where the real treasures are found. And be careful, many items have been "made in China" or other places out of the country. Before you leave, look up stores, via the internet, that carry your items. Take the address and directions with you. Also, you may want to step out of the large cities and shop in the small towns and villages for more authentic items and lower prices. For example, when we stayed in Garmisch, Germany, I wanted a wood carving that the area is known for. By going 15 minutes south, the stores were less crowded and the carvings about 20% less, and just as breathtaking. You can also call in advance. Switzerland is known for large, carved bells. My in-laws purchased a custom made bell while living there two years ago. It takes over a month to make the bell. Travelers don't often have the luxury to wait that long, but if you call and order a few months in advance, it will be ready by your vacation. You can take it home with you and save on shipping, and insure it arrives safely.
Another great souvenir idea is to collect similar items each place you go. I don't mean a mug, though that's fine if you enjoy them. I mean something on a bit more personal level. I started collecting paintings and prints from local artists where I go, either of the local landscape, or of something that just catches my eye. You can usually find them in the tourist areas, or again, plan ahead and go when there is an art fair scheduled.
And if you see something you just love, no matter what it is...GET IT! Don't wait for something better at the next place or worry about spending $20 more than planned. It's worth it to get your treasure. You may not get back and it will bug you when you get home. Having the phrase "If only I had got it," repeating in your head, is not worth saving a few bucks.
Here's to the perfect trip treasure!

Ride A Bike

My friend Suzie goes to Paris almost every summer. She swears the best way to see this amazing city is by bike. After visiting Paris last year, I saw her point. The traffic is crazy, the roads are in no discernible pattern, and parking is expensive. A bike allows you to see the area at a slower pace and without the hassles of a car.
This is true for many travel destinations. When I was in Bavaria, I wished I had the time to bike through the hills. Here traffic is heavy in the tourist towns; between them, the streets are sparsely traveled, in great condition, and have a country feel. I live a few hours from Moab, and biking takes on a different take there. It's not just for a leisurely tour but for a physical challenge. So whatever your purpose for travel, consider renting a bike.
Most cities and tourist sites have travel brochures you can request by website or phone, which will include local bike rental information.

Here are a few websites to get you started:
1. http://www.en.velib.paris.fr/comment_ca_marche - Velib is an ingenious idea. You subscribe to this rental system for 1 day, 7 days, or more and then have access to bikes that are parked literally all over the city. The first 30 minutes are free. There are details on this site. I saw these bikes when I was in Paris, but didn't know how it worked and missed out. Wish I had known before I went. Why walk the 20 minutes from the hotel to the museum, when you can bike for free! (This site http://europeforvisitors.com/paris/articles/paris-bike-rentals.htm has details about this bike program as well.)
2. http://www.zioncycles.com/ - See a breathtaking national park, Zion National Park, at a pace to enjoy the details.
3. http://www.bikerentalsplus.com/index.php?id=49 - This company was started by an American family over 30 years ago and has expanded to Europe. When I was in the Loire Valley in France, I saw many bicyclers and wished I had the time to join them because this area is a GEM. Bike Rentals rents on a daily basis at several locations in France, as well as Italy and Costa Rica. They also do tours. Check it out.
4. http://www.detours-in-france.com/bourg-rando.php

Websites for Accomodations

At times, your lodging can make or break a vacation. I really enjoy staying in Bed and Breakfasts over hotels. They have a more personal touch and you can meet some great people from the area you are visiting; and out of the country, they are often cheaper than hotels.
A top-notch hotel, at a great price, can also be wonderful. The trick is finding the right place. Following this entry, I have listed two very helpful travel sites that rate and review accomodations. Here are some specific websites that can aid in the search for the perfect place to lay your head.

http://www.bedandbreakfast.com/
- This site has the most comprehensive selection of B&B's around the world
http://www.bedandbreakfastnationwide.com/ - England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales
http://www.hotels-paris.fr/en/ - Hotels all around Paris, many that are small and not the normal chains
http://www.visitfrance.co.uk/ - Lists hotels, apartments, Bed and Breakfasts, and Holiday homes available in France, along with photos, arranged by area

(If you are going to be in a place for more than 4 days, consider a holiday house. They are amazingly affordable and you usually get the entire home to yourselves, with all you would need for day to day life.)

Conde' Nast Traveler magazine, Nov. 2008 issue, has an informative article about B&B in large cities in the USA, "Big-City B&B's". Included in the article are helpful tips on choosing and using B&B's, as well as descriptions of a few Bed & Breakfasts in a few metropolis areas.

virtualtourist.com

This is a travel site where people from around the world give personal travel tips of their homeland and the places they have visited. You can find recommendations for hotels, restaurants, places to see (even those that only locals know), and find out dangers to be aware of and to avoid. You do not have to be a member, but if you are you can email and receive email from other members around the world and ask for tips on specific towns, areas, etc. It's hit or miss to get a reply. Before our trip to Europe I received several emails from a great guy in southern France, as well as a reply from a gal in Switzerland about where to find great fondue. However, some emails remained unanswered. It all depends on how often a member checks their email. www.VirtualTourist.com

TripAdvisor.com

This is a GREAT travel website! People from all over the world have added information about hotels, bed and breakfasts, places of interest, etc. There are also reviews from "real" people for just about everything: ie. restaurants, hotels, etc. Often you can even log onto websites for the hotel, etc. from http://www.tripadvisor.com/ . I like to research hotels in an area and then go to this site and see what the reviews are on the place. I trust these reviews more than I trust reviews and descriptions given on the hotel site. You don't have to be a member to access the information. If you choose to be a site member, you get periodic emails highlighting areas and travel information. There's no fee. Check this site out! You'll love it too!

Example of Review: subject: Neuschwanstein
What Our Users Are Saying Results 1 - 10 of 1,492 for neuschwanstein
Review: Wellvital Hotel Ruebezahl, Schwangau
Great place near Neuschwanstein October 16, 2005 Pesca7, Denver, Colorado ... Had a great view of Neuschwanstein and Hohenschwanstein ... ... was great with lavish table settings and fresh flowers. Staff was attentive and pleasant. The hotel arranged our tickets for viewing the Neuschwanstein castle