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!