Escaping the Cold: Overseas Travel Tips
by Evelyn J. Mocbeichel
Be prepared and organized for overseas travel can make all the difference in the world, when it comes to how pleasurable your trip will be. Booking your flight and packing suitcases are the easy parts of the trip, but taking care of the small details will make the whole journey go more smoothly. Having recently returned from a trip to Europe, many of the practices that I made note to do, were helpful and avoided any problems along the way.
International travel necessitates carrying tickets and passports through every flight connection along the way. It was a nuisance searching for our passports, as they slipped among the crevices of my oversized purse. A few years ago, I found a solution that eliminated this problem. I purchased a zippered, wallet that is made specifically as a passport holder. Two side pockets hold extra papers, which can be used for important papers or other identification proof. We use this space to hold extra currency and for addresses and telephone numbers of people we are visiting. Now when I put my hand inside of the tote bag, this thicker wallet is easier to locate when it needs to be inspected by customs authorities.
When I carry a pocketbook during our travel, I put it inside of a larger, canvas tote bag. This way it does not look like a purse, but rather a duffle or tote bag. The many compartments of the tote bag allow me to pack several necessary items on board that will not fit inside my pocketbook. My camera, extra eyeglasses, travel itinerary, important phone numbers, gum, mints, toothbrush, a small calculator and medicines can fit nicely in this canvas tote. Speaking of medicines, never pack your medicines in your luggage. If your luggage is lost in a foreign country with your prescription medicine inside, this might be a problem that starts your trip off on the wrong foot. One woman on our flight had one of her suitcases not arrive on our flight due to her close connect time. She had a terrible problem because she had packed her insulin inside the other case and now she was taking a connect flight without the other bag. The airline promised to deliver her luggage to the next destination when it was located, but that might take a day or two. She should have made sure to pack this vital medicine in her pocketbook or carryon luggage. We even carry aspirin with us in case a headache occurs and we need to take this medication before we are in contact with our luggage again.
Going through customs is also another area that needs special attention. It entails a bit of a necessary delay now with all the security that takes place at the airports. We do not mind this delay, because it is for every passenger's safety, but going through the line in a shorter amount of time is less hectic. Now when we travel overseas, we make sure to wear slip on shoes, rather than those than ones with shoelaces. They are also easier to slip on and off during flight, when we want to be comfortable while sitting for the long seven or eight hour flight. I make sure to pack an old pair of slip on "booties" or socks in a plastic bag that I put on over my regular socks while in flight. My feet stay warmer and do not touch the floor. Upon landing, I remove the outer layer of socks and put them back in the plastic bag, either disposing of them or washing them at our destination for the return flight home.
Many years ago, passengers traveled in their best clothing and treated a trip as a special occasion. My honeymoon photos confirm this old tradition as I was in a suit, high heels, nice jewelry and makeup. Now the key word for overseas flights is "comfort". Travelers will enjoy the flight more if they wear loose fitting clothing that allows them to stretch out, curl up and get into a sleeping position for extended hours on board a plane. Elastic waistbands on loose fitting slacks are preferable to tight, buttoned pants. Pull over sweaters, with a layer underneath also works well for the change of temperature onboard. Often those small airline blankets just do not work well for the cold, air conditioning most passengers find during their flight.
The last bit of information that we found useful during our travels pertains to money. When you need foreign currency, it is a good idea to have some with you at the time of arrival. Banks here in the United States will exchange American dollars for the money you will need for your foreign destination. There is a fee for an exchange service. In some circumstances, you will receive a better exchange rate when you change your dollars in the country you are visiting. Be sure to check the exchange rate before you leave home so you know the rate. This information can be found at banks, via the computer or in some GPS programs. Airport rates are not always the best, but may be necessary to convert some dollars until you reach a bank in the country you are visiting. Keep in mind what day you will be arriving in that country. If you come in on the weekend, most banks overseas are closed and do not have Saturday hours, as many of our American banks now have. On this same note, many European stores do not stay open as late as the ones here in America, nor are they open late on Saturday. Usually they are closed on Sunday. Therefore, if there is anything you urgently need, buy it when you know the stores are still open.
Coming into a country with enough of their currency should hold you over the weekend until you could reach a bank during weekday operation. Credit cards are accepted, but not in taxicabs, small restaurants or for tipping, so having some foreign currency will certainly make the start of your trip a little bit easier.
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