Postcards / Photos

Travel

Another photo post …

Sometimes it isn’t possible to get the shot you want. Or maybe you are so sure you want a particular photo, but what happens if you get home and yours doesn’t come out?

This is where postcards come in. They are inexpensive, and can serve as a great reminder of the sights you’ve seen. You can place these in your photo album along with your own photos, and have a beautiful record of your trip.

Pick a few up along the way, just in case!

Photos

Another thing you don't want to miss in your packing is a camera. After you've done the traveling and have all the wonderful memories, it's nice to have something to hold in your hand to remind you of it, or something to share with others as you tell them your adventures.

Along with your camera, pack plenty of film. You can either choose different film speeds to be able to take a variety of pictures, or else choose one intermediate that will handle different situations relatively well (such as 200-400 speed). Pack extra batteries as well.

Another good idea is to pack at least one or two disposable cameras. Sometimes you may have an activity you'd love to have photos of but don't want to risk (or have to bother keeping up with) your regular camera. Single-use cameras are a great solution!

Stick return address labels to your cameras, both disposable and regular. I also carry extra labels in my camera bag and affix them to each roll of film as I remove it from the camera. This can be helpful if it is lost before you process it, or if the lab loses it during processing.

(Speaking of which, I also used to take a photo on each roll of my address and phone number, close up ... I started doing this when I received someone else's photos in my envelope and was thinking if there had been any way to identify them in this set of photos, I could have returned the photos to them.)

Most of all, don't let photo shooting get in the way of actually ENJOYing yourself!

Save $ on hotels!

There are several ways to save money on hotels.

Of course you should try online. As there are always new sources for unsold rooms at a discount, you really should search. Be aware of their terms though ... some of them charge your credit card at booking and are non-refundable, some charge an extra fee, etc. Read carefully!

Remember that the days can matter as well. Sunday night through Thursday night are usually cheaper than Friday and Saturday.

Also, if you book immediately before you travel, the hotel is more likely to give unsold rooms at a discount. You may need to call the hotel itself instead of booking through the chain's reservation desk for these discounts.

Another great source is the travel magazines that can often be found at McDonald's restuarants or truck stops. They are usually tri-state magazines, and list hotels by area. Very often you can find good discounts on better hotels, or if you need to really save money, you can find bottom-cost hotels advertised in here - often as low as $25 per night with a coupon. Read the terms of the ads carefully to make sure you are booking under their discounts. It's always better to call ahead to the hotel too, to confirm availablility of the discount as they are often limited to a certain number per night.

Sights along the way

If you are taking a road trip, do a little research online before you head out. Check for travel and info pages for the states/areas you are going to be driving through to look for interesting stops on the way.

Be sure to plan a little extra time, and allow for some fun stops. You'll enjoy the trip more, it will be a lot less tedious, and you'll have memories you never planned for.

Have fun!

Must have's - packing

Before setting out, make sure that you have certain essentials with you. Although you always hope for everything to go well, remember that you COULD find yourself in unfortunate circumstances, and it is better to be prepared.

Must-have's depend on you, and on where you are going.

If you are on any medication or supplements that are necessary to keep taking, be sure that you have enough for the period you plan to be traveling, plus an extra few weeks, if possible. Label everything clearly, and store it somewhere other than your purse or suitcase, but out of sight. If your money gets stolen, you don't want to desperately need medication and be unable to see a doctor or buy it. For the same reason, it can be a good idea to keep a copy of your prescriptions with you, or at least the information so the issuing pharmacy/doctor/optometrist, etc. can be contacted.

Speaking of having your money stolen, (which we hope doesn't happen!) divide it up and keep it in separate safe places, so that hopefully you won't lose it all. Better yet, use traveler's checks if possible, and keep the numbers and other information in a separate place. A great place to keep this information safe is in an email to yourself at an account you can check anywhere (like a yahoo or hotmail email account).

If you are traveling through very cold places where temperatures are below freezing, pack blankets and, if possible thermal-backed insulating blankets also, for each person. If you should have car trouble in the freezing cold, you want to be able to stay warm until help arrives.

In the same manner, if you are traveling across a dry, hot, hours-long stretch, make sure you have plenty of water stored. If your car breaks down, you don't want to be out there for hours with nothing to drink.

Think along these lines before you leave, and be prepared ... hopefully you won't need these things, but if you do, you'll be glad you did.