Travel Tips - 50 Of The Best To Save Your Holiday (Part 2)

Whether your travelling half way around the world or simply getting on a plane or a train for a few hours, there are a number of things that you may kick yourself for not remembering - such as renewing your passport or bringing your toothbrush.

Here we have a huge list of 28 travel tips, and the other 22 can be found by clicking the link at the bottom of the page.

• If you're new to a city, the best way to get your bearings is to take a guided walking tour. That way, you won't spend every waking moment with your nose in a guidebook, worried about getting lost.
  
  
• If you're travelling through the United States, remember the normal tip is 15 per cent. So, for a $20 bill, tip $3.
  
  
• Tipping is part of the State's culture as the minimum wage is very low, and although not compulsory, trying to avoid it can lead to embarrassment, confrontation and sometimes even humiliation.
  
  
• It's great to go on a carefree holiday. But if you want to line up a working holiday, it's best to read up on all the latest working holiday books, many of which can be found here.
  
  
• Travel With Children, by Maureen Wheeler, (one of Lonely Planet's founders) is <!--#include virtual="/include/links.htm" -->essential reading for those travelling with little ones. It's published by Lonely Planet, and can help prevent kid catastrophes that will otherwise drive you crazy and wreck the holiday. Click here for more details on the book.
  
  
• In the United States, a perfect way to drive vast distances is through the Driveaway program. Basically, you drive a car across the country and deliver it to its owner and you pay the petrol costs. Look in the American Yellow Pages under "Automobile Transporters".
  
  
• Trekking from sea level to high altitudes sounds one of the great human challenges. But take it easy. Give your body time to adjust to the thinning air and make sure to carry adequate drinking water.
  
  
• When planning a holiday to the American south, keep in mind that hurricanes sometimes hit the Gulf of Mexico from June to November, which can really ruins those idyllic days by the beach…
  
  
• Want to know where you came from? If you are heading to Ireland and want to trace your family tree, tap into this website, called Irish Roots. And no, it's not a brothel...
  
  
• Eurail passes give you unlimited travel on Europe's rail network in 17 Western countries of Europe. As an example, 15 Days of consecutive travel for an adult costs $A554. Eurail passes are available as consecutive day passes or flexipasses and can even be purchased online - click here or perhaps here for the Eurail website.
  
  
• To book tickets to shows and events overseas. For example, you might like to buy packages to see Hairspray The Musical in New York, Moulin Rouge in Paris or Pure Flamenco at "Corral de la Moreria" in Madrid.
  
  
• Before you go on any travel experience, shop around for a knowledgeable travel agent. It can make all the difference as to whether you holiday is a hit or a nightmare.
  
  
• If you're travelling vast distances, include a stopover trip to reduce jetlag. For example, break up a trip to Europe with a night or two in Hong Kong or Bangkok.
  
  
• When buying a guidebook, make sure it is current. Check out the date it was published. There's nothing worse than arriving at must-see location only to find that it was demolished and turned into a KFC two-and-a-half years ago.
  
  
• Double-check your itinerary before you leave. Even after you've been through it with your travel agent, make sure you have all the necessary entrance visas. Double check with embassies to be sure.
  
  
• If the worst happens and you are the victim of theft, go straight to the police station and file a police report. This is necessary to obtain a new passport and to make an insurance claim.
  
  
• Check the date when your passport expires. Make sure your passport is valid for at least six months after the time you intend to travel overseas. Chasing up a new one at the Embassy in a strange country can be a character-building experience.
  
  
• If you're arriving at your destination at night, pack your pyjamas on the top so you don't need to turn your luggage inside out to find it.
  
  
• Beware of scams. Whilst it's great to be open-minded, the reality is that you need to be on guard when strangers approach you and strike up conversation. One scam includes the hustler bumping into to you, pushing an icecream on your shirt and in the following mayhem, nicking your wallet.
  
  
• When it comes to activating your credit card at automatic teller machines, look for the Maestro and Cirrus signs. These two brands can, theoretically, accept your visa card worldwide. Check with your bank before you leave home.
  
  
• Check out what the weather will be like in the countries you plan to visit before committing to an itinerary. Sightseeing in sweltering heat is no picnic. Likewise, remember that travelling in winter will mean shorter days and less daylight to see the sights (but more time for partying!).
  
  
• If buying/renting a campervan or an RV, remember that it may be difficult to manoeuvre it down narrow country lanes in places such as England. Also, you need to be a good navigator and have nerves of steel to negotiate your way through the traffic snarls of Europe.
  
  
• For the ultimate in drop dead gorgeous accommodation, dip into The Small Luxury Hotels of the World 2000 Directory. Even if you can't afford a night in the properties mentioned, it's fun to see how the other half go on holiday. Fairytale French chateaus, Indian palaces, English Manors to Austrian chalets are all mentioned. Key in www.slh.com.
  
  
• A good way to find out the feel of a place is to read a novel or see a film set in the area before you go. A Woody Allen film for an insight into Manhattan, for example, or a Dickens novel when you're heading for London. Much more fun than plodding through countless guidebooks from cover to cover. Yawn-o!
  
  
• Don't walk down deserted streets or in parks late at night. If you do get mugged, don't be argumentative. Give the mugger what they want and don't make any sudden movements. Your life is priceless, your wallet can be replaced.
  
  
• Before you take a taxi anywhere, work out the shortest route. This will avoid the problem of sitting in the back as the meter clicks away, being given the long 'scenic route' by a shrewd cabbie.
  
  
• Don't tackle 27 vodka cocktails in a public place such as a bar and then walk/stagger back to your hotel alone late at night. You're asking for trouble.
  
  
• The homesick blues can strike even the hardiest of us. To stay in touch with folks back home, set up a free email account at Hotmail, Yahoo or Google's Gmail.
  
  
• The world is out there for everybody to discover and enjoy. Information for travellers with disabilities can be found at Independent Travellers, 167 Gilles St, Adelaide. Tel: (08) 8232 2555.