Travel Essentials Stuff

The Grand Tour was a 17th to 19th century trip undertaken by the wealthy mainly European gentlemen through Europe with must see destinations. In many ways this was the start of adventure travel as we know it, and in the 1870’s Thomas Cook made the “Cooks Tour” which brought adventure travel to a wider (but still elite and wealthy) audience.

The Grand Tour was often based around antiquities and renaissance, the modern equivalent being the “Bucket List” - not such a charming equivalent. The must see sites and “wonders of the world” also mimic The Grand Tour.

The Grand Tour, included places like The alps, Rome, Florence, Naples, Pompeii, Turin, Milan, Siena, Bologna, Tivoli some even concluding at a Venetian masked ball. It was the posh version of the gap year. Some even went as far afield as Egypt and The Holy land.

Touristware and souvenirs also has some of its origins here with replicas of classic buildings such as the acropolis and classic statues being purchased on tour, as were some of the antiquities we now find in museums around the world.

*It wasn’t until the mid 1900’s that travel for the masses really became available, and of course for some it still isn’t and is seen as an elite past time for the comparative wealthy countries.

We all have our little routines and rituals, ours was a smoked salmon meal at the airport before we flew, together with a glass of white wine - regardless of the time of day, now its more likely to be a cup of tea and sausage sandwich. We still have the same routines for time frames and use a count back approach. Starting with boarding and working backwards.

Airports have a rhythm all of their own, and you can’t buck the system, rushing rairly makes it any quicker. If you are in trouble speak to an airline official, sometimes they will help, sometimes they can’t. If you find yourself getting angry at their intransigence - walk away, giving them a mouthful won’t help and you may end up in trouble, and it’s usually a bad idea to cause trouble in a CCTV ladened airport with machine gun toting police. They are right - you are wrong - end of.

This is how we plan it (It is in reverse - if you scroll to the bottom you can do it in chronological order)

Flight Time

Make your way to the desk - passport - boarding card and to your seat. If someone else is sitting in it, check you have the right seat first, then politely ask them to move. If this doesn't sort it out wait for the airline steward / stewardess to sort it. Sometimes they may have sold your seat twice. It usually gets resolved. In the USA we have have found it was not uncommon in the past for airlines to go around with a fist full of dollars to bribe people to get off! We’ve also ended up being “upgraded” to business or even 1st class if you hold your ground. :-)

Boarding Time

There is lots of flexibility here as they for obvious reasons want to corral you early, so don’t feel you have to sprint at the first opportunity, but don’t be stupid and order another beer either. Go to the loo, wash your hands and make your way there.

Time for a cup of tea

Time for a quick browse / currency and last minuet purchases. Time to relax, shop, buy some bits and bobs. Keep an eye on the time and try to sit near a time board. If all has gone to plan you should have between an hour and an hour and a half.

Allow time to get through security and passport control.

Try to avoid times when everyone else is travelling - school holidays etc. You know the drill. Be organised, keep an eye on your kit. Don’t rush. Stay in control.Fluids (although there is talk this is to be repealed) electronics, coats off, etc etc. it’s a phaff but it is there to keep everyone safe. Better to miss a flight than getting blown up! This can take anywhere between 20 minuets and more than an hour.

Check in time

Allow time to get to airport from the car park. When you book parking decide how mission critical it is to have 30 min or 15 or 5 minuet transit times. Book and plan accordingly. We try to go 15-20 mins between buses. Make sure you check terminal and get off at the right one. Find the inevitable queue for the bag drop / check in (but best to do it electrnically if you can). We usually also print a paper boarding pass (sometimes you can get a signal on your phone and then you are stuffed), and the paper pass makes a great souvenir as well.

Time to park

Last minuet check for everything - make a note of the where the car is, mobile photo of it and signage and write zonw, row and number / bus stop on the parking ticket, (a lot are now going fully automated so no tickets) put ticket securely in bag, along with car keys and secure. Double check car, even if it means missing first bus, lights, locked. Make sure you have backpack or cabin bag, main bag, and hand bag or whatever crap you are taking.

Time to drive

Work out slowest route and speed limit times, allow plus 30 minutes for delays (even at 4am) or a flat tyre, having to de ice the car, That extra 30 mins has saved us on numerous occasions.

Allow 15 minuets to park and 15 for the bus, plus 1 hour to transit the airport system, bags, security etc.

Allow in general* at least 3 hours for international flights before you are due to fly, to be in the terminal building. Don’t be in the group panicking because you were late. If it happens find an official explain and they may try get you to the front. Stay calm and polite.

*internal flights 2 hours is normal, and smaller regional flights 1 hour to 15 minuets may be the norm.

3rd Alarm

Check house - set burglar alarm, CCTV - check parameter, windows and doors, close blinds, doors and whatever you do, secure and LEAVE promptly. Double check final exit door so you don’t panic later!

Second Alarm

Time to dress and load car with all your prepacked bags. Check tyres car start. If flat then you still have time to deal with it - don’t panic - deal with it.

Alarm Time - you are now on countdown!

Time to get up - wash, brush teeth - last minuet check everything passport - tickets etc. Get up now -do not snooze, close you eyes or lay on the bed, not even for a moment. Turn lights on, splash water on your face - make coffee - it is go time. It may (and usually is early)

The night before

Set the alarm on your phone and an alarm 30 minuets later. Set a separate alarm in-between this. You now have 3 chances to wake up. If you can (and we do) set an alarm in your head for ten minuets before the first alarm. First alarm - get up and start action - coffee - wash whatever you do - you are now on countdown T minus 30 minuets. Water plants.

Check In

On line as soon as you can, check with your airline. Often 48 hours before. re-check airline rules / country rules. some are 24 or 22 hours - it varies airline to airline. Print out paper boarding pass copy - in case of technology failure.

The Weekend before

Pack - in rough order you will need it. Pack your hand / man bag.with credit cards, passport etc. Fuel the car, check the tyres - anything that might stop you getting there. Weigh bags and try to hit a 2 -3 kg underweight bag target. Heavy stuff can go in backpack or hand bag if needed. Weigh everything - except yourself - unless it is a flight where you are also weighted / limited - in which case do this 3 months before so you can loose weight in case you need to be a weight limit. Some remote flights weigh you personally or you have to be below 99KG for parachutes etc, if for example you are flying an arobatic or fighter type aircraft.

The Week before

Check what you want is washed - ironed or whatever you do. Get everything out and make a mess - lay it all out - and then start to ditch. take half the clothing and twice the cash! There should be nothing to check or do other than pack - you should have done all this by now. if you haven’t - do it now, and remember to plan better next time. for some things it is already to late to change it. Check airline rules / country rules.

The month before

Buy books / apps, downloads for entertainment (don’t watch or listen). Bird lists if you use Avibird or Merlin. Scooby snacks cheaper from supermarket than airport. top up medibag, ablution kit. Last chance to get it. Print off what you need - tickets etc. Buy currency if you can get it local, if not euros, dollars UKP. Go through medical kit and ablution bag and tidy up - get rid - buy new as needed. Hair and nails cut or anything else. Check airline rules / country rules, including any transit countries. Check dates - times, and do a travel back - count back from when you need to fly to what you need to do to meet it. Allow slack in everything. If it take ten allow fifteen. They will not wait for you and the whole trip may collapse if you miss the first segment.

2-3 months before

Sort medical, house (alarm), vaccines, dentist, start a mental picture of what you need to pack, any purchases you may need to make. Book day trips and anything else you haven’t already done. Check essentials passport - visa, flight times - hotel times - transfers - parking - train tickets, and if you haven’t already done so book now. Get car serviced (MOT), check you have inflation pump and car puncture repair, jump leads or charger. Most Vaccines need to be in place 6 weeks before travel. Plan.

6 months to a year

Book - time of work, trip and any side trips, flights, hotels, Check. cards licences, any thing that might take time to renew or come though. Get visas, renew passport, don’t leave it until the last minuet. decide on seats - extras etc and book.

1 year

Plan trip - decide on cost location and how you will fund it, what you need to plan, flight segments so they tie up and you don’t have to sprint through the airport to get to the next one. (or miss the flight) Think winter - flight delays etc. Stop overnight if needed. Hotels, day trips, kit, qualifications (scuba etc).

Everyone is different and everyone will have thier own routine - this is what has worked for us. We have never missed a flight (in our control).

You can book on line and pay for them and there can be advantages in this particularly if you have needs such as extra leg room, being near a bathroom or want a specific location such as isle seat or a window.

It can also be the smart choice, particularly where flights are close together and the time short to get to where you need to be. Booking close to the front can also be the difference between being on the next flight - or not.

There are internet and apps that tell you the best seat for the make of aircraft so you can get maxium legroom or recline etc. Most airlines now charge for the best seats, so this has somewhat backfired.

Some seats are so thin, upright and are just dammed right uncomfortable. We have had some horrendous flights wedged in the middle seat bwteen two huge individuals and their sweat seeping into out clothing as thier fat overflowed thier seats - makes you wonder why we do it sometimes. Most of the time it is OK.

Be careful of what you pick up and bring back. Some countries have very stiff penalties for what they see as crimes. This can involve prison sentences of many years without any appeal. So think twice. This can involve prison sentances of 15 years or more, so leave the shard where it is.

CITES is a multilateral treaty to protect endangered plants and animals from the threats of international trade. It covers a massive range of animal products, as well as invasive species which can cause major problems for indigenous species if they are released into the wild.

The Cites list now has 37000 species of animals and plants, and seeks to protect against trade whether live, fur coats or dried herbs. Be careful of what you buy and if in doubt don’t buy it. Local governments may also have restrictions. It is a very confusing system.

Are an issue in that if they can damaged, over charged or stressed that they create a run away exothermic reaction, which leads to massive amount of smoke and heat. Certain size power banks are now prohibited. Check with your airline where you should carry them and if you don’t need it leave it at home. Consider a solar charger instead if you really can’t live without the tech.

Everyone loves a good travel photo, but remember to look up from the camera now and again. Not everyone wants a camera shoved in their face, and big telephoto lenses can be intimidating. Some cultures believe that photos and cameras steal the soul, so be respectful. Remmember in some places it is not appropriate to take photos, if you are not sure ask your host, but some are obvious and anything military (unless it is a museum) is a no no, as are border crossings, security. Yay I got a great photo of the boarder crossing - now I’m having a strip search which a rubber glove, or worse. In addition you can put everyone else on the tour at risk, so don’t.