There are things we might not think about or know about until too late. You can make plans ahead and hopefully avoid unpleasant surprises.
For example, you never know when you might have to gate check your carry on bag due to overhead bins being full, etc. Don’t leave your most indispensable possessions in that bag. Pack jewelry, IPad, camera, house and car keys, medications, etc. in a pouch or small bag inside your carry on. If you have to gate check the bag, you can easily remove the items and carry them with you.
When you book a hotel or cruise for a special occasion, let your travel advisor or the hotel know the reason you are booking. Often you can get a free upgrade or they might provide something extra to make the celebration memorable.
Always check the U.S. State Department Travel Alert (https://travel.state.gov/) before you go overseas but don’t rely solely on those alerts. Also check with the United Kingdom, Canada and Australia. The alerts aren’t written for tourists but also diplomatic officers and others who end up in places and situations everyday tourists do not.
If you have your heart set on visiting a particular port on your cruise, plan your cruise to start or stop there. If it is scheduled for mid-cruise, the unforeseeable may occur and the ship may not stop there.
If you see something you like, buy it as soon as you see it. You may not remember exactly where the shop is and it probably isn’t going to be less expensive at another store. You may regret it if you don’t get it.
Check your phone plan before you travel abroad. Make sure you understand the terminology and exactly how much the charges are. DON’T use “Cellular at Sea”. It is very expensive.
If you need to use different currency, the better option is to ask your bank ahead of time to get the currency for you. Otherwise, changing money at the airport is about the same as getting it in town. Sure, you will save a little changing it in town, but is it worth the hassle to not have the correct currency on the trip into town?
Buy the travel insurance! You aren’t just buying it in case you don’t get to go on the trip. The primary reason is that you can’t afford to pay for medical care outside of the US and you sure can’t afford to pay for a flight home if needed. US insurance rarely, very rarely, pay for medical care outside of the US and certainly not the flight home.
Print out your reservation details and put it with your documents. You may have it on your phone, but you might not have instant access to phone service to check that information right away.
Notify your bank and major credit cards of the dates you will be gone and which countries you are visiting. You don’t want them to not honor a purchase you make due to “unusual activity”.
Your memories are one of the most valuable things you get from your trips so back up your pictures on a regular basis. You can back them up on a USB stick, internet site, etc.
Double-check your documents and reservations for everything from hotels, flights, trains, buses, etc. Always corroborate the time and location, and make sure they are scheduled correctly. Also, check that your name is correctly spelled especially on your flight reservation.
Have a hard copy of your documents (passport, IDs, travel insurance policy, credit cards) with you. In case you lose your original documents, copies facilitate your identity verification and quicken the renewal process.
Don’t try to do too much in one trip. Give yourself time to enjoy where you are and not just check things off your bucket list.
Consider the different time zones between home and places you are visiting. Consider the possible effects of jet-lag during your first days.
Use a guidebook but don’t rely totally on it. Just use one or two suggestions per day. Do your research!
If you see a lot of locals at a street food vendor, chances are it is safe to eat there. Don’t be afraid to try local food.
Don’t stay solely in the “touristy areas”. Wander some but keep an eye on your surroundings. You may find a fabulous local restaurant, shop, or meet interesting locals.