Some cities or countries offer admission to a group of major attractions, as a package, for a significant savings over the cumulative cost of each attraction separately. These multi-venue city passes are worth it if you plan on visiting … Continue reading →

    Sometimes it is worthwhile to to ignore the additional expense and hire a personal guide or take a guided tour. Many guides are so knowledgeable about a sight that they add significantly to the overall experience. They make you … Continue reading →

Another way to remember a vacation is to return with some trinket or object specific to the location. It might be as simple as a t-shirt or a pin, or it might be some locally-produced handicraft or specialty. Weeks or … Continue reading →

      Food is one of the major expenses of any vacation. I typically budget $100.00 per day, or more, depending on the location. It pays to create a list of potential restaurants, both to assist with monitoring expenses, and also … Continue reading →

Create your own, customized checklist to virtually eliminate the chances of forgetting things. Our list has evolved over the years and is an important pre-trip exercise. We have even passed our list along to fellow travelers, friends, and family members. … Continue reading →

         Too often, we forget the details of a trip as time goes by. A journal allows you to maintain a permanent record of things like a great restaurant, language quirks, the name of a sculptor or artist, a particularly … Continue reading →

Tip #7 – Take a Tour — If you are intimidated by a place (the language seems impossible to master or the culture is so incredibly alien), then, by all means, take a tour. Let the tour guide deal with … Continue reading →

Tip #6 – Travel on Your Own – Do not hesitate to design and execute your own trip. Sure, tours can be very informative and tend to be less stressful, but your time is not your own. When you create … Continue reading →

    Tip #5 – Do Extensive Research – Careful planning and fastidious research will allow you to get the most from your vacation. Learn about all the sites that you plan to see, the architecture, the cultural quirks of the … Continue reading →

   Tip #4 – Estimate Trip Expenses before You Go — Make a concerted effort to calculate, realistically, the cost of your trip. Tours are easier because the expenses are relatively fixed, and known in advance. But if you are … Continue reading →