travel journal...

While traveling, you're bound to see things and experience moments you won't want to forget. So apart from simply snapping photographs, write down your thoughts and impressions in a travel journal. Whether you choose a traditional paper-and-pen method or decide to go digital with a blog, you can later use self-publishing tools to organize your memories in a book, which makes a great keepsake of your adventures.

1. Purchase a journal, available at most bookstores. You can buy a simple version or one specifically for travelers, in which you'll find tips, quotes and space for itinerary details and photos. Those traveling with a computer, however, have a number of other options. Make a word-processing document with your observations or create a blog to share your experiences as they happen. You can opt for popular and easy-to-use services like Blogger and WordPress, or turn to travel-specific site Off Exploring, which allows you to publish your journal with just a few clicks.

2. Write your journal. Recording everything you see and do while on the road is challenging, but you can take advantage of quiet moments at mealtimes or before going to sleep to jot down some basic observations. If you bring along a Polaroid camera, snap photos and stick them in your journal with short captions. And when you come across a special shop or restaurant, ask for a business card. It serves as a nice memento and a reminder of the name and location. 

 from: here

planning for vacation trip~

Get your vacation plan wrong and you could find yourself bored or lost. Get it right and you could find yourself on a vacation that you'll remember for all the right reasons. A 2009 Travelhorizons survey indicated that the car was the most frequently used mode of transport on a leisure trip -- 76 percent of all US leisure trips were road trips. Planes were the second most common mode of vacation transport.

# Talk to all the people going on the vacation, unless you are travelling solo, about your destination and the types of sites you want to visit. This could include nature reserves, sites of historical interest or the beach. Try to include something for everyone in your plan and set a budget.

# Agree on how you will travel. If you are going by road, decide on a vehicle, who will drive and, if necessary, how to split driving costs.

# Consult guidebooks and other resources to find out more about your destination. Make lists of possible activities and sites to visit before you finalize your plans. Find out about entrance fees and opening times. If you're traveling with your family or a group, split up responsibility for research.

# Plot your route on a map. If you are traveling by car, decide if you want to stick to highways, look for scenic routes or include a mixture of both. Plan rest stops in advance, perhaps at a point of interest just off your main route. Planning on a stop every 100 to 150 miles with give you a break roughly every two hours.

# Book any accommodations necessary unless you want more flexibility and can take a chance on what you find. Advance reservations sometimes provide discounts that save money.

from: here

hide things in the hotel room..

Vacationers shouldn't have to worry about anything during a hard-earned trip, so keeping one's valuables safe is an important yet easy way to avoid a travel headache. Theft is the most common crime committed in hotels, which are otherwise generally very safe places for guests. Unfortunately, research suggests that hotel employees are the biggest culprits in these petty crimes, so effectively hiding valuable items is an important preventative measure. By taking a few precautions and using a little creativity, hotel guests can discourage theft and protect their valuables while traveling.

Securing Valuables

1. Slide items under the mattress, towards the middle so that they are less likely to be discovered when making the bed. It is best to use this tactic only after the bed has been made.
   
   
2. Place flat items under a trash can in the corner, and do not use that trash can. In case a custodian moves the can, you may want to place the items in an envelope and affix it to the bottom with tape.
   
   
3. Tape items underneath the desk or side tables. Placing items in an envelope helps protect them from damage by the tape.
   
   
4. Enclose valuables within a small bag and pin between double drapes.
   
   
5. Place cash within the pages of a book or telephone directory.
   
   
6. Hide items in plain sight by keeping important documents concealed in a pile of restaurant menus and travel brochures.
   
   
7. Roll items within very "personal" articles of clothing, such as underwear. As thieves are attuned to the "wallet in a sock" trick, throwing valuables in with the truly dirty clothes is the best deterrent when using this method of hiding items.
   
   
8. Use a purchased or homemade "diversion safe," such as a fake can of shaving cream or hollowed-out paperback, to store valuables. Many varieties of these are available for sale at security shops and online.
   

Preventative Measures

9. Take measures to prevent and discourage thieves from targeting your room. Keep suitcases locked. Wear modest jewelry and do not advertise any expensive shopping trips to hotel staff. Hang the "Do Not Disturb" sign on the door and leave the TV on when you are leaving for the day. Keep the room and your items very tidy so that any disorder would be conspicuous, and of course do not leave any valuable items out in the open.
   
   
10. Don't forget to secure or remove valuables in your car as well. More than a quarter of all hotel theft occurs outside the guest room, in a vehicle in a hotel garage or parking lot. Fortunately, the predominant causes of theft from cars are easily avoidable: lock your doors and hide your valuables.
    
    
11. Lock valuables in the hotel safe, but only use a safe that allows you to set a new combination. Longer combinations offer better protection, with six-digit codes providing the most security one should need. Never use a safe that requires a key provided by the hotel, as there may be untold numbers of key copies circulating among staff and former guests.
    
    
    from: here

traveling with laptop...

When you take a vacation or travel for business, there is no reason to leave your gadgets behind. Hotels around the world offer Wi-Fi service and make it possible for you to use your laptop to stay in touch with the office, family and friends. Similarly, when traveling, taking your GPS along can help you navigate your way through unknown cities and off the beaten track.

Keep Electronics Safe

Even though it is common in the United States for people to use laptop computers, GPS and other expensive electronics in public places, public use of electronics can be less common in some countries. Using electronic devices in public could cause you to be marked as a potential target for theft. Before traveling abroad, purchase cases for all your electronics, so that you can keep them hidden from public view in your bag. Limit electronics use to private spaces such as your rental car or hotel room. If you must use your electronic devices in public, enter a safe place, such as a retail store or cafe, before removing devices from your bag.

Update GPS Maps

In theory, using a GPS to navigate the winding roads of Tuscan hillside villages sounds like a great idea. However, GPS units come loaded with maps for the regions where they are purchased. If you are planning to use your GPS for a road trip abroad, check your unit's information manual or the manufacturer's website to see how far the pre-loaded maps extend. If your manufacturer also distributes GPS in the country to which you are traveling, you can download additional maps. Even if your manufacturer does not provide maps for the country you are planning to visit, you could be able to purchase them from a third party GPS map vendor.

Get the Right Plug Converter

Laptops, cellphones and other portable electronic devises are made to work within a range of voltages, typically 100 to 240 volts. North American outlets use a 110 volt system, while Europe and Asia use 220 volts. However, even when your device is compatible in terms of voltage, plug configurations vary abroad, even within a country. North American laptop cords typically include a third pin, but some outlets abroad use only two pins or have three thin pins in a horizontal configuration. Before your trip, visit a travel store or an airport electronics vendor and pick up plug converters specifically designed for the country or countries you plan to visit.

sources: click here..

travel checklist~

Planning and preparation are the secret to pragmatic packing, so pack the night before you leave to avoid last-minute panic. The most difficult thing to do is to focus on what you need, so make a list if it helps keep the task in perspective. Double-check the list on the day that you leave to make sure you didn't forget anything. That said, try not to over stuff your bags either. You need room for souvenirs.

Boarding Pass

# You won't go far without it.

Valid Passport

# Unless you're going to a domestic destination, you'll need a valid passport. If you don't already have one, get one at least a couple of months in advance. Keep it securely on you while you travel, and lock it in your hotel room safe during your stay. It can be difficult to replace a lost passport, so avoid taking it with you during activities.

Driver's License

# You may not intend to drive while you're traveling, but that doesn't mean the opportunity won't present itself. Having a driver's license is also useful in case someone asks to see some picture ID and your passport isn't handy. If you plan to drive, make sure your license is accepted in the country you're traveling to. You may need to arrange for an international license before your trip.

Electronics

# Always keep your laptop and your camera in your carry-on luggage. Also make sure to bring battery chargers for each and an extra memory card for your camera. You can keep the camera charger in your checked baggage to save room.

Entertainment

# It's important to keep yourself entertained during long journeys. It's also the perfect time to catch up on reading. That said, restrict yourself to one book or one electronic system (for example, tablets, laptops) so your carry-on won't get too heavy.

Clothing

# It's difficult for most people to do this, but the key to packing sensibly is to plan what you're going to wear each day that you're gone. To save on space, try to stick to one jacket, and if possible, wear it during your journey. Shoes take up more space than clothing, so be brutally selective.

Toiletries

# Some people are very particular about skincare, but remember that hotels always provide guests with in-room soaps, moisturizers and shampoo. If you can't do without your cream routine, try to purchase your favorite products in travel-size format and pack them into a small travel pouch to avoid spills. Pack these in your checked baggage since many airlines don't allow liquids in carry-ons. Don't forget your toothbrush and toothpaste!

Cosmetics

# When considering cosmetics, resist the urge to take the whole boudoir with you. Stick to what you need and try to coordinate your selections with the outfits you plan to wear. Where possible, pack these in your checked baggage, ideally in a travel pouch.

Accessories

# If you absolutely must bring jewelry but don't plan to wear it while you travel, keep it in your carry-on. Jewelry and other valuables run the risk of getting stolen if they're placed in checked baggage. Otherwise, bringing sunglasses is never a bad idea, but they're also easily purchased at any destination.
 

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love to travel??

Traveling is a common leisure activity, but smart travel requires experience and knowledge. Smart travel is more than saving money, it is how to plan the best vacation from packing to returning home. Using the Internet and personal experience, anyone can become a savvy traveler. 

Planning

# Use travel search engines to book the cheapest flight and hotel. You can bundle these to save the most money possible. Even if you do not need a flight and hotel, often you will find the best rates when you book the package. You do not have to utilize the services once you pay for them. Plot out what you plan to do on your trip. With an itinerary, you can plan the cheapest way to travel between locations. For example, if you are traveling to Minneapolis, you can determine if it is cheapest to rent a car or take buses between attractions. Using public transportation is not only sometimes cheaper, but also the green way to travel. Make copies of all of your important documents (such as passport, credit cards, ID, etc.) in case they are stolen. This will help the local embassy to replace these items.

Packing

# Most flights require you pay extra fees to check bags. Save money by packing light. Instead of packing three large suitcases for a week-long adventure, pack everything into your carry-on. Pack just enough outfits for your vacation and only a couple of extra pairs of socks and underwear. Plan to re-wear items such as jeans. This way you can pack one pair of pants instead of five. Save space by rolling clothes instead of folding them. Bag all of your toiletries in plastic zip lock bags. In high altitude, bottles can pop open, so bagging your toiletries may prevent a potential mess.

Traveling

# When you arrive at your destination, familiarize yourself with all the important local numbers you will need. This includes any embassies (if abroad), police departments and emergency numbers. Never travel alone after dark, and use the buddy system to prevent being attacked. If you are traveling alone, stay in contact with family and friends through email or texts. This way someone knows where you are in case of an emergency.

sources: click here