I want to take some time to synthesize advice for people who will be going abroad in the future. This is completely based off of my experience as a novice traveler, so take it for what you will.
1. When you're flying and dealing with time changes, set your watch to your destination time as soon as you're on the flight. Then try to sleep according to that schedule. It will help the jet-lag a lot.
2. Pack very light! You really don’t need to go over the airline weight restrictions. Have one 45-50 lb bag and one 15-20 lb bag. Also, I would make your heavy bag a backpack and the lighter one some sort of handheld or should strap case. The metro stops have a lot of stairs (no escalators or elevators) and it can be very difficult to carry a 50 lb bag up and down those (though it can be done!). I would also recommend packing your valuables/electronics in the lighter one. Just so you can keep track of them.
3. Travel in pairs or triplets! Even if you have a larger group, split into smaller numbers when using public transportation and make sure everyone knows where to get off. It can be difficult to fit 4+ people in one door at one time, especially if the metro is crowded, and you don’t want to accidentally leave someone behind!
4. Check into NewEurope tours! They’re free (tip only) and the tour guides tend to be slightly younger and exciting. You’ll learn a lot and see a lot of the city, so be prepared to walk (the tours are usually 3 hours!). The tour guides can also be really helpful in making recommendations for things to see and when to go. The earlier you can go in your stay, the better.
5. Have hard copies of any reservations you’ve made with you. Sometimes the language barrier is easily surpassed by just handing over the paper with the reservation information.
6. Scout out food sources before you go! Whether it be grocery stores or restaurants, have an idea of where some affordable and group-pleasing locations are. You definitely want to enjoy local food while you visit, but it can be very time consuming to simply go wandering to find something.
7. Don’t be terrified of pickpockets. They are around so you need to be vigilant, but as long as you’re careful you’ll be fine. If you’re in a group, keep track of each other. The best places for pickpockets are crowded metros and crowds of tourists.
8. Don’t jam pack your days. There will be a ton to see in every city and there’s no way you’ll get to it all. Pick a few things that interest you and go with those. You want to enjoy your visit.
9. Paris specific: go up in the Eiffel Tower during the day. I’ve not experienced being in the Eiffel Tower at night, but I know during the day it was a spectacular view. Definitely visit the Eiffel at night though to see the light show.
10. Be organized before you go so you can spend the most time experiencing new places! You don’t need to have every second planned, but know the basics. Have fun!
That's all I've got for now. More to come later!
1. When you're flying and dealing with time changes, set your watch to your destination time as soon as you're on the flight. Then try to sleep according to that schedule. It will help the jet-lag a lot.
2. Pack very light! You really don’t need to go over the airline weight restrictions. Have one 45-50 lb bag and one 15-20 lb bag. Also, I would make your heavy bag a backpack and the lighter one some sort of handheld or should strap case. The metro stops have a lot of stairs (no escalators or elevators) and it can be very difficult to carry a 50 lb bag up and down those (though it can be done!). I would also recommend packing your valuables/electronics in the lighter one. Just so you can keep track of them.
3. Travel in pairs or triplets! Even if you have a larger group, split into smaller numbers when using public transportation and make sure everyone knows where to get off. It can be difficult to fit 4+ people in one door at one time, especially if the metro is crowded, and you don’t want to accidentally leave someone behind!
4. Check into NewEurope tours! They’re free (tip only) and the tour guides tend to be slightly younger and exciting. You’ll learn a lot and see a lot of the city, so be prepared to walk (the tours are usually 3 hours!). The tour guides can also be really helpful in making recommendations for things to see and when to go. The earlier you can go in your stay, the better.
5. Have hard copies of any reservations you’ve made with you. Sometimes the language barrier is easily surpassed by just handing over the paper with the reservation information.
6. Scout out food sources before you go! Whether it be grocery stores or restaurants, have an idea of where some affordable and group-pleasing locations are. You definitely want to enjoy local food while you visit, but it can be very time consuming to simply go wandering to find something.
7. Don’t be terrified of pickpockets. They are around so you need to be vigilant, but as long as you’re careful you’ll be fine. If you’re in a group, keep track of each other. The best places for pickpockets are crowded metros and crowds of tourists.
8. Don’t jam pack your days. There will be a ton to see in every city and there’s no way you’ll get to it all. Pick a few things that interest you and go with those. You want to enjoy your visit.
9. Paris specific: go up in the Eiffel Tower during the day. I’ve not experienced being in the Eiffel Tower at night, but I know during the day it was a spectacular view. Definitely visit the Eiffel at night though to see the light show.
10. Be organized before you go so you can spend the most time experiencing new places! You don’t need to have every second planned, but know the basics. Have fun!
That's all I've got for now. More to come later!
No comments:
Post a Comment