Travel Tips
Practical lessons from more than forty years of traveling together—plus the questions we now ask before every trip.
The way we travel has changed over the years. We now pay more attention to pace, comfort, connections, and the small details that make a trip easier. These suggestions reflect our experience, not one right way to travel. Rules, prices, insurance terms, and entry requirements change, so we also identify what should be confirmed with an official source or appropriate professional.
Pack for the trip you can comfortably manage
We have learned that a lighter suitcase usually makes every part of a journey easier—from trains and hotel stairs to airport transfers and the walk to a cruise cabin. Pack for the weather and activities you actually expect, choose clothing that works in several combinations, and take shoes you already know are comfortable.
- Choose a suitcase you can lift, steer, and manage without strain.
- Pack layers that can be reworn and combined.
- Keep essential medication, documents, and one change of clothes in your carry-on.
- Leave room for anything you may bring home.
Before the suitcase closes
Lay everything out once, then remove what is duplicated or included only for an unlikely “just in case.” Check baggage size and weight limits with the airline or cruise line, label your luggage inside and out, and photograph the packed contents. If you use mobility or medical equipment, confirm the carrier’s procedures well before departure.
Spend where it improves the trip
Value does not always mean choosing the lowest price. We are often willing to spend more for a direct flight, a well-located hotel, a comfortable transfer, or an extra night that prevents the itinerary from feeling rushed. Those choices can preserve energy for the experiences that brought us there.
Compare the total cost
Look beyond the headline price. Add baggage, seat selection, resort fees, transfers, gratuities, meals, excursions, insurance, and the cost of getting to and from a less convenient airport. A slightly higher room rate may be better value when it includes breakfast, laundry, reliable transportation, or a location that reduces taxi fares.
Protect documents, health, and money
We keep secure digital copies of passports, insurance information, prescriptions, and important reservations, with paper backups stored separately. Before leaving, review health coverage outside the United States, understand the limits of any travel-insurance policy, and tell your financial institutions where appropriate. Medical and insurance decisions are personal, so confirm them with your physician, pharmacist, insurer, or another qualified professional.
Build comfort into the itinerary
We now leave more room between major activities and avoid treating every day as a checklist. A slower schedule gives us time to notice a place, recover from a long travel day, and adjust when weather or transportation changes the plan. On tours and safaris, ask about walking distances, vehicle access, rest stops, and how much assistance is available.
Use technology as a backup, not a complication
Download maps, tickets, confirmations, translation tools, and entertainment before leaving reliable Wi-Fi. Keep a charging cable and portable battery close at hand, but also save the information you would need if a phone were lost, damaged, or out of power. Paper copies of a hotel address and the day’s transportation details still earn their place in our bag.
Take better photographs with the camera you have
The best camera is the one you are comfortable carrying. Clean the lens, steady the camera, watch the light, and take a moment to simplify the frame. Photograph signs and place names as useful reminders, include people when appropriate, and back up important images during longer trips. Most importantly, remember to put the camera down and experience the moment itself.
A few habits we try to keep
- Allow generous connection time and avoid difficult same-day transfers.
- Confirm accessibility needs directly with the provider.
- Keep one unscheduled period in every few days.
- Carry water and a small snack when the day may run long.
- Write down what worked—and what we would change—while the trip is still fresh.
Verify before you leave
Entry rules, airline policies, health guidance, insurance terms, and prices can change. Recheck important requirements close to departure using official government pages and the companies providing your transportation, lodging, and coverage.
Review note: September 2026
