My travel tips (Travel Tips in General)

Member Name: werewolf2

Product:	Travel Tips in General
Date:	26/08/09 (21 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: learn from my mistakes

Disadvantages: may not be too everyone's taste

Q: How many times a year do you travel?
At least 6 times a year- but this can be for a weekend, a week or a fortnight, depending on where I go.

Q: For how long do you go away?
Usually at least a week, but I enjoy short trips, such as a weekend and day trips.

Q: Do you stay in your home country or do you go abroad?

I mainly stay in my home country (England) but I do enjoy going abroad but can only afford to do so biannually. Am going to Cornwall in October and Weymouth for a Turkey and Tinsel in November then Egypt next February.

Q: Do you organize your holidays yourself or do you go to a travel agency?

I usually use a travel agency for longer trips and organize day trips myself. I was a member of English Heritage and National Trust so visited their properties on day trips and on longer trips, wherever possible. I now use the Walker Gary Trips offers to add interest to my holidays.

My local coach company gets a lot of business from me, as I book day trips, weekends and week long trips with them to various parts of England, Scotland and Wales. I have never visited Ireland but would like to do so at some stage.

Q: Do you prepare your holidays in advance by reading guidebooks and studying maps?
If I am going abroad, I tend to plan where I would like to visit and read up using websites, such as Ciao, guidebooks and maps. If I am going in this country I do not tend to use guidebooks or maps (unless I am driving), but use English Heritage information, websites and leaflets from tourist information offices. I try to use Tesco Clubcard days out vouchers and 2 for 1 offers from The Daily Mirror.

Q: Do you travel alone/with family or friends/with an organized group?
I mainly travel with my parents on coach holidays and day trips/weekends with my boyfriend (who is unemployed so can not afford many holidays).

I have travelled alone (but was on an organized coach tour of 6 countries in Europe (France, Austria, Switzerland, Italy (Venice), Germany and Belgium. That holiday was interesting as I got on at Sheffield and the coach driver drove all the way to Watford Gap, picked up a guide there and continued on to London and only picked up a further 3 passengers, before setting off on our holiday. The four of us, had almost 1 to 1 support from the company's employees, as they were picking up the remainder of the passengers in Venice (who had been on the same holiday the previous week and chosen to go on the cruise element, which was not available the week I had chosen). My tip here is to book near the end of the season and you may get a bargain or unexpected bonuses like almost one to one treatment from the guides, etc. This was a great trip and I could choose any seat I wanted on the trip out!!!!

Q: Do you prefer the sea / mountains / plains / cities as destinations?
I enjoy all destinations but am not a beach lover. I really enjoyed Scotland's lochs and Malta's cities, and Florida's Disney World.

Q: Do you mainly relax or are you an active holidaymaker?
I relax by reading but am an active holidaymaker. I enjoy visiting places of interest, swimming and trying new things. I would like to try parascending, scuba diving, skiing and other sports but I am not very good at sports, but like my father I will try anything once (within reason).

I have walked the Chania Gorge in Crete (needed to have better footwear and eat plenty before hand as there is no where to eat between the start and the finish of the gorge), walked the West Highland Way in Scotland (for my Gold Duke of Edinbugh award - need lots of midge repellent and really good rain gear!), swum in a large rock pool on a private beach in Crete (after fishing for my lunch), and climbed the steps of the Eiffel Tower, in Paris.

Q: Are you interested in the cuisine of a foreign country?
Yes, what is the point in visiting a foreign country if you do not try their food, drink and experience their customs, culture and activities?

Q: Which means of transportation do you prefer?
I do not prefer any means of transport. I enjoy driving but prefer a coach holiday, as I can enjoy the scenery. I have travelled by plane, boat, ferry, coach and car. I would like to go in a helicopter.

Q: What kind of luggage do you take with you? Have you got problems packing? Do you tend to take too many / too few things with you?
I always take one suitcase and put a holdall inside to use for bringing back items I have bought. I used to have problems packing as I need to be prepared for any eventuality (my girl guide upbringing I suppose). I tend to take too many things with me, but I am getting better at it and now work to the assumption that if I forget something I will probably be able to purchase it on holiday. Only thing with that, I must not forget to take my tablets!!! I tend to plan my clothes and other items weeks in advance and the week before I go, start putting them to one side so I can pack them. I have been known to pack a week in advance and still be adding stuff minutes before I have to leave.

My main tip here is not to forget passport, tickets and money. One year, I was holidaying with my family abroad, went to the toilet with my handbag and forgot to pick it back up. It had my passport, English money and some foreign currency/travellers cheques. My mother had the tickets! Luckily the person who went into the cubicle after me, handed it in to lost property and just as I was about to report it missing, my name came over the tannoy! Don't put handbags on the hooks in toilets!!!!

Q: Do you send picture postcards to your family and friends?
No, waste of time. I return before they arrive. I used to send one to work but it sometimes arrived weeks after my return. If you want to do this though, why not! I prefer to buy postcards to remember items of interest by, which I'd then show family and friends. If they wanted a particular one I'd let them have it.

Summary: Werewolf explains about her strange holiday behaviour.