Lots of tips on travelling for speakers
Before your next trip, check these quick tips from WolfGang Riebe’s new ebook on Research, Hotels, Passports Air tickets and more - you’ll be very glad you did.
Research
Firstly you need to plan your trip. Where do you want to go do and how much do you want to spend. Ideally do searches on the Internet and visit various travel agents to research all the options available to you.
Once you have reached a decision, you can book the trip. That’s only the start, now you have some preparation to do…
Passports
The most obvious! Make sure your passport is valid of at least another 6 months after your return.
Always, always, always have at least two copies of your passport and travel documents. One set you keep at home and the other in one of your suitcases. If your passport is lost or stolen, you cannot prove who you are or even visit your consulate in a foreign country without identification. Like this at least you have a spare copy on you, and if all else fails, another copy safely at home.
In most cities you can buy a holder for your passport. These are really practical as you can store your frequent flyer and boarding cards in them as well. Thus everything to do with your flight is in one holder.
Visas. The requirements change daily! Check whether you need one and leave ample time before the trip to apply for your visa.
Booking Your Hotel
Some hotels, especially family hotels, offer a fully inclusive package with meals and certain beverages included. Often they have facilities and events to keep the children occupied during the day as well. There are great deals out there, but you need to look for them.
Package tours are often advertised at good prices, however you need to remember that you do not have much freedom to do your own thing. There are set times and set activities. If you want freedom, you have to plan your own thing.
If you are a light sleeper and sensitive to noise - NEVER book a room next to an elevator! Also, give preference to inside facing rooms and not rooms facing the street - this will reduce car and highway noise. Always have a set of earplugs on you.
Some hotels don’t offer free coffee and tea in the rooms and have no kettle. Check for this when booking. Or travel with a small heating element so you can make coffee in your room. Also carry some coffee, milk and sugar sachets with you. This saves a lot of money.
Booking through and agent, or specialist Internet sites is often cheaper than booking direct. These agents get special rates.
Booking anything, from flights to hotels, is much cheaper ‘out of season, than ‘in season.’ Good to know if you are on a tight budget.
A central hotel may be slightly more expensive than a hotel on the outskirts of a city. But when you add the travel costs into the equation to get to all the sights, it may be cheaper at the end of the day to book the central hotel.
Few hotels have an iron and board in the cupboard. Some will let you use one by phoning the ‘House Keeping’ department. Most hotels don’t have this and charge you premium rates for ironing. Check this beforehand. Alternatively pack a small travel iron.
Few hotels have an umbrella available. If you are going to a city where the weather will be bad, pack a small collapsible umbrella. It will be cheaper to buy it at home than from the peddler outside the hotel!
Many hotel rooms have strong air conditioners that dry out your skin and nose. Make sure you have packed a moisturiser.
Your Air Ticket
Choose the seat you want when booking the flight ticket. Never leave it for the day you check in at the airport.
Check in on-line if you can 24 hours before - this is much easier and saves you standing in queues at the airport.
Today some airports let you download your boarding pass on your phone - find out about this, it is very convenient.
Be very aware that when booking an economy air ticket, many airlines have a price that includes full ‘air-miles’ (for people that collect air miles) as well as a non air mile price. Guess what? The non air mile price is usually MUCH cheaper. In fact, according to my calculations, you pay much more at the end of the day for a ticket redeemed on air miles, than you would just paying the cheapest fare. However, you need to remember that the cheaper fare does have limitations and restrictions on it. If you fly business or first class - it doesn’t really make a difference. This mainly applies to economy/coach class.
Also, be aware of the restrictions on a cheaper ticket. If there is a chance that you may need to change your ticket, rather pay the extra cost when making the original booking, as it will cost you much more to make any changes at a later date.
If you are booking a flight with a stop over, check the time between flights. If it is too short, you may miss the connection. If it is too long, are you prepared to sit in an airport for 8 hours? In this case rather book a hotel so that you can relax.
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