Things you do to get sorted for traveling

@maximax8 (31055)
United Kingdom
November 20, 2012 7:47am CST
When I was a young person I got travelers checks something I don't do nowadays. In those years I was a very low budget traveler so I needed youth hostels and backpacker hostel membership cards. I had to have a sheet sleeping bag to stay in a youth hostel. I got my first passport at age 18 years old. Before then I traveled on my mom's passport as a minor. I borrowed library books to plan my trips. Now I can use the Internet I am able to research my trip plans and book accommodation. These days I like to book a room for 3 or 4 people that is on the ground floor or the accommodation must have an elevator. The accommodation provides all bedding. I am now on my third passport. My kids each have a passport and theirs only lasts for 5 years. My passport lasts for 10 years. I can now afford to buy some travel books on a cheap Internet site. On my last trip I payed many bank fees. I am trying to get bank cards which have lower or fees for my next lot of travels. I am trying to get a saving account that has a high interest rate. I am so excited thinking about my travel plans for 2013. How did you get sorted to travel years ago? Nowadays how do you get sorted to travel?
1 person likes this
6 responses
@Iriene88 (5343)
• Malaysia
21 Nov 12
Dear maximax8, You are one of the most traveled person I ever knew. You are well organised and experience too. Great job! I was thinking of traveling to Macao with my son this holiday. I normally go to the internet to see what is the interesting sights seeing, delicious food and delicacies, hotel facilities and aminities.
1 person likes this
@Porcospino (31367)
• Denmark
20 Dec 12
When I started travelling it wasn't possible to do research and book flights and accomodation on the internet, so I bought my tickets from a travel agency. I had to ask them about the dates and the available flights, so I was less independent that way. I found hotels in the guidebooks and booked the rooms on the phone or travelled without booking in advance. Today I handle all those things on the internet. At first I book my transportation and then I book accomodation. I am able to find all sorts of information online and compare the airlines and the hotels before I buy anything. I also use the internet to find practical information about my destinations like information about currency and visas.
@wolfie34 (26771)
• United Kingdom
20 Nov 12
My last trip which seems like decades ago now, had been completely spontaneous, I needed to 'leave my ex' and I had to do it so they wouldn't know that I was, so one day I decided to walk into the travel agency and book a two week break to Rhodes, I chose Rhodes, plucked out of the air because my cousin got married there in Lindos a few years back and I wasn't able to go, so I thought why not, could have been anywhere. So the flight and the holiday accommodation was all sorted then and there the only thing I had to do of course was get the currency. It was that easy! The worst bit was keeping my travel plans secret from my ex!
11 Dec 12
I never used travellers cheques anyway - my parents did but, I have always just took either cash or since, I got into the travel industry, I now tend to use the cash passport as well as a small amount of cash for essentials. I have never stayed in hostels but, then I have been lucky as by working within the travel industry, I have always managed to get cheap enough deals on hotels anyway.
@JamesKYTan (1605)
• Malaysia
21 Nov 12
I am an impromptu kind of a person so I hardly plan. Normally my wife will do the planning, search in the internet for places to go etc. However, I normally joined the pre-arranged tour by our counterpart in Malaysia which everything is planned before hand. There will be our local tour from here with additional tour guide at the country of destination. Everything will be well taken care of.
@Mavic123456 (21898)
• Thailand
20 Nov 12
Years ago I never travelled (by plane) even domestic or local. I just go nearby by land. But when I learned how to travel and find low cost plane fare, whoooo i travel a lot. Backpacker, iterinary (planned before I leave) and places to go, where to go, how to go all there number 1 place, 2, 3 so I will save on trips or transportation, if walking distance I would know. then my laptop.