Traveling Alone Is Better Than Having a Guide

That depends on where you are traveling and what’s most important to you. Having an “authentic” experience means risking having a dreadful experience. Independent tourism tends to work best for seasoned travelers. Amateurs are more likely to wander into unsavory neighborhoods or miss out on the stuff they really would have enjoyed seeing.

You Should Stock Up on Duty Free Liquor

Duty free doesn’t necessarily mean you’re getting booze at a cheaper price. Unless you actually know the price of an item without tariffs added, there’s no way to tell if you’re saving money. The beverages at the duty free shop may simply be marked up to take advantage of your tourist dollars and the perception of good prices. Save your beer money for specialty foreign wines and liquors that you can’t easily get stateside.

You Can Trust the Star Ratings of a Hotel

I made a sad mistake by paying what I thought was a great rate for a 4 star hotel on my first trip to San Antonio. The hotel was a big name brand and located on the riverwalk. Turns out, the section of the riverwalk where the hotel was located had been shut down for maintenance. In addition, the room was tiny with lights that buzzed like bug zappers. Worst of all, it had bedbugs. Needless to say, I ended up at a different hotel and I never did get a full refund from the fancy 4 star place. Quality can change fast in the hotel industry. I should have looked more closely at recent reviews instead of relying on the cumulative ratings!

• Travel light. Instead of hitching a trailer to your car to carry all your stuff or using a luggage rack, pare your packing down to the essentials. Like the old Hoest Toasties comic used to say “If we’re trying to get away from it all, why are we taking it all with us?”
• Take advantage of sites like Gas Buddy that direct you toward the cheapest refueling stations along your route. Map out your fill up spots in advance rather than during your trip. This takes some of the guess work out of buying gas on the road. You won’t be wondering “Is it going to drop another 5 cents in the next tiny town?”
• Stock up on reward points. I use my Kroger card frequently for groceries for two reasons. First, the store is within walking distance of my home (and I actually do walk there to save gas). Second, they give me 10 cents off gas at participating Shell stations.
• If you have a real gas guzzler like an SUV, consider renting a more fuel efficient car for your trip. Yes, this will mean less leg room. But you really should be taking frequent breaks along the way to stretch your legs and keep your circulation going.
• Stay cool without the A/C if you can. This may involve parking in the shade, rolling down the windows (if you aren’t on the freeway), or using the fan without the A/C when the weather outside is nice.

Not everyone is convinced this is an item you need to buy. Some try a DIY approach. Others cite safety concerns with trying to make your own straps. Here’s a great conversation at parenthack.com about the pros and cons of the device and ways to make it work for your family.

• You’re only as smart as the company you keep. Travel with friends you trust – the ones who have good judgment but still know how to have a good time. It’s easy to become unmoored from your usual behavior patterns when you’re in a strange place unless you have someone with you from your “normal life”.
• Make written agreements with your friends. Setting up guidelines in advance for who will be a designated driver, a code word to use if a friend starts getting out of control, and other safety measures is important. If you put these things in writing, you are more likely to remember them in the midst of a party situation.
• Take the law seriously. Police officers in spring break towns (whether in the US or Mexico) aren’t going to cut you slack for being young and foolish. Fighting, drunk driving, lighting up a joint, and being intoxicated in public can still get you arrested.

Would you do pre-flight yoga? If so, what asanas would you choose to prepare yourself to take to the air. Perhaps the eagle? The crane? For a delayed flight, you might be better off doing the tortoise to put you in a patient state of mind.

Luxury camping makes it possible for you to go camping in style with accommodations that rival those of a 4 or 5 star hotel. Just like the British aristocracy going on safari with a full complement of servants to care for their needs, you can now camp out at beautiful resorts while glampground staff cater to your every need. You don’t have to slum it with a solar shower and port-a-potty. Instead, you can expect the bathroom in your gigantic teepee to have heated floors.

Is Glamping a Silly Idea?

Maybe, maybe not. Everyone has their own concept of what’s fun. Some like to rough it by eating only what they can harvest or kill and sleeping under the stars. Others like to at least have a tent and some sandwiches in the cooler. Glamping is another step in the direction toward being “at home” in nature. It’s the ideal way to go camping for folks who like the idea of spending time outdoors but who need to be sure they can retire to their familiar creature comforts at the end of the hike.

The price tag for the most luxurious resort-style camping is over $1000 per night. However, there are less costly options at some glamping locations for less than $200 per night. The poor campers at these lower class sites are probably expected to survive without a Michelin star chef to roast their marshmallows.

Just as the end of the war did not bring stability to the nation of Iraq, neither has the withdrawal of US troops. The citizens of Iraq are still living in a state of transition and chaos. Travelers from other countries are not exempt from the perils that face the country’s own residents. Weekly and sometimes daily demonstrations often end with injuries for participants. There is also an added hazard of kidnapping since Western tourists are viewed as valuable assets for ransom purposes or to further terrorism objectives.

Northern Iraq Not as Dangerous

However, according to the UK’s Foreign and Commonwealth Office website, there is one area in Iraq where there are no travel restrictions. This is the Kurdistan region which includes the provinces of Dohuk, Erbil and Sulaimaniyah. Kurdistan comprises the northern portion of Iraq and shares borders with Syria, Turkey, and Iran. The border areas of Kurdistan are best avoided since relations between Turkey, Iran, and Iraq are strained, with some open acts of war still ongoing.

That being said, Kurdistan remains a popular tourist location. The region reported over 1 million tourists in 2011 (mostly Iraqis on holiday from other areas of the country). You can find a list of local attractions, information on food and customs, and the best ways to actually get in and out of the country here. One thing is for sure, you’ll come back with exciting stories to tell!

(Note: The label “No travel restrictions” doesn’t mean it’s particularly safe, just that you aren’t advised against avoiding the area entirely. You should still take all safety and security precautions. You can find a list of recommendations here).

Dominican Republic

This location has the charm and climate of the Caribbean and much less expensive prices than Hawaii. During the Christmas season, you can expect temperatures to remain at about 65 degrees. These folk take Christmas truly to heart, apparently turning it into a 3 month long celebration with fireworks, parades, and other lively activities. You’ll recognize many of the traditions with a slight twist. For example, citizens in the Dominican Republic have their own version of “Secret Santa” called “Un Angelito”.

Africa

There are so many great destinations on this massive continent that it’s not possible to list them all. You can visit a populous tourist destination like Cape Town or trudge through the lonely Serengeti looking for big game (but not shooting any). Christmas isn’t yet a truly peak travel time for tourism to most African countries, so you won’t experience the crowding and frenetic pace of more established destinations. Christmas is celebrated in Christian communities all across Africa – but the focus is more on spiritual celebration, good food, and family than on giving and receiving lots of presents.

Malaysia

This is the place to go if you want to party all the way through New Year’s. The clubs in Kuala Lumpur are hopping and the malls and restaurants are all open. Christmas here is non-traditional and very modern. Not surprising in a place where the old and the new rub shoulders in every area from architecture to cultures and languages. This location gives you access to beaches, jungles, skyscrapers, temples, and much more for a busy week of sightseeing. Yes, December is part of the rainy season here, but it’s reportedly a lot like Louisiana. You get rain for about an hour in the afternoon rather than a deluge that goes on for days.

1. Less stress. Not everyone has a happy Bob Cratchit family life. If you would rather be going anywhere rather than home for the holidays, being out of town is a good excuse to get away from people who know you a little too well.
2. You won’t seem lonely. If you’re the single person that everyone invites to their Christmas dinner out of pity, show them that it’s great to be free. Everyone will stop feeling sorry for you when they find out you are taking a trip to New Zealand or a cruise in the Bahamas for Christmas.
3. You can make new memories. Christmas is celebrated in many, many countries around the globe. Each one has its own way of making the season bright. You could find brand new traditions to pass down to your kids along with the story of the Christmas when you flew around the world – just like Santa’s sleigh.

1. Travel Warm

If your vehicle breaks down, nighttime temperatures can quickly pose a threat to your life and health. Keeping the car heater on will only work for a while (and is dangerous if the tailpipe gets blocked by snow). Be sure to pack extra warm clothing, blankets, food, and water in your car in the event of an emergency.

1. Don’t Rely Solely on Technology

Onboard GPS and cell phones are very useful, but everyone in your party should know the full travel plan and have paper copies of maps or driving directions just in case. Write down all important contact numbers as well instead of relying on speed dial. That way, if your gadgets aren’t working, you can still make sure everyone arrives at their destination.

1. Hide Valuables

Is the back seat of your car stacked with gifts in bright wrapping paper? That’s an invitation for thieves to break a window and grab what they can while you are in the gas station bathroom. Store presents in the trunk, inside luggage, or under blankets so they aren’t readily visible.

Traveling by air? Check out MSNBC’s air travel tips for the holidays.