What do you need to do?

Making your plans

1. Destination – decide where you want to travel
2. Time frame
   • How long do you plan to be traveling
   • Cost will vary by time of year
     • Major holidays are usually more expensive
     • Shoulder season – before and after holidays and before and after summer
3. Basic budget – How much do you plan to spend (it will always be more than you plan)
4. Things you need
   • Passport –at least 6 months before expiration dateVisas – Some countries require these
   • Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA) to enter or transit through the UK.
   • Shots/health certificate, etc.
   • Clothes for the season
   • Luggage
   • Phone – check your plan to make sure it works
   • Electric convertor plugsChargers
   • Other things – wheelchairs/walkers/canes/cpap machine
   • Handicap sticker/card
   • Credit cards or cash

These are just a few things you will need to do to start. Some of these are obvious – “Hey where should we go? I don’t know – let’s go to the airport and see what looks good.” Or “let’s get in the car and flip a coin to see in what direction to go.” These might work, but even for someone who likes spontaneity, this probably won’t work well. I would say that this is the most important aspect of any travel – but then saying that – the next two items on the list are just as important and pretty much interchangeable.

When can you go? Are you working and need to arrange vacation/holiday time? Are you retired and can pick up and go anytime? Tied in with that is your budget. Is it unlimited? WOW! Do you need some company – I may be available if you’re paying. But most of us do need to consider that. The first rule here is that no matter what you plan it will cost more. Years ago, my wife and I built a house – yeah, we’re still married. The general rule was to add 10% to whatever we had budgeted for the cost. When you travel there will always be added items. Taxes, tips, souvenirs, upgrades, and other incidentals that you plan will add to the cost.

How do you keep it under control? Travel, especially to some areas, is usually more expensive during holidays. Do you want to see Edinburgh, Scotland, or Gatlinburg, Tennessee, during the Christmas holidays for their lights? Well, it will cost a little more than some other times. The American Thanksgiving time is always more expensive – and more crowded.

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Gatlinburg, Tennessee, United States

One thing to remember is that some countries have holidays/celebrations that other countries do not. Boston is a great place to visit for the 4^th of July celebration but don’t expect to see a lot of fireworks in London England. Going to Paris in the middle of July? Be ready to help all of France celebrate Bastille Day. If these are the times that you want to travel you will need to factor that into your budget. I’ll throw this one is as well. We were in Rome last year in July and talked with the Uber driver. We noticed that there was a lot of construction going on in the city and asked about it. It seems Rome will be celebrating the Jubilee in 2025 bringing in millions of tourists and the city was getting ready for them. This special yearlong Catholic celebration takes place every 25 years and is a special time of spiritual renewal, forgiveness, and reconciliation. I was reading an article the other day and it stated that the number of people visiting Rome during this summer will be double normal times. It seems like there were a million people at the Vatican when we were there. I can not imagine twice that number. Plan accordingly.

Vatican Museum Hallway

If you have some flexibility and are not set on visiting during holidays, you might think about traveling during the shoulder season. What is that? Until recently I had never heard of that myself. It is considered the time before and after major holidays or the normal summer travel season. Growing up, we called it “the off-season”. Do you want to save a little on your visit to London, England? Look at traveling from March to May or September to October. Airfares, alone, can save you thousands. Other travel costs can be substantially less. There are added advantages to this time. There tend to be fewer people and, in some areas, the scenery can be even more spectacular. The heather in full bloom in Scotland can take your breath away – and the midges might be a little less of a bother. Now don’t plan to go to New England in October and expect fewer people as the leaf peepers will be out in full force. Italy can get warm in the summer – it was hot when we were there in July. Going in the shoulder season (the off-season) might be a better choice.

Now that you know where you’re going and when you are going it’s time to think about what you need. Again I have made a list but of course, some of these are obvious (luggage). Some you might not have thought about and to be sure this list is not all-inclusive. You may have things that you need that others may not. Think about what you use regularly at home. Think about the things that are vital to you. These might be the things you need to take.

Traveling to other countries involves many steps. Years ago, Canada did not require a passport for entrance by U.S. citizens. This is not the case today and a passport is needed for entry into every country. If you already have one that is great however you need to remember that many countries will not let you enter if your passport is due to expire within 6 months of your departure date. Go ahead and get it renewed now to be safe. On that note, it can take several months to get a passport as there is a backlog due to the Coronavirus shutdown and subsequent opening of travel. Along with a passport, some countries require a special visa to enter. Starting this year the United Kingdom is requiring an Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA) to enter or transit through the UK. So if your flight has a layover in Great Britain, you will need an ETA.

We traveled to England, Scotland, and Italy last summer. One might think that traveling in the summer means packing for summer weather. The thing to remember is that summer in Inverness, Scotland is a little different than summer in Florence, Italy. While it was in the 40s (7c) in Scotland it was in the 90s (33c) in Florence. Also, know that some areas have more precipitation than other areas. We had to pack for both types of weather. Plan accordingly.

Loch Ness Scotland Colosseum Rome, Italy

We seem to be tied to our electronics now. Phones, tablets, laptops, and other electronic devices are ubiquitous and we may feel lost without them. This can be a good thing or a bad thing. They can be extremely helpful when traveling to unfamiliar areas. Google Maps and the like can help guide you to your destination. But be careful, some areas do not have a good connection and you may find yourself lost. My children are much better with all of that than I am but I’m learning. Being old school I like to have a paper map handy for those times when service is spotty. There were several times that I needed to pull out the paper map. Word of advice – teach your children and grandchildren how to read and use a map. Mine learned early on how to use a map – and even how to refold it. Now with all the electronic devices, you will need to have chargers for each. The thing to remember is that the plugs that work in the US do not work in Europe and other areas. You will need to purchase a special adaptor. Also, the adaptor for Great Britain is different than the one for the rest of Europe. You can purchase adaptors that can be used in both Great Britain and the rest of Europe.

I’ll mention these here but plan to talk more about them later. If you have health issues that require special equipment you will need to plan for that. Do you need a wheelchair or walker? Then you will need to make transportation plans and safety of these items. I have mobility issues but do not require a wheelchair or walker. I did not think I needed any help in this area but a day of touring old castles in England changed my mind. The uneven ground with protruding rocks made it difficult to maintain my balance. We purchased a cane at the first opportunity and it was extremely helpful on several accounts. We found another item helpful because of my issues. At home, I have a handicap card for my car as it is difficult to walk any distance. I do not always use it but it does come in handy. We took it on our trip as it is recognized in Great Britain. 

Farleigh Hungerford Castle England