Plymouth Travel

TRIP CANCELLATION INSURANCE

Optional cancellation insurance is strongly recommended. Participants are urged to review their insurance requirements with their personal insurance agent or consider the CSA policy available from Plymouth Travel. CSA provides coverage for cancelled and interrupted trips, medical costs, travel accidents and lost/stolen baggage. The CSA policy is self-administering. If you would like to purchase coverage, call CSA direct at (800)-348-9505 or access the CSA web-site at www.csatravelprotection.com

Over the years, many minds have accumulated the wisdom gathered on this page. Some is serious and some is lighthearted. We hope you enjoy it all.

10 COMMANDMENTS FOR TRAVELERS

1) Thou shalt not expect to find things as thou has left them at home, for thou has left thy home to find things different.

2) Thou shalt not take anything too seriously, for a carefree mind is the beginning of a vacation.

3) Thou shalt not let other travelers get on thy nerves, for thou art paying good money to have a good time.

4) Remember thy passport and knowest where it is at all times, for a man without a passport is a man without a country.

5) Blessed is the person who can make change in any country, for lo that person shall not be cheated.

6) Blessed is the person who can say "thank you" in any language, for it shall mean more than any tip.

7) Thou shalt not worry. The person that worrieth hath no pleasure - and few things are ever fatal.

8) Thou shalt when in Rome do somewhat as the Romans do; if in difficulty, thou shalt use thy common sense and friendliness.

9) Thou shalt not judge the people of a country by one person with whom thou has had trouble.

10) Remember thou art a guest in every land. Yea, the person that treateth a host with respect shall be treated as an honored guest.

BUYING TRAVEL ONLINE

To Click or Not to Click: Booking & Buying Travel Online and Offline
Many consumers are unsure of whether to use the Internet for researching or buying travel – and if so, when and how. The Internet can be a powerful tool for researching travel. But when you’re ready to buy, the Internet can’t replace the expertise of a trusted travel counselor.

Below are answers to some of the more common questions about researching and buying travel on and offline.

Trip Planning And Destinations

Q: Can I use the Internet to plan a trip?
A: Yes, at least partially. The Internet is great for facts and figures: Thousands of destinations – regions, countries, states and provinces, cities, and park systems – maintain websites. Those sites are great sources for information you need: main features, activities, climate and weather, local transportation, and much more. In fact, your problem is likely to be information overload rather than too little.

But the Internet is seldom able to supply enough depth and detail to allow you to prepare a complete travel plan. You will still probably need good guidebooks and maps (which you can buy online). And you should always speak with a professional travel agent before making a travel purchase.

Q: How about finding out what’s going on at my destination?
A: The Internet is a great resource. Most tourist attractions maintain Websites with complete schedule and price information, as do sports teams, theaters and arenas, cultural programs, and such. Newspaper sites let you access such local details as movie schedules, restaurant reviews, church services times, and much more.

Air Travel

Q: Can I be sure of getting the lowest airfare on the Internet?
A: Sometimes yes, sometimes no. Some really good airfare deals are sold only on the Internet. They’re usually limited and highly restricted, but if you can live with those limits and restrictions, prices can be very good. However, if you need to change your ticket or you make a mistake, customer service is not a strong point of the Internet. You can also buy discounted consolidator air tickets from some Internet sites.

In general, however, the online price is about the same as you’d pay if you buy from a conventional agency. And some sites that claim to search for the “lowest” fares don’t include those discount tickets in their searches, which means they won’t really get you the lowest fare.

Q: Can I use the Internet to find the best flight schedule?
A: Yes, usually. Many websites permit you to specify schedules and search by minimum travel time rather than minimum time. However, some sites exclude some important low-fare airlines from their searches. Also, sometimes it is difficult to discern the flight itinerary or the number of steps and length of layovers.

Q: How about seating?
A: The Internet is helpful but it doesn’t answer all your questions. The main domestic airlines’ websites show their seating charts and dimensions (if you know where to look), but most small US lines and foreign lines don’t provide that information. Also, some websites let you pre-select seats when you reserve, while others don’t.

If your ticket permits, you can usually pre-select a seat by calling an airline’s reservation site, and a knowledgeable travel agent can often not only get you a seat but select one with a bit of extra room.

Package Tours

Q: Can I cut my costs by buying a package tour online?
A: Usually no. You generally pay the same price for a package tour no matter where you buy it. Many wholesale tour operators (the people who put tour packages together) maintain websites, but they don’t cut prices there. You can use the Internet as a source of information, but a travel agent can give you as good a deal – plus, possibly, a few perks or extras.

Q: How about special interest tours?
A: The Internet is a great locator and source of information. It enables some very small niche-market tour operators to reach a national audience. You’ll find almost any imaginable kind of tour on websites maintained by operators of special-interest tours. But prices are usually no lower online than from other sources. And an operator’s website is hardly likely to let you know if the operator is financially sound – information you can often get from a travel agent.

Cruises

Q: Do the cruise lines discount on the Internet?
A:. Generally, no. Even though most of the big cruise lines maintain elaborate websites, they typically don’t cut prices online and many don’t sell online at all.

Q: So where are the cruise discounts available?
A: Lots of agencies – online and offline – provide discount cruise pricing. The Internet is a great way to get an idea of what’s available and the price. But offline sources can usually get the same discounts as you find online and may be able to provide insights on the cruise company and its ships. Cruise specialists can give you firsthand knowledge of the line and help you select cabins, dinner seating and shore excursions.

Accommodations

Q: Is the Internet a good place to find hotel deals?
A: Again, sometimes yes, but not always. Several hotel discounters have websites. And several chains offer Internet-only specials (although they’re often duplicated by parallel non-Internet promotions). But Internet discount prices aren’t always the best you can find. Chain-sponsored promotions are often better, as are deals offered through just about any agency. Your travel agent can also help you select a quality hotel in a convenient location.

Q: What about other accommodations – rentals, B&Bs, and houseboats?
A: The Internet is great way to track down unconventional lodgings. You’ll find hundreds of sites that cover vacation rentals, for example, ranging from large worldwide agencies to individual apartments. Ditto B&Bs, houseboats, rental boats, and such. But the main benefit is in finding the place you want: Prices are usually the same no matter where or how you buy.

Last-Minute Deals And Auctions

Q: Is the Internet a good source for last-minute bargains?
A: Yes, in many cases. The Internet provides an easy way for suppliers to unload airline seats, cruise cabins, and hotel rooms that might otherwise go unsold, at very attractive prices. The Internet is the only place you’ll see some of the best last-minute deals, but others are available just about everywhere.

Q: How about those “auctions” that get so much publicity?
A: They’re fine, but only if (1) you’re willing to let the Internet-based agency select the airline or hotel for your and (2) you really know where to set your bid. Apparently, they work better for high-priced hotel rooms than for air tickets.

Q: Are there any drawbacks to those deals?
A: The obvious ones. You usually find the best prices only a few weeks to a few days in advance – often leaving insufficient time to arrange your schedule. Selection of destinations/cabin classes/flight times/locations may be limited. In many cases, once you buy, you’re stuck, with few if any refund options.

Cautions

Q: Are there any potential pitfalls and traps in using the Internet for travel?
A: Yes, several:

Travelers' checks Bring a mix of traveler's checks, a credit or debit card, an ATM card, a few personal checks and some cash. Bring American dollars for situations when you want to change only a few dollars and not an entire traveler's check. And bring about $50 foreign currency for each country you plan to visit, so you can function easily until you can get to a bank.

Passport (if necessary) A passport, driver's license, any medical alert cards and one credit card can be kept along with paper money in a belt around your waist, leaving your hands free to take pictures or to handle merchandise. Keep a notebook elsewhere with passport and account numbers.

Identification Bring your passport, airline ticket, rail pass or car rental voucher, driver's license, student I. D., hostel card and so on. Photocopies can help you get replacements if the originals are lost or stolen. Carry photocopies separately in your luggage and keep the originals in your money belt.

Hidden money belt You could lose everything except your money belt, and the trip could still go on. Be sure your moneybelt (lightweight and low-profile beige is best) is fastened securely or it could slip off unnoticed (especially if you're wearing a skirt). In addition to threading the belt through the D-rings, knot it.

Small bottle of shampoo (preferably concentrated) Look for sample/travel-size toiletries, or squeeze your regular products into small plastic bottles. Square bottles fit together well, taking up less space and weight than cylindrical bottles. Don't fill bottles to the top if flying because air pressure may cause the contents to expand and explode. These should all be packed in a heavy plastic bag in case of leakage.

Soap (bar or liquid) You may not need to bring a bar of soap: most hotels provide a small one. Bring an empty travel soap holder, and just save and reuse the hotel's complimentary bar.

Nail clippers, nail file As well as clear nail polish and remover if you have weak nails (nails easily get chipped with all the activities and luggage-carrying).

One lipstick/one eye liner/shadow If necessary. Try for trial sizes wherever possible.

Roll of dense pack toilet paper Space saving methods like these should leave your bag only two-thirds full to provide room for snacks and souvenirs.

Tampons All feminine products (even many of the same brands) are sold all over the world, but it's easier to figure out how many tampons, pads, or panty shields you'll need in advance and bring them with you rather than having to buy a large box in a foreign country.

Plastic zip baggies Use large Ziplock bags or mesh bags to keep items separate and visible, and to keep together what you need together. Also great for saving a little lunch from the breakfast buffet, leftover picnic food, containing wetness, and bagging potential leaks before they happen.

In general, every piece of clothing should match at least two other items or have at least two uses. Certain items are specific to destination, temperature or season. Use common sense and limit yourself to the bare necessities in these instances.

Spare eyeglasses, contact lenses Many find their otherwise-comfortable contacts just don't work for them while on vacation. Bring your glasses just in case. Contact solutions are widely available.

Sunhat (not just a visor) Save yourself a headache, or worse yet, a sunstroke.

Guidebook Make photocopies or rip pages out from books. Entire guidebooks are bulky and heavy.

Maps Rip out appropriate chapters from guidebooks, staple them together, and store in a zip-lock baggie.

Camera If you're not a professional photographer, a couple of throw-away cameras will do. If you are, put a new battery in your camera before you go. Bring a protective and polarizing lens, midrange zoom lens, cleaning tissue and a trip's worth of film. Store everything in a low-profile nylon stuff bag, not an expensive-looking camera bag. Too much camera gear can mark you as a typical tourist, giving con artists the idea you're helpless. What’s more, changing locations becomes a major operation. With one bag hanging on your back, you're mobile and in control -- and less likely to have your luggage and camera get lost, broken or stolen.

2AA flashlight, with spare bulb and batteries Handy for reading under the sheets after "lights out" in the hostel, late night trips down the hall and exploring castles and caves.

*Swiss army knife with corkscrew Great for peeling fruit or whatever else might arise.

Mini sewing kit Try on your outfits before you leave to make sure no buttons are missing and things still fit. But bring a needle and thread and a couple of safety pins, just in case.

Mesh or nylon bags When deciding what to take with you, anticipate articles that you may want to purchase at your destination. And, always include a collapsible nylon tote bag that will fit easily into your luggage to accommodate new purchases.

Whistle For scaring away possible thieves or getting the attention of those you are traveling with when in busy, noisy areas.

Journal and pen A tiny notepad in your back pocket is a great organizer, reminder, and communication aid, and an empty book filled with the experiences of your trip will be your most treasured souvenir. Keep a traveler's check and expenses log in the appendix.

Mini address book Use it to send postcards home and collect new addresses, though just a square of paper with these addresses will take up less space.

Wallet Daybags and convertible daybags/fanny packs are also popular, but some women prefer the type of bags that look more like a purse, which sling across your body for safety, and are easier to access than a daybag on your back.

Sleeping bag along with inflatable pillows for more comfortable napping on trains, planes and beaches.

Sleep sheet Hostels require one. Bring your own (sewn up like a sleeping bag), buy one, or rent a sheet at hostels (about $4 per stay). It doubles as a beach or picnic blanket, comes in handy on overnight train rides, shields you from dirty blankets in mountain huts, and will save you money in other dorm-type accommodations, which often charge extra for linen or don't provide it at all.

Paperback book/cassette or mini-cassette player/recorder There's plenty of time on a trip to just kick back and relax and enjoy some good reading/music along with the scenery.

Hair dryer Essential in the winter and for those with long or thick hair. And it doubles as a sock dryer! To save money, buy a compact travel hairdryer with a built-in voltage converter rather than buy a converter for your regular hairdryer. Remember to bring a plug adapter. If you must bring a curling iron, consider the cordless ones with canister fuel -- but check with your airline's regulations regarding the fuel. For international travel, it is advisable to take along an electrical adapter kit for your hair dryer, shaver or travel iron. Most European countries run on 220 volts rather than 110. Your electrical adapter kit will not only convert the voltage, but also accommodate foreign plug designs.

*Post-September 11 FAA regulations mean you CANNOT bring these items on the plane and should perhaps consider not bringing these items -- or others that pose a potential threat – with you whenever possible to avoid complications when traveling.

Limit yourself to 20 pounds in a carry-on-size bag. A 9" x 22" x 14" bag fits under most airplane seats.

If you have to force your luggage to close, remove a few items to prevent broken hinges or zippers along the way.

You may want to consider the "interweaving method" of packing for your trip. Drape longer garments such as dresses and pants across the suitcase with the ends hanging over the sides. Then fold shorter items such as jackets, shirts and blouses around the longer garments so that the clothes cushion each other. Placing a piece of tissue paper between each layer of clothing will also help prevent wrinkling.

Always carry your travel documents, medication, jewelry, traveler's checks, keys and other valuables in your carry-on luggage. Items such as these should NEVER be packed in luggage that you plan to check.

If you plan to fly with skis, golf clubs or other special luggage, check with the airline to see whether special containers for these items are available. Many airlines provide this service free of charge.

A small nylon daypack is great for carrying your sweater, camera, literature and picnic goodies while you leave your large bag at the hotel or train station. Fanny packs (small bags with thief-friendly zippers on a belt) are a popular alternative but should not be used as money belts.

Include a copy of your itinerary with your business address and your destination in your luggage in the event you and your bags get temporarily separated. This information will help minimize any delay in retrieving lost luggage.

Pack tightly. Packing loosely wastes precious space and causes clothes to wrinkle.

Tight and restrictive clothing makes heavy activity difficult and uncomfortable.

Heavy, molded luggage is a burden to carry around. Opt for softer, yet durable, luggage with wheels.

* Since September 11, 2001, airlines have imposed strict regulations on the sizes and the amount of luggage passengers may check. Travelers who fail to check size requirements before their flights may be charged with hundreds of dollars in fines in order to bring the bag on board the aircraft. To avoid such issues, we advise you consult with the individual airlines' Web sites or Customer Service lines.