The Little Book of Travel Wisdom关于旅行

Before You Go

1. Immunization Tips

Hepatitis A and B, malaria, typhoid fever, anyone? These are among the most serious diseases travelers can prevent with vaccination or pre-trip medication. Yet more than half of U.S. travelers headed to high-risk disease areas fail to seek travel health information prior to departure—a costly move, considering the bad bugs out there. Although most medical insurance plans don't cover vaccines or prophylaxes for the following illnesses, an ounce of prevention is worth the price. Hepatitis A and B vaccines (three shots over six months, $80-200) provide protection for at least 15 years. Mosquito-borne malaria is prevented by daily pills such as Doxycycline and Malarone ($60-150). Contaminated food and drink could cause typhoid fever; a shot ($70-120) or live, oral vaccine ($50) helps stave off this infection. To avoid being vaccinated at the border (or possible quarantine) check entry requirements before departure and carry proof of vaccination. If you shouldn't get a vaccine for health reasons, be sure to carry a doctor's signed waiver. Consult the Centers for Disease Control and the World Health Organization.

2. Passports/Visas

Obtaining travel documents for your trip has become more complicated due to tightened security post 9/11. Passports cost $55-85 and have a turnaround processing time averaging six weeks (expedited service costs an extra $60). Plan ahead as some countries require passports to be valid at least six months prior to your arrival. Parents, keep in mind a new State Department rule: Young travelers (age 14 and under) must apply in person for a passport or renewal. Acquiring a visa can also be a challenge. Don't assume you don't need one: Call your destination's embassy in advance to learn visa requirements, fees, and application processing times as they can vary widely. Australia, for example, has a simple online visa application costing $14 (20 AUD). Brazil, on the other hand, now requires Americans to obtain a visa prior to departure and charges a $100 fee. For a country-by-country list of document requirements and American passport guidance, visit the U.S. State Department online.

3. Essentials to Go

Among handy items to pack, you'll find that Ziploc bags are the most useful— good for wet swimsuits, medication, shampoo bottles, soap, and dirty laundry. Duct tape (wrap a few feet around a pen for later use) comes in handy if the strap on your favorite sandals breaks or the handle on your suitcase snaps. Avoid camera calamities and pack extra batteries in addition to extra film; also an extra watch battery. A Swiss army knife (keep it in your checked luggage) has multiple uses on the road, and a pocket calculator helps with figuring out tips and taxes on local purchases. Jennifer Smith, a frequent traveler who roams the country on business, includes "antibacterial pads to wipe the phone, TV remote, and light switch in hotel rooms, even in five-star hotels." A lint roller will freshen up your dark clothes, and spot remover will save you from a trip to the dry cleaner. A small, portable white noise machine with earphones is great for long plane rides and noisy city hotels. Bring a copy of your medicine and eyeglass prescriptions in case you need to refill them during your trip. Other things to have on hand: Deet-based bug repellent, antacid tablets, 24-hour non-drowsy cold and flu medicine, and Band-Aids. Finally, bring an extra shoulder bag to carry purchases home.

4. Don't be a Pack Rat

Sharpen your packing skills and save yourself loads of travel stress. Pack your bags a day before your trip, then remove five to ten items. Choose light, wrinkle-free fabric clothing. Make sure that some of your clothing does double-duty: a sarong can be used as a skirt and beach cover-up. Have your clothes laundered at a hotel or wash them yourself (use hotel shampoo). Not enough room in your suitcase? Try PackMate VacuSacs ($18 for two). Place clothes in a plastic bag and squeeze out excess air. Always pack a swimsuit, and wear layers on the airplane (which saves room in your suitcase). And remember: You can usually buy needed clothing on the road.

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5. One Room, Three Prices
\"You really have to shop around to find a great rate on a hotel room,\" says Traveler contributing editor Christopher Elliott. Start with discount websites, such as Quikbook.com, but also go to the hotel's website to compare, then call the hotel, and inquire about available promotional rates or discounts for AAA, AARP memberships, or credit card programs. Also ask if they have a best-rate policy, where they guarantee other outlets won't beat them. \"Hotels don't like to see lower prices than theirs on someone else's website,\" says Elliott. If you do book through a third-party website, always call to confirm your reservation directly with the hotel before arriving.

6. The Price of a Free Ticket
Some people call them \"frequent frustration miles\" because, as exciting as a free flight might sound, it can be maddening to redeem frequent-flier points for tickets. Limited capacity, inconvenient scheduling, expired miles, frustrating point requirements, and processing fees contribute to making point savings more hassle than helpful. A few tips: The best practice is to focus your spending on a single airline-affiliated credit card; you'll accrue miles more quickly and turn them into tickets more easily. US Airways, for example, offers a Visa card that awards customers who spend $25,000 in one calendar year with 10,000 miles that go toward their preferred status. Unaffiliated travel-reward credit cards (not endorsed by any airline) tend to lack the mileage-earning power of airline-affiliated cards, and the earned miles typically can't be combined within a frequent-flier program. Websites such as FrequentFlier.com and InsideFlyer.com offer comparisons of many of the major travel rewards cards. When redeeming frequent- flier miles, take into account blackout dates, peak travel periods, length-of-stay restrictions, alternative airports or partner airlines, and all the other annoying fine print. Don't overlook alternative redemption options, such as exchanging miles for products and college-savings plans.

7. Background Check
If you're not satisfied with the State Department's briefing on your next travel destination, contact a travel security company, such as iJET Travel Risk Management, which briefs you on health care and transportation risks at your destination from $25; Intelliguide offers up-to-the-minute security analyses from $83; International SOS gives you the scoop on local medical care and access to doctors and medical evacuation from $55 (single-trip membership); or GlobalOptions, which asks on-the-ground personnel to evaluate the security risks of your itinerary and provides escorts from $125 an hour.

8. When to Take a Pass on Rail Passes
Multiple-stop train passes don't always save you money. Depending on your itinerary, you could end up paying more for passes when standard point-to-point tickets would be preferable. Railpass options (single or multiple country, passenger class, number of allowable stops, discounts for traveling groups, Rail 'n Drive packages) sometimes add to the confusion. Begin comparison shopping on Rick Steves's Guide to European Railpasses, which details bargains by country and provides rough fare maps; also included are itineraries, tips on making the most of your pass, and purchasing options. The European Railway Server's Web site provides links to the timetables of most of Europe's national railways, so you can begin planning your trip (to the minute!) from home. For more information and railpass purchases, visit Rail Europe online.

9. Do You Need Travel Insurance?
Most trips have steep penalty charges for canceling at the last minute. If you think there are reasonable odds that you might not be able to make the trip (medical condition, unstable situation in your destination) or if you're traveling with a group of friends, travel insurance is a smart option. Base your decision on the amount of money you're spending, your tolerance for financial risk, and the cost of the policy. \"With terrorism and political uncertainty in a significant percentage of the world, trip cancellation insurance is worth considering,\" says marketing consultant Mark Kantor. But read the fine print carefully, because each policy is slightly different. Most policies include medical coverage, trip protection, baggage loss, and medical evacuation. But policies differ in coverage of weather disasters, terrorism, and preexisting medical conditions. No policy will refund your money if you change your mind about taking a trip. Policies cost between 5 and 7.5 percent of the trip's cost (most base rates start at under $100). Top trip insurance providers include: Travel Guard, Travelex, and Global Alert.

10. Fare Strategies
Airlines once offered their best fares on Wednesdays. But big sales, which induced fare wars by midweek, are less common now, says Traveler contributing editor Christopher Elliott. Comparison shopping is a must if you're looking for the best deal. Try online consolidators, such as One Travel, Priceline, Hotwire, where airlines can disguise their low rates. Don't forget to look at the airline's own website, call its toll-free number, or ask a travel agent who may have access to consolidators' fares.

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