by David McGuffin | Apr 24, 2013 | Essential Travel Resources
Take a 60 second break from your routine!
My favorite alpine destination is the Lauterbrunnen Valley in Switzerland. You’ve got be trying to go there to get there. The pristine valley is located near the end of a road that dead ends into a glacier. Lauterbrunnen is a bit off the beaten path to say the least.
My BEST OF GERMANY, AUSTRIA, SWITZERLAND, AND FRANCE tour makes a two- night stop here in this beautiful valley. It is like taking a day off from touring and provides a great opportunity to slow down and relax. There are many possible walks and hikes in the area. Most combine a series of mountain lifts, gondolas, railways, and trails. All trails are open to the public, even if there are fences. Just close the gate behind you so the cows won’t escape!
Enjoy the video!
David McGuffin
by David McGuffin | Apr 17, 2013 | Essential Travel Resources
Take a 60 second break from your routine!
At David McGuffin’s EXPLORING EUROPE we provide a wealth of free travel related information in the form of videos, blog posts, reader feedback, and tour alumni evaluations. Your European adventure starts here!
by David McGuffin | Feb 26, 2013 | Essential Travel Resources
by Audra Dupuis
My fist trip with David McGuffin’s Exploring Europe was a six-day trip to Ireland. When I found out that I had to pack in one little suitcase… I panicked. How on earth could I pack that many warm clothes in such a small space? After trial and error, reading blogs on packing, and talking to family members, I was finally packed. Since that first trip I have managed to take multiple trips of varying lengths, all with only one carry-on bag and a backpack, cute clothes and more then one pair of boots! How can this be done, you ask? I am here to tell you my secrets!
Packing Secrets…
First, ensure that your suitcase is the right size. For this trip your carry-on needs to be no larger than 22in x 16in x 9.5in. This includes the wheels, so don’t take the manufacturers word for it. Place your suitcase, wheels down, on a flat surface and measure ALL of it.
Second, pick out all of your clothes, shoes, and accessories for the trip. Make sure you pack layers, warm socks, and warm shoes. Running tennis shoes are not the warmest shoes, because they are designed to breathe. If they are all you own, then no problem, just pack some warm wool socks.
Third, put a third of it back. We are chronic over-packers, especially women. Put back the shoes that are cute, but not warm or comfy. Put back that “just in case” outfit. And for girls, all of your makeup should fit in one little sandwich baggie. Pick your favorite makeup look and only pack the stuff for that. Each hotel has a hair blow-dryer, you do not need to pack one.
Fourth, plan to wear the bulkiest things on the plane. Wear your biggest pair of shoes, your thickest scarf, maybe a sweater, and your coat onto the plane. You can remove these items as soon as you board, but doing this will free up space in your bag.
Fifth, roll your clothes and place them in gallon Ziploc bags. Push the air out of the bag as you close it. I like to put clothes in bags by outfit so my luggage is well organized and I don’t have to search for things.
Sixth, fill your bulky shoes, if they will not flattened, with socks or underwear. You want to use every available space!
Seventh, fill it up! Time to make it all fit. This may take more then one try. If it does not all fit, find something you can live without and leave it at home.
Below is my personal packing list. Feel free to change it, print it, and use it. If you don’t use my list, find a different one you do like. A list is the best way to ensure nothing gets left behind.
Audra Dupuis
audra@davidmcguffin.com
Packing List
On the Way
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Sun Glasses |
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Book, downloaded on phone |
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Travel Journal |
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Chapstick |
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Pen |
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Camera |
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iPod |
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Camera Charger |
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iPod charger |
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Earplugs |
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Money and Documents
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Arrival and Departure Times |
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Passport |
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Driver’s license |
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Credit Card |
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Insurance Cards |
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C.C., Freeze Number |
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Cash, US |
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Cash, Euro |
Clothes
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Underwear |
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Boots- black |
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Long underwear |
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Tights |
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Socks |
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Boots- brown |
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3 Sweaters |
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Jeans |
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Skinny Jeans |
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2 Long-sleeve shirts |
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Colored Shirt |
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T-shirt |
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Dress |
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PJs |
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Coat |
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Scarf |
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SCHS Sweatshirt |
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SCHS Long T-shirt |
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Khakis |
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Toiletries
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Make-up |
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Deodorant |
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Shampoo/ Conditioner |
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Brush |
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Soap |
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Lotion |
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Toothbrush/ paste |
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Hair Stuff |
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Medicine |
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Before we go
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Tell bank/ credit cards we are leaving |
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Snacks
by David McGuffin | Nov 23, 2012 | Essential Travel Resources
Charlotte and I are gearing up for a trip to Germany and Austria to visit a few European Christmas Markets. Traveling in the winter requires a little more thought in terms of packing, layering, and staying protected from the elements. However, with a little planning, one can pack light and efficiently while still being bundled and comfortable.
Before pulling all your winter clothes out of storage, here are some things to consider:
- Prepare for the “worst” weather.
- Remember that no matter how bad the weather gets, you’ll probably be out in it “touring.” You don’t want to travel halfway around the world just to stay in your hotel room when the weather turns bad.
- Daylight hours are much shorter. Darkness brings cooler temperatures, dampness, and a chill in the air.
- You’ll most likely run into some snow and ice. Depending on how recent the storm… roads, streets, and sideways may not be plowed. Plan to be flexible with your itinerary.
- A sunny day in the snow is just as bright as being at the beach. Don’t forget sunscreen and sunglasses.
- Layered clothing makes more “travel” sense. Use the “wrap and peel” method to adapt to changing temperatures.
- Don’t pack your heavy winter coat in your suitcase. Instead, wear it onto your flight and stow it in the overhead bin. This will save loads of space in your suitcase!
CHARLOTTE’S WINTER PACKING LIST
Address specific questions to: charlotte@davidmcguffin.com.
• One Heavy Winter Coat – hip length or longer;
• Gloves;
• Earmuffs;
• Several scarves for fashion and warmth;
• At least one hat;
• Small travel umbrella;
• Boots/shoes that are comfortable, well broken-in, and travel tested;
• Thermal socks;
• Five pairs of pants and/or jeans;
• Long-sleeved fashion tee shirts;
• Sweaters and Turtleneck shirts;
• “Cuddle-duds” (long underwear) from JC Penney;
• Underwear and bras for the trip’s duration.
DAVID’S WINTER PACKING LIST
Address specific questions to: david@davidmcguffin.com.
• Hip-length wool pea coat;
• Gloves;
• Earmuffs;
• Several scarves for fashion and warmth;
• At least one hat;
• Small travel umbrella;
• One pair water-proof Gortex boots that are comfortable, well broken-in, and travel tested;
• three pairs of light-weight, moisture-wicking socks;
• two pairs of pants and/or jeans;
• Four moisture-wicking long-sleeved tee shirts;
• Four long-sleeved cotton button-down shirts;
• Two lightweight cashmere sweaters;
• Four pairs of underwear;
• One pair of lightweight silk “long-johns.”
Even with these “massive” packing lists, we still manage to travel with a carry-on sized suitcase and one addition “personal” piece of luggage. I generally bring along my Exploring Europe drawstring backpack. Charlotte, on the other hand, adds a “Vera Bradley” duffle to her collection. Packing in this manner helps us remain “mobile” in the airports, on the planes, on the bus, on public transportation, and all over those cobbled streets and narrow staircases of Europe.
by David McGuffin | Sep 7, 2012 | Destinations, Essential Travel Resources, Photography
Dave Davis is a friend who has traveled on several tours with me. He is an avid photographer and always seems to come up with some good photos. Recently, he provided some handy hints on photography and archiving the digital images. In the next few day, Dave is going to share some of his hints.
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Now for a few other hints . . .
When taking a sequence of pictures that, for instance, a series of pictures scanning the horizon, I find it more natural to display the images arranged from left to right of how they exist.
When taking a wide angle picture and then various zoom or close up shots, I find it more natural to show the wide angle first and then zero in on the close ups.
When taking pictures of a type of object (flower, animal, sculpture work, streetscape scene, etc.) that occurs intermittently through the visited place, I find it better to re-organize the pictures to groups of the same type of object. Put all the streetscape images together, put all the flowers together, put all the dog pictures together, etc.
Then you might cull down the photo set for that visited place to the best handful of each type of shot. Three, four, five, or six is often okay, but soon the person you may be sharing your vacation pictures with is beginning to wonder if the dog pictures are ever going to end. (Now imagine being invited over to old George’s house to see his 400 random pictures of fall foliage along the Blue Ridge! Oh, I think I am feeling a little sick. I better go home!!)
There will be some exceptions, but most people will find these hints as a better way to create a good photo collection as their own keepsake, or to share with others.
-Dave Davis
by David McGuffin | Aug 31, 2012 | Destinations, Essential Travel Resources, Photography
Dave Davis is a friend who has traveled on several tours with me. He is an avid photographer and always seems to come up with some good photos. Recently, he provided some handy hints on photography and archiving the digital images. In the next few day, Dave is going to share some of his hints.
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One fall we traveled with another couple up the Blue Ridge Parkway. George had just bought a new camera as a gift for his wife. He quickly commandeered the camera for his own use and proceeded to take 5-10 shots of the view from EVERY pull off along the way! We would drive to the next overlook and George would jump out and start taking pictures – left or right, close-up or far away. Whatever caught his eye. This was back in the day of film cameras and he paid a pile of money to get the rolls developed. He was so excited to get the prints back but after looking at 10 or 15 pictures he realized he had made some major mistakes. What he had hoped would be a fine documentation of the great fall scenery along all the pull-offs on the Blue Ridge ended up being a collection of over 400 random pictures that all started to look alike. They, as a collection, became meaningless.
Digital cameras make the process of organizing your pictures quite easy and would have solved some of George’s mistakes. When one cuts away all the bells and whistles of digital cameras, their most basic functions are to take the picture, save the pictures and assign a number in the order in which it was taken.
Additionally, digital cameras are generally very easy and quick to download, only requiring hitting of a couple buttons or plugging them into your laptop, or another device. I try to download my pictures each evening and keep the digital copies in a separate file from that stored in the camera. At the same time, I usually do a quick editing job and delete unwanted pictures from the copy collection. Some cameras have the ability to organize on their memory chip. That is fine, but if your camera dies or goes missing during a trip, all the pictures you have taken might be lost.
When downloading my photos (or files) most systems allow you to “tag” or label the images/files. I simply use an “a” for the pictures taken the first day, “b” for the pictures taken on the second day, and so on. My individual photos will be then identified as “a001, a002, a003 . . .” Downloading usually only takes a minute or so to complete, and with it being done, I feel much better about having a remotely stored back up copy of my photos.
Usually, I wait until I return home to do the final organizing of my photo collection. Often it becomes a better collection if I re-arrange the order in which they appear. For instance, you might not take the introduction/identification picture of a visited place at the very beginning of the visit. Renaming the photo file is a very simple task on the computer. Just type in a new number/name and you are done! The renamed picture will automatically move into alphabetical/numerical order in the set.
-Dave Davis
Jump to Dave’s next article with more photo tips and tricks.
