by David McGuffin | Jun 17, 2011 | Adventures in Tour Guiding, Essential Travel Resources
Jason Duckett is a friend who has traveled to Europe many times with me. He is heading off on his own with a group from Jacksonville, Florida to meet up with me next week in Rome. He, wrote this email to his group members offering the following pre-departure advice:
Oh boyoboyoboyoboyoboy, it’s almost here everyone!
I just scanned the weather for the first few days in Italy; it will be normal temps (low to mid 80’s) and I can promise you the humidity will be much lower than here in Florida and free of hazy smoky grossness as well. Switzerland in the 60’s, France in the 70’s. Aaaahhhh…….
Lorin and I did a practice pack the other day. I have so much room left in the suitcase, I might even bring one more shirt. Actually, I wont because I know the foolishness in overpacking. For the first time travelers, I beg you, please fight that urge to get out the bigger suitcase!! You dont need it and it throws off the schedule in Rome BIG TIME if we have to wait for your luggage at the baggage claim. Furthermore, I shudder to think what would happen if your bag didnt make it at all. Trade three of those extra outfits you’re cramming in the suitcase for a tiny bottle of detergent, rinse out some things in the Cinque Terre or Switzerland, and smile! Nobody will point and laugh that they have already seen you in that shirt. We are all friends here.
Some more random thoughts…
Tomorrow I will start getting to bed early and getting up earlier; I found adjusting my body clock here made it easier once we got overseas. Lorin will do it a little bit as well, but she seems to make the transition better than me. To fill those early, early mornings, I plan to walk. If you are not a big exercise person (and I am not), at least try to do some walking before we go. I mentioned it before but it bears repeating: we will walk a LOT on this trip. David walks at what I would refer to as a “band director pace,” which others might define as a moderate jog or as one person put it a few years ago, “I wish that
#$*&@% would slow down!” We have lots to see so I cant blame him. We do cover a lot of ground though, especially in the big cities and in the hills of the Cinque Terre, so be ready.
Last time I was in Florence, I found an old opera score in a used bookstore. I thought and thought about buying it but didnt. Later I decided to go for it, but we got turned around and couldn’t find the store. Yuck! If you see something you love, get it! You may never be there again. Volterra is full of alabaster and marble. Switzerland is great for watches and clocks (and chocolate). Wine is everywhere. Beaune has amazing food. Florence is great for leather and pashminka wraps. Jewelry is all over Italy and Paris is, well, Paris. Don’t go crazy, but do find something memorable to bring home. I WILL find that bookstore this time!
Make copies of your passport, driver’s license, and credit cards front and back, in case the unthinkable happens. Consider leaving a copy with someone at home, so they can make calls if needed. The money belt is a MUST HAVE on this trip.
When I called my cell phone company to let them know when and where I would be traveling, I got confirmation of the cost of phone calls (reasonable), texts (sort of reasonable), and the use of the internet, which was very very very unreasonable. If I had left my smart phone on for this trip and done the facebook posts, email checks, etc., the cost would have been in the hundreds of dollars! Confirm and reconfirm what using your phone will cost over there and adjust as needed. You might be able to buy an international plan (for a month then cancel) and every carrier is different. Call the bank and credit card companies to let them know of your travel or you might get denied when you want to make a purchase.
See you Monday bright and early at the airport. DONT FORGET YOUR PASSPORT!
Ciao!
Jason
by David McGuffin | Apr 19, 2011 | Essential Travel Resources
Updated: November 28, 2015
I preach packing light
After each trip, I always seem to find some item, which I thought was necessary, yet I never used. Packing light often causes those who travel with me to struggle with what to pack for their tour. Invariably, they always pack too much and regret it as the tour moves along.
Travel only with carry-on luggage
Limiting your luggage to a small carry-on sized suitcase forces you to pack lighter. Believe me, you will appreciate my advice when you have to carry your bags up several flights of stairs; through subway tunnels, stairs and platforms; and overall the uneven cobbled streets. Many of my hotels are located in the historic city center where a tour bus or smaller vehicle cannot go. There is no option in this case, you will have to drag your suitcase from the vehicle to the hotel. It’s not fun!
Tour alumni, Jim and Roberta, traveled with me in Italy for 16 days with only the luggage you see here. They are my all-time “light packer” champions.
I travel for several months with just one small roller-board suitcase
Regardless of my destination, I travel with one small suitcase approximately 9x14x20 (2100 cubic inches of space) and a small carry-on backpack. Currently, I use a wheeled carry-on type suitcase that seems to meet my needs. However, a backpack or duffle will work just as well. The trick is to make sure it is small, easily transportable, and lightweight. I carry a seven-day supply of clothes and plan to wash items in my hotel sink every couple of days. Additionally, once every two weeks I visit a laundromat to do a proper load of laundry, often dropping it off in the morning and collecting it all, fresh and clean, late in the afternoon.
Think about how long you will be on vacation
My tours generally last eight to fourteen days. I recommend packing enough outer clothing to last at least 1/2 the trip. Jeans and pants are fine. Ladies do not need a dress or anything fancy. Plan on bringing shirts and blouses that can be mixed and matched with different layering options. This makes it possible to design multiple outfits from a few pieces of staple clothing items. Sweaters and jackets are great for layering.
Don’t make this mistake
Sometimes, no matter how much I preach packing light, people don’t listen. This group of high schoolers win my all-time award for the most luggage on a tour. On this particular morning, we had to hoof it for about half a mile, through a small medieval town, to get from the hotel to the bus.
Airline Requirements
Nowadays, packing for an airline trip requires a great deal of thought. It seems that all the USA air carriers are imposing mandatory “checked baggage” fees of $15 to $25 per bag. Additionally, they are limiting the size and weight of the bags you can “carry on” to put in the overhead bin or under the seat in front of you. Unfortunately, these “rules” change often.
Your Adventure Starts Here! Start it by being happy… pack light!
-David McGuffin
Here’s a link to another article about packing: Cool Weather Packing Tips
If you are traveling in the winter, take a look at my “Winter Packing Tips.”
by David McGuffin | Mar 12, 2011 | Essential Travel Resources
Questions about airline ticketing and the TSA’s Secure Flight Program often come up when booking airline tickets. Here is my distilled version of the TSA’s behind-the-scene watchlist program.
Since November 1, 2010 airline passengers are require to provide “secure flight information” to the TSA when booking an airline ticket originating or terminating in the USA. This information contains your official name as it appears on government issued ID, gender and birthday (and redress # if necessary).
When booking an airline ticket online, this information is collected at the end of your booking progress. It is best to provide one’s full name (first, middle and last) including suffixes such as Jr. and III.
Some people, whose name closely matches a name of a known suspected threat to security may request a “redress number” which separates them form the name of the person who is on the TSA’s “known threats” list.
For complete information visit this link at the TSA website.
by David McGuffin | Mar 11, 2011 | Essential Travel Resources
Today, I am off to Europe for a few weeks of tour guiding. Before I get there and start to work, I decided to try an experiment with my flight attendants.
I often notice tha flight attendants put up with a lot of unecessary abuse from airline passengers. They work hard and must always have a smile on their face.
So today I delivered a Starbucks gift card to all the flight attendants on my flight to Zurich. I’m interested to see if it puts a smile on their face and makes them happy. I’ll let you know.
David
by David McGuffin | Jan 5, 2011 | Adventures in Tour Guiding, Essential Travel Resources
Exploring Europe’s travel philosophy is simple…inspire people to have fun traveling in Europe by providing stress-free group tours and informative publications designed to equip them for their travels. I believe you’ve got to visit the “must-see” tourist sights, but once the touring is done, slow down and experience Europe!
Every year we helped many people slow down and enjoy their travels. A picnic under the Eiffel Tower, an impromptu bus ride when the subway closed early, a moonlit walk in the Swiss Alps with waterfalls roaring in the background, a festival of 7,000 bagpipers in Scotland, a lone crooner singing his heart out in an Irish pub, a gourmet Parisian dinner with a singing waitress…..
At David McGuffin’s Exploring Europe, we are eager to get your next trip out of your mind and on to the calendar. Think about touring with me, I’d love to show you around!
by David McGuffin | Dec 16, 2010 | David's Journal, Essential Travel Resources
Venice 1977
It used to be that the most expensive part of a Europe trip was the flight. Once arriving one could live a pretty good life on less than $40 a day. I can remember my first trip to Europe. In 1977 I was a member of the Florida Junior College Chorale and we traveled to Europe for three weeks on a concert tour. Much of the tour’s expenses were funded by the College, however each of us were required to pay $900 to cover the tour expenses. NINE HUNDRED DOLLARS! That was for the flights, hotels, transportation, most meals, and tours.
Pictured in the photo above (from left to right) is Brian, Eva, Pam, David, and Doug on the canal in Venice. That’s Casanova there in the back pushing the gondola along.
My records from 1977 show that $1 USD = 877 It.lira. Here are my total expenses for my seven days in Italy:
$.57 – Cola
$5.81- Dinner
$1.42 – Breakfast
$.39 – Cola
$1.14 – Pizza
$2.28 – Hamburger (my, my…how my tastes have changed)
$1.02 – Banana Split
$2.28 – Lunch
$4.33 – Lunch
$2.77 – Lunch
$2.28 – Lunch
$3.42 – Lunch
$6.27 – Disco and drinks
$5.70 – Drinks and entertainment on Piazza San Marco (Venice)
$2.85 – Venice Guidebook
$3.42 – Florence Guidebook
$3.42 – Rome Guidebook
