I asked my globetrotting facebook friends and twitter followers to share their favorite travel tips for planning the perfect trip. From hard-won wisdom to practical advice, here’s what they had to say…
1. Air travel in US - Dress for security screening; no belts, buckles or bows! Seriously, undressing in public is a pain for all! Via @BronaCos
2. Don’t overschedule! Leave lots of time for wandering, I like to make just one real plan a day and leave the rest to serendipity! Via @SophiaDembling
3. Kathy Dragon Travel light. Feeling weighed down by luggage, packing and repacking, especially if you are moving about, can take the fun out. Carry on is the only way to go. Samsonite Spinner can carry everything, really.
4. Sheri Anderson Wallace For families, I recommend avoiding DVDs and video games as much as possible. It’s counter-intuitive but they really are long-term losers because they teach a short attention span. Nothing with an on/off switch.
5. I pack an empty water bottle in my carry on so I can fill up at a water fountain past security. Via @jesstagirl
6. Serendipity Traveler Spontaneity and Serendipity are two essentials for traveling well.
7. Margalit Sturm Francus Plan ahead, close your eyes and envision a plan A and B to every day/stop to eliminate surprises!
8. Lauren Hefferon Reaching perfection in travel, as in life, can prove frustrating and futile. How about setting overall goals for one’s travel like: learning, cultural exchange, absolutely doing nothing or completing an new adventure. Recently for me it’s been to blend a visit to the world’s great cycling cities into my travels. So far we have been to Copenhagen, Portland and this year Barcelona. Welcoming Serendipity is always one of my general rules. Ask me more if you like!
9. Anne Dimon For anyone heading to Italy, especially the Tuscany region, I highly recommend Adler Thermae Spa Resort. Plan to spend at least a couple of days. It’s fabulous!
10. Serendipity Traveler Start your travels well rested , spend enough time to immerse yourself and talk to locals everywhere.
11. Lauren Hefferon Reaching perfection in travel, as in life, can prove frustrating and futile. How about setting overall goals for one’s travel like: learning, cultural exchange, absolutely doing nothing or completing an new adventure. Recently for me it’s been to blend a visit to the world’s great cycling cities into my travels. So far we have been to Copenhagen, Portland and this year Barcelona. Welcoming Serendipity is always one of my general rules. Ask me more if you like!
12. Allie Avernie Almario Learn to laugh at yourself on the road, wherever you are. Laughter is a free and universal currency that everyone understands, whether you’re in Madagascar or Malaysia. Except possibly in North Korea. I don’t think they laugh much there.
Join the conversation, post a comment below and share your own tips with other travelers.
About Ellen Barone: Consumer travel expert Ellen Barone is the founder and publisher of TravelUpdatesbyEllenBarone.com and YourLifeIsATrip.com. She’s currently at work on her first book - I COULD LIVE HERE. Click here to learn more or stay connected on Twitter at,Facebook, Google+, Pinterest and LinkedIn.
Ellen Barone is an American writer and wanderer. She co-founded and publishes the group travel blog YourLifeIsATrip.com and is currently at work on her first book "I Could Live Here".
THIS JUST IN…
Now you can tap into the travel wisdom of your friends. TripAdvisor(R), the world’s largest travel site*, today announced the launch of its groundbreaking “TripAdvisor(R) Trip Friends” feature, allowing travellers to get advice from their Facebook(R) friends on TripAdvisor to plan their next vacation. Supplementing the site’s more than 35 million reviews and opinions from real travellers around the world, the wisdom of crowds on TripAdvisor is now enhanced by the wisdom of friends, delivering personalised recommendations.
“As the world’s largest travel site, we’re thrilled to continue revolutionising the travel industry by providing our community with exciting new access to their friends’ valuable advice about travel,” said Steve Kaufer, founder and CEO of TripAdvisor. “With TripAdvisor Trip Friends, our 34 million monthly visitors can tap into their friends’ wealth of travel knowledge with just a few clicks, making holiday planning more fun, social and personal.”
How TripAdvisor Trip Friends Works
When researching a destination, hotel, attraction or restaurant on TripAdvisor, users who have logged in using Facebook will now see a list of their friends who have been to that location, as identified via TripAdvisor’s Cities I’ve Visited (CIV) application on Facebook Platform. Travellers can tap into their network of friends for more details, by directly messaging their friends, or by posting a message to a group of friends, to gain the unique travel insights from those who know them best. CIV has been one of the most popular travel applications on Facebook Platform for nearly three years, with more than five million monthly active users, and highlights over one billion destinations that CIV travellers have visited.
“Travellers using TripAdvisor Trip Friends will be amazed to see all the places about which their friends can offer highly relevant, personal travel advice-from that extra tip about the best place for croissants in Paris (your friends know how much you love croissants), to insights on the best scuba spot in Belize (through TripAdvisor Trip Friends, you discovered that two of your friends recently returned from an awesome scuba trip in Belize). This feature will turn great trips into fantastic ones, with convenient, personal input from people you know best and trust most,” said Kaufer.
Ellen Barone is an American writer and wanderer. She co-founded and publishes the group travel blog YourLifeIsATrip.com and is currently at work on her first book "I Could Live Here".
Is it possible to vacation with only a 16x14x12-inch bag? The answer from the experts at SmarterLiving.com 
answer: Yes! And in this era when even carry-on bags can incur a hefty fee, packing right can be a big money-saver. So get your ruler out, and prepare to dodge baggage fees. They’ll show you how to do it.
Find out how to fit it all in. Read more…
Or, for my own tips on traveling light, read What Not to Pack
Ellen Barone is an American writer and wanderer. She co-founded and publishes the group travel blog YourLifeIsATrip.com and is currently at work on her first book "I Could Live Here".
With Mother’s Day barely behind us, it is time to give our full attention to Dad—because he needs pampering, too! In celebration of Father’s Day this year, Ashford Castle is offering fathers the perfect getaway in the Green Isle. From the great outdoors to one of the “hottest” tables in Ireland—and beer—Dad has never had it so good.
The Father’s Day package includes:
- Two nights’ luxurious accommodations fit for a king
- Full Irish breakfast each day
- Table d’hôte dinner one evening in the George V Restaurant
- Choice of falconry lesson in Ireland’s First School of Falconry or a fly fishing lesson in the picturesque Lough Corrib and the River Cong
- Special bonus: Guinness tasting that includes Ashford Castle’s signature Arthur’s Bellini - created exclusively for Ashford Castle to mark Guinness’ 250th anniversary (guests need to give the code “FD 10” when booking)
A highlight of this Father’s Day experience will be a meal in the grandeur of the George V dining room, whose renowned Head Chef Stefan Matz was recently awarded “Best Chef” by Ireland’s newly launched Good Eating Guide 2010-2011. With creative cooking, locally sourced produce and inspired use of seasonal ingredients, Chef Matz has crafted an innovative menu that has produced what is regarded as one of the finest restaurants in Ireland.
Priced at €850 (approximately US$1,060), the package is based on double occupancy. Additional nights may be booked from €188 (approximately US$235) per person, per night.
For more information on Ashford Castle or for other special offers, visit www.ashford.ie.
Ellen Barone is an American writer and wanderer. She co-founded and publishes the group travel blog YourLifeIsATrip.com and is currently at work on her first book "I Could Live Here".
Anchoring San Francisco’s #1 destination, the Hyatt at Fisherman’s Wharf is located across the street from the Mason/Powell Cable Car line with nearby attractions that include Alcatraz, Pier 39, The Cannery, Fisherman’s Wharf, Golden Gate Bridge, Bay Cruises, Coit Tower, Lombard Street, Ghirardelli Square and Aquarium of the Bay.
But, those are just the “typical” highlights. Here’s the hotel’s list of top ten great things to see and do in and around the hotel:
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Check out the (relatively) new San Francisco Railway Museum, which features a permanent display of artifacts depicting the City’s myriad of historic transportation.
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Climb the notorious Filbert Steps. This unique “stairway to Heaven” leads up to Coit Tower, with gardens and sculptures guiding the way up to a phenomenal, panoramic view of the bay at the top.
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Take ‘em out to the ballgame at San Francisco Giant’s AT&T Ballpark. From the hotel, the entire family can board the historic F Line street cars to get to the park.
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Wend your way through Pier 39’s new mirror maze.
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Tour through the Boudin Bakery historic museum before buying a loaf of San Franciscans’ favorite sourdough bread.
Ellen Barone is an American writer and wanderer. She co-founded and publishes the group travel blog YourLifeIsATrip.com and is currently at work on her first book "I Could Live Here".
Doctor, Doctor! The Travel Experts at SmarterTravel.com Put Reader Remedies Put to the Test
Ingesting Chinese herbs, eating candied ginger, and even swallowing Listerine were just some of the remedies that the readers of SmarterTravel.com suggested for avoiding illness while traveling. When it comes to getting (or staying) healthy on the road, travelers offered solutions that were at times traditional, creative, and somewhat unorthodox. The consumer travel site compiled the best advice, then asked a medical professional for feedback.
CLICK HERE TO READ THE COMPLETE ARTICLE
Source: SmarterTravel.com
Photo: © Edward Westmacott | Dreamstime.com
Ellen Barone is an American writer and wanderer. She co-founded and publishes the group travel blog YourLifeIsATrip.com and is currently at work on her first book "I Could Live Here".