These tips from husband-and-wife bloggers Elizabeth Harryman and Paul Lasley first appeared in Westways, the magazine of the Automobile Club of Southern California.
From our 25 years of traveling and reporting on the travel industry, we’ve learned a lot about what not to do on the road—some of it the hard way. Here are five things that top our list.
1. Never let your passport expire. By now, you’ve probably heard Elizabeth’s mantra: “You should always have a current passport, because you never know when someone will invite you to Paris for the weekend.” Well, many countries stipulate that your passport must have a certain amount of time left on it—typically at least six months—or they can deny you entry. One time, we barely made the cutoff when going to Australia. Ever since, we’ve made it a point to always renew our passports at least one year before they expire. Those new passport cards are okay for entering the U.S. by land or sea from Canada, Mexico, the Caribbean, or Bermuda, but not for international air travel—they won’t get you to that Paris weekend.
2. Never leave for the airport without knowing the latest security and luggage requirements. In today’s fast-changing world, security rules are always subject to change, so make sure to check for the latest updates on the Transportation Security Administration's website and on your airline’s website. Then pack—and prepare—for security checkpoints. We try to choose the security line made up mostly of business travelers. They’re most likely to know the routine: shoes, liquids (in containers of no more than 3 ounces each, all placed into a single 1-quart plastic bag), coats, and jackets in one bin; laptop computer in a separate bin.
3. Never leave your street smarts at home. We learned the hard way to carry only one credit card when Elizabeth’s purse was picked on a New York sidewalk. Ever since then, we carry the card in a secure place, like a zippered pocket, and leave our second credit card in the hotel safe. Along those lines, men should never put their wallets in a back pocket. We see American travelers doing this all the time, and if we can see it, so can the pickpockets.
Other safety precautions: Learn about a city’s dangerous areas ahead of time and avoid them. Don’t get into a taxi without noting the cab number and the name of the driver. Don’t carry a package for someone else. When leaving your hotel, take a card with the hotel’s name and address. Don’t buy something from a person who offers you a great deal on the street, especially if you have to follow them somewhere. On a cruise, don’t overindulge in alcohol—most reported troubles aboard ships have involved excessive alcohol consumption—and don’t assume all passengers are trustworthy.
4. Never offend your host destination. Learn cultural dos and don’ts before you travel to a foreign country. For example, women traveling in Egypt and many other Muslim countries should not go outside with bare shoulders. In Thailand, people should not show the soles of their feet or shoes in public; it’s a grave insult. And avoid some uniquely American customs. For example, when you’re outside the U.S., don’t ask the restaurant to put your leftovers into a to-go container—especially not in a fancy restaurant. They’ll think you’ve lost your mind.
5. Never forget to immerse yourself in the experience. Don’t spend your vacation with your eye glued to the viewfinder of your camera. We believe the best travel memories are made by just enjoying the view. Likewise, don’t expect everything you encounter on a trip to be like home. Some of the great joys of travel are the differences.
Above all, never stop traveling. Travel enriches our lives, widens our perspectives, and crumbles cultural barriers. The only trips we’ve ever regretted are the ones we didn’t take.
