Europe on the cheap

Going to cover a lot of things here.  This is absolute bottom dollar sorts of things, so if you don't like things like hostels, there are still cheap hotels, and if you watch, there are some that are even cheaper than the hostel route.

Flights
Fare watchers are a lifesaver, as well as alerts.  There are a few, they're pretty much the same.  While there's a lot of advice out there as to how early to book, I have not seen anything that holds up all the time and each route is different.  Generally speaking, major airports and major airlines go back and forth on price.  There are now a few ultra budget airlines popping up with service to various parts of Europe.  Norwegian Airlines is starting a bunch of transatlantic routes to various places in North America. 

What I like is booking on miles.  Miles credit cards are so numerous and there are so many good perks.  I pay household bills, my recurring stuff, like gas and electric with a miles card.  It requires some financial discipline so that you pay off the card monthly and don't end up going down a credit spiral.  There are some point maximizing strategies you can employ as well.  Meeting friends for dinner?  Offer to put the whole check on your card, but then have them pay you cash to cover it.  You are then getting points for the money they spend.  If you have a business, putting vendor bills on a miles card should be a no-brainer.  First, the finance of it, usually you get 30 days on an invoice, so you pay on a card towards the end of the payment terms, whatever they are, then, your card payment is usually not due for another 30 days, give or take.  So this extends how long you can have an item and potentially sell it before you have to pay for it.  Depending on how fast you turn over your stock, you can pick up one or even more inventory cycles by doing this. I'm not going to get into which card is best, because it depends on what you want, I will just say do some homework on what cards give you what.  I like the ones that are branded by the airline.  They tend to give you perks beyond just miles, like free checked bags, priority boarding, and higher mile status, like Delta's medallion status.  They may not give as many points as others, and they usually have an annual fee, so weigh that against other perks other cards give you.  One thing to remember, many of the airline miles programs have bad blackout dates and, as I learned last time I booked to Europe on American, you can get a killer deal to Europe, but coming back, they don't do nearly as well.  I got a deal to Vienna for 63,500 miles for first class.  Coming back, I was really limited in choices and ended up flying out of De Gaulle in Paris for 68,000 miles for coach. 

There are a lot of tricks, like go into a smaller airport, but this can have the drawback that transportation is either non existent or more expensive. So make sure you balance that out.  Airports, in most cities, are located well away from the city centers, so it can be very expensive to get a transfer to where you are staying.  Check the price of the airport transfer before you book a flight. 

When it comes to booking a flight with miles, keep in mind most of the airlines change the redemption rates and availability of routes at least daily.  If the flight you want is blacked out, try again the next day.  Also check out first/business class. sometimes they have super deals that make it cheaper than a regular coach class fare and it's awesome.  On a long flight, a lay flat bed seat is one of the greatest things ever. 

Lodging

Hostels are about the cheapest option, usually.  There are some drawbacks.  First, you often need to bring your own sheets/bedding.  If you're doing a backpack across Europe trip, you really should have like a sleeping bag or something, so usually not a big issue for that sort of thing.  You can get sheets for pretty cheap at Walmart before you go, so just keep this in mind.  Most hostels have the super cheap dorm style rooms and for more money, private rooms.  Even with the private rooms, you usually still have to share bathroom facilities.  The nice thing with hostels, especially if you're traveling by yourself, they are great places to meet people.  I've met some really fun people who I've shared a dorm room with.  Common rooms are usually fun too, and a lot have things like bars with drink specials and other type get-togethers. 

Sometimes though, for what you pay for a hostel, especially if you're traveling with more than yourself, there are better options.  I prefer having my own bathroom.  The Ibis chain is a European discount brand, about like a Holiday Inn here in the States.  They tend to be nice, but not high on the frills.  A lot of the rooms are tiny, so keep that in mind.  I don't need more than a clean room, a nice bed, and a clean shower.  There are also some of the American chains, like Best Western there, and in US Dollars, they are generally about the same price as what you'd expect here. 

Food

This is an area where you can either make or break your budget.  By far, just like at home, the cheapest way to eat is to go to a grocery store.  In Europe, it's funny how much is similar and how much is different.  Eggs are not refrigerated.  Milk isn't either and comes in boxes.  They don't really have wonder bread.  Flour is still flour, but often they have multiple grinds instead of the fine ground wheat we have in the US.  Of course, everything is measured in metric, so kilograms, grams, decagrams (10 grams, a common unit for meat).  I love the cultural experience of going to the grocery store in another country.  Peanut butter doesn't really exist, but nutella does and if you've never had it, it's awesome. 

A lot of hotels will serve breakfast, usually buffet style.  Do not take anything out of the dining room, like rolls or nutella, or anything.  They regard this as theft.  Most of the breakfast items are recognizable, some are a little different.  Pray they have Irish bacon, because wow.  Instead of the pork belly that's full of fat, they cure the pork loin, so it tastes like what you're used to be it's a way better piece of meat. A continental breakfast is called that because it's from Continental Europe, so don't be surprised if breakfast is just coffee and a pasty.  Their pastries are better anyway. 

That's one thing to mention.  Don't miss the bakeries.  In France, they're two types, the boulangerie, that specializes in breads, rolls, and similar items (don't miss out on a good baguette) and a patisserie that specializes in pastries and sweets.  I will often go to a boulangerie and get a baguette and then to a grocery store and get some meat or cheese to go with it.  I can rarely finish a full baguette myself, but usually need a little protein with it.  In Vienna, make sure you try a traditional coffee shop.  They serve your coffee with a slice of cake or other pastry.  All of them are truly astounding and  aside from the really touristy ones, reasonably priced. 

I love street food.  There are stands for literally anything.  I will do a post in the future about some of my favorites, but there are so many options and some are very regional.  Due to the large number of Muslim immigrants, there are a lot of halal stands around.  The Doner kebab is widespread and pretty good.  You can usually find one for about 5 Euros or so.  I've also found falafels and other things.  In the Netherlands, pickled herrings are common.  I quite like them, but they aren't for everyone.  French fries, especially in Belgium are a must have. 

Many of the breweries have their own attached restaurants, usually with excellent local favorites.  Some can be expensive, but most aren't bad.  Their beer tends to be reasonably priced too.  Bars can have some of the best food, especially in England.  English pub grub is one of the few truly English meals that are good.  Of course, in England, curry is everywhere and can be inexpensive.  Biergartens in Germany are a fun cultural experience, and can have a broad range in prices.  Also, look up local tipping customs before you go.  In some places, tipping is considered rude. 

Souvenirs

I will divide these into two categories-typical tourist stuff and specialized items from that country.  With your typical tourist stuff, postcards, t shirts, shotglasses, magnets, hats, and other stuff you see in every tourist shop everywhere on earth, the closer to the tourist areas you get, the better prices you can find, especially if you shop around a bit.  Haggling is usually not only allowed but encouraged.  Keep this in mind, because a lot of the shop keepers will quote a first price as much as double what they're really willing to sell the item to you.  If they don't want to haggle, they'll tell you and that's ok too.  

As far as things that are more specialized, if you can get away from tourist areas, you can usually find a better price.  A prime example is Bohemian lead crystal glassware in the Czech Republic.  If you're in the middle of Prague, prices are almost double or more what they are outside the tourist core of the city.  If you can get out of the city, you can find it for even cheaper.  The best price I found was direct from the factory in Svitavy, but that's well away from Prague and probably will not be an option for most travelers.  

With souvenirs, remember, if you buy it, you have to pack it around with you.  Also, when you come home, you are allowed up to $800 in merchandise duty free.  Don't try to hide items, if they find it when you clear customs, they can confiscate the item and/or fine you.  A lot of places will offer shipping.  If you ship items, you may have to pay customs duty on them when they arrive, or to ship them in the first place, but they do not count against your limit.  Plus, you don't have to figure out how to haul that stuff back.  It can get expensive.  

One other thing to remember is the European Union Value Added Tax (VAT).  It's a sales tax added to everything and ranges from 15-25% on all items.  If your purchase meets a certain threshold, which is different by country, you can have this refunded to you when you leave.  The retailer will provide you paperwork, but you must have your passport present when you make the purchase. This usually only applies to a single purchase at a single retailer in order to get the paperwork you need, but any purchases you make over the threshold, you can get the voucher and turn all of them in when you leave. This is added to the price before you purchase something, unlike American sales tax that is added after, so the price that's marked is the price you pay, and it includes the VAT. 

When you depart, there is a kiosk at major airports, ports, and border crossings outside the EU.  Take your paperwork there and they will give you a refund.  I usually don't make big ticket purchases, so I rarely qualify for the refund.   

 
 

What's your style?

The only wrong way to go on vacation is to not do what you The big questions is, what do you want to do?  There are plenty of styles and your style plays into every decision you will make while traveling.  So, really, what do you want to do?

For me, I am first and foremost a museum junkie.  I love museums.   But sometimes I can be picky, some things labeled as a museum are just a way some hoarder tried to justify their hoard to a city that wanted to clear it out because it was an eyesore.  That said, some of those roadside museums are so bad they're fun.  I recently discovered the website www.roadsideamerica.com.  I had fun with it on my recent road trip to Glacier National Park.  I did download the app, but I don't like how they want to charge for every region you download beyond one.  Some of the stuff is out of date, but some was pretty cool.  Anyway, it was fun to check out some things, but others were just little tourist traps. Top museums, the world famous ones, are world famous for a reason.  I have not been disappointed by one yet.  Some of my favorites, the Reijksmuseum in Amsterdam, the Vatican Museums, Museum Island in Berlin, the Smithsonians in Washington, D.C., the Field Museum in Chicago, the Ufizi in Florence.  Even though I've been to Paris, twice, I have yet to see the Lourve.  The first time, the museum guards went on strike, so the museum was closed.  The second time, I arrived in Paris after it closed and flew out the next day before it opened.  This is one gap I need to fix.

Speaking of tourist traps, I'm not always against them.  Some of them are pretty fun.  Most are way more expensive than they should be.  I do not really care for those museums that are not well curated.  If it's just a bunch of stuff with little rhyme or reason other than to show off stuff, I don't care for it.  Tell a story, don't just show things.  The best example of what I'm talking about is the Daughters of the Utah Pioneers museum in Salt Lake City.  This has to be one of the creepiest museums ever.  Every free inch of wall space has a photograph of someone who crossed the plains to Salt Lake City.  Then it's just a giant pile of stuff that people either hauled across the plains or built once they got here.  So it's like 12 spinning wheels, 30 rifles, 7 horse saddles, and on and on.  None of it really telling any story other than those people hauled a lot of stuff to Utah.  Then the super creepy doll room.  My daughter took one look and just said no.  The good news is, it's free. 

Another similar one, the Miracle of America museum in Polson, MT.  This is just a hoarders nest where the hoarder was a member of the John Birch Society and so therefore all the stuff was labeled with things about freedom and how great America is because we build stuff.  We did a quick drive by and decided that it wasn't worth $6 to walk around a junkyard. 

Some cool tourist traps though, I love a lot of the ones in the Black Hills in South Dakota.  The one that was surprisingly good was the Crazy Horse memorial.  The Native American museums there, I was surprised how good they were. 

Anyway, let me know what you like, I would love to comment on some of what you all say.

Packing

First principles, Clarice. Simplicity. Read Marcus Aurelius. Of each particular thing ask: what is it in itself? - Hannibal Lector

When it comes to packing, remember to KISS-keep it simple, stupid.  Less is more.  Most people overpack.  While being prepared for every eventuality isn't always bad, the issue isn't what could go wrong, because anything can, but what is likely to go wrong.  

Packing really depends on where you're going.  You will pack different things for a trip to a Mexican beach resort than you will to go to Europe for a month.  The key is to identify your planned activities and pack accordingly.  The best strategy is to prepare for simple things, and anything that's a bigger emergency, take enough money to buy your way out of a jam.  

This is especially important with how much airlines are charging for bags now.  Overweight bags are super expensive.  If you're close to the weight limit before you leave, remember, you're going to be buying stuff and have to bring it back.  

A few things to always take

• Lightweight rain gear, even if it's just a poncho or an umbrella.  It really sucks to get soaked, but you want to be aware of how heavy and bulky some of this stuff is. 
• A simple first aid kit, nothing fancy, just a few bandaids and moleskin, some basic medication (asprin, anti-diarrhea pills, anti-motion sickness pills, and of course any perscription medications you need).  You only need to cover the basics, things that you wouldn't go to a doctor at home for, like a small cut, or a foot blister (this is important if you're going to be walking).  Anything else, you can get where you're going without a lot of effort.  Most hotels will even give you something if you need or forget it.  It seems anymore, there's a Walgreens on about any corner in the US anyway.  
• Clothing, this is where most people go crazy.  My basic strategy is to load up on extra socks and underwear, but buy t shirts along the way as souvenirs and wear them while I'm touring.  If its something you're taking "just in case" then t's something that you can and should buy if that case arrives.  If you're going to a popular destination, somewhere not remote, then you can find about anything you need fairly easily.  Walmart is global, and it's not the only store like it.  
• Toiletries.  What do you really need?  I take the basics, toothbrush, shaving stuff, comb, deodorant, and foot powder (from my army days, gold bond powder is a life-saver when you're walking a lot).  I don't use a lot of hair products and like to keep my hair short anyway, but I would highly encourage you to adopt as low maintenance of a hairstyle for your trip as possible.  Unless you're actually trying to impress someone, you're best off being just clean and well-kempt, that spending lots of time and effort on your hair.  Hair products are bulky and heavy and things like curling irons need voltage converters outside North America, which is just one more thing to have to take with you.  Most hotels the world over have hair dryers. On short trips, I often will take a toothbrush, but anything liquid that may draw the attention of the TSA, I buy when I get to my destination. I also do not take shampoo, or soap because about every hotel in the world provides it.  Some hostels, though, and you are on your own.  If that's the case, I'd just buy some when I get there and toss it before I leave. For women: I'm not female, but I do understand the need for feminine hygiene products.  Only advice I can offer, it really depends on how picky you are.  These things are available all over the world, but it may or may not be a brand or style you like.  So if you're picky about it, take your own, if you're not, buy them there. 
• A money belt or similar item.  Nothing will ruin your vacation faster than having your wallet or passport stolen.  Trust me on this, I spent my last day in Prague after living there two years at the embassy replacing a stolen passport.  It sucks. On the same token, if your hotel has an in-room safe, USE IT!  Only take the cash you intend to use for the day.  You won't blow your entire trip budget on the first day, and if it gets stolen, you don't lose your entire trip budget.  If you don't have a safe, at least have luggage locks.  You can get simple ones for just a few dollars online.  This won't prevent a determined thief, but it will keep a hotel maid from taking something that she doesn't think you'll notice is missing. They also keep your luggage from coming open during transit. Keep your valuables in the locked case when you're out of your room.  
• Sun protection.  I am one of those who burn before they tan.  I always take my sunglasses, because I love them and I either take a good hat for sun protection, or I buy one there as a souvenir.  I particularly like taking a cowboy hat to Europe.  Europeans have a fascination with cowboys and the American West and every time I've taken one, I've had someone want to trade me for the hat, usually a soccer jersey because I collect them.  
• Quality walking shoes.  I always walk way more than I think I would on vacation.  Take care of your feet!  I like nice running shoes (My preferred brand is Hoka), but I also like to take my Ecco sandals.  Whatever you take, make sure they're broken in.  Getting a bad blister on your first day of vacation sucks.  Also, socks.  Make sure you bring plenty, so if your feet get wet, or sweaty, or anything, you can easily change them.  
• Backpack or fanny pack.  I have a few options here and it depends on the trip.  Keep in mind, most museums, you'll have to either put it in a locker or check your bag.  I've never had a problem with this, but it does freak some people out.  For hiking, I have a pack that has my hydration system, my hiking first aid kid, and some essential emergency supplies.  It's a lot bigger pack than I want to carry around a city.  I have a fanny pack also, it carries most of what I want, but isn't large.  I usually take just a day pack, like one the kids take to school.  This also serves as my carry-on bag.  I always put a change of underwear in it and a change of socks.  Yes, if you can't tell, I'm a big proponent of taking care of your feet.  Also, it's a good idea to be prepared in case the airline loses your bag.  I can deal with with missing other clothes for a day or two, but underwear and socks are a must.  I put essentials in this bag, because, while the airlines are usually good at getting checked bags to you, if you bag does go missing, at least you can deal with things for a day or two until they either get your bag to you or they give you money to replace what's gone.  It's also convenient to put whatever you pick up along the way in it, whether t shirts, or other souvenirs.
• Duct tape!!!! Duct tape is like the Force, it has a light side and a dark side and it holds the universe together.  Don't leave home without it.  You don't need a giant roll, but some is always good.  I don't know how many times I've had to use it, but almost every trip I end up needed some.  I've used it on a cruise when we got into rough seas to keep the cabinets in our stateroom closed.  I've fixed torn bags with it.  I've used it in place of moleskin on my feet where I am starting to get a blister.  I've used it to waterproof a bandage (but remember it's not sterile, so don't use it directly on a wound.  There is always a use for it and if you need it, you usually need it immediately. Look into some of the fold flat duct tape kits also, instead of a bulky roll.  For traveling, they're much more convenient.  

Things to sometimes take

• Swimwear.  How often do you really plan to swim?  This depends on your trip.  If I'm going on a scuba dive trip, this will be about all I'll take.  If I'm going to Europe, I won't take one, unless I'm specifically planning on going to a beach.  I don't like motel pools, so I don't plan on swimming when I go on a road trip.  So this one depends.  If you're staying in a hotel with a pool and think you may swim, then take it.  I usually don't bother unless I'm with my kids.  
• Clothing beyond casual wear.  This will depends as well.  What sort of vacation are you going on?  Will you go to a place that has a dress code?  Make sure you do this much pre-planning.  If you go to Rome and see the Vatican, they require clothing that is not low-cut, sleeveless, shorts or miniskirts.  Some places in Israel, require women to wear a dress or skirt.  Some higher-end restaurants require men to wear a jacket and women to wear a dress.  Formal nights on cruise ships, and depending on the cruise line, even regular dinners in the dining room require at least business casual clothing.  Plan ahead.  If you don't need it, don't take it.  

Other things to keep in mind

• Electronics.  This depends on what I'm planning on doing.  I take my phone regardless, because its 2017 and everything is on our phones now.  Remember though, international roaming, especially international data, is expensive!  So what do you need your phone for?  With your average smartphone now, if you're on a wifi network, it does not go against your cellular data.  This is useful because when you are on wifi, you can use it all you want without racking up a big bill when you get home.  It's free to FaceTime someone if you're on wifi.  There are free wifi hotspots all over the world, and a lot of tourist destinations have wifi coverage as well.  The Reijksmuseum in Amsterdam has an award winning app that explains the exhibits, for example.  For charging, all you have to do is buy a plug adapter that fits the country you're visiting.  USB connections have regulated voltage, so the wall plug itself adapts to what your regular USB cord uses.  You can buy one of those wall plugs either before you leave or after you get there for only a few dollars.  For computers, most of the cords convert whatever incoming voltage to the output the computer needs, so all you have to do is buy the right plug adapter for your model.  For my Macbook, the plug just slides out of the cord adapter and you slide a new on in.  I think it cost me about $15 for the adapter.  Also, if you're taking a laptop, you can always plug your phone into the USB port to charge.  
• Other electrical appliances.  I generally leave them home.  You will need a voltage converter and those tend to be bulk and more on the expensive side.  They also tend to burn out, especially if you don't pay attention to the amperage.  In a lot of cases, if you're using something like a curling iron, it's cheaper to buy a cheap one when you get there that's already set for the local voltage and plugs than it is to buy a converter, especially if you burn it out because you're pulling too many amps.  
• Liquids. You should know the TSA rules.  Yes they suck.  If you can check a bag, you can put things in a checked bag with a lot less hassle, so this is always something to keep in mind. I will put a plug in for solid shampoo.  It's great stuff and not liquid so the TSA can't complain.  
• First aid.  I like to take a few basic items, band aids, mole skin, pain relievers, anti-diarrhea stuff.  Unless you're going somewhere remote where emergency services are not at ready call, then 

Trip dependent things

• Heavy coats or sweaters.  If you're going somewhere cold, where you need it, take it.  If not, don't.  
• Sports gear.  I am a scuba diver, so, while I can rent stuff at my destination, my personal gear is always way better, so I take my own.  Since I'm going to spend most of my time in the water, I can take way less other things like clothes, so the weight evens out.  When it comes to hiking, I already mentioned I have my backpack I use for that and I make sure to take it.  
• Snacks.  On a road trip, it's an always take, since you don't have to worry about airport security or weight.  On an trip where you fly, it's a never, or at least not until you get to your destination.  
• First aid.  While there's a small kit I take on every trip, if I'm going somewhere remote, like hiking, I have a different kit with more stuff in it.  Think of where you're going, because some of these things are heavy and bulky.

Here's a good way to figure out if you have too much.  Pack everything into your bag and take it downtown with you.  Drag it around with you for a few hours while you go about your business.  There are more times than I'd like to consider where I've done just this while on vacation.  If you don't want to haul it everywhere you go, don't take it.  

I'm sure there's some things I'm missing, and some more specific stuff for different types of vacations.  

I have a destination, now what? Planning Part 2

I'm  going to assume that you already have your time and money budget and that you have a destination in mind.  Now for the real planning.

Step 1-Lodging

This is the first thing I really like to look at.  This is your base of operations and usually your biggest expense.  A little advanced research here will save you money and time when you get to your destination.  A few considerations.  First, and most important, location, location, location.  You can eat up a lot of your precious vacation time by staying in a place that isn't close to what you want to see.  Of course, everything is sort of relative, but you can save a lot of time and money by staying closer to attractions and not having to deal with transit.  There are considerations though.  Usually hotels that are close to everything have a matching price tag.  This is why the map tool on travel websites, like hotels.com can be invaluable.  I use google maps extensively when I'm planning.  It helps to think of your potential routes and to visualize how close things are to one another.  This helps in locating lodging that suits your needs.

Next, price of course is always a consideration.  How much are you willing to spend?  If your budget is for a hostel, of course, don't book a 5-star room.  Amenities do count, but make sure they're the right amenities.  Why pay extra for a hotel with a pool if you are not planning on swimming? In my opinion, as much as it's nice to have the glitz of a really top notch hotel, marble floors don't really justify an extra $100 per night.  I'm more than ok with a hostel if it's just me travelling (more on travelling solo later), and some hostels do have private rooms, which is something to consider.  I like a place that includes a fridge and at least a microwave.  I've also done well with extended stay type hotels, even for short stays, when you can catch a deal on them for a short duration (places like Residence Inn, Staybridge suites, and others).  They have kitchen facilities, often include not just breakfast, but also like dinner get-togethers or happy hours.  One thing I like about hostels, especially if I'm on my own, is the other people there.  It's been fun to meet people, go clubbing with them, maybe catch a museum, and have a friend from somewhere else.  It's also a good way to find things off the beaten track, that aren't the publicized tourist attractions that someone just knows about.  If the hostel has like a day room/food prep room, those are ideal.  You can hit a grocery store and get cheap food, or even share with others and find new things.  As far as security, do your research first.  Also, don't be stupid.  Luggage locks may not keep out a determined thief, but it will keep a curious hotel maid out of your stuff.  Unfortunately, hostels aren't really a big thing in the US (but they do exist.  I like the website hostelworld.com for finding deals), but extended stay hotels are.  My biggest consideration is that my room is clean and reasonably comfortable.

The reason location is such a big deal is that it really sucks to spend half your vacation time either riding public transit or having to take a cab or uber to get to where you want to go, plus it tends to be expensive.  So remember the trade-offs at the very least. If it saves you a bundle to get a room that suits your needs further away from things, is that savings worth the extra hassle and expense of having to get to where you want to go?  Prime example is New York.  Hotels in Brooklyn are generally cheaper than hotels in Manhattan, and while Brooklyn is nice, most of what you'll want to spend your time on is in Manhattan.  Do you really want to spend an extra half an hour each day just getting from your hotel to what you want to do every day?  Sometimes it's worth it, other times it's not.  Just remember, what you're ultimately paying for with any vacation is time.  How do you want to spend that time?

One other consideration, in a lot of tourist-heavy places, the best places fill up fast.  If you want a killer place, book early.  Especially if you're looking to do something like a major national park.  Those trips I will talk about in future posts, because they're some of my favorites.

Step 2-Activities

What do you want to do?  The answers of course vary.  I'm going to walk through a theoretical trip to one of my favorite cities, one I'm sort of planning a trip to for later this year in like October, Chicago.

I start by just doing a basic Google search of Chicago for tourists.  There is hundreds of sites, some are better than others of course.  I like trip advisor, but remember to read through a bunch of ratings and take things with giant grains of salt.  I find there's too many people who will leave a bad review of a place trying to weasel out compensation or other things from the vendors.  So bear that in mind.  Some people just can't be pleased.  I do find that a lot of the ratings for attractions are pretty good for the big things.  Again, google maps are your friend.  I get a good idea of what attractions are where, and at least in most cities, the tourist attractions tend to be in just a couple of general areas.  In Chicago, there's the Loop and together with Grant Park and the Museum Campus makes for a good walking tour.  There is the Navy Pier and Magnificent Mile area that also makes for another day's worth or walking.

The same can be said for San Francisco.  There's the Market Street/Financial district area and Chinatown, there's the Fisherman's Wharf area, and there's Golden Gate Park that make up the majority of the tourist sites.  Of course there are outlying things you may want to see and do, but by understanding how things are grouped together, you can minimize travel time between sites, and maximize your time actually seeing things.

Back to Chicago.  If you notice on a map, the Field Museum (one of the best natural history museums in the world and must see, is next to the Shedd Aquarium and the Adler Planetarium.  It is on the south end of Grant Park.  Midway up Grant Park is the Art Institute of Chicago.  All 4 of these attractions are things you don't want to miss, and the views from the Planetarium back to the city are fantastic.  It's a doable walk, and quite nice, or even better, rent a bike or segway.  I like to book a hotel in the Loop.  There are many options.  My last visit, I stayed at the Silversmith Hotel, which was nice.  I'm a bit of an early riser and I absolutely love seeing a city in the morning.  Most of the big attractions don't open until at least 9:00 am, but I like to get out a bit.  So I walked from the hotel through Millennium Park and saw the Bean, then walked all through Grant Park, slowly because I was in no hurry, and took in the city, and the architecture (one of the best things about Chicago).  I grabbed a quick breakfast snack, of a Chicago dog, from a vendor and at it while walking through the park.  By the time I got to my first stop, the Field Museum, it was time for it to open and I was one of the first people in line for the day.  When I was done with the Museum, I walked to the Shedd Aquarium, a little further down the way.  After the Aquarium, I walked further to the Planetarium.  By the time I was done there, I took one of those bike taxis back to the Field Museum.  I wanted a good Chicago pizza so I stopped at Giordano's where they invented the stuffed pizza.  It was a nice rest and then off again, to the Willis Tower and then the Art Institute. That evening we went to Soldier Field and watched my Chicago Bears beat the Green Bay Packers.  It was awesome.  The next day, we walked up Michigan Avenue, and to Navy Pier.

This example shows some of what I'm talking about.  With advanced planning, I knew that the Field Museum opened an hour earlier than any of the other attractions I wanted to visit.  I knew that a nice, enjoyable walk through Grant Park would get me to the museum right about the time it opened.  I knew that not far from there was the other things that I wanted to see.  I also purchased a Go Chicago card (www.smartdestinations.com) and it was a great deal.  I will talk more about these cards in another post, but I love them.  There are a few different ones, and some are better for some cities than others.  Smart destinations sort of sucks for Seattle for example, but it's great for San Francisco and Chicago.

Public transit can either be awesome or a pain, depending on the city.  In general, in Europe, I like it.  I have mixed feelings about some of the systems in the United States, some are great and others are not.  I love Uber, and the ride share stuff is a great way to get around for a decent price.  Depending on where you are, and if the transit routes are direct and useful, or circuitous and expensive (San Francisco, I'm looking at you), public transit is usually your cheapest and fastest way to go.  In most places you can get a transit pass for a few days that gives you unlimited rides for a relatively low price.  Often these are combined with the tourist passes I've talked about.

So, going back to lodging, this is why location matters.  If you look at the map, look at potential hotels, and find the best match for your needs.  Sometimes you will find a place for the price you want in the place you want that meets everything you desire.  Most of the time, you'll have to make tradeoffs, but just know that going in.

Step 3-Food

This can be the unforeseen budget killer.  It is also one of the things I most enjoy about travelling.  This is another area where research is a good thing.  International travel has the added concerns of food safety (not saying you can't get food poisoning in the US, because obviously you can, but I am saying that some places don't have much in the way of health departments or clean water standards).  If you're going to Europe or North America, aside from some of the more remote areas, you don't have much to worry about with food safety.  So for now, I'm not going to really address it.

I like to do one splurge meal per city.  This is usually a dinner, usually at a nicer, more famous restaurant.  Michelin starred restaurants are generally on the amazing side, but if you don't plan your budget for them, and usually get very advanced reservations (and often meet a dress code) then don't even consider them.  Famous restaurants are also usually pricey and too often tend to be a disappointment.  This is a big reason why I take review sites with a giant grain of salt.  Way too often, especially outside the US, people review something based on misplaced expectations.  I've seen reviews ripping a restaurant because the staff doesn't speak English or because the food is not "authentic" when the most authentic Italian restaurant the review has ever visited is the Olive Garden.  Actually reading reviews is usually a very good bet, and reading between the lines.

My mother is convinced that asking random locals is the best way to find a gem.  To a point this works and I've found some really great places like this, but it's not a sure bet because, just like everyone, locals don't eat at every single place in their neighborhood and may not know about that true gem because they never go there for whatever reason.  I do find that hotel staff is usually a great resource.  On my recent trip to Glacier, we stopped for a night in Butte, Montana.  Hotel staff recommended a couple of places, but it's always good to ask the follow up question of "where would you go?"  The first places they named off were just the closest places.  When we asked where they would go, they recommended a place called the Montana Club (and we found out it's a chain with restaurants in the bigger cities of Montana).  It was slightly farther than the first couple of places they said, but not much, just a couple of blocks.  We loved the place so much, when we found that there was another location next to our hotel in Missoula, we of course went there.  So use this resource.

I highly recommend that if you are going someplace new, to try the local stuff.  Whether it's a Chicago hot dog or goulash in Budapest, whatever you do, try something local.  I really like street food.  It tends to be much more budget friendly, it's the local taste, and most of the time even if it's not delicious, it's at least worth a good story.  In Berlin, for example, the local street specialty is currywurst.  It's just a sausage that they cover with curry ketchup.  While it's worth it to try it, and they were around 5 Euros for a meal, it wasn't my favorite thing.  But, for that price, not a bad deal.  The variety of street food is also great.  Some of the best things I've ever had, I found at nondescript stands at bus stops or similar.

Most hotels now include a breakfast.  While I wouldn't pay extra for one, because usually it's not worth it, if your hotel includes one, don't skip it.  One thing to remember, especially in Europe, don't take stuff from the buffet out of the breakfast room.  They regard this as theft.  So don't do it.  Don't save it for later.

My favorite food experience in another country is to visit a market, whether it's like a farmer's market or a regular supermarket.  It's interesting to see the familiar things like Coca Cola, but also how different things are, like eggs not in a refrigerator and milk in a box.  This is how you save huge money, just like at home.  If you can buy ingredients instead of finished food, it saves a bundle.  Even if it's a simple lunch.  One of my favorite travel food memories was going to a grocery store in Venice, Italy and buying a few things for lunch, including some fresh apricots.  Now, any time I eat apricots, I think of sitting on the Lido beach and eating them.  One thing to consider, when traveling internationally, don't bring fresh fruits or vegetables or other non packaged food back to the United States.  If you're lucky, customs will just confiscate them.  If you're unlucky, you will get fined and possibly charged with a crime.  So don't do it!

Step 4-Shopping

I am not a huge fan of shopping.  That said, most people expect to buy stuff like souvenirs.  A few bits of advice.  If it's typical tourist junk, like t shirts, shot glasses, fridge magnets, thimbles, bells, or whatever, the best place to buy them are in the tourist areas.  There's lots of competition around, because most of the vendors have about the same stock, and so that's where you'll find the best prices.  I like buying t shirts for various reasons.  First, you can immediately wear them.  This means you can pack less and don't have to haul as much around.  I will do a post on packing later, but as a general rule, everyone over packs.  I will say, if you think you just "might" need it, you probably don't and if you do, you can buy it wherever you are going.  I think it's a lot better to pack light and buy yourself out of an emergency than it is to take a bunch of stuff you don't need.  Pretty much anywhere you go, you're going to have to haul that luggage around and every ounce counts.  So buying t shirts is great because they make good souvenirs, and you have to pack fewer clothes.  

As far as other items, like Bohemian lead crystal glass, jewelry, things that have fewer shops and much more variety and are not necessarily intended for tourist consumption, don't buy them where the tourists shop.  When I was last in Prague, I saw glass for about 4 times as much in the tourist streets as it was less than a mile away in places that didn't have the tourist traffic.  Of course, the likelihood that someone speaks English is lower the farther you get from the tourist areas, but it's amazing how much progress you can make if you just attempt the local language.  Most people will take pity on you if you're not very good.  That said, I speak native level Czech and in speaking Czech to shop owners, they either gave me discounts or told me places that had what I was looking for at a better price.  I don't speak French, but attempting to also got me a lot of help.  Being a dick rarely gets you what you want.  Don't be an ugly American.  At least do a Google search of some the local customs.  

Have fun traveling and I'll post more later.   

Planning part 1

The travel bug is biting and you just want to get out.  Where to go, what to do, what is your budget? These sorts of questions are the make or break of any trip.  Too many people do not do the pre-planning necessary to really make a trip memorable.  Too often people are intimidated and have little clue on what to do and even where to start.  This is why planned tours, especially to international destinations, remain popular.  You pay a fee and show up.  Simple right?  Unfortunately with too many tours, while you see a lot of the sites you want, you miss others because the tour isn't customized to your tastes, but to the wider tastes of the entire group.  If you want some customizations, either you can't do it, or there's a massive upcharge.

Obviously, I prefer to plan my own trips.  It may seem a bit intimidating, but really, it's not too hard. Planning a trip, just like planning anything, makes executing much simpler.  It is a lot easier to adapt to changes when you already have a few different options in your head, because all too often, our best plans never survive the first contact.  Having at least a basic familiarity with where you are going will help you adjust on the fly.  

So where to start?

Budget

There are two components to your budget.  Financial is the most obvious because when you hear the word budget, you usually think of money.  Money is always a consideration, but there's ways to stretch it that I will discuss in future posts.  

Time.  Time is the one commodity that everyone has in a finite amount.  When you go on vacation, you are essentially paying for time to do whatever you want to do with the vacation.  So the first step is to figure out how much time you have to go somewhere.  If you only have a weekend, you probably don't want to go to Europe.  How much time can you take off from work?  How much travel time do you have?  A consideration to this is how much travel time does it take to reach your destination.  The reason you don't want to do a two day weekend trip to Europe is that you'll eat up one day getting there and one day getting back, so at best you'd only get a few hours to enjoy anything.  The time budget also leads into deciding how you're going to go.  Are you going on a road trip, are you flying, maybe taking the train?  Lots of things to consider that are determined by how much time you can take.  Also, as you get more specific on your plans, you will want to get more specific on how much time you want to spend in each place, if you're moving around a bit, and at different attractions.  Also remember to budget for travel time between where you're going.  As you get more specific with your planning, this can get more specific.  Don't get married to the timeline, other than things that have specific reservation times.  Part of what makes a vacation nice is enjoying yourself, so if you find something you like and want to spend more time at, do it.  I like to build some flexibility into my schedule where I can.  That said, don't be late for reservations, departure times, whatever.  If there is a set time on the ticket, make sure that you hit that time.  Nothing sucks worse than missing something you had your heart set on, that was a once in a lifetime chance, just because you were late and missed your reservation, or worse,you get back to the dock and see the cruise ship sailing away. 

The other budget is money.  How much can you spend?  You need to have a number in mind, because this helps determine things like where you want to/can stay.  If you insist on first class hotels, then your money budget obviously has to be a lot higher than if you are ok with a hostel or camping.  One aspect that many do not consider when budgeting, how much do you have to buy to prep for the trip.  An example, if you are going camping, do you have to buy a tent, or do you already have one?  Do you need to buy new shoes because you're going to do a lot of walking?  With the magic of the internet, you can find things like admissions prices before you leave, so you know how much you need.  Even better, you can pre-book things, or my favorite, buy one of the various tourist passes that include admission to major attractions before you ever leave.  I love the passes, I think that if you plan your routes, you can save bundles of money, plus, they let you spread your costs for the trip out to months prior to leaving.  I admit to not being the best saver, so buying a pass for a city for $75 (something easily in my discretionary weekly budget) I don't have to worry about taking gobs of cash with me when I leave.  Recently, these passes have morphed into just a smartphone app that you scan when you get in to an attraction, so you don't even have to worry so much about replacing it if you have things stolen, you just sign back in to the app and it's all there.  I will talk a lot more about these passes, because I absolutely love them!

Things to consider with your budget: your biggest expenses will be lodging and food.  A lot depends on your touring style.  I don't care as much about having a posh, first-class hotel, but I like to eat and especially to try the local fare.  The good news with eating is, with some easy research, you can find places where locals eat that are a lot more budget friendly, even in tourist areas.  I like street food, but food safety is a concern in some places, so make sure you understand the risks and what to look for when it comes to eating street food.  That said, you can still get food poisoning at a Michelin starred restaurant.  As much as I like local food, I think one of the funnest and most enlightening things you can do on vacation, especially in a foreign country, is to visit the local food market.  Not only is this a good way to save money on food by buying much cheaper ingredients than finished food, the cultural experience is pretty fun.  It's fun to go to Europe and see that they have the boxes of milk and packages of eggs that don't require refrigeration (and for reasons, but we won't get into that).  It is also a great way to find good quality local products, like cheese.  that you normally would not find in a restaurant and are super expensive at a tourist shop.  Some of my best travel memories are just having a simple lunch somewhere that I purchased at a grocery store. 

One big way to save on food is to look for lodging that includes basic kitchen facilities, even if it's just a fridge and a microwave.  Often, you can find these sorts of places in the same areas and for roughly the same price as places without these facilities.  On a recent trip to Glacier National Park in Montana, we rented a cabin that had a kitchen and a BBQ grill on the deck.  The deck had an outstanding view, and we purchased relatively cheap steaks at home that we made there, while we just relaxed and enjoyed the view.  The steak at home cost $7, and was better quality than the steaks they were serving at the restaurant down the road for $30.  The cost of the cabin was about the same price as what rooms at the neighboring lodge cost and we had more room and that outstanding experience. 

Selecting a Destination

Now the more tedious aspects of trip planning are done, here's where the fun starts.  Where do you want to go?  Since you've already answered the questions of how long do you have and how much can you spend, you can start to narrow down your search.  The beauty of this step is there's not really any wrong answers, since you determine the criteria.  The only wrong answer is something that isn't what YOU want.  Of course, there are still plenty of things to consider, but now it's all about you. So where do you want to go?  

I will continue this later, so in the meantime, have fun traveling!