June 16 Blog

Brit-Bound-Blog

Issue #26…

We’re Getting Closer!

In our classified ads department.. Fellow traveler Bill Curry ended up with one too many around-your-neck travel pouches and he’d like to sell his $25 L.L. Bean dark green neck pouch measuring 8 inches by 5 ¾ for 12 bucks. Contact him at gwcurry3@verizon.net if you’d like to purchase it. He can bring it with him to the meeting on June 29^th.

The Yarn Lady…

Although Janet Long has been accused of spinning many a good yard, this time it’s for real. She’ll be bring little tassels of yarn of the same color for you to put on your luggage and your carry-on. This way the big, healthy guys in our group can stand at the baggage carousel and grab the properly-yarned luggage without all forty of us trying to find a place at the trough. (And I know…we’ll undoubtedly run smack into a group with the same idea and the same color of yarn.)

At Our Final Meeting …

I’ll be sharing more materials with you.. specifically a Travel Handbook with lots of good information, plus a fact sheet on each of the cities we’ll be visiting. I’ve read them all and it’s good stuff. And since these “last minute reminders” will truly be in your hands at the last minute, I’ll pass a few salient points along to you now. I know, I know, much of this has been covered in previous mailings, but just to make sure…

--What to Pack in your carry-on: a change of clothing, toiletry items, contact lens kit, medicines, camera, all travel documents, books. And remember: carry your money on your person, not in your luggage.

---Look both ways before crossing a street! These folks don't drive on the correct side of the road and believe me, I never get used to this!

--Be sure to read the “tipping” information carefully. Let’s don't stiff our courier or our drivers.

---Remember than any liquids, gels or aerosols in your carry-on must be in containers that are 3 oz. or smaller. All such items are to be place in ONE 1-quart plastic bag zip-top bag. All lighters and matches are prohibited as carry-on items.

--Things to carry on your person: flight tickets, passport, cash, credit cards, foreign currency

--Be sure that your medicines are in their original containers.

--When you go through Irish Customs, they’ll likely ask you where you’re staying. Know the name of the hotel. (Yes, many travelers can’t remember, but it’ll speed things up and you might get an Irish smile if you know.)

---Please make lots of copies of your passport. Give one to your roommate, put one in your luggage, give one to anyone else on the tour, put one in your carry on. If you have to get a new one overseas, this will be invaluable.

---Unless you’ve had better luck than me with wake-up calls, I’d advise a travel alarm.

---Most travel info says “take three times the film you think you’ll need.”

---If you’re taking a wallet, please clean it out and leave all the unnecessary stuff at home. Do you really need your Sears card in a Sears-less Dublin?

---It’s a good idea to take a copy of your medical and eyeglass prescriptions.

---Carry your shoulder bag in front of you! If you think it looks dorky for group photos, then hide it behind your back during the snapping.

---And again, I urge you to tape a copy of your home address to the inside of your suitcase..and while you’re at it, why not place a copy of our group’s itinerary (the names of the hotels once we get them.) In case your tag gets ripped off, someone can open the luggage and find you.

Congrats to Nancy Bradbury on her 35^th year of putting up with Keith. They say they’re going to Ireland, Scotland, and England to celebrate.

A Secure Offer…

From Keith: “If anyone wants to bring a copy of their passports to the meeting on the 29th, I will keep a file of them at the bank as a backup. If we run into problems on the road, I can call the bank and have a copy faxed.”

Just an offer of added piece of mind.”

A Tip On Tipping

I’d reminded you in a previous newsletter that it’s customary to tip certain folks who help make our journey more pleasant. For those of you attending our final meeting, I’ll give you a sheet explaining this in more detail, but here’s the recommendations that are pretty standard throughout the tourism industry:

For our courier (guide): $4 per person per day. For our long-distance bus driver, $3 per person per day. You may of course tip in local currencies…any currency. For example, in the “euro zone” it amounts to 3 euros per day for the courier and 2 euros for the driver. In the England that translates to 2 and 1 pounds respectively. Restaurant gratuities are included in our trip price as are short-term gratuities to city bus drivers and local guides. (However if the local guide is really good, I usually slip them something extra…some are really worth it.)