rebecca and stephen's tourist travel tips

Here it is - all of our top travel tips in one place - tips on what can save you time, money and most of all - aggravation.

our travel philosophy
Saving time and money - We plan our own trips, so this means researching  where we are going to stay, what the price is, and booking it in advance.

best resources on where to stay:
Where to stay - Tripadvisor.com
Tip: Tripadvisor is a great resource but you can spend days pouring through the top listed hotels, especially for large urban areas. Search alternative resources, such as the SlowTalk forum
If you're going to Madrid, Sevilla, Costa del Sol, Granada, Ronda, Jerez, or Cordoba, check out the tips on our Spain page.

resources on safety:
Google the keywords travel safety for the city you are traveling to and make sure you are aware of the scams and traps that are consistently played on tourists, for example Barcelona. Reading other travelers' experiences can be quite a deterent to traveling at all!
Tip: Always be alert, be aware that you ARE a target, and be aware of your surroundings.
Tips on Travel gear: I used the City Safe 100 handbag (by PacSafe) purchased from Corporatetravelsafety.com. This is a great bag, just large enough to hold the essentials plus sunglasses, a small camera, and guidebook. I recommend adding a wide luggage shoulder pad onto the strap, it is only 1" wide which can start digging into your shoulder while trekking around all day.

using credit cards:
Who wants the hassle of carrying a lot of cash when you can use a credit card? Most credit cards charge a per-use foreign transaction fee from 2-3%, except for Capital One. Check out CardRatings.com for latest information on card fees.

europe driving tips:
If you are renting a car you will want the peace of mind of having the right car insurance. The best deal going is the American Express Premium Car Rental Protection. The plan makes American Express the primary insurer and costs $17.95 per Rental for collision and theft, accidental death or dismemberment, medical, theft of personal property for up to 42 consecutive days anywhere in the world except Australia, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica or New Zealand. If you have an American Express card all you have to do is sign up for this coverage online. When you rent the car using American Express the $17.95 is charged to the card.
Tip: Look for up to date driving information and tips from sites such as Europe driving tips
Tip: You can get ideas on driving itineraries by checking out the self-drive packages at Europeandestinations.com
Tip: Plan how long it will take, and cost of tolls and fuel with Michelin Driving Directions and route planner

cell phones in europe
You need a cell phone that works on the European GSM frequency (GSM=Global System for Mobile Communications) in Europe. If you already have a tri-band or quad-band unlocked cell phone, all you need do is buy a SIM card for use in the country you expect to make calls from. It is best to get the SIM card before you go.
Read all about GSM and using your cell phone in another country on the cell phones page.
Charging your cell phone in Europe: In the US the voltage is 110v, in Europe it is 220v. If your charger says 100-240V on the plug, it should work with only a plug adapter for the country you visit.
Tip: Make sure your charger says 100-240v. Nothing else. We fried a 100-220v cord the first day. Which leads to the Tip: Always have a backup
Tip: Take a charged backup battery for your phone
Tip: If getting a rental car while traveling, take your car cell phone charger
Tip: Still unsure about charging? Take a voltage converter with you or buy a European cord for the cell phone when you are in the country

checking your email in europe
A convenient way to check your email is with that quad-band Wi-Fi enabled smartphone you brought along. Many of the hotels have free wireless internet service for their guests so from the comfort of your room you can email away on that little tiny screen. Other than that, there is bound to be an internet cafe wherever you go.