4 Worst Travel Disasters and How to Avoid Them

Travel is all about finding yourself through the journey. The most important factor in having a wonderful travel experience is having a good trip plan or making a perfect travel itinerary. There are many trip planner applications which can help you plan a trip without hesitation and achieve your goal of the perfect vacation plan. But sometimes even after all these efforts taken to plan a perfect trip; things may go wrong while you are actually on your vacation. However, preparing for the worst is always a good idea.

Here are 4 of the worst travel disasters, and how to avoid them

1) Missed Flight –

Missing your flight can be one of your worst nightmares. Missing your flight can ruin your mood as well as your holiday totally. You don’t want to go to airport rushing through crowd to see the gates are closed. You seriously don’t. If in case you miss the flight, you should go to the airlines help desk and report them. They can help you get on the next flight to the destination, whether or not you pay for it depends on whose fault it was for the missed flight. The best option is such cases are to have a good Travel insurance that covers you on missed flights. Also in case if your luggage is left in a flight you missed, you can report at the counter and they can hold it for you at the destination.

2) Passport Loss –

Opening your bag or purse to find that your passport is not there is the worst thing that could happen on your trip. The very first thing you should be doing is not to panic and report at the nearest local police. Also you should contact your local embassy immediately and report about your situation to them. You may get an emergency passport depending on the country you are in. Have a habit of keeping a copy of your passport in some other part of luggage is advisable.

3) Lost Luggage –

The last thing that you would want to see on airport is your missing luggage. No one would like waiting for the baggage at the counter to eventually find out that your baggage is lost or missing. If this happens, immediately report to the airline help desk and fill out ‘missing baggage’ form.  If your bag is probably misplaced on some other flight, the airlines will return it back to you as soon as possible. In case if the airline has lost your luggage, and are unable to find it, you can file a claim for damages. In that case, you will probably have to make a list of things that were in your bag.  And remember to have a good travel insurance. Always.

4) Being Sick or Injured – There is always a chance that you may get ill or injured while on your vacation and there is not much you can do. It ruins your dream trip in minutes. But you don’t have to worry about it. Always remember to seek medical help as soon as you feel like ill or you get injured during an activity. Having health travel insurance is always a good idea because when you seek medical help, you may have to pay a large amount for your medical care. Having a medical insurance helps you cover these charges without emptying your pockets on the trip. Also, have a good first aid kit and medicines in cases of emergencies. And don’t forget to keep contact numbers of your family member or dear ones to contact in case of emergencies.

Travel is all about embracing what comes in front of you. So don’t be afraid, but take good care always.

Japan Culture And Travel Advice From Locals

Before visiting Japan one should do a lot of research and read a lot of information about various topics. When you go to the country, some of what you read proves itself to be useful and some of it not so useful. There are other things that you encounter that you have never read about that you wish you had known before you arrived. There are a lot of sites out there that give you the basics that you need to know and I don’t intend to repeat them, instead here are  useful local treats tips that you should know before visiting Japan that aren’t on the usual lists and also trip plans and travel hacks of the journey of wanderlust Japan. So plan your amazing trip using trip planner.

Mobile Phone Data

When you travel overseas you grab yourself a prepaid SIM card from one of the local mobile phone companies and you are all set for phone calls and data for the duration of your trip. In Japan however, prepaid mobile SIM cards are not widely available. There is one company, B-mobile, who does offer prepaid SIM cards for foreigners. The one you’ll want if you go down this route comes with 1GB of data that expires after 14 days. It’s already activated and you can organise online for it to be delivered to your hotel for when you arrive in Japan. Note that this SIM is data only (no phone calls or SMS) and is useless once the 1GB/14 days has expired. It connects you to the NTT Docomo network which has excellent coverage and is very reliable.

B-mobile does offer some other prepaid SIM cards but these are aimed at the domestic market that have more data and no expiry. To activate one of these you’ll still need access to a Japanese mobile phone and, coupled with the language barrier, this is not really a viable option unless you know someone in Japan who can do this for you.

Maps

Most of the street signs in Japan are in Japanese and although it seems obvious, this can really make it hard to get your bearings – the street signs simply don’t mean anything to someone who can’t read Japanese characters. This is also the case when it comes to maps on your phone (for example, Google Maps). Why this is not as obvious as it seems is because when you travel, you can generally type in an English address and you will get the spot you need in Google Maps regardless. In Japan however typing in an English address or place name will only sometimes bring up a useful result – popular attractions, major shops etc. Often searching for a particular place or an address in Google Maps in Japan will bring up either an incorrect result or no result at all. If you really want to find a place, make sure you know the Japanese address as well, which you can usually figure out doing a regular Google search. What you waiting for plan your trip for Japan with the help of Japan trip planner.

On the topic of maps and street names not being in English, Google Maps combined with GPS on your phone is an even more invaluable tool than usual. When you go get your destination pinpointed on Google Maps finding it is a lot easier. If what you’re looking for is on the street level of a main street then this isn’t as big of a deal but in Japan a lot of places are on side streets, down laneways, in basements, on the nth floor of a building. With street signs being, to a native English speaker, indecipherable, it can be very hard to get your bearings and find a place when in an area that you don’t know.

Acceptance Of Credit Cards
Credit card acceptance is quite low in Japan and it is very much a cash society. On your first time in Japan you will find credit card acceptance to be very similar, perhaps only slightly less than most of the developed nations that you’ve visited around the world. The main difference with credit card acceptance in Japan is that everywhere that accepts credit cards accepts all credit cards with no surcharge. It is a real “all or nothing” approaches and in fact whenever you will use your credit card you will be able to use your American Express card (which has quite competitive exchange rates) and you don’t have to reach for your Visa card once.

You can encounter a handful of restaurants and bars that you would  assume accepted credit cards that is cash only, for example a Michelin starred restaurant but conversely a few of the market stalls and small “mom and pop” stores that you assume would be cash only did accept credit cards. A lot of 100-200 yen (USD$1-$2) convenience store purchases will be made on your credit card.

Withdrawing Cash From ATMs
This is another area where research brought up conflicting information. Foreign bank cards will not work in most Japanese ATMs however this is not an issue as you can use your foreign ATM card to withdraw cash from ATMs located at Post Offices and 7-11 stores. The ATMs at the Post Offices are open at the same times that the Post Office is open and the 7-11 ATMs are open 24/7. Since 7-11 stores can be found all over Japan’s major cities it’s easy to withdraw cash when you need to. The ATMs have an English option too so they are easy to navigate. You actually don’t need to take much cash out during your time in Japan due to the unexpectedly high credit card acceptance that you encounter.

The Coin With A Hole In It
This might catch you out on your first day in Japan when you are sorting through your change and come across a round bronze coin with a hole in it and no denomination (that you could understand). Its value is 5 yen.

Note that the 50 yen coin also has a hole in it as one of my readers pointed out, however that one is silver and has “50” written on it.

Flying With Kids: Travel Tips For Long Flights

Going on vacation with newborn children, tots, teens and all in the middle? How to survive long flights? Try not to miss our guidance on the most proficient way to fly with kids on board.

It's the Easter holiday! Maybe you are planning long flight with kids to some place pleasant and warm with the children. If not, you most likely have your mid-year holiday booked and are all that much awaiting it… yet in the event that you are flying you are presumably officially agonizing over how to keep your children happy. Here are travel tips on the most proficient way to survive a plane trip with a shouting infant, a loathsome tot or a "troublesome" kid.

Show them the revelation of flying
Flying is fun; flying is astounding. Keep in mind that your little ones don't drive to chip away at budget airlines, so they'll really be very amped up for going up in the sky. Don't forget that flying was once wondrous. To them despite everything it is, so call attention to the little houses, the mists, the setting sun… . What's more, in case you're frantic, inspire them to number what number of travellers are on the flight (I kid you not – it works a treat). If you can, get a visit to the cockpit. Indeed, even grown-ups enjoy it. Your child may choose to be a pilot, which is fine, until they dream up something else.

Play pilots
Kids might be afraid of flying. To cure this condition play role games with them. Let your child be a pilot or a flight attendant. Play everything that normally happens on board. This really helps to avoid pre-flight and in-flight panic.” This mightn’t work if they want to play at being a drugs smuggler. If they do, you should probably take them to see a psychologist.

Be a good nurse / doctor
Always pack more sick bags than you think you’ll need for the drive to the airport in the hire car. And don’t pack away all of their clothes - for the same reason. Also, ensure that you bring your medical cards.

Keep it simple
Every parent will have their tried-and-trusted, simple yet effective game that keeps everyone occupied.

Easy games like I-Spy are the best. Purchase the number plate game for on the way to the airport – use the last three letters to make a sentence, eg. JLS- John likes sausages. Also, play the alphabet game where you have to choose a subject- like cricket players or countries- and everyone has to come up with a name for each letter.

Make sure the price is right
Checking the ticket prices for kids as you may be charged more for your baby than yourself. You may be surprised that some airlines force you to pay up to 75% for a ticket without a seat. This happens with many of us. In this case you don't save money! Buy a normal ticket. At least you will get extra space - that is really valuable.

Be a slave to the rhythm
If at all possible, choose flights at a ‘normal’ time, i.e. when your kids are more likely to fall asleep. Although this could backfire as they’ll be so excited that they won’t want to sleep and will get all tired and bratty, which will be a great start to the holiday.

Milk it
For infants, give them their milk bottle at take-off and landing. For two reasons: 1) they have to be belted in and this will distract them, and 2) it equalises pressure. Milk-carriers beware: One of the worst things about flying is having to taste pre made baby milk at security - yuck!”

Keep them comfortable
An impractically-dressed child is an unhappy child, or something, so ensure they are attired comfortably. Take an extra layer of clothing that can double up as a pillow so they can blissfully drift away, dreaming of dinosaurs.

How To Pack Efficiently For Your Upcoming Trip to India

India is full of surprises and not often will you find you are completely ready for a trip to the vibrant country. If you have traveled to India before you will know just how unpredictable it can get. The festivals, the weather, the culture, all vary every month and the varying customs of every region in the country can get any first time traveler to get more confused than excited.

Read on to know some of the secret smart travel tips to pack perfectly for your visit to India!

1. Get your Clothing Right

India still remains to be rather conventional when it comes to dressing. So make sure you wear modest clothing no matter what your gender. Having said that, cottons really gel well with Indian climate no matter what season you visit in. A couple of cotton T shirts, shirts, trousers and leggings and you are ready to board that plane.

Winter in India can get cold according to local standards but if you belong to a place where snowfall is common in Winters, you will find November to January rather pleasantly cool. Unless you are travelling to the stark cold Himalayan region to the North, you can scrape by the rest of the India by wearing woolen sweaters and thermals.

2. Pack Light Shoes

Forget those expensive shoes when you are travelling to India. Pack a pair of flip flops, one pair of no-heels shoes and you are ready to explore the nooks and crannies of the country. If you plan on hiking in India, do wear heavy duty shoes with a good grip.

Leather boots are a huge ‘no’ if you are travelling to India during rainy season and summers will keep you longing only for open toes or flip flops. Cities like Mumbai are known for their floods during rainy season and you will happy if you have some cheap and comfortable shoes at hand.

3. Tech Needs

Grab your voltage convertor if you are travelling from the west part of the globe. The voltage in the country is 230 V and you will need a universal adapter to charge your cell phone, laptop and other electrical devices.

If you are blessed with a smart phone, don’t forget to add map-apps and some handy applications for translation in local languages. Know that every state in India has its own vernacular language although Hindi is widely spoken.

4. Medicines
 India is a scary place for germophobes and travelers who are planning on a first time visit to the country. To keep the health blues away, carry medication for stomach bouts, allergies and don’t forget to pile up on bug and mosquito repellents.

5. Safety Tools:

Solo travelers can take solace in safety tools like pepper sprays and safety pendants. Use safety apps on smart phones and you can travel with one less worry.

6. Toiletries and other Essentials:

Shampoos, conditioners, deodorants etc. are easily available in India. However, if you have favorites carry some of them along.  A huge problem for women travelling to India is the lack of availability of tampons and even menstruating cups. It is wise to carry your own essentials.

Sanitizers and Anti-bacterial wipes will prove helpful if you are travelling around the remote places in the country and even so in cities.

7. Documents: 

Nothing comes close to planning your stay in India. Make a smart travel itinerary which will cover all the points of interest. Online websites like Triphobo trip planner are a good way to have a plan in order and will give you useful tips on making the most of your trip.

With these packing hacks, you are bound to have a good time exploring the country of diversity and breathtaking beauty.

5 Tips for Enjoying Local Food While Traveling

Food and travel are like two sides of one coin, they go hand-in-hand. If a person is a diehard travel junkie he/she will definitely be a foodie. While visiting places and scanning beautiful locations, one never misses out on trying the local delicacies as well.  The essence of each place reflects in its food and people. There are only two things that you remember about a place, first - the food and second the atmosphere. So today we shall be talking about food, of course and how to taste it in style while you travel!1. Hog on healthy foods – If you’re traveling in city where certain fruits and vegetables are only found during a specific season, grab them. There’s nothing more healthy and nutritious than fruits. Moreover if you’re not going to find them anywhere but here, why not? Trying the locally available veggies and fruits, is always a good idea. So do not ever think twice, just hog those foods.

So today we shall be talking about food, of course and how to taste it in style while you travel!

1. Hog on Healthy Foods –

If you’re traveling in city where certain fruits and vegetables are only found during a specific season, grab them. There’s nothing more healthy and nutritious than fruits. Moreover if you’re not going to find them anywhere but here, why not? Trying the locally available veggies and fruits, is always a good idea. So do not ever think twice, just hog those foods.

2. Maintain Hygiene –

If you want to stay fit throughout and not get bed hidden during the journey, hygiene is of utmost importance. If you eat in unhealthy atmospheres or with unclean hands, there are higher chances of germ infections. Practice your normal routine daily hygiene, which would be sufficient. And the best part is, if you are well kept and clean your body develops good immune system and antibodies to fight viruses and bacteria in the air. Also, you might try out on some yummy ‘not-so-healthy’ food at times. No harm!

3. Try out Homemade Local Cuisine –

Food cooked at home vs food cooked on stalls. There’s a huge difference. If you get to stay at a local person’s place, there would be nothing more awesome than trying out the homemade meals. It would by default be clean, healthy and safely cooked. There’s this unique taste and aroma of simple house cooking which you can never find in restaurants. So make sure you do not miss this treat.

4. Baked not Fried – 

Well, a prerequisite. Always. Given a choice you should and must go for only and only baked stuff rather than fried. Oily foods make you feel dizzy, lazy and full of cholesterol and relying on the kind of oil used in food courts is as harmful as consuming expired food products. We aren’t scaring you here but this is just an alarm to alert you from not falling sick. Baked food stuffs are generally light, safe and would not cause you any indigestion or heaviness in stomach

5. Take away some local spices to home –

This is something you just need to take away, if you’re a foodie. The authentic aromatic spices would be readily available at best prices. You are unlikely to get them anywhere else rather than the origin place. So if you wish to taste the same delicious food with the perfect aroma, add these spices to your daily foods when you go home. You shall revisit your holiday destination as soon as you take a bite!
So if you have trip plans anytime soon, make sure your trip planner knows the details about that place in and out. Especially in terms of food and best restaurants, cafes and local joints over there. Also check out the food market and centers where they sell far fresh organic vegetables, fruits. You would get it at best prices. 

We shall be coming up with more exciting stories soon on travel tips. Don’t forget to share this travel guide food journal with your buddies and share your experiences as well.