What have we learned and some tips
Trip Start
Sep 07, 2007
1
23
Trip End
Sep 21, 2007
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Edison,
New Jersey,
United States
Saturday, September 22, 2007
1. Always pay to have a passport expedited if your departure date is even nearing three months.
2. Two weeks vacation with the kids is a long time.
3. Order you plane tickets as early as possible, especially if you want a bassinet. We ordered four months ahead and that was almost too late.
4. Always buy sits for the kids, sitting on your lap is cruel for you and for them.
5
Playing with Grandpa
. Portable DVD players are a must for long trips (but we knew that).6. Take "surprises" you can whip out during the flight.
7. Don't count on your kids to sleep on a red-eye flight.
8. Curb your "family visitation" obligations to people you
a. really want to see.
b. must see.
9. If family obligations start after 17:00 politely decline.
10. Plan lots of "half day" trips instead of full days, especially if there is a lot of walking or driving involved; this allows you for lazy mornings, or naps.
11. Have a point of origin and go on excursions instead of moving around hotels.
12. Not that we suspect anything, but we called up our credit card company (the card we used in Israel) and asked for a new card with a new number.
13. In Israel, the inexpensive road side local foods are usually the best (falafel, shawarma, malawach, etc).
14. When renting a car bring your car seats if you can.
15. When renting a car budget $100 US for gas, per day.
16. If you see something you like at a good price, buy it! You'll regret not doing so while unpacking.
17. It is expected to haggle in the markets, but remember your time is valuable as well, staying around arguing about a dollar for a half an hour is stupid at best. Especially when it's meaningless to you, and means the world to them.
18. Preparation is key (you look at three stones and two columns and hear the guide say "this was a palace".) that way you can put everything in context. Out of context nothing is impressive, or worth visiting.
19. Expectations. Remember: the difference between Israel and the US is that in the US 100 years is old and in Israel 100 miles is far". You have to be prepared to go to sites that have been around for thousands of years. Guess what? That's what they're going to look like.
20. Be adventurous, let yourself enjoy the trip. So, the hotel room is not up to your standards of cleanliness, or the fallafel is not as delicious as you thought, or the people seem rude, or whatever. It's a new culture where their definition or rude, clean, or tasty is not yours. Try new food, experiment, learn the language ... you'll enjoy much more.
21. Tour of just highlights is missing the point of traveling. Zipping around the country with a checklist, taking the obligatory picture and moving along simply sucks. Stay in one place a few days, suck up the atmosphere and culture.
22. If at all possible, try not to sell a house and buy a new one 24 hours before you go on vacation.
