365 Ways to Live Happy (17 page)
If you only have a couple of days in a town, for example, New York, Chicago, or Savannah, take a bus tour and let a trained professional driver or guide show you the sights and tell you about what you are seeing. The overview can help you decide which sites you would like to see more of as well as those areas to avoid. Additionally, a bus tour can provide:
Easy access to city sites and tourist attractions
Flexibility in schedules
Audio in a variety of languages
Efficiency and cost-effectiveness
Do you love Russian vodka and caviar blinis? The next time you are sailing down the Volga on a cruise ship and a nice Russian family invites you to dinner, don't hesitate to say da, or yes. You'll have a memorable experience dining with that family on foods that you may not have tasted elsewhere in your travels. Anytime you are visiting a region or country that is new to you, don't miss out on the opportunity to see how families live, eat, and share fellowship with their friends. After all, breaking bread together is an ancient ritual practiced in cultures throughout the world.
Lugging a big suitcase around wherever you go can cause more than one kind of headache. Many airlines now charge you a fee to handle your checked bag, so traveling light makes more sense now than ever. One tip is to purchase basic travel clothing that is lightweight and washable in neutral colors such as basic black and tan that can be dressed up easily for dressier occasions on your trip. Often, that type of travel clothing is virtually wrinkle-free and takes up little space in a bag. Pack less, travel light, and avoid the headaches.
Use a money belt when you travel on vacation. You want to safeguard your money, and slipping it into a lightweight money belt that fits around your waist or inside your trousers is a far better option than carrying it in a purse or backpack, especially if either of those have a long shoulder strap. Thieves can come up beside you, cut the strap, and be gone before you realize what has just happened. Pickpockets can clean your cash, credit cards, passport, and identification out of your pocket just as easily. It's a crime as old as currency itself. You want to be happy when traveling, not sitting at some police station seeking help in recovering your stolen property.
Come to the aid of someone struggling with her luggage. Maybe she's trying to get it on the tram to the airport and you are going her way. Or, perhaps your traveling buddy is headed back from the local flea market with his rented bike overloaded with bags. You could take one and lighten his load. Or, you see a little old Greek lady crossing the street after buying her groceries and the handle on one of her bags breaks. Don't wait for someone else to rush over and help her. You do it. And put a smile on your face. Little old Greek ladies deserve as much.
Think of someplace you could take the kids during a weekend, a school-break holiday, or summer vacation where the destination is perhaps less important that the journey. Make getting there as fun as possible for your tots, tweens, or teens. Pack books, games, CDs, art and craft supplies, and a big cooler that you fill with bottles of water, sandwiches, and snacks for the journey. Don't forget pillows and blankets for those who need naps. The point is to make it an interactive experience that your family will always remember with smiles and laughter.
Sometimes, the most memorable places you'll find while on vacation are the little discoveries you made off an alley, down an interesting side street, or along a path that lead to a river's edge, a shady courtyard, or a butterfly garden. Be adventurous when traveling. Explore the neighborhood where your accommodations are located. Drive to a nearby town or village and sample their foods and wines. Discover a deserted hill town. Or make your way to what appears to be a palace of a bygone era. Take off with your walking stick into the hill country. Discover places beyond the familiar path that will make your trip unique and special.
If you bump into someone you recognize from the airport, on a local bus trip, or from the lobby of your hotel, invite her to dine with you. Traveling solo can be lonely at times and the camaraderie of new friends can lift your spirits. Your fellow traveler may be craving company as much as you are. Some experiences are best enjoyed with another person. If you go to Ireland, for example, with an urge to bike around the southern part of the Emerald Isle to see the Ring of Kerry and the Cliffs of Mohr, having a fellow traveler along might provide the impetus to just go for it. You buy or rent some bikes in Dublin and head off into the biking trip of a lifetime, then share stories about it in the local pub when it's over. Now how fun could that be?
Nothing brings back memories of your trip like receiving mail from friends you made while on vacation. But if they don't know how to contact you once you've left them, you won't be getting those photos they took of you during your visit, the piece of art they promised to send, their postcards, or letters. So, don't forget to exchange your e-mail address with families and friends you met while traveling. You'll enjoy memories of that trip all over again when they contact you. And, if you are lucky, you'll be invited back next year.