 I recently signed up for 23andMe to learn more about my ancestry and genetic makeup. I knew I had Spanish ancestry (turns out I'm 24% Spanish). I also learned that I'm 10% Italian and 11% French/German. This inspired me to go back to my roots and beyond.
I haven't been to Barcelona and Rome in over a decade and am looking forward to exploring these beautiful cities all over again. Plus, I'll be visiting places in Italy and France I've never been. In fact, everywhere else in the itinerary is new to me. Click here to learn more about this exciting itinerary with Azamara Cruises and the exclusive perks you'll get by joining me.  There's a lot to remember before heading out on your next adventure. That's why I always use a checklist to remind myself of all the things I need to pack before I head out.
Click here for a handy packing list. After all the packing is done and just before I leave home, I double check to make sure I have these 3 things on me. Without these 3 items, I may not even make it to my destination in the worst case scenario and at a minimum my travels will be very difficult. If all I have are these 3 items, I'll be able to get by and can always purchase anything else I need. #1 Don't forget your passport If you're traveling internationally, you won't even make it on the plane without your passport. If somehow you slip through all the checks and make it to your destination, you'll be on the next flight back home as soon as you land. I've seen it happen a number of times. The traveler has to go back home to get their passport. Their travel plans are delayed plus they incur stiff fees from the airline to re-book their air. Bonus Tip: Make sure your passport doesn't expire until 6 months after the date you return home or they might not let you abroad. #2 Don't forget your money/credit card I was pick pocketed while traveling once. They took my wallet with all my money and credit cards. They were so good I didn't even realize it until the next day. Worst part? I was only half-way through my month long journey. I begged my parents to send money via Western Union at each new city I went to so I didn't have to come home early. Thankfully they agreed, but it was quite the process. The time difference between me and them was about 10 hours which made communication difficult. I wasn't sure how much money I needed for the rest of the trip and typos in my name made it difficult to collect the cash. #3 Don't forget your phone With the shift from paper to digital almost 100% complete, your most important travel information is now on your phone. Plus your family and friends often expect to hear from you frequently while you travel to make sure you're ok. We've grown so dependent on our smart phones, it's hard to travel without them. To top it off, many of us no longer use a physical camera. It's now just an app on our phone. Can you imagine traveling to all these beautiful sites and not being able to take pictures of any of your food! So before you leave for your next trip, double-check and make sure you didn't forget your passport, money, and phone. |
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April 2021
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Click here to schedule a free consultation about your next trip! (408) 718-4872 matt@matt.travel |
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California Seller of Travel Registration # 2089491-50. Registration as a seller of travel in California does not constitute the state's approval. Agent is not a participant in the Travel Consumer Restitution Fund. Florida Seller of Travel Registration # ST37113. Hawaii Seller of Travel License # TAR 7231. Iowa Seller of Travel Travel Agency # 960. Washington Seller of Travel UBI # 602 775122.
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