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25 ESSENTIAL TRAVELING TIPS

 
25 TRAVEL TIPS Whether you go by plane, train or automobile, for business or for pleasure, alone or with the whole family, these 25 travel tips are sure to make your next trip a breeze.

1 Ask the ticket agent about student, senior-citizen or other special rates. Also ask if the fare quoted is the cheapest available and if the ticket is refundable.

2 Inform the ticket agent of your dietary needs when making reservations. Low-fat, low-sodium, vegetarian or other special meals must be ordered in advance.

3 Request bulkhead seats when flying with small children. This way your kids won't disturb other passengers.

4 Remove old flight-destination tags from your luggage. Automatic scanners may send your bags to the wrong airport. Indicate only your name and destination on the tag attached to the outside of your luggage. Tape your office address, telephone number and itinerary inside each locked bag.

5 Pack light. If you can't, always pack essentials such as eyeglasses, jewelry and travelers' checks in your two allowable carry-on bags. A change of clothing and a book may come in handy if your luggage is delayed.

6 Never carry or check luggage or packages for strangers.

7 Carry a photocopy of your passport and extra photos with you, in case of loss or theft. Write on the back the addresses of U.S. embassies and consulates in countries you plan to visit.

8 Bottle-feed infants during takeoffs and landings to ease the discomfort of changes in airplane cabin pressure.

9 Check whether you're entitled to a refund when you've been involuntarily bumped from a flight on which you have a confirmed seat. Before you travel, send a $1 check for "Fly Rights," a 32-page guide on everything from airfares to customer complaints, to the Consumer Information Center, Dept. 148V, Pueblo, Colo. 81009.

10 Apply for a personal identification number (PIN) through your credit-card company at least four weeks before your trip should you need access to extra cash overseas.

11 Contact discount-travel companies for unsold space on cruises and package tours. For a modest yearly fee, most offer great dels, but be prepared to take off on short notice. Check your local yellow pages or call Travelers Advantage at (800) 255-1488, or Last Minute Travel at (617) 267-9800.

12 Pack plenty of tissues, personal-hygiene products, deodorant, a bar of soap, toothpaste and film for your camera. These inexpensive items can cost a bundle abroad.

13 Find out if your health insurance covers you on the road. If the coverage is insufficient, ask your travel agent about comprehensive travel insurance.

14 Request a room close to the elevator bank when staying alone at a hotel to avoid walking down long, isolated corridors. Ask for a room change if you do feel unsafe.

15 Check with your hotel's concierge for tickets to shows, tours, local attractions and other events. She will accommodate special requests and can even estimate the cost of a local taxi ride.

16 If you're single, join a travel club. Here are a few Black clubs: Diamonds, 3131 Linden Ave., Long Beach, Calif. 90807, (213) 424-4596; International Pan American Travel Association, Cross Creek Ranch, 16061 Gamble Ave., Woodcrest, Calif. 92504, (714) 789-9464; Chocolate Singles, P.O. Box 333, Jamaica, N.Y. 11413, (718) 978-4800.

17 When driving, pack sensitive equipment such as cameras, tape recorders and film in a small cooler--no ice, of course--especially in hot weather.

18 Bring taped short stories and novels on long road trips. Check your local library, book or record store for James Baldwin's Another Country and The People Could Fly: American Black Folktales.

19 Don't give easy-to-choke-on items to children in car restraints. You wouldn't be able to rescue a child choking on cookies, grapes or toys with removable parts in time, especially if you're driving a stick shift or if you're in the fast lane.

20 Find out if your personal auto insurance or credit-card agreement covers rental-car accidents before you waive the rental company's collision insurance.

21 Join a motor club. Membership can provide much more than emergency towing services. The club will outline your driving route and provide information on state motor laws, and it may entitle you to special discounts. Check your local yellow pages for listings.

22 Wear less revealing attire in Africa, the Caribbean and predominantly Moslem countries. Locals may consider going topless on the beach or wearing shorts on the street offensive. Dressing conservatively can help you avoid problems--from harmless stares to harmful physical assault.

23 Request a Value Added Tax (VAT) refund form when purchasing items in western Europe. When leaving the country, present the forms for validation at customs (along with the purchased items if requested). If you are entitled to a VAT refund, it will be mailed to you.

24 Avoid ice cubes, crushed ice, uncooked vegetables, salads and fresh fruits with thin skins--such as grapes and apples--in countries where you shouldn't drink tap water. Use bottled water for brushing your teeth and drinking.

25 Find out about and follow timetables for inoculations and medications. For details, contact your local public-health department at least six weeks before your departure.

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