Tip 1: ​What to bring with you when traveling to the big city? So you are traveling to the big city. Our clients typically travel to the city with a focus on serious shopping.  We recommend not to overpack, keep your luggage light with maximum free space available so you will be able to put your new luxury purchases in your checked bags on the way back.  It is important to remember your airline's maximum weight policies for checked bags, most airlines these days allow you to check each bag with a limit of 25 pounds each.

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Tip 2: ​​Medicines - These are very important.  On a past trip to Croatia I developed a really bad allergy.  As soon as I arrived at the airport my allergies began to really bother me.  Note that some medications in different countries may not work the same as you are used to.  You should  bring your standard medications with you just in case.

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Tip 3: What type of clothes to bring with you? I am very picky about the outfits i bring with me on each trip and I want to make sure that I always look good and have all the useful clothes I will need. I always need my flipflops, comfy casual fashion shoes for day time and black high heels for fine dinning. I always bring a pair of jeans, shorts, dresses and swimwear. I love dresses because they are easy to pair with shoes, accessories and locations and you don't need to mix and match between shorts and a top. Easy!

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Tip 4: What to bring when you traveling to the islands? I almost always bring my snorkeling equipment with me - you never know... Even though some hotels and resorts have equipment for you to rent you want to make sure that you don't need to spend time finding ones that fit you. I always bring sun block and spray with me because sometimes you just cannt not find the brand or high SPF that you want.

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Tip 5: Traveling with technology. I always bring my iPad with me. I am sure that most of people these days own iPad or laptop but I highly recommend an iPad because it is light and easy to carry on the plane in your bag. I always recommend getting an international internet service when traveling outside of your country.  It is helpful in the event that you reach out in an emergency or for work while away. Most international plans for internet service work the vast majority of the  countries we visit.



Tip 6: Music and Traveling are a great combination. I love listening to the music while traveling on the plane, during train rides or while relaxing by the pool sipping a glass of fine champange. I recommend that you buy your new favorite music for each new destinations because iit's always fun to have new music to relax along the way.



Tip 7: Transportation. This can be complicated in each county you visit. I had quite a hard time in Croatia because I could only buy the ferry ticket I needed at certain times of the week, in some  places the ferry or train will not run everyday. I recommend in any place you travel, you should go online and check on their transportation and the limitations first or better yet book through TravelChicMedia and we will take care of this for you. This is critical to make sure you will be able to travel to your destination on time and during the right days of your vacation.



Tip 8: ​Currency. I know that most people usually exchange currency before they leave the country to new destination that uses a different currency. I recommend you bring more cash than you think you should because it can be a lot more convenient than credit cards given today's credit card security policies, exchange rates and charges.  Banks have a tendency to decline charges to prevent fraud on any purchase immediately until you are able to contact them and confirm the charges. It has happened to me many times so cash is always great!  Just remember you cannot bring in more than $10,000.00 without experiencing some issues with customs. You will have to declare if it is more than that amount but just to play it safe you should not carry more then $6,000.00 - $8,000.00 depending on the country you are visiting.  If you are traveling to Europe or a major metropolitan area and you are going to have an expensive vacation you need to make sure you have plenty of cash on hand but you definitely do not need to bring that kind of money when visiting a less expensive third world country.



Tip 9: ​Visa. This depends on your nationality and where you are traveling to. In most cases US citizens can travel to most countries in the world without needing to obtain a visa prior to travel but there are some countries that US citizens need to get a visa such as Vietnam or Cambodia so please check with the consulate. You also can apply for an application online first for your convenience, for non US citizens in some countries who are traveling to Europe you will need to obtain a visa prior to traveling. If you are traveling to an EU country you may need to obtain a visa for the EU, however this visa will allow travel across the member countries of the EU with a single visa.  For this visa  you will need proof of an airline round trip ticket, hotel itineraries, bank statements, an employment letter, insurance, etc. If you are under 18 years old you will need a letter from a parent or if you are going to stay with you friend your friend can send an invitation letter to the relevant consulate to assist in the visa granting process.

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​Tip 10: Being alert for pick pockets. There are so many countries where pick pockets prey on unaware tourists. When you are walking around with your camera you definitely look like a tourist and may be targeted.  Even if you do not have your camera chances are you will not look like you belong there as a local.  I had a bad experience myself years ago in Paris and Berlin. These two times happened when I used a backpack in my travels so I recommend a cross shoulder bag or shoulder bag because you are more alert when it's on the side of your body. Pick pockets often ply their trade in the subway but it can happen anywhere.  A person I know was vacationing in Rome and was threatened by a man in the women's bathroom and the thief took everything from her, including her credit cards, cash and passport and she had to contact her embassy for help. I recommend you stay alert anywhere you are heading in your travels and always stay aware of your bags and your surroundings.



Tip 11: ​​Vaccinations to prevent disease. One story to learn from happened to two Brazilian women who were traveling to Thailand with me in 2000. When we arrived at the airport, these two ladies were required to receive an injection at the airport. It's dependent upon which country you are from and where you are traveling to. Always check the vaccination requirements and recommendations prior to traveling as there are specific and varying medications and requirements for each country. I also recommend that if you are traveling to some places in South America you  bring some medicine to prevent illness because drinking the water in some places, the food and allergies can cost you health wise while traveling.  It's even better if you ask your doctor if you are planing to travel to a new international location.



​Tip 12:​ Travel power converter & adapters. I always bring my adaptor with me when I travel. It's very important to have an adaptor that will work with each charger you may need. I have an international adapter that works very well and it is very useful especially when traveling to Europe or Asia. You would be well served by purchasing an international adapter just in case you hotel does not have the one you need.



Tip 13: Shower Travel Kits. ​I love my shower travel kit. I save more space for my luggage and It also protects my bottles of skin care lotions from rough luggage handling during the trip.​

It is easy to get organized when I unpack my luggage. I also recommend you use a small refillable container for any liquid instead of bringing the original skin care or cosmetic products if you are traveling for less than a week.  It is much lighter and less likely to be damaged during transportation and as I said it saves you more space.  You can pack these small refill bottles in your travel kit and stay light and organized. 



Tip 14: How to go through the airport faster? ​Make sure you manage your time properly to arrive at the airport 2 hours before your flight because at some airline terminals, some destinations and especially during high season there can be a long line for check-in and/or security.  You never know when something can go wrong so you want to make sure you get to the airport on time. I usually make a reservation for a car service to pick me up well in advance of my needed airport arrival time. I make sure my Passport, ID and copies of hotel itineraries are readily accessible in case they are needed at security or customs. I try not to wear jewelry or a belt because you will need to take all jewelry, belt, phone, keys, coins, wallet, passport, shoes and laptops out for security. You should wear something comfortable and easy to move in.  You can buy food and water after security so there is no need to try to brig them through it will only slow you down. These day you can also curbside check your bag if you don't want to wait in the line. There are services for curbside check  but you will have to tip and some may have a fee as well. Please make sure you know the weight of your luggage. You can usually check-in two pieces of luggage under 25 pounds each. If you are planing on shopping I definitely recommended two pieces of luggage for check-in. The transportation security administration revised the 3-1-1 Rule for liquids in carry-on luggage. You can now bring as many 3.4-ounce bottles that will fit into a 1 quart bag, however there is a limit of one bag per ticketed passenger and for getting through security easier, remove the bag from your carry on luggage and place in the bin at security.  Travel safely!



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