Lucille Donahue, Travel Coordinator for the Hunter Tour. Contact her today with your questions. |
Travel Tips and Resources
The Hunter Classics Tour does not
endorse any specific company. These recommendations are for your
information to help your traveling experiences.
Packing Tips:
Make a travel checklist so you
don't forget items. Use this as a sample.
Take small sample sizes of
toiletries that will last just long enough instead of huge bottles.
Don’t waste an inch of your
luggage space, pack underwear and socks inside your shoes. This will
also help your shoes keep their shape. Pack your belts around the edge
of the luggage.
Check the weather (www.srh.noaa.gov),
so you can bring the most appropriate items.
So your clothes aren’t covered in
the liquids, use plastic bottles in your packing. Only fill the bottles
to the ¾ mark incase they are crushed (or the contents freeze
and expand when flying). Then pack the bottles in plastic freezer bags
for further protect your items.
Bring along a
plastic trash bag to keep your dirty items separate from your other
clothes.
Pack your shoes
in shoe bags or old socks to keep their dirty soles from touching your
clean clothes.
Pack carefully to avoid
wrinkles:
- Don't
over pack your bags.
- Travel with clothing that is
less likely to wrinkle.
- Roll up T-shirts or
underwear and wrap your items around them at a fold line. This will
help keep a crease from forming.
- Take the proper size luggage
for your trip. Too big a bag will allow your items to move around and
make damage and wrinkles more likely.
- Button the buttons on shirts
so items will hang properly.
- Use plastic dry cleaner bags
between items. Make sure the dry cleaner bags do not have any
advertising printed on them. The ink can rub off and end up on your
clothes. <
- Unpack as soon as possible.
- Hang wrinkled items in the
bathroom while you shower to help steam out the wrinkles.
Driving.
Need Directions? Try www.mapquest.com or
www.mapblast.com
or http://maps.google.com/. Need a car? Try www.hotwire.com
Get your car checked, especially the
filters, belts, fluid levels and have the oil changed. Don’t wait until
the last minute, it may take time to get an appointment and parts may
need to be ordered. You also want some time to drive around town and
make sure that whatever they fixed stays fixed.
Check the condition of your wiper
blades.
Check the operation of your turn
signals, brake lights as well as the high and low beams.
Examine the tread on your tires.
Make sure your car is prepared for
the weather it will encounter on your trip. You might need more
antifreeze, snow tires or recharged air-conditioning.
Today, many
cars have fancy wheels instead of hubcaps. These wheels usually have a
lock to prevent them from being stolen. If you have a car with wheel
locks, make sure you know where the key is stored (often with the
jack). Otherwise, a flat tire will become a major problem since you
won't be able to get the wheel off the car.
Get your car cleaned. You’ll feel
better in a clean car.
Pack an emergency kit in your car.
Include motion sickness medication if anyone in your group suffers from
it. Remove any items from the car that you won’t need on your trip.
Lock your door as soon as you get into your car
Prepare some on road entertainment
for your trip. Include games and CDs of music and/or audio books.
Check your plates, registration and
insurance information to make sure they are all valid. Be sure to place
your insurance company’s emergency contact number in your car.
Check with all the drivers in your
party to make sure their driver’s licenses haven’t expired.
Check your insurance for expiration
dates and coverage for your automobile.
Arrange for someone to start your
other car, if you leave one home, during very cold or very hot weather.
Fill the car with gas before you
pack the car so all the fumes won't bother your passengers. Check the
fluid levels and tire pressure, your tire pressure will effect the ride
and gas mileage you get on your trip.
Pack the car inside the garage, with
the door down, so people driving by won’t find out you’re leaving.
Bring along plenty of water and
munchies in the car. It will be much cheaper to buy these at the
grocery store than pay the convenience store prices. It might also save
you some extra stops.
Sticking to water will be much
easier on your body than drinking lots of cola. Remember to avoid large
amounts of caffeine. Caffeine can wear on your nerves. If the driver
needs large amounts of caffeine to stay awake then it’s time to pull
over for the night.
Have the adults keep control of the
munchies so mealtimes aren’t ruined.
You don’t want to get yourself sick
with all the junk food along the roadside, so you might want to
consider eating a healthy meal or at least bring some healthy snacks.
Hotels.
Go to www.mapquest.com and search for the
address of your destination. Then choose "Hotels" on the top
right to search nearby that destination. The hotels closest to
your destination will be listed, along with the distance in miles from
your destination. Make sure you sign up for any traveler programs they
might have to earn free nights or other perks.
Or Try:
Hotel Safety Tips
(from the American Hotel & Lodging Association www.ahla.com):
- Don't answer the door in a hotel or motel room
without verifying who it is. If a person claims to be an employee, call
the front desk and ask if someone from their staff is supposed to have
access to your room and for what purpose.
- When returning to your hotel or motel late in the
evening, use the main entrance of the hotel. Be observant and look
around before entering parking lots.
- Close the door securely whenever you are in your
room and use all of the locking devices provided.
- Don't needlessly display guest room keys in public
or carelessly leave them on restaurant tables, at the swimming pool, or
other places where they can be easily stolen.
- Do not draw attention to yourself by displaying
large amounts of cash or expensive jewelry.
- Don't invite strangers to your room.
- Place all valuables in the hotel or motel's safe
deposit box.
- Do not leave valuables in your vehicle.
- Check to see that any sliding glass doors or
windows and any connecting room doors are locked.
- If you see any suspicious activity, please report
your observations to the management.
Flying.
Go to www.orbits.com,
www.expedia.com, or www.travelocity.com and
search for the date and location of where you need to go. When
you see which airline has the cheapest flight, then proceed to the
specific airline's website - most airlines have the lowest fair on
their own websites.
Ensure you are a member of the
airline frequent flyer program.
Never leave your luggage unattended
or take your eyes off your bags.
Learn your destination's airport
code and make sure the correct one gets put on your bag.
Avoid taking luggage with flashy
brand names, as it will make them more attractive to thieves.
Clearly label your luggage on both
the inside and outside of your bags.
Remove any items that are hanging
off your luggage and could get caught on conveyor belts.
Place a trip itinerary in your
luggage so your bags can easily be returned to you.
Place a unique bright marking on
your luggage so you can easily identify it. This way others will
recognize that their similar looking bag did not have the markings and
leave yours alone.
Do not carry valuables in your
checked luggage, they will be safer in your carry-on bags.
If an airline loses your items make a claim before you
leave the airport; some Airlines will not honor claims made after you
have left the airport.
Cover your hands when you are entering ATM or phone
card numbers so others can’t copy them down and use them.
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