Let’s do that differently next time…
Things to consider on my next journey:
Thinking this was the only time I’d do this trip, I returned wanting to go back.
If I’m heading to Europe for something, I’d like to head back to Cape Verde.
If I’m heading to east coast of US, then make sure I get back to Jamaica.
But perhaps don’t try to do both at the one time. Break it up.
Maybe see the Florida Keys while I’m so close to it! Only if I meet with friends who don’t mind being the drivers.
Only go to Cape Verde or Jamaica if I have additional information that assists in researching the family tree.
Be better organised before heading off. I thought I had planned a lot – I hadn’t. But I didn’t know what or where to look. When I travelled in the 1990s I used travel books. You would think with the internet it is easier. No, what I did do was put off the research because I could do that while I was there. I found I didn’t have a clear plan of what I was going to do.
Buy a sim card for your phone if you are somewhere for at least a week. I should have gotten one for Cape Verde and Jamaica. I did get one for the US and that was massively helpful.
Make sure to take the little pointy thing to open the sim tray on the phone with you. When I travelled to NZ in 2019, the guy at the store at the airport put the sim in for me, but I couldn’t put my Australian sim back in the phone until I got home. I have so many of the suckers that I’ve now put one in both of my purses.
When moving to a new location while sightseeing, take a photo with your phone first, then take the rest of your photos on your fancy camera. The geotag with the phone pic will let you know exactly where photos were taken, making sorting out your photo album when you get home easier.
Have a filing system sorted out for each day when you download your photos. And download at the end of each day. If you can, back up your photos.
Also helpful is have a program to sort through your photos that same evening. Boy I wish I had Lightroom. I didn’t do my photos or blogs while away for a number of reasons, including overwhelm on which ones to pick. In the end uploading a few to Facebook was all I managed.
Use the foreign exchange at the airport to get some local currency when you arrive. You don’t need much and usually the exchange rate isn’t the best, but at least you will have some usable cash.
Find out what foreign currency is accepted in the new place. In Cape Verde some people would accept Euro. In Jamaica some were willing to take payment in US$, and some preferred to take payment in US$.
The last time I travelled overseas, ATMs weren’t really a thing. I didn’t realise I could get an advance of cash from an ATM. Be aware of the fees you are charged with cash. Sometimes the convenience is worth the fees.
Also be aware of your spending while you are travelling. Keep a running tally. If you are really good, have a budget and keep to it. My costs blew out because I wasn’t paying too much attention to what was going on the credit card.
Ask for clarity when a taxi driver asks for the fee, especially if their English is almost non existent. I paid 20 euro when I should have paid 2, but I was tired, forgot to exchange some local currency at the airport and was confused. The guy wasn’t a taxi driver, but I didn’t work that out until we were at the car. He wasn’t trying to scam me, he was just trying to hustle. When I realised what had happened I let it go. Unintentional charity. Hopefully he paid it forward.
Find local independent guides when you get somewhere. Get to know them a little to get a local’s insight into where you are visiting. Lucia in Santiago talked about the practice of little girls having their hair brushed out and then braided on the front porch every Sunday. A beautiful mental portrait that I normally wouldn’t have seen if we didn’t drive past it and she commented on it.
Some hotels have a self serve laundry and may sell single serve washing powder. Carry your own washing power in zip lock bags (although I realised it may look like a suspicious package). I planned when I was doing my laundry and took enough clothes to get me to that place. I chose Miami, as the hotel had the facilities AND I was mindful to not waste water in Cape Verde and Jamaica. Make sure you have enough underwear to get you through, but not so little that you have to constantly wash them out and hang them to dry in your room. Underwear doesn’t take up much room.
On a recent trip I picked an apartment because it had a washer and dryer. Actually it was a washer/dryer. It took hours. In the future I will be Googling Laundromats to get the job done quickly and painlessly.
Get out and see things you want to see. If it will cost a lot to see that place, consider that you may never be back here again, it may be the highlight of your trip. If you aren’t sure, Google reviews of that tour and do it if it feels right. And if it isn’t that great, how can you make the most of it. If you are travelling with someone, see some things you may not have chosen to do, you may be pleasantly surprised.
If you can, learn a language. If possible do an immersive language course there. Many years ago I saw a video of a place in Tuscany where you can do a month long immersive language course. It sounds so interesting (and possibly frustrating).
Enjoy yourself.
Tipping. I had a tour guide in Jamaica ask for a tip at the end of a tour through the heritage home. Since I didn’t know how much to tip, I asked. What she asked for was too much, but I didn’t know how to get out of it. I didn’t have what she asked for but still gave her too much. In hindsight I should have given her 10-20% of the entrance price. They will be paid from the venue. I had to go to the bank afterwards to get more money. It helps to ask around as to what is reasonable.
I may add more thoughts as they come to me.
