Travel Tidbits & Tips

The "I Amsterdam" Pass

  When travelling in Amsterdam, before you even leave the airport, stop in at the Visitor Information office and buy the "I Amsterdam" pass. There are different packages depending on how long you are visiting with lots of tips and savings.

  The line ups at most attractions are very long but you are able to be fast tracked and go into a completely separate line if you have the pass. There is free public transportation as long as you swipe your pass upon entering and leaving the transit bus. We rode the bus from the airport right near to our hotel for free. 

  We received a free canal boat tour with the pass, there are many discounts on food and other things, and we did get to tour a museum for free as well. 

The Return Ticket gives the "I Amsterdam" Pass: four tickets out of five.

I am not being overly dramatic when I say: 

Packing is Critical.

If you pack too much, you end up disorganized, lugging around heavy bags, and paying top dollar for over-weight baggage fees and if you pack too little, you'll be on the hunt down for more clothing when you'd rather be on an actual adventure.

These are some essential things to keep in mind when it's time to pack.

1. Get your packing process started at least a week ahead of when you're leaving... at the very least... make a list! This way you'll have time to purchase any additional items you might need. Then once you've got the perfect list - type it out check-list style and print one off every time you are going on a holiday... you'll be less likely to forget things. Sometimes we forget the most obvious things... those will be the items you can't do without! 

2. Go online and find out about what you can take as luggage. While most airlines allow travellers to check at least one bag at no extra charge on International flights, the majority of U.S. carriers charge big bucks for bags checked on domestic flights. 

3. Along with your one carry on piece of luggage, you are usually able to bring one other personal item. It is subject to specific size requirements but something like a purse, laptop bag, or backpack is generally acceptable. I would suggest taking one, as you'll want at least one change of clothes in your carry on bag in case your main luggage gets lost. The personal item you bring can contain your e-reader, itinerary, magazines, travel toothbrush & paste... you get the idea. My husband and I each take a small tote style bag that can fit under the seat ahead of us and that way we don't have to get up again once seated to get our books etc. Our carry on suitcases go in the overhead until we arrive at our destination.

4. Rolling your clothing is much better than folding: tightly rolled clothes take up way less space than folded ones. And they are less wrinkled when you arrive at your destination.

5. Any type of liquids should really be placed in plastic bags. They WILL leak... it happens. Why even worry? Just pack them that way to begin with and save yourself the headache of hair gel soaked clothing, or shaving creamed shoes... My all-time favourite packing tip: you know how you get those little elasticized shower caps in hotel rooms or dollar stores? They make really good shoe covers to keep your clothes from getting dirty! And all sizes of resealable food storage bags(also from the dollar store) can hold all of your other like items together - hair products in one bag, lingerie in another, etc. They're reusable & don't take up any extra space. I even keep some in my carry on for mints, identification, earphones & medications.

6. If you're travelling for longer than a week, you may want to wash some clothes in the hotel's bathroom sink and hang them to dry. I always make sure to pack a travel size packet of laundry detergent to clean my clothes on the road, so I can pack less and have room for any new purchases I buy along the way. I also take a small drawstring bag to use for soiled laundry, to keep it separate from the clean stuff.

7. See if you can find pants that turn into shorts or capris, or a jacket that turns in to a vest, that's another space saving technique right there! 

8. My best advise:

Wear Layers. Your actual travel outfit should be in plenty of layers, which will help you travel multiple climates in style and comfort. Also, it gives you many more options of what to wear during your entire trip. 

9. It's really important to keep your valuable and essential belongings in your carry on bag, not in your checked luggage. Your passport, identification, money, credit cards, electronics, and other valuables should always be brought onto the plane with you. 

10. Print triplicates of your travel info - you'll be glad to have done this... I make 3 copies of our itinerary(including hotels, flights, etc.)my husband gets one to keep with him, I get one to keep with me and I leave the last one with my mom. You never know what can happen so it's a good plan to have another person NOT travelling with you know where you'll be and the times you'll be gone/home. 

I will post my check list here ...

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Travel Check List

Two Weeks Before You Leave

• Sort out bookings/reservations
• Transportation tickets
• Hotel information
• Health/travel insurance etc.
• Photocopies of I.D.
• Emergency contact info
• Credit cards
• Exchange money
• Traveller's cheques
• Passport

One Week Before Leaving

• Empty fridge
• Arrange lawn care
• Call alarm company
• Call credit card company(give dates you're away to avoid issues)
• Call pet sitter
• Leave keys & itinerary w/ someone you trust
• Stop mail/newspaper delivery
• Check over all luggage/label it(include one label inside should the outer one get lost)
• Family addresses for postcards

Clothing to Pack

• Coat
• Hat
• Footwear
• Sunglasses
• Swimsuit
• Underwear
• Bras
• Socks/nylons
• Pajamas
• Pants/Shorts/Skirts
• Leggings
• Shirts/sweaters
• 1 nice evening outfit
• Umbrella(travel size)

Main Luggage

• Sunblock
• Plastic storage bags/bottles
• Toothbrush/paste
• Hair products/accessories
• Camera/charger
• Cell phone/charger
• Power converter
• Luggage scale
• Laundry bag
• Travel diary
• Deodorant
• Brush/comb
• Make up/remover
• Contact lenses/glasses
• Shaving items
• Nail clippers/file
• Tweezers
• Insect repellent
• Sewing kit
• First Aid kit(medications, antacids, antihistamines, bandages, non aspirin pain reliever, thermometer in a hard case & Polysporin)

Carry On

• Passport
• Driver's license or other photo I.D.
• Transportation tickets
• Itinerary/emergency info
• Travel size toothbrush/paste
• Medications
• Candied ginger for motion sickness
• Mints/gum/chewy candy
• Travel pillow/sleep mask
• Chap stick
• Mini Kleenex pack
• Antiseptic wipes or spray
• 2 pens/notebook
• e-reader/charger
• Reading material
• Glasses/contacts
• Credit cards/cash
• Earphones
• 1 spare outfit
• Mini hand lotion
• Snacks
• Map/directions/guides

Leaving Day

• Check all door & window locks
• Turn on timers for lights
• Set alarm system
• Take out kitchen garbage
• Finish all laundry/dishes

Enjoy your trip! 

    

En Route 2 Europe

Greece

An amazing view of the Acropolis from the ruins of the Temple of Zeus

Mythological & Majestic 

 We arrived in the evening after a ride in a taxi from a lovely young man who gave us a lot of local history on the way from the airport (contrary to comments we had seen, we were not overcharged for the taxi from the airport as it is a set fee) & yet were met at the door by our wonderful host Yiannis who took our suitcases, checked us in & gladly gave us an idea of places to eat etc. We went to our room which was just as pretty as on the website only to hear a little tap at the door.. it was Yiannis with a bottle of chilled champagne! Did we feel like royalty! Enjoyed that and the fact that we had a bar fridge plus another small fridge to keep some champagne for in the morning with orange juice!

  Had a very comfortable, restful sleep & then were surprised again by the breakfast spread! My Lord there was the freshest fruit, the best breads, any kind of cold cereal, two fresh squeezed juices(I saw the juicer; it was FRESH!) and they would bring you a fresh cappuccino or whatever you wished... fresh cooked bacon, eggs... Greek Yogourt, fresh honey... so good!

   We were given excellent suggestions of where to go and set up on a tour one day to see Sounion with a very good tour group. A decent sized, brand new luxury bus; very comfortable and worth the trip. The weather wasn't great but the guide was lovely and there was a place to have tea or something to nibble, plus a nice gift shop. The photo ops were stupendous!

 Back to Ava... we cannot tell you how thrilled we were to see that in reality you can nearly step out the front door and TOUCH Hadrian's Arch at the Temple of Zeus and also the Acropolis! It is that close! That's value to be among all those restaurants, all that shopping, all the history and again; right outside the hotel... Crazy! You need to stay here and you need to stay for a week just to relax and enjoy it. Lovely... clean; the housekeeping was immaculate. The suite is so perfect. Nice TV, lots of clothing storage, good reading lamps, a nice table & chairs to eat or write in journals at, plus a writing desk; gorgeous bathroom with a beautiful painted ceiling... we just loved it and three nights wasn't long enough...

 Thank you, Yiannis & also the girls (Andrea was one) who were lovely hosts/hostesses.. always smiling & couldn't do enough for you. We have stayed in hotels in Paris, London, Vegas, Mexico, Vancouver & Whistler to name a few and this was the best rest, food & service we ever had all in one stay. Thank you, Ava!

The Return Ticket gives the AVA Hotel, Athens Greece: four tickets out of five

The Return Ticket gives Athens, Greece: four tickets out of five

AMSTERDAM, HOLLAND 

 The famous I amsterdam symbol

The Hotel Fita, Amsterdam, Holland

The Hotel Fita

  My husband and I went to Amsterdam and stayed 2 nights at the Hotel Fita. We were impressed with our "Can't wait to meet you" email before we had even left home, our warm greeting when we arrived and the lovely thank you email by the time we got back home! 

  Roel was our host and as the first impression of the hotel, couldn't have made us feel more welcome! He gave us many ideas of where to go and what to see. Our room was very clean and comfortable. The breakfasts on both mornings were delicious and there were plenty of choices of what to have including amazing homemade pannekoek! 

 The location is perfect to easily get to museums, the canals, the transit... Roel's brother(I've forgotten the lovely man's name!) was also an excellent waiter in the breakfast room and super friendly, as was the young woman. It was a wonderful stay. 

The Return Ticket gives the Hotel Fita, Amsterdam, Holland: three tickets out of five

Anne Frank House

  I would highly recommend a visit to Anne Frank House when in Amsterdam. You'll need about 1 - 2 hours for your visit. When we arrived, it was bitterly cold and the line up was very long but I can tell you it was worth every moment of the wait. This museum was the actual hiding place where Anne, her family and a friend were hidden away during the Second World War. I appreciated how respectfully the museum was put together and shivered as I toured inside.

  Anne's original diary is stored there, along with other writings by this heroic young girl. There are many explanatory pictures, along with videos in many translations by people who knew Anne and her family; the most touching of course, was Anne's own father who had survived their ordeal. His wishes were that no furniture be used in the rooms as it was too upsetting to him to show his family's private prison in such a personal manner... instead the museum has made small vignettes that would show room size and layout.

  I had read the Diary of Anne Frank many, many times and to see for myself exactly where everything had happened to Anne and her family was very emotional. There is a book store near the end of the tour where you could purchase copies of the Diary of Anne Frank in many languages.

 The Return Ticket gives Anne Frank House: four tickets out of five.

Blue Boat Tours

  This was a canal cruise that was to have taped history in different languages that you listened to through a headset.. the Captain decided for some reason that we wouldn't be using the headsets and instead played the history on speakers. This mean we had to listen to five different languages saying the same thing over and over the entire trip.. highly annoying.  The problem was as well, that by the time the English version came back around, we had long passed the location that was being discussed.

  Apparently there are dinner tours as well, but this one was just the sail itself. The history of the canals and landmarks was very good if you could catch it otherwise. I think I might suggest looking up another company to go with as we'd noticed there were a few others. 

The Return Ticket gives Blue Boat Tours: one ticket out of five

citizenM hotel, Amsterdam Airport - Schiphol-Rijk

  My husband and I only had a few hours here as we arrived in the evening and left early the next morning. It was literally out the door of the airport, down a little walkway, and there you were. They even have a trolley park right outside the hotel doors so that you aren't lugging your suitcases all over.

 The citizenM  had such a cool atmosphere and was incredibly clean. The style was very modern, nearly futuristic!

 The all hours bar, the free movies, the free internet and computers to use were such a welcome surprise. They served a healthy, delicious breakfast and the staff was helpful and friendly from the moment we arrived.

  Each room is programmed for the exact lighting and temperature that you would like; if you are a returning guest they'll have your preferences on file and when you swipe your room key, everything is as to your liking as you walk in... pretty neat! Even the music in your room can be programmed and then when you set the alarm, the music theme you've chosen wakes you in the morning. 

  The shower and toilet are each in circular pods that surround you when you go inside. The beds are somewhat loft-like and right in front of the window where we could see the airplanes departing. A very unique theme and very well executed.

  The only negatives I would say were that the room was quite tiny, although since we were only staying overnight, it wasn't a problem(a longer stay and I would suggest asking for a larger room) and then the dining bar really only had a few selections. Even though they were good, there weren't a lot of choices.

  Overall, a nice enough stay.

The Return Ticket gives citizenM hotel: three tickets out of five.

  

Van Gogh Museum

  This museum houses the world's largest collection of paintings and drawings of the Dutch painter Vincent Van Gogh. Even though my husband and I aren't the biggest fans of Van Gogh's works, it really is something you must see and is quite a beautiful museum.

  The fact that over two thirds of his work is in one building is amazing, in and of itself. You can see as you go through the exhibits, the stages of his art and the depth of his madness as he aged... it had a massive affect on his work.

  A very important note: be sure to get the "I Amsterdam" pass if you are hoping to see any attractions, as the line ups are very, very long unless you have the pass. (More on this will be in my Travel Tidbits & Tips post)

  There is a very good sized gift shop with many nice items at the end of the tour. 

The Return Ticket gives the Van Gogh Museum: three tickets out of five.

Temple of Poseidon at Cape Sounion, an amazing attraction to see 

The Return Ticket gives the the Temple of Poseidon four tickets out of five

   

  

A Traveller's Perspective

My perspective on travel

The scribblings of a travelling housewife & her amazing, oh-so-adventurous husband... tips & suggestions of destinations to visit, what to do(or skip!) when you get there, places to eat(or avoid!) & even a few simplifying-your-trip ideas.

I've travelled 9 countries & 3 continents so far - Bangkok to Bath - Athens to Amsterdam to name a few... and don't plan on slowing down any time soon!


If you have any suggestions, comments, or if you'd like to tell me how a post helped you - please don't hesitate to drop me a line at:

thereturnticket@gmail.com