I would consider myself a seasoned well-traveled traveler. Recently I had read the difference between travel and journey was: Travel is to a destination and Journey is an Experience… or something like that. The other day while pondering all the countries I’ve visited, traveled/journeyed through or lived in – I’m an accidental wanderer. Numerous times there’s been a friend who would call up and say “Do you want to go to _______?” Sure!!! Or “Is your passport current?” Yep!!! And off we’d go.

Now, my bones hurt and muscles don’t want to move and I feel every bit of the 70 years I’ve been on this planet – all while my mind still believes it’s around 35 years old, the winds will be taking me to Bali. Why Bali of all places? It’s the Elephants. What’s not to love about these grand creatures? I’m betting if you don’t already know about them – you either don’t care or you’ll spend the time to do some research, that’s not the reason for this blog post. The real reason for this post is because there’s a lot of information out there now when considering an international trip… and my hand was hurting from writing and I was running out of paper. 😉 Oh, by the way – there’s a stop in Istanbul, Turkey (going and coming) and another pitstop in Australia (why – because I haven’t been there and I need a boomerang). So, let’s get to business:

The core of this trip is through Craftours: 9-Day Bali – our plan is to add a few days in Bali and somewhere in there fly down to Australia for a couple three days. (Note: Craftours.com is a great touring company that really takes care of their travelers – every step of the way.)

Things we want to do while we’re away: (While putting this all together, I’m now wondering if we’ll have to extend out visits.)

• Bali: In addition to what our tour provides, we’re planning on visiting Mason Elephant Park & Lodge, Taro-Bali, how exciting will it be to bath and have breakfast with the elephants? To partake in helicopter rides, white water rafting, ride around in jungle buggies and dive into a chocolate experience. But don’t forget to check out the 18 Expert Tips on arrival at Bali – Secrets to know. There’s also the Finns, World’s Best Beach Club with a ton of opportunities to explore Bali to get the most of what you can – especially if you’re young.
• Turkey: We will have 8+ hours of layover time while in Istanbul, Turkey. Did you know they have city tours established for those that have extra long layovers? Plus the airport has a locker system that will allow you to lock up your suitcases while you tour the city. We plan on visiting the Grand Bazaar in Istanbul, open 8:30am – 7:00pm, 61 covered streets, 4,000 shops and is considered the 1st shopping mall of the world!!!
• Australia: Perth: Avon Valley Hot Air Balloon Flight with Breakfast;

Planning this magnificent trip… things to consider:

• Airlines: Do we need physical tickets, email confirmations, apps on our phone, what? Which ever the case make sure you have everything you need before setting off. This trip will include the following airlines – American Airlines, Turkish Airlines, oops, I’ve forgotten the 3rd one. Need to check on that!
• Visa: Each country we’re going through (my daughter and I are making this trip) clearly states that if you’re leaving the airport, you’ll need a Visa. Some visas can be purchased at the airport and some are needed before you leave. So far, it looks like Turkey and Australia can be purchased for about $25 each at the airport. Check out VisaGuide.world – you/we may be able to get one Visa for Multiple Countries. In the past we’ve used PickVisa.com and everything was perfect. May do that again.
• ETA (Electronic Travel Authority) – It seems this is what you can do if you plan on visiting the same country several times within a certain time period. I do know that we’ll be going to Bali, then leaving for Australia, then return to Bali before ending our vacation there. Do we qualify? Not sure yet.
• Hotel Reservations: We have established hotels through the tour group we’re joining in Bali…our 1st hotel is: Komaneka Resort in Monkey Forest. Then our second hotel is: The Mulia, Mulia Resort & Villas. So far, while we’re in Perth Australia, we’ll be staying at the Holiday Inn Perth City Centre enabling us to be center of all the action. Of course if our plans change, then so does the hotel. Note: It’s imperative to know which hotel you’re traveling to, if not within a tour group, so you can either hail a taxi or schedule a pick-up.
• AAA International Drivers License: The reason this is considered is because if we decide to rent scooters in Bali or a car in Australia, at least one of us will require some form of international driving permit. AAA will help you out with 2 passport photos, an application, valid drivers license and $20.
• Passport and other required documents: American Express had a commercial that never leave home without it, but I say never leave home without your passport!!! When/while traveling ensure you have a copy of the important parts of your passport included in all your luggage, your wallet/purse and leave a copy with whomever is left behind. It makes it much easier for your luggage to find its owner if baggage claim can figure out who owns it. It would also be a good idea to put a copy of your itinerary with a copy of your passport.
  • Vaccinations: Since Covid, there are many travel restrictions that were put into place – countries wanting verification that incoming individuals had all their shots or proof to be Covid free before entering. Check each country you plan on visiting to ensure you have all the right additional documents before arriving at their entry point.
  • U.S. State Department: There’s a program now called Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) allowing you to let the US government know where you’re going, when will you be there, etc. so if there’s anything that you need to be warned about (weather, riots, anything disruptive) and you have to be evacuated or replaced, they’ll be able to notify you and help you transit out.
  • Before you Pack: Review any precautions for all the countries you’ll be visiting. For example: I’ve been reviewing a lot of “Things I wished I knew before I went” articles and videos. These are really valuable – watch or read more than one. See what items are mentioned by everyone or just a single person. I had never heard of Bali Belly before, have you? Now that I’ve read these articles, it’s the same precautions as going to Egypt. (If you get plugged up and can’t release it, have a salad – those little parasites will clean you out fast, with a lot of discomfort.)
• Dining Etiquette: The last thing you want to do in a foreign country is draw more attention to yourself than necessary… and ignoring their customs and eating habits are two ways you do not want to be noticed for. Simply put, you could find yourself in jail if you do. So read up and pay attention. Some countries require tips, some don’t. Some eat with utensils, chopstick or fingers… which is which? Check out Culinary Travel Guide.
• Cultural Etiquette & Customs: Did you know that crossing your legs could get you into trouble? No? There are several things you do not want to do to that would be considered obnoxious behavior and upset your guests. Shake hands with the wrong hand, sit wrong, hand gestures, body language, voice volume, etc. can all be considered obnoxious in other places but not others. Know the difference. How to be a good tourist.
• Travel Insurance. Insurance is something most people don’t think of, I never did until I decided to let a tour group handle everything… which included insurance. You never want to be stuck because something happened to your flight or other transportation, your health, lost luggage, hotel reservations, etc. Do your research and think about all the things that could go wrong… let’s hope that you don’t need insurance, but if you don’t have it – how much will it cost you to fix your situation? Shop around and find what best suits you and what you’re planning on doing and going.
• Money/Cash: Let’s not forget about the funds required to do everything you want to do. While you may say it was cheaper back in the 70s, I didn’t make enough money to visit anywhere back then unless it was through my job. But thinking about the here and now… I really want to enjoy myself and would love to have a couple three souvenirs to remind myself of how wonderful the trip was, I don’t want to break the bank in doing so. Therefore, what’s more important? Experience or stuff???? Plan and pay for as much experience as possible before we leave, have one credit card available for hotels and travel agencies and cash for tips, vendors and small trinkets. Which reminds me: Make sure you notify your banking institution that you’re going out of country. You don’t want to get there and attempt to make a purchase only to find out they think your card has been stolen and has been cut off. It’s always best to get a bit of cash for each country before you leave and do all your exchanges at a bank, ATM or your hotel (hotels charge more for exchanges).
• Packing List/Travel Essentials: Now that you know where you’re going, what you’re doing while you’re there and where you’re staying…it makes it easier to decide on what you need to take and what can be left behind. Think about the country you’re traveling to and if you forgot something, can you get it there – or do you need it at all? But to help get you started, let’s think about your Carry-On bag, the one thing that you will have with you if your checked-in luggage gets lost. A bag that has all your entertainment, personal documents, medications, water purifying bottle, essentially everything you will need to have on you if your other luggage is never found in time. To help make those decisions, check out PeachfullyChic.com a lifestyle + travel blog for great ideas. There’s also PureWow.com that has the Ultimate International Travel List for a Stress-Free Trip, travel smarter not harder attitude. And we can’t go with just two references, can we? Review The Traveling Teacher with The Perfect International Travel Packing List, with a downloadable PDF if you don’t want to look at a screen all the time while packing (great idea by the way).

By now you know: where you’re going, how you’re getting there, what you’ll be doing while you’re there – you’ve decided on what you’re packing and how much you’re spending along with all the essentials for having a great and safe journey inside another foreign country. Oh yeah, don’t forget your camera and journal (with pen or pencil) to track all your thoughts and mark your treasured moments.

Have Fun!!! See you on the Flip Side!