Posting my thoughts on travel, I have stressed the importance of being relaxed in foreign places, and how an open and welcoming attitude can add much to your experience.

Although I'm very big on spontaneity, a real 'go with the flow' feeling can only result from preparedness. Planning is a vital part of international travel, and you can't truly experience a country without knowing something about it. The "If it's Tuesday, It Must Be Belgium" sort of gazing out the windows as someone else drives and history, treasures and experiences pass you by is not travel ... it's TV. If you're going to another country, you should be sure to know, at least, the basics.

Along with making certain passports and inoculations are up to date, that all documents are easily retrievable, flight arrangements are correct, that plants will be watered and dogs fed during your absence, some prior knowledge of your destination will add immeasurably to your enjoyment by reducing stress levels in advance.

Guidebooks and Internet sites give a wide range of pertinent information no one should leave home without. It may seem straightforward, but confirming what the power supply will be can save you packing ... then blowing up ... your small appliances, and I'm often surprised by how many people skip this step. (Your hairdryer will be very happy you figured out ahead of time that even with an adaptor 220 volts will have smoke pouring out of it within seconds.) Having an idea of the distance between the airport and the city, the exchange rate of your money to theirs, they types of transport available, business hours, public holidays, cultural taboos, and so forth, can allow easy transitioning from a tired traveler to an active visitor without having to bump up against all sorts of foreign frustrations as soon as you arrive.

Something no trip should begin without is a prioritized list of 'wanna see/do' places and things. In researching your trip, you'll come across many suggestions of interesting activities, areas of historic and cultural importance and events. If any sound like something you want to include, write it down. Far too many vacation plans get sidetracked by fear, exhaustion or an "I just can't be bothered today" attitude that creeps up on weary travelers completely forgetting about the wonderful waterfall or the ancient tiny church that had sounded so fab, and it's not until the trip is over and done with that the "Gee, darn!" moment comes ... a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, gone.

Once again, this is where planning comes in handy. Rest times are as important to a travel agenda as the Leaning Tower of Pisa is to Pisa, especially if you have kids. Dividing a holiday into digestible chunks, some including naps and early bedtime, may seem like shortchanging the vacation experience by spending too much of it asleep, but the dividends are great. Not even the pyramids impress the tired and grumpy.

More tomorrow as I start to think about packing...

Questions? Comments? Shy? E-mail me ... intladoptionblog@adoptionmail.com