Travel Tips

[Vics]

I didn't read the whole thread, but here's one more for "travel light". That means pack for four days at most, even if youi are traveling for three months. Carry one camera and one lens. Learn all about home exchange: homeexchange.com and homeforexchange.com. Get flexible on your travel schedule. Be readcy for surprises. Learn a little of the languages.

 

[shanenoir]

You can do a lot of communicating with body language and signs, the most important of which is a smile. You also need to learn four phrases in the local language: "Hello," "Please," "Thank you," and "Where is the toilet." With those four phrases, appropriate body language, and a pleasant smile you can go almost anywhere.

For more on travel photography with an emphasis on people, you might find "Foreign Faces," an article I wrote for Rangefinder Magazine a few years ago worth a read. Here's the link. [FONT=&quot]http://tinyurl.com/pzegpa

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I would add the phrase "excuse me" to that list. "Sumimasen" and "excusez-moi" were very useful in Japan and Paris. If you can convey that you are polite and making an effort to come to them on their terms, people will be much happier to open up and help you. 🙂

 

[RFluhver]

A lot of people tell you to travel light, but they never tell you how to actually do it. Well, here are a couple of tips.

Winter Travel
1 x pair of dark jeans. Dark so that any dirt or soiling doesn't become obvious.
1 x pair of nicer pants, but something that can be either hand or machine washed. I recommend darkish blue or grey in colour. You need nice pants for when you do find yourself in places that might have dress codes or just need to be extra presentable. You can also alternate this with the jeans every couple of days or so.
2 x long sleeved shirts. Buy those ones that can appear both casual and sort of formal at the same time.
2 x pairs of heat retaining undergarments. You can even minimise to just 1 pair (top and long johns), if you like; wash every couple of nights in the hotel bath. Possible because these dry quickly. Get from your local camping store or from Uniqlo.
1 x suit jacket
1 x Barbour wax finish coat. I cannot recommend this highly enough. It is the sort of jacket that is multipurpose. Looks good for casual and rugged appearance, keeps you warm and, with many big deep pockets, also acts as a photo jacket. Expensive, but really worth it.

Plus...your socks and undies. All this will fit into jonmanjiro's 35L luggage with enough room for things like a small laptop and other sundry devices.

Btw, for shoes, I recommend investing in one of those Rockport ones. Expensive, but they are really good for walking and also appear presentable. But if you spend some time in rough terrain, then you'll basically need 2 pairs anyway - one walking shoe and a casual pair. I spent last week in Hokkaido and took 2 x pairs with me. Since I ate in nice places like Mikuni, I had to bring along the nice pants and shoes. Else, I could have dispensed with them.

For summer travel, you can travel much, much lighter!

 

[shanenoir]

Dave,

Yes, $1400 RT is about the going rate for US East Coast to Europe. However, a lot depends on the season. And, fares jump around all the time. I got a $771 RT fare from Miami to Tokyo earlier this year.

We can talk a bit more when I come to Atlanta in a week.

Tom

I have taken rates of $680 and $780 round trip from Los Angeles to Tokyo, during the first week of April. This is the peak of the cherry-blossom season there, with the best weather of the year, and is in a dead zone between two major travel holidays for the Japanese. I found these tickets by going through H.I.S. Travel-- their service was incredible, and they saved me a few hundred dollars. I highly recommend them, if it wasn't painfully obvious. 😀

 

[Tom A]

Dave, for Europe I prefer flying into smaller airports, Dusseldorf in Germany is my current favorite. Easy to pick up a rental car (and return it) - distances in Europe are not that huge. You can go from Dusseldorf to Amsterdam in 4- 5 hours, Paris in 5 hours, Hamburg in 3-4 hours. When you arrive - book at least 1 night in whatever city you fly in to - just to "straighten out" the back after the flight and lessen the jet-lag. Sometimes you can find charter flights going to "lesser" airports - great saving both in ticket prices and sometimes on car rentals. It all depends for how long you are going - it you are planning for a month or more, a car gives you much more flexibility - though navigating cities like Paris/Rome takes a bit getting used to. I usually leave the car in a suburb, use public transit instead to get to hotels.
As everybody has said, travel light. My rule is, you should be able to carry the bag in one hand comfortably . If you run out of something, it is available just about every where - including clothing.
Wear in a pair of shoes prior to going - you dont want to start off with "new" shoes. Use public transit whenever possible, cheap and much faster than a car.
I too have difficulty walking - and I use a cane when traveling - europeans actually respect that and will get from a seat or assist with doors. As for medical problems, check beforehand what facilities are available to you. Both the UK and France have very good services in that respect - dont know about Italy, but probably similar.
Cameras etc, take what you are used to. This is not the time to try out that new "all bells and whistles" model. I usually travel with three cameras, one around my neck, one in my smallish shoulder bag - and a back up in the luggage. Wide, medium wide and a normal lens - and for some reason I take a short tele along - but rarely use it (usually left with back up body)
Dont "over plan" - whatever plans you had at the start of the trip will go awry anyway - so just enjoy it.
In major cities we usually take a bus-tour the first day - one of those 3-4 hour sightseeing tours - as it gives you the "lay of the land" - and after that we walk or "transit".
Travel is to be enjoyed - and if that means spending a week sitting at a cafe' - drinking coffee/wine etc. - that's OK - because you enjoyed it. There is probably no job harder than being a tourist - and realize that you cant see it all anyway - so just take it easy.

 

[Mark T]

I think, for most people, the biggest difficulty in travelling is leaving. Especially if the travel is long term. There's always a reason not to go; not enough money, leaving work, missing events at home etc. Once you commit to leaving, everything else is easy.

You figure out how you like to travel on the way. Short trips in expensive hotels driving in a rented car, or long trips camping and travelling on a bicycle? You post home what you don't need, buy what you don't have on the road. The details aren't important and will be different for everybody in any event. What works for me may not work for you, so be mindful of that when taking well considered and well intentioned advice.

The most important thing is to do it!

 

[robert blu]

...In major cities we usually take a bus-tour the first day - one of those 3-4 hour sightseeing tours - as it gives you the "lay of the land" - and after that we walk or "transit".
Travel is to be enjoyed - and if that means spending a week sitting at a cafe' - drinking coffee/wine etc. - that's OK - because you enjoyed it. There is probably no job harder than being a tourist - and realize that you cant see it all anyway - so just take it easy.

Dave, yes, travel light and enjoy it. My ideal is to stay longer in a place and not to change location everyday. When in a new city first day as Tom suggests a tourist tour, to get a general idea of the place. Next days go for what we like, going back to some place we have seen the previous day abd stay there longer, go to art galleries or small shops. I also like to take a bus and go from the center to the suburbs area, observing how the urban landscape and the people behavior change. As for cameras a found a good combination my m7 (35/50/75) and the x1 : 100 iso in the m7 and the x1 for interiors shots with higher iso. Try to connect with local people: when we were in Prague we ask a girl to write us on a small note book this sentence in their language: "we are photography student and our assignment is about people: are we allowed to take a picture of you, please?" This simple idea opened us the possibility of many portraits!
Just a few thoughts from my side, ciao
robert

 

[dave lackey]

Wow, great tips from everyone...I don't think folks who are used to doing something think much about it from the aspect of a "newbie". You all are quite a treasure of information that can and will be indispensable to somebody!

This past week, we managed to steal away for a three day weekend on the Gulf Coast...driving down to a condo and meeting up with Raid in Pensacola for an afternoon (with his former student Alex and, of course, his two lovely daughters). Simple trip but exhausting for me because of the current situation with my bride's recovery from the stroke 5 months ago. Nothing, and that is no exaggeration, was accomplished without my having to get it done alone. Where we used to share in things, they are all my responsibility. Where we took care of ourselves, now, it is all mine as I now have to do everything for two people. Quite an honor and yes, it is exhausting.

But it worked out even with no real plan...other than a destination. I have found that even though we don't need a wheelchair fulltime, we should carry a cane or take the chair because it is easier to find assistance when people realize that a disability actually exists. It is all daunting. Intimidating for me, actually to think of such a trip.

Keep all the information coming, as I really find it immensely interesting and will use every post in my planning.

Oh, and yes, it appears that an M-body and the X1 will be all I need to carry for anything I can imagine needing a camera for...🙂