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By Peter Doucet
Pack light? ... Not Peter. Check out the mountain of luggage he and his girlfriend arrived in Paris with last month. A wise man once gave me this advice about racing: "To succeed, you need a plan, a back-up plan, and a back-up plan to your back-up plan." He could have just as well been talking about travel. To guarantee a good trip, you need to prepare for the unexpected. That way you'll quickly rebound from the inevitable miscalculations and be ready to pounce on every adventure that rolls your way. Make a list Whether you’re leaving for two days or two months, make a list of things that you need to do before you leave and another list of things you need to take along. Your list of things to bring should include these categories:
And don't forget:
Make a budget It's no fun to run out of money half way through a trip. So plan ahead. Make yourself a realistic budget and stick to it. And leave enough wiggle room for those unexpected costs that inevitably pop up, like the restaurant that doesn't accept credit cards, or the battery charger that got left behind in Marseilles. Get your travel docs in order If you're leaving the country, you will need a current passport, and possibly a visa. Both passports and visas can take months to get, so don't procrastinate or you won't be going anywhere! Get insurance Inline skating is a great sport. But it does involve some risks. You don't want to be stranded in a foreign country facing health care (or legal fees). So do yourself a favour and purchase a good insurance policy. Make copies of all your travel-critical info Photocopy all your travel documents, credit cards, bank cards, licenses, certificates, insurance information, itinerary, and passport. Keep a copy at home and one in your suitcase. Better yet, keep an electronic copy and email it to yourself. That way if any of your critical travel documents are lost or stolen you'll have a backup. Decide how you'll get around You're bringing your skates, of course, but think about bringing a bike as well. Bikes are a great way to get around in many cities. Some airline companies actually will allow you to bring your bicycle free of charge. If you bring your bike, make sure it is well packed—at minimum put it in a cardboard box. Lighten up The fewer bags, the better. If you're flying, you pay for excess weight. So lose some pounds (or kilos) by leaving behind items you don't need (like used wheels) or that you can get at your destination (like water). If weight is still an issue, pack heavier items in your carry-on. Or if you’re traveling with a partner or a group, spread the load. Network with local skaters
Once you arrive at your destination, hook up with local skaters. They're great sources of local info. They'll help you hunt down the best places to skate and eat and give you tips about local laws and customs. Scout your travel options Figure out where you want to go and book your bus or train tickets as far in advance as you can. You'll save a bundle and have a guaranteed seat (theoretically, at least). Capture some memories Some travelers use blogs or email to capture their vacation experiences. But don’t forget the power of pen and paper. A personal journal is portable and keeps you focused. You can doodle, write a poem, keep a diary — and you never have to worry about running out of batteries. Oh, yeah. And don't forget to have fun! ---
Related reading: • Skate Tip of the Week Archive
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