More Travel Advice

CNN just posted this article:

http://us.cnn.com/2013/08/02/travel/20-travel-mistakes/index.html?hpt=hp_c4

And I have to say, I agree with almost everything they say.

1.) Overpacking

Most people I know have no idea how to pack. When one packs a bag, one should follow a formula. First, consider how many days one will be gone. 5 days? A week? A month? I only ever pack enough undergarments and socks to last me the duration I'll be gone. The rest I wear multiple times - for a week long trip, I'd probably pack 3 shirts and 2 or 3 pairs of pants/legwear.

With some very notable exceptions (like returning from living abroad), my family has the "only what you can carry" rule. If it's too heavy for you to carry, you're doing it wrong.

2.) Not Buying Something You Like As Soon As You See It

For me, this is generally untrue. I can be a bit impulsive at times, but sometimes money is better spent elsewhere. As such, I don't collect nearly as much "junk" as most people I know. If I bought everything I thought was interesting, I'd be shipping a lot more stuff home.

3.) Not Checking Your Phone Plan Before Traveling Abroad

This...will definitely be true for most Americans. To me, it's common knowledge that Verizon is a douchebag that charges you out the ass for roaming. But a lot of people I know don't even think about whether they should bring their phone with them or not. Usually, my family doesn't. We just skype or e-mail those back home with this wonderful invention called the internet.

4.) Trusting "Near City Center" Descriptions

Hahaha, nope.

5.) Taking the "super" shuttle. 

I've never actually used one. My family and I usually just use public transit (trains, free hotel shuttles, buses and walking). We did take a taxi once in Rome and thought we would die. Never again.

6.) Not tightening shampoo caps all the way

I can see how this would be a problem - but that's why every liquid I pack goes in a ziplock bag. If it's too big for a ziplock, I'd say don't bring it - but when exceptions must be made, a tightly wound trashbag can help minimize the mess.

7.) Thinking You Know the Perfect Time to book that ticket

Yeah, don't. It's random. And that "3 months ahead" or "one week before" stuff isn't true either. I actually find that the 3-months rule is bullshit and that's when tickets are MOST expensive. Your best bet is to just check several times a week and just buy it when it hits something "reasonable".

8.) Trying too hard to chisel out a bargain

I've never done this because I'm not a haggler. I only argue when it's not the price on the item.

9.) Not changing money at the airport

I've never done this. I've never changed money, actually. I have this thing called a debit card and there are these things called ATMs...

But if I did, I'd probably change maybe $50 at the airport to get some cash on me.

10.) Underestimating the Hell that is Heathrow

Okay, it's common effing knowledge to arrive at least 3 hours before an international flight - so why don't people do it? I've been scolded by Japanese people who tell me it's fine to just arrive an hour before...The exception being the first flight or second flight of the day (8 am flight and security doesn't open until 7:30) - then the airport people rush you through.

11.) Buying cheap flip-flops

Haven't done this. I'm a sneakers girl.

12.) Fearing street food

Don't! Really, some of the most delicious Japanese food is their street food...takoyaki, yakisoba, kakigoori. If you don't think you'll like it, that's fine, but don't skip it simply because a street vendor is selling it.

13.) Buying a drum on the first day of a three month trip in Asia

Pfft. I'd say don't buy a drum unless you want to ship that bitch home via mail.

14.) Over-reliance on guidebooks

I've traveled to 9 countries and I've never used a guidebook. We live with this modern marvel called the internet where all those guides are posted for free. Great travel ideas on Lonely Planet's website, wiki travel and wikipedia itself. If you want a physical copy, print it out.

15.) Not buying the full insurance policy

I'm covered on dad's insurance anyway - but if I weren't, I doubt I'd buy one anyway. If I did, it'd likely be the full plan, though.

16.) Obsessive photography

For reasons mentioned, you may run out of space on your hard drive. Keep your camera close, of course, for those wonderful moments. But don't take pictures of EVERYTHING - not only do you look like a super tourist, but no one wants to look at them. I only upload the best of my photos or my favorites to facebook - not the whole bloody album.

17.) Not checking visa requirements before departure

I don't have as many problems as a Chinese citizen would (they need visas to visit just about everywhere), but there are countries where I would need a visa. If I wanted to stay in Japan for more than 90 days, I'd need a visa (I have one, actually). If I want to go to Australia or Brazil, I need a visa. It's usually not HARD, just time consuming.

18.) Attempting Berlin in a weekend

Or attempting any major city in a weekend. I shake my head at those who attempt Tokyo in a day. One can indeed get a feel for Tokyo city life in a weekend, but one will miss all of the other, better, things to do in Tokyo. Like visit the Ghibli museum. Or spend an hour or two in a Japanese arcade.

19.) Using a credit card to get cash

I know a guy who did this for a semester because he didn't bring a debit card and Japan is mostly a cash-only society. The fees you get hit with are phenomenal, but he came from a very wealthy family that could handle it. He told me he had no idea how much he spent when he studied abroad because his parents paid for it all.

20.) Not printing out reservation details

Not only does it make everything go faster, but it proves that you have a spot. Otherwise, the company could just say that your reservation doesn't exist (despite you already having paid in full). This includes everything from bus tickets to airline tickets to hotel reservations to those sports tickets.

One Week Left

I have one week remaining in my study abroad and I've been having conflicted feelings. On the one hand, I'd really like to go home. On the other hand, I'm super excited to be going home.

As much as I love Japan, home will always be home, unfortunately.

Moving out has been a serious challenge. Most of my utility companies have been sympathetic to my plight of moving back in the middle of a bill period. The only one that has given me trouble is Yahoo BB (my ISP provider). They say they can't send my bill early and that I'll need to have someone else pay it for me. Uh, what? I even had a Japanese friend try to straighten it out for me and I still got this BS. I'm lucky in that I can leave money with a friend and use their home as a forwarding address, but what about all the other foreigners? Oh, right, all you're doing is encouraging us to get blacklisted the next time we come to Japan for rogue bills.

I haven't really been able to find people who want my stuff either. I've tried Criagslist and Gaijinpot, but seriously...not many people have responded and those who have all ask for the same four items (that have already been taken).

Luckily, the end is in sight - I need to be completely moved out of my apartment the morning of the 6th and my plane leaves around 4:30 from Narita on the 7th.