What do you wish you'd known?

18 Jul 2007 ashleightara asked

I'm curious to know what ppl wish they'd known before they went on their trips, and only discovered afterwards...

For example,
Did you miss something in a town you wish you'd known about?
Did you pack something, and never used it?
Did you NEED something you didn't pack and had to go in search of it?

In particular, looking for different advice to what is already available on the board...share you experience so others can learn from you 'mistake'.

Thanks

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• Answer this question 753 answers so far

• 12 May 2012 Caraaa said

  

  Im about to go on the European Adventurer and was wondering what anyone who’s already done a tour did with all their photos? im planning on uploading them at internet cafes and at the internet access at hotels or wherever i can get on one onto “Flikr” or uploading them to fb so it cleans out the memory on my camera so i can start snapping again! I also plan to upload them to a usb as well as back up incase i loose the photos somehow. Im not bringin a laptop so im relying on internet cafes or access where ever i can get it!

  ?

  Im about to go on the European Adventurer and was wondering what anyone who's already done a tour did with all their photos? im planning on uploading them at internet cafes and at the internet access at hotels or wherever i can get on one onto "Flikr" or uploading them to fb so it cleans out the memory on my camera so i can start snapping again! I also plan to upload them to a usb as well as back up incase i loose the photos somehow. Im not bringin a laptop so im relying on internet cafes or access where ever i can get it! ????? or Cancel
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• 12 May 2012 Caraaa said

  

  Im about to go on the European Adventurer and was wondering what anyone who’s already done a tour did with all their photos? im planning on uploading them at internet cafes and at the internet access at hotels or wherever i can get on one onto “Flikr” or uploading them to fb so it cleans out the memory on my camera so i can start snapping again! I also plan to upload them to a usb as well as back up incase i loose the photos somehow. Im not bringin a laptop so im relying on internet cafes or access where ever i can get it!

  ?

  Im about to go on the European Adventurer and was wondering what anyone who's already done a tour did with all their photos? im planning on uploading them at internet cafes and at the internet access at hotels or wherever i can get on one onto "Flikr" or uploading them to fb so it cleans out the memory on my camera so i can start snapping again! I also plan to upload them to a usb as well as back up incase i loose the photos somehow. Im not bringin a laptop so im relying on internet cafes or access where ever i can get it! ????? or Cancel
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• 12 May 2012 Caraaa said

  

  Sorry for the multiple posts! I dont know how to delete them either.. any advice would be much appreciated tho :) Thanks!

  Sorry for the multiple posts! I dont know how to delete them either.. any advice would be much appreciated tho :) Thanks! or Cancel
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• 12 May 2012 Caraaa said

  

  Sorry for the multiple posts! I dont know how to delete them either.. any advice would be much appreciated tho :) Thanks!

  Sorry for the multiple posts! I dont know how to delete them either.. any advice would be much appreciated tho :) Thanks! or Cancel
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• 12 May 2012 willo said

  

  There is a simple, convenient and reliable answer to this: use memory cards.

  You honestly do not want to waste your time sitting in internet cafes which will more than likely have slow internet speed uploading a couple of hundred high resolution photos to Facebook/Flikr. Internet/wi-fi is nowhere near as common in Europe as it is in places like the US and Australia/NZ.

  Memory cards are so cheap now, so purchase yourself maybe four or five 8 gigabyte cards and keep your photos stored on them. I assume you’ll be using a regular hand-help point-and-shoot camera of around 10-16 megapixels (not a digital SLR or ‘professional’ camera which takes much higher resolution photos with massive file sizes). So at the end of every day or when you have a spare moment, go through the photos on your camera and delete the duplicates or blurry/dark/light ones to ensure you’re not using valuable memory.

  The packaging on memory cards will tell you how many photos it will store. At a guess, I don’t think you would take (and actually keep) any more than 200 photos a day. When I was on tour last year (European Whirl), I had a Nikon D3100 DSLR and a Canon 14 megapixel point-and-shoot. Between the two, I took maybe 150 photos a day and deleted maybe a quarter of those.

  I hope this helps.

  There is a simple, convenient and reliable answer to this: use memory cards. You honestly do not want to waste your time sitting in internet cafes which will more than likely have slow internet speed uploading a couple of hundred high resolution photos to Facebook/Flikr. Internet/wi-fi is nowhere near as common in Europe as it is in places like the US and Australia/NZ. Memory cards are so cheap now, so purchase yourself maybe four or five 8 gigabyte cards and keep your photos stored on them. I assume you'll be using a regular hand-help point-and-shoot camera of around 10-16 megapixels (not a digital SLR or 'professional' camera which takes much higher resolution photos with massive file sizes). So at the end of every day or when you have a spare moment, go through the photos on your camera and delete the duplicates or blurry/dark/light ones to ensure you're not using valuable memory. The packaging on memory cards will tell you how many photos it will store. At a guess, I don't think you would take (and actually keep) any more than 200 photos a day. When I was on tour last year (European Whirl), I had a Nikon D3100 DSLR and a Canon 14 megapixel point-and-shoot. Between the two, I took maybe 150 photos a day and deleted maybe a quarter of those. I hope this helps. or Cancel
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• 14 May 2012 Caraaa said

  

  Thanks for all that helpful info Willo! I plan on taking a couple of memory cards but just thought to be safe upload as well incase (god forbid) i loose any cards.. But i think ill just be careful and bring extras. Good to know the average amount of photos you took too..gives me a rough idea.

  Cheers! :) Happy Travels..

  Thanks for all that helpful info Willo! I plan on taking a couple of memory cards but just thought to be safe upload as well incase (god forbid) i loose any cards.. But i think ill just be careful and bring extras. Good to know the average amount of photos you took too..gives me a rough idea. Cheers! :) Happy Travels.. or Cancel
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• 14 May 2012 Sharna said

  

  Hey Caraaa I agreee with Willo take heaps of memory cards!!! I have about 4 that I am bringing……. to make sure you don’t lose them keep them in your wallet where your coins go or with your passport…… this is what I do in general all the time anyways and wil definately be doing overseas! REally you dont want to spend your time in internet cafes when you can be exploring a completely different city! and just delete the crap ones or multiple ones whilst your on your tour bus going to the next place!

  Happy Travels! :)

  Hey Caraaa I agreee with Willo take heaps of memory cards!!! I have about 4 that I am bringing....... to make sure you don't lose them keep them in your wallet where your coins go or with your passport...... this is what I do in general all the time anyways and wil definately be doing overseas! REally you dont want to spend your time in internet cafes when you can be exploring a completely different city! and just delete the crap ones or multiple ones whilst your on your tour bus going to the next place! Happy Travels! :) or Cancel
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• 16 May 2012 MattFoertsch said

  

  I’m going on the European Panorama in June and I have a question about the bags/luggage.

  -So that first day when you get on the bus and they weigh your bag, is it JUST your main bag? I plan to have one of the duffle bags with wheels, but ALSO (like a carry-on on the plane) a small Nike backpack with me as well. Is this just like at the airport in that they don’t count the extra little backpack/carry-on, or do they weight this as well?

  Thanks if anyone can give me an answer to this.

  I'm going on the European Panorama in June and I have a question about the bags/luggage. -So that first day when you get on the bus and they weigh your bag, is it JUST your main bag? I plan to have one of the duffle bags with wheels, but ALSO (like a carry-on on the plane) a small Nike backpack with me as well. Is this just like at the airport in that they don't count the extra little backpack/carry-on, or do they weight this as well? Thanks if anyone can give me an answer to this. or Cancel
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• 17 May 2012 willo said

  

  Matt, it is only your main bag which is weighed (to be stored under the coach), whereas your backpack is not weighed and you take that on the bus with you.

  Remember, your main luggage bag only has to fit within the stipulated weight restriction that one time. After that, it will not get weighed again.

  Matt, it is only your main bag which is weighed (to be stored under the coach), whereas your backpack is not weighed and you take that on the bus with you. Remember, your main luggage bag only has to fit within the stipulated weight restriction that one time. After that, it will not get weighed again. or Cancel
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• 17 May 2012 willo said

  

  Duplicate post

  Duplicate post or Cancel
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• 17 May 2012 willo said

  

  Duplicate post

  Duplicate post or Cancel
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• 17 May 2012 MattFoertsch said

  

  OK, gotcha. Thanks man.

  OK, gotcha. Thanks man. or Cancel
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• 17 May 2012 mary_elizabeth said

  

  Matt, what date does your European Panorama leave? I’m also going on that tour – mine leaves on June 11. :)

  Matt, what date does your European Panorama leave? I'm also going on that tour - mine leaves on June 11. :) or Cancel
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• 17 May 2012 MattFoertsch said

  

  I’m doing the June 30th one. You’ll have to pave the way and let me know what to do/not do a few steps ahead! :)

  I'm doing the June 30th one. You'll have to pave the way and let me know what to do/not do a few steps ahead! :) or Cancel
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• 17 May 2012 amy_eb said

  

  Wow, this thread is great, thanks to everyone who has contributed! I have a few questions…

  I am leaving on July 6 on the Eastern Escapade – I would love to know how much spending money I need to comfortably enjoy the US. A rough amount per day?

  Does anyone know much about the hotels we stay at during this trip? Let me know!

  Also – what kind of weather will I be experiencing in July in North America – will it still be cool in Canada, but hotter further south, like in NYC?

  Furthermore – I have a week in NYC after my trip, I would love to know any tips people have about exploring the city alone.

  Thanks!

  Wow, this thread is great, thanks to everyone who has contributed! I have a few questions... I am leaving on July 6 on the Eastern Escapade - I would love to know how much spending money I need to comfortably enjoy the US. A rough amount per day? Does anyone know much about the hotels we stay at during this trip? Let me know! Also - what kind of weather will I be experiencing in July in North America - will it still be cool in Canada, but hotter further south, like in NYC? Furthermore - I have a week in NYC after my trip, I would love to know any tips people have about exploring the city alone. Thanks! or Cancel
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• 17 May 2012 kia88 said

  

  I am going in October from Rome to Spain. I thinking of bringing a few long/dresses and maybe 1 pair of khaki pants. I dont want to over pack but don’t want to underpack. I tend to get cold faster than others so I will bring a light sweater or jacket as well. Do you think these items would be okay in these places in October? Any other suggestions are appreciated.

  I am going in October from Rome to Spain. I thinking of bringing a few long/dresses and maybe 1 pair of khaki pants. I dont want to over pack but don't want to underpack. I tend to get cold faster than others so I will bring a light sweater or jacket as well. Do you think these items would be okay in these places in October? Any other suggestions are appreciated. or Cancel
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• 17 May 2012 Gurinder said

  

  Hey Amy, Canada overall in the summer tends to get pretty hot, the eastern side tends to be more humid than the west, so since you’ll be in southern Ontario and Quebec, I say prepare for the humidity, average temps usually hit 70 F or 22ish C, but the humidity can get to you

  Hey Amy, Canada overall in the summer tends to get pretty hot, the eastern side tends to be more humid than the west, so since you'll be in southern Ontario and Quebec, I say prepare for the humidity, average temps usually hit 70 F or 22ish C, but the humidity can get to you or Cancel
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• 17 May 2012 Jezzcar said

  

  I just had to comment and say how much I love that 22C is “hot and humid” for you. Try 113F. Good ol’ Australia.

  I just had to comment and say how much I love that 22C is "hot and humid" for you. Try 113F. Good ol' Australia. or Cancel
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• 18 May 2012 amy_eb said

  

  Thanks lightning rodd – where I live we get to about 40C and humid in our heatwaves, so I will be ok in that weather I think! Thanks for your advice :)

  Thanks lightning rodd - where I live we get to about 40C and humid in our heatwaves, so I will be ok in that weather I think! Thanks for your advice :) or Cancel
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• 18 May 2012 Gurinder said

  

  Not a problem, although I would also recommend bringing a light sweatshirt or hoody just incase

  Not a problem, although I would also recommend bringing a light sweatshirt or hoody just incase or Cancel
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