Hey all!

As you can see I am about to head to Oaklahoma for my uncle's wedding.  What you may not know is that I am also preparing for my graduation gift of a Contiki tours vacation to Europe!  This blog is here to help share my stories and findings and to share tips so others can learn from my mistakes and triumphs....

I would not consider myself a travel guru, although I have had some minor experience under my belt: 29 states and 5 countries.  However, with your help, I hope to one day be known as a world class traveler that has been to all 50 states and all 7 continents.

Enough background, here is some juicy info:

I leave for Europe in less than 5 days! As many of those who have travel know, getting there can be the most stressful part of the journey. Here is what I learned, wish I knew or knew from past experiences:

~ find out the vaccines you need and get them at least one month prior to your trip

~make sure you have at least six month left on your passport before it expires, or you may not be able to get into certain countries

~ go to your countries government travel page and register your trip so that you can be found and contacted in case of an emergency

~ use travelers checks so that if it gets lost or stolen you don't loose the money.

~ you can go to your local physician to get medicine "just in case."

~ know the countries you are going to and try to learn hello, goodbye, please and thank you in their language.

~MOST OF ALL HAVE FUN! BE PREPARED AND ALWAYS EXPECT THE UNEXPECTED

... I know that there are many other tips that I have probably left out, so please leave comments so we can help out our fellow travelers...

Thank you and good night!