Traveling Together!

 One of the things I try to do ANYTIME I travel to a country that speaks a different language is to learn a few basic phrases before I go! So, since I leave for PV tomorrow in Mexico, Here are my top 10 Words or Phrases you should learn before you travel to a Spanish Speaking Country!!  ¡Vamos!
Let’s go! 

1)  Hello (or some variation): Hola (Oh-Lah) 

Also:   - Good morning - Buenos días (bwin-ohs  dee-ahs)

           - Good afternoon - Buenos tardes (bwin-ohs  tar-days)

           - Good evening/night - Buenos noches (bwin-ohs  no-chay-s)

2)   Good Bye! : Adios (Ah-dee-ohs) 

3)   Please : Por favor (Poor   fah-vor) 

4)   Thank You! : Gracias (Grah-see-ahs) 

5)   My name is… : Me llamo ... (May-yah-mo ____) then your name

6)   How Do you say ____ : Como se dice _____ (Co-mo  say  dee-say  _____) 

7)   Where is ____? : ¿Dónde está…? (Don-day  es-tah  ____) 

8)   How Much? : ¿Cuánto cuesta? (Kwan-toe  Kweh-st-ah) 

9)   I don't understand... : No entiendo (No   en-tee-en-doh) 

10)   I don't speak Spanish... : No hablo español (No   ha-blow  es-pah-nn-ole) 

TSA Precheck and Global Entry: If you don't have TSA Precheck and Global Entry... you should get them. (Many Credit Cards will actually reimburse you for Global Entry which includes TSA) TSA Precheck usually gets you through security a little quicker when arriving at a US Airport. They don't require you to take off shoes and often simply send you through the metal detector. No removal of laptops etc. **Global Entry is for re-entering the United States from a Foreign Trip so that you spend less time in the line for customs** These aren't used out of the country but within the United States, just FYI.

Power Converter if necessary: I suggest 1 per person (or two if you have a lot of things that need charged. There is a Converter with a power strip already connected… this saved us on many occasions. 

External Power Packs: I suggest 1 per person on this as well. Phones die quickly when you are all over the place for the entire day. So have a power pack just in case you need a little boost around noon.

Passports and Identification: Should go without saying… but double check you have these! I also suggest having a debit card, an American Express Credit Card and a Visa/Mastercard. Even if you don't use them, you should have them with you in case you need them. 

Travel Visas and Paperwork: Make sure you do your due diligence and google what forms you need prior to leaving. I would suggest having them completed 1 week before at minimum to make sure everything is complete- and take a picture of it just in case you leave it at home, you can easily complete a new one.  

Travel Pack and/or Fanny Pack: I HATE having my pockets bogged down by phone, wallet, passport, hotel keys and power packs. And as a guy, I don’t have a purse… so I have a small backpack that I LOVE and also a few fanny packs that I put to VERY good use when traveling around the city.

Clothes that make sense for the area and season: I have a lot of American Pride clothing… but I don’t take those things to other countries. It feels… inappropriate. So instead, I look up what people in the area I am visiting wear during the time I am there. It is good to pack 1.5 outfits per day PLUS ‘special outfits’ for special nights like going to the theater or a rave or a group photo op etc. 

A Camera or Good Quality Phone: This trip could cost you a few thousand dollars. TAKE PICTURES of the places and of you and your group! (I also suggest a tripod and some way to snap the photo on your own) I used to have to force my group to take group photos… Now they all remember to do it because it captures those memories so you can look back in five, ten, fifty years! 

 Checklist

• Passport and Identification
• Travel Visa and Appropriate Paperwork
• Ticket on your Phone (or print from Airport Desk)
• Toiletries (I like to keep a toiletries bag ready for travel at all times. You an buy these at Walmart or Target already packed with what you need under 3 oz bottles)
• Medication (which should only be taken in your carry on)
• Appropriate Credit Cards... you've got to collect those Skymiles