Is a purse necessary? I've noticed most of you women travelers have a hard time parting with your purses. So why not take a good hard look through your purse, I'm sure you will discover it is not necessary. I understand that when you go out at night to a restaurant or a bar, you will need a few vanity objects, and that's perfectly fine. But when it comes to sightseeing or going on tours while on a trip you have to ask yourself:
What do you really need?
Money
Credit Cards
Camera
Sunglasses
All of these items can easily fit in comfortable clothes with pockets, which I think are the best to go out on a trip. So why not use them? So leave your purse at home it will be a stress reliever!
Wear comfortable shoes: Perhaps this seems obvious and it should, but sometimes shoes that may have been comfortable at home are not comfortable for traveling. I recommend wearing shoes for long walks before taking them with you in a vacation in order to see if they can handle the wear they will get, if you like to get as much sight-seeing as possible in one day.
Research: Again, this may seem like an obvious one, but skimming through a travel book doesn't count! The trip will be a lot smoother if you can map out a specific itinerary in advance. It sucks being stressed on vacation, but it can happen if you plan too many things. It also sucks being bored on a vacation so believe me. Putting in a bit of extra work before leaving to figure out what it is you want to accomplish on your trip will make it a lot more enjoyable.
Blend with the Crowd: In other words, leave the Hawaiian shirt, crop top and fanny pack at home. If not just to avoid becoming a target for scams and theft, but to show respect in certain places where exposing too much skin can be offensive. I understand that not everyone is a fan of modesty, but if you don't want to be robbed, you will have to.
Always Have a Copy: This may be paranoia speaking, but I feel safer knowing I have copies of my passport, identification, and contacts in different bags and back at the hotel. I have heard some horror stories, so this extra step gives me peace. If you think about it what would you do to go back home if you lose your passport.
Marina K. Villatoro, the Travel Experta, has been living in Central America - Costa Rica and Guatemala for over 10 years. She has traveled here extensively. Now loves organizing vacations to this amazing part of the world, having first hand experience of all the places with her family. Contact her for advice and to plan your perfect trip!
