Weather Alert: Never forget to check the weather! Nothing ruins a trip more than being cold or wet. Check the weather report of your destination ahead of time and bring layers that can be added or removed as the weather changes throughout the day. Pick comfort over looks for at least one pair of shoes so that you don’t find yourself hobbling in thin shoes that are soaked through.
Language: If you are traveling to a country with a different language, spend some time learning it, either with Duolingo (an excellent free language site, but doesn’t include Hebrew) or Rosetta Stone. While you probably won’t become fluent in a short time, you will be able to get your bearings and have some idea of what’s going on.
Phones: It used to be that when people flew international or crossed borders, they would have to rent a phone. Nowadays, if you are going for a short period, it may be more economical and convenient to add a roaming plan on your existing cell phone service. If you choose to rent a phone, keep in mind that if you use a smart phone now, you will need one when you get to your destination.
Transportation: Although most cities have some sort of public transportation, very few (among them Paris, London, Tokyo and New York City) have efficient ones. Usually, a better use of the little time you have allocated is to rent a car. This is another opportunity to live like a local when you have to figure out how to fill up gas and where you can and cannot park. If you are staying in a central location, where many of your itinerary stops will be accessible by foot, the preferable method of travel, see if your travel destination is part of a car-sharing plan, like Car2go or Zipcar.
Food: For the kosher traveler, food is always a concern once you leave your familiar surroundings. Always take a day’s worth of food with you while you figure out where the closest kosher meal is. Many Chabad Houses will deliver food to your hotel, and there is always the local supermarket where a quick search online will tell you what food has a kosher certification. A bag of lettuce, a pop-up can of tuna in oil and a loaf of whole wheat bread will make a delicious impromptu dinner.
Souvenirs: Last, but definitely not least, empty your phone’s and/or camera’s memory card and snap away. Going through all those pictures is the best way to make your memories come alive. Although I try to avoid purchasing unnecessary items just for the sake of having a souvenir, I do buy something small, usable and easily transportable, like a map or umbrella. If I didn’t take my kids, I usually bring them something cute and small from the hotel or the plane, like a toiletry bag or Thumbelina-size chocolate square.
Then, every time you look through your pictures and use your souvenir, you will remember your trip and utilize the good feelings of those great memories.