Did You Remember Your Tickets?

Robert and Michael leave their apartment in a rush and find a taxi to take them to the airport. After paying the driver, Robert turns to Michael and says, "That was close! I thought we'd be late for sure. Come on, now, we have to take our luggage into the terminal and check in at the counter." "Right," responds Michael, "did you bring the tickets and our passports?" "No," answers Robert, "I thought you did!"
　　This scene could be from a TV sitcom or real-life. Every traveler's nightmare is forgetting something major like tickets, ID, passport, or money. This is needless worry, however, if travel plans are made early and organized efficiently. Since travel for education, business, or pleasure is more and more common, knowing how to prepare for worry-free travel is both important and beneficial. This lesson will help the novice or experienced traveler avoid potential travel problems, allowing for a pleasant journey.
　　Unless there is an emergency, travel plans should be made well in advance. Never wait till the last minute to try to reserve airline tickets or hotel rooms. They may not be available, or you may be forced to choose an inconvenient or unnecessarily expensive flight or accommodation. The best day to book travel or lodging arrangements is the day you decide to go.
　　After all travel arrangements have been secured, the next step is to make sure your travel documents are in order. Is your passport valid? Remember that some countries do not accept passports which have less than six months' validity remaining. Do you need an overseas driver's license? These can be applied for at certain government or travel agencies or associations. Leave enough time to process any paperwork that is required. A travel agent or experienced friend or colleague can inform you of what steps need to be taken and how best to take care of them.
　　Preparing for packing is next. Even if the proposed trip is a month away, certain items should be readied at once. The most important of these is, of course, the luggage itself. Do not wait for a last-minute sale on the suitcase of your choice; be ready with enough good-quality luggage long before you leave for the airport or train station. In choosing baggage, make sure that it is within regulations, especially for air travel. Oversize suitcases or carry-on baggage can be a great headache later.
　　The rule of thumb for packing is pack less, not more. Most travelers buy at least some items on the road, and some buy quite a few souvenirs or personal items, so leave enough room for them. Keeping a toiletry kit permanently in a piece of luggage is a smart idea. In this way, you will never have to worry about whether your razor or deodorant has been packed. Casual clothing, including footwear, should be placed into bags or suitcases the night before. Formal wear can be packed in the last-minute to reduce wrinkling. Don't worry about taking reading or writing material for pleasure; newspapers and magazines are widely available, as is stationery. The day before leaving, reserve a cab for the day of departure if needed. This is also the best time to ask a friend or relative for a wake-up call for those leaving early on the day of departure; this is even better than one's own alarm clock. Leave a copy of the itinerary with lodging telephone numbers with a family or friend. Place all travel documents into one briefcase or folder rather than in several places for ease of checking. After packing each piece of luggage, put it near the door for easy exit. These simple advance steps will help reduce stress on the day of travel.
　　On the day of departure, the only steps remaining should be to pack one's formal clothing and to recheck one's travel documents and money. Whether for business, education, or pleasure, travel can be an unforgettable experience. Whether you want to remember that experience fondly or try to forget it depends on the few simple steps outlined above. Bon voyage!

　　罗伯特和迈可匆忙离开寓所，找了部出租车送他们到机场去。付了司机钱后，罗伯特转向迈可说：“好险哦！我还以为我们肯定赶不上了呢。动作快点，我们必须立刻带着行李进入航站大厦到柜台报到。”迈可回答说：“说的是。我们的机票和护照你带了吗？”罗伯特回答说：“没有。我还以为你带了呢！”
　　这种场面可能会出现在电视情景剧中或现实生活中。每位游客的梦魇就是忘了某些重要的东西，像机票、身份证件、护照或钱财等。然而，如果你能事先有效率地筹划好你的旅游计划，上述这些就用不着担忧了。由于留学、经商及观光日趋普遍，懂得如何安排一趟无忧无虑的旅游不仅重要，也是件好事。本课将协助旅游新手或老手来避免旅游可能发生的问题，进而享受一趟愉快之行。
　　除非状况很紧急，否则旅游计划应事先作好。千万不要拖到最后关头才预订机票和旅馆房间。否则，你可能订不到机票或住房，要不就是你可能被迫要选很不方便或贵得离谱的班机或住房。你决定旅游的当天就是预订机票和住宿最恰当的时机。
　　旅游计划安排妥当后，下一步就是确定你的旅游文件是否已准备齐全。护照是否有效？记住有些国家是不接受有效期间剩下不到六个月的护照。你需要国际驾照吗？这些证件都可在特定的政府机关、旅行社和协会办理申请。要预留足够的时间来处理必要的文书作业。旅行社和有经验的朋友或同事均可告诉你应采取哪些步骤及如何妥善完成这些步骤。
　　整理行李是接下来应做的事。即使离拟定旅游的日子还有一个月之久，若干物品也应立即准备妥当。这些物品中最重要的当然就是行李箱了。千万不要等到最后一刻才去选购你的行李箱；早在你赶往机场或火车站前就要把数量充分、质量不错的行李箱准备好。在选购行李箱时，要确定它们符合规定，尤其是符合航空旅游的规定。过大的行李箱和随身行李都会成为后来令人头痛的事。
　　行李打包大致的原则就是要带得少而不是带得多。出门的人大都会在旅程中至少购买些许物品，有些人甚至会买一大堆纪念品或个人用品，因此要预留足够的空间装这些东西。始终在行李中准备一套私人的盥洗用品是个上策。这样的话，你就永远不用担心是否已将刮胡刀或身体芳香剂装进去了。休闲服，包括袜子等，应该在旅游的前一晚就放进行李袋或行李箱里。正式场合要穿的服装可以在出发前再打包以减低弄皱的机会。甭担心要不要携带消遣性的书报或文具；报章杂志到处都买得到，文具亦然。
　　旅游的前一天，如有必要，应事先预订一部出租车以应出发当天之需。出发当天要提早出门的话，可在前一天要友人或亲戚来电叫醒你；这样的作法甚至比自己的闹钟更棒。记得影印一份旅游行程及住宿地方的电话号码给家人或朋友。把所有的旅游文件放在同一个手提箱或皮包里而不是散放在行李箱里，这样的话，查看这些文件就很方便。所有的行李整理完毕后，应该把它们放在门边以便于携带。这些简单的先前作业有助于减轻旅游当天的紧张和压力。
　　出发当天依然要做的就是将正式场合穿着的衣服打包并再次检查旅游文件和钱财。不管是出差、留学或观光，出门旅行都会是个难忘的经验。你想要个难忘之旅或是想忘掉这趟旅行就取决于上述所列的几个简单的步骤了。祝你一路顺风