Zion National Park

You may not have heard much about Zion National Park. It is overshadowed by it’s bigger, more famous neighbor, the Grand Canyon which is wide and open and puts on a show for you in the changing light.

And it may seem a little staid next to it’s showy smaller neighbor, Bryce Canyon where hoodoos seem to dance and play with you and invite you in.

When you first arrive in Zion, you might even say, “How can I really see this park?” This is a place of soaring, brooding walls… a park of hidden treasures.

As a kid exploring Zion National Park, what I remember is the winding road into the park, those towering cliffs around the lodge, and a walk under a big overhanging rock I was worried would fall on me.

I guess that rock is pretty stable because as an adult, I walked under that same rock, and my favorite new memory is a day hike in The Narrows.

There really is no place to drive around inside the park. Scenic roads lead into the park and stop at the river. The Virgin River cuts through it… continuing to carve the canyon.

During the crowded summer months, no private vehicles are allowed into the heart of Zion Canyon. Free shuttle buses run frequently to popular stops. Shuttles also run from the nearby town of Springdale. It’s easy and convenient to transfer to the park shuttle.

If you arrive in the Zion National Park on the Zion-Mt. Carmel Highway, you’ll start your scenic drive as you enter the park.

This winding road offers sweeping views of the canyon, the Great Arch of Zion, and the Checkerboard Mesa…. You will also pass through the Zion-Mt. Carmel Tunnel. (Note: This road has oversize vehicles restrictions. It is narrow and winding. If your RV is too big, you may be re-directed or you may need an escort to drive this road. There is an extra fee of about $15 for the escort.)

You must do a little walking to appreciate Zion. A short but steep hike will take you to Weeping Rock. Take the shuttle to the Temple of Sinawava stop. For a short easy walk, take the mile-long paved trail up the river to the beginning of a slot canyon.

If you want a classic Zion National park hike, this is where you will begin the hike through the Zion Narrows. This is a fun, exhilarating, inspiring hike, but the Park Service emphasizes that it is not to be taken lightly. There is no trail per se… the Virgin River IS the trail. You will be walking IN the river as much as 60% of the time.

The current can be strong…. it threatens to sweep you off your feet in places. The water is cold, and you will be in shade as the walls of the canyon close to only 20-30 feet at times and sheer vertical walls soar above you.

Check with the Visitors Bureau for information that will help you decide if you should make this hike. You don’t need a back country permit if you are just going part way up the slot canyon and back in one day, but you need to check the weather. Flash floods are a constant possibility. If conditions are right, and you are prepared, this is a hike you will never forget.

Hike UP to Angel’s Landing for a different view over part of the park. Switchbacks climb up, and a narrow rocky ridge takes you to the lookout, so it’s not for someone afraid of heights.

For the more adventurous still, there is rock climbing.

There is a Lodge inside the park and plenty of accommodations in the town of Springdale.

As you walk and explore, you’ll find that Zion National Park welcomes you and rewards your walks with the hidden treasures you didn’t expect when you first saw that towering rock wall as you drove in.

Where To Find Henge Monuments

There are other Standing Stones and Henge Monuments besides Stonehenge you know. They are dotted all over the south of England. You can even find them north into Scotland and Northern Ireland. Were they burial grounds, or astronomical instruments, or sacred areas to the Neolithic cultures that built them?

We’ve heard all kinds of theories about their origin, but we don’t think you need to get too caught up in the theories to enjoy visiting them.

Stonehenge is the most famous of the stone circles. One interesting little fact is that it is not, however, a henge. Let’s get the boring technical stuff over with… Henges are, strictly speaking, circular or oval spaces that are defined by a bank with an internal ditch… so the dirt bank probably came from the inner ditch… right?

The word “henge” came from an ancient name for Stonehenge which meant something like hanging stones. Soon all the circles they found were dubbed henges…. then archeologists found that Stonehenge does not have the classic bank and ditch of what is now regarded as a henge monument… So it’s Stonehenge… a great example of a stone circle… but not a henge.

You really don’t need to know all of that… if you like looking for and finding ancient monuments, there are plenty of henges, standing stones, and stone circles to visit in the United Kingdom and beyond. Get a good map that marks out places of archeological interest, and meander out into the country side. Some are remote, but you will find cute little villages with few tourists, and you might find that this is a great hook for travel.

There are several henge monuments and other neolithic sites in the Stonehenge Historic Landscape which is also called the Stonehenge World Heritage Site…. Durrington Walls, Woodhenge, and Avebury. There are several burial mounds such as the West Kennet Long Barrow. And there is Silbury Hill… a large man made hill of unknown purpose.

We love Stonehenge, but our favorite stone circle is Avebury… which is, by the way, a henge. It is about 20 miles (32 km) north of Stonehenge. You walk among the stones, feeling very special. The ancient stones wrap around a little village. The Red Lion Pub actually sits within the circle… stop and have a pint.

A little further north find The King Stone and the Rollright Stones.

Beyond this rich landscape in Wiltshire, England, you can find several henge monuments in the Cumbia Lake District. Look for Castlerigg Stone Circle, Mayburgh, Long Meg and Her Daughters, and Swinside which some have called the finest stone circle in England.

Scotland has many sites… standing stones, stone rows, stone circles, cairns and hillforts.

Cornwall is another rich area for neolithic standing stones and henges. Park and walk to the site called Men an Tol… a three stone alignment; the center stone is a ring large enough to crawl through…. All kinds of legends associated with that one! Wales also has many burial chambers and standing stones.

If you really get into this, you can go looking for neolithic stone monuments in Ireland and Italy. And France has some amazing “alignments” and standing stones deserving a trip.

Wet your appetite for henge monuments with Stonehenge and Avebury, you may find that looking for those ancient stones gets you traveling to places you wouldn’t see otherwise.

Where To Eat In Washington DC

Do you have to worry about where to eat in Washington DC? Finding food is sometimes one of the biggest chores when you’re traveling… right after finding a place to sleep.

So here you are in this big national capital…. You’re exploring the National Mall. There are all those majestic buildings and monuments. Lots of grass and trees… but no restaurants in sight.

Where do you eat? All that space on the Mall invites a picnic, but if you don’t want to haul your food with you, then here’s some information on where to eat in Washington DC.

There are more places to eat around the Mall than you might think. It just doesn’t look like it because you can’t see most of them.

The places you do see will be those street vendors on the corners. You can get a hotdog and a soda from them for only a few dollars.

The National Park Service operates a few refreshment stands. You can find one located in the front of the Natural History Museum. There’s another near the National Mall Carousel, one near the Lincoln Memorial, and yet another on the Tidal Basin.

You want more than a hotdog? There are museum cafe’s too. They are a little more expensive, but they are convenient to eat in so you don’t have to take a cab ride or the metro to a restaurant. These cafes and cafeterias are open during the same hours as the museums. The food you get sometimes reflects the museum you’re in, sometimes it’s just regular lunch type fare.

The National Air and Space Museum has a food court featuring fast food and family style meals, with McDonald’s, Donato’s Pizza and Boston Market (all American, fast food type chain restaurants). This museum also has it’s own Mezza Cafe with sandwiches, soups and salads. You can look for their outdoor kiosk in the summer.

The National Gallery of Art has lots of options with five different cafes and coffee shops which vary from a la carte to buffets.

The Natural History Museum has fast food options as well as a cafe and coffee shop.

The National Museum of the American Indian is an interesting place to stop for lunch because they have sandwiches and entrees which reflect Native American dishes.

The Capitol Visitor Center has a cafeteria style restaurant on the lower level.

Look for all of these tucked into corners or lower levels of the museums and the Capitol Visitor Center.

Where to eat in Washington DC other than the museum cafes? There are other places to eat near the National Mall, but still right in the center of things.

Union Station is a train station and a shopping mall. There is a food court there. That’s a good inexpensive option. There are also full service restaurants and cafes. The Union Station Mall stays open until 9 p.m. Monday thru Saturday (until 6 p.m. on Sunday).

The Old Post Office Pavilion has been restored as a shopping center. It has a large food court with lots of food choices. It’s halfway between the White House and the Capitol Building. You’ll be able to find food here later than you can at the museums.

There is food available in hotels near the Mall, but none of the hotels are ON the Mall.

So don’t worry, you’ll find food. If you know where to eat in Washington DC, it just makes your trip easier.

What Types of Accommodations Will Travelers Find

There are as many types of accommodations as there are types of travelers. You want to travel, but you’ve got to have a place to sleep, so now it’s time for some decisions.

Make up your mind that it’s not going to be just like home. (If you want that… you might as well STAY home.) What do you want or need in the way of a room? Your choices can go from from having a reservation in a big hotel to just finding a room in a local village as you travel.

What makes you comfortable when you travel? Do you want lots of luxury, a big room and a concierge to get you tickets to the latest play? …Or… Are you an adventurous traveler who carries a backpack and wants to find an inexpensive local place?

Let’s look at your options.

You can stay in big name brand hotels, or big hotels that are famous in the city you are visiting.

You can find luxury spas where they will pamper you or help you lose weight or get you exercising.

You can find resorts of all kinds… like beach resorts, ski resorts, or golf resorts.

You can stay at a dude ranch and ride horses and play cowboy.

Many countries in Europe have castles that have been turned into hotels. A similar option are grand old manor houses that have rooms to rent.

There are small but luxurious boutique hotels.

There are small local hotels that have all the basic amenities and lots of local charm.

There are B&B’s and other Bed-and-Breakfast options almost everywhere.

There are also cheap hotels almost everywhere. These can be very basic. If you’re on a tight budget and you’ll almost never be in your room, these can work. Only you can decide if these will do for your holiday.

Hostels are probably the cheapest accommodation you will find… especially in cities. These are generally for younger travelers, but they have changed through the years, and travelers of all ages stay in them now.

If you’re traveling to wildlife areas there are safari lodges or jungle lodges. These may be just like city hotels, or you may find bungalows or tented camps.

When you’re trying to decide on the type of accommodation that will serve you best, you can take a look at some of them on the internet. Just remember, they will post pictures to make themselves look good. A wide angle shot may make that room look bigger than it really is.

If you are going on a tour, look at the types of accommodations they use as well as the itinerary. If that tour looks like it’s a bargain price, maybe it’s because you’ll be staying in cheap hotels that you’d rather not put up with.

If you are an independent traveler, decide if you want to book your hotels in advance or find them while you are on the road.

You may be able to book on the internet, but if all the websites you check say there are no rooms available, and there is a hotel you really want to stay in, consider calling the hotel direct. We have done that and come up with just the hotel we wanted.

Some cute little places are not on the internet, or you won’t easily find them. If you can deal with finding a place to sleep as you go along, these can be real little jewels.

Some trips will call for a certain type of accommodation… like a city hotel or a jungle lodge. Sometimes it’s up to you to decide what kind of accommodations you want. If you think about what you want and need while you are planning your trip, then finding that room will be easier.

What To See In Ireland

Where to go and what to see in Ireland? This is truly a dilemma for tourists because there is just so much to see and do.

How you plan your trip pretty much depends on where you’re going to land, how much time you have, and what your interests are. And do you want to see both parts of the country, or just the Republic, or just the North?

Are you interested in castles? There are plenty of them…. Some are just ruins, some have been converted to luxury hotels like Dromoland Castle and Ashford Castle. You could devise a whole tour just based on visiting castles.

Are you interested in golf? Ireland is almost as famous for its golf courses as Scotland is. If you’re a golfer, you’ve probably heard of the Ballybunion Old Course. You could combine golf and a castle stay at Dromoland Castle or Ashford Castle or others if you want to splurge.

Interested in ancient sites? You’ll have to go to Bru na Boinne and see the Passage Tombs of Newgrange and Knowth. If you go to Trinity College in Dublin, you can see the Book of Kells. The Hill of Tara in the County Meath is the ancient seat of the High Kings of Ireland. While there really isn’t much there in the way of structures or ancient monuments at the Hill of Tara, it’s worth visiting just for the sweeping views. There are passage tombs and standing stones, but mostly you should go to “feel” the history here.

You can follow a trail of sites associated with Saint Patrick, the Patron Saint of Ireland. From the Rock of Cashel where he was supposed to have converted the King of Munster to Christianity to Downpatrick where he is supposed to be buried in the Down Cathedral.

Are you just interested in seeing the green and the scenery? Well, you can see that almost everywhere, but you’ll want to get to the Cliffs of Moher…. 650 foot high cliffs (198 meters) drop straight in to the Atlantic. For stark barren beauty see the Burren near Galway. This limestone plateau has ancient dolmens and bizarre rock formations. And if you can get all the way to the northern tip of the country you can visit the Giants Causeway… basalt columns that seem to form a giant pathway to Scotland.

You’ll probably want to get to Blarney Castle and the kiss the Blarney Stone. Some guidebooks will tell you that this is a little too touristy. Well maybe, but we went the first time we visited the country, and we thought it was fun to see Blarney Castle… why not? We had our nieces with us… one of them kissed the Blarney Stone twice! Yes, she’s a talker.

As for beer, you can tour the Guiness Storehouse in Dublin. It’s a modern museum inside an old brewery. If you just want a Guiness, you can get one in any pub.

You can taste Irish Whiskey almost anywhere in the country, but just know that most of the places you find for tours are not working distilleries. It’s still fun.

There are several ways to get around on your visit. You can choose to take a tour of the country which focuses on your interests. Another choice is to visit on your own and use public transportation, but it may be hard to get to some of the more out of the way sights.

Driving yourself around Ireland is fun and a great way to see it, but you must we willing to drive on the left. You need steady nerves on some of those narrow roads, but they will lead you to all the great sights. However you choose to visit, Ireland is well worth a visit.

What to Expect When You Rent An RV

The best way to find out if you’d like traveling in a motor home is to rent an RV for a trip. You can see if you like driving a vehicle that big… what ever size it is. See if you can live with dumping the gray and black water. Is it worth it to level that thing, get the water and power hooked up?

You can rent an RV easily in the U.S. You can also rent “caravans” in Australia and Europe… but mainly, I’ll talk about the U. S. market here. There are many companies that rent RVs. Some are national and some are local to the area you might be visiting. Some companies also are brokers who will help private RV owners rent out their RVs when they are not in use.

There are some things to think about if you rent an RV… and the first is that you might have to equip it.

There will be different contracts and rules in each situation. Privately owned RVs may come with linens and dishes. RVs rented from fleets of rentals will probably come “bare”. That means you will get the vehicle, but it will not have dishes, flat ware, cooking utensils or pots and pans. There won’t be bedding or towels. No cleaning supplies for dishes… no toilet paper.

Some rental agencies offer packages for bedding and kitchen ware. Others don’t, so you’ll need to choose the agency that can best help you with what you need.

If you’re renting an RV from a place in your hometown… you’ll be able to equip it yourself from your own home. If you’re a foreign visitor renting an RV or if you’re renting an RV in a different state… you’ll need to buy supplies or rent them from an agent.

Rental RVs have been used. They will be fairly clean, but don’t be surprised if they may look a little worn. Try to have the rental agent brief you in how to use the appliances. Does the propane tank need to be turned on when you park and off when you’re on the road? Do you need jacks to stabilize it when you park? Where are the electrical and water hookups stored? How do you check on “gray water” and “black water” to see if they need dumping?

Most RVs are great for two, but they can accommodate 4, 6 or 8. Just remember that the more you put into this little space, the cozier it will be and the less privacy you will have. You share one bathroom, and if the sofa and dining table are turned into beds for the night, you’ll have to stow things away during the day if you want sitting room.

There is storage space for groceries and some closet space, but it is limited. Once you get organized, the refrigerator will hold more than you think, and you’ll get into a routine on how to use the space you have.

We’ve talked to friends who just love traveling with their own RV, but they all rented an RV first to see if they liked traveling that way. We thought it was an interesting experience, and we’d probably do it again in the right circumstances.

We’re just glad we had those friends to tell us what to expect when we rented that RV!

What is a Highway

Let’s hit the highways. OK… but what is a highway?

“Let’s hit the highways” is what a lot of Americans say when they want to get away, whether it’s for a short trip or a longer road trip vacation. There are probably similar expressions around the world.

When you climb into a car close to home, you pretty much know what the roads are going to be like, but what if you’re renting a car in a foreign country? Well, then you’re going to need to do a little research to learn what a highway is. You should not go to… say, Madagascar… and expect the highways to be like those back home…. we know, we were recently there.

In the U.S., major highways are usually freeways, though there are some toll roads in the East. Some smaller state roads are also called highways. They will all be called highways in guidebooks and on maps. This might lead to confusion by some visitors.

In California, for instance, U.S. Highway 101 is a major freeway, two to five lanes wide in both direction depending where you are. California State Highway 1, however, is a scenic, hug-the-coast, winding road that is only one lane wide in each direction all the way from south to north! Both highways will take you from Southern California to Oregon and beyond in totally different ways. You’ll zip along at top speed on 101; you’ll poke along slowly stopping often for the scenery on 1.

In Europe, you also have major highways that are free and some that are toll roads… and you can sped along on both. But you will also find some national highways that are only two lanes and will take you longer to drive.

What is a highway in developing nations? In some countries all the roads will take you more time to navigate. That was certainly the case in Madagascar.

When you plan to hit the highways, you need to learn how to figure out just what kind of a highway you will be driving on. While maps are not necessarily consistent, you can usually tell by the thickness and color of the lines designating the different roads and highways. The thicker the line, the bigger the road.

You can probably count on thick, double lines in blue, red or green being major roads that will get you to your destination in a hurry… these are freeways or motorways or autobahns or autostrases. Whether you have to pay a toll or not, they will be fast.

Thin squiggly black lines are probably small roads that will take you to some great places, but you’ll get there slowly. They are not highways… that’s probably about the only thing that’s certain.

So what is a highway? The dictionary says it is “a main road, especially one connecting major towns”, but that leaves a lot open to interpretation. Do your research and allow plenty of time so you can enjoy yourself and not stress on how long it is taking you to drive from one point to another…. that way “What is a highway?” becomes just an academic question, not something to worry about.

What Else Are Hotels Called In English

You’re looking for hotels in the U.S. What are you looking for? What are they called?

If it’s a big establishment in a city, you don’t need to worry, you’re looking for a hotel…. Though if you’re driving by, the building may not SAY that on the sign. It may just give you the brand name like Hilton or Sheraton or Intercontinental or Marriott. We’re not necessarily recommending any of those, only pointing out that you have to know what those brand names stand for.

If you’re traveling along, finding rooms as you go, you need to know what to look for in smaller towns and more rural areas. English is confusing even for native English speakers sometimes. If you see one of those big brand name establishments that you know rents rooms, and you can afford them, you’ll be fine. Smaller places along the road will probably be called something else.

“Motel” is one of the words you want to be looking for. Back in the 50’s when Americans hit the road in earnest, motor hotels… motels… sprouted up everywhere. You might also want to look for “Motor Courts” or “Motor Inns”.

An “Inn” can certainly be a place to spend the night… but it can also be just a restaurant. When you see something that calls itself an inn, you just have to look at it and evaluate it. Does it look like it has rooms for travelers? It never hurts to stop and ask. If they don’t have rooms, they will be able to tell you where to look.

A “resort” will generally be a place to stay that also has lots of activities centered around water or skiing or horseback riding. “Dude Ranches” are kind of like resorts with all of the activities centered on riding horses and playing cowboy.

A “Lodge” can also be a rural hotel or motel. If you’re touring the U.S. National Parks, many of them have wonderful old lodges for guests to stay in. But just to confuse you, a lodge can also be a club where you won’t find rooms for travelers… like the Moose Lodge, the Elks Lodge or the Masonic Lodge.

If you want to look for “B&Bs” in the U.S., there are more all the time, but remember that in the U.S. they tend to be more expensive than hotels and motels.

If you are looking for accommodations in other English speaking countries, you can run into similar confusion, though we think there is less confusion than in the U.S. In the United Kingdom, if you look for a “B&B” you will generally find a budget accommodation. Pubs can be a good place to find inexpensive rooms, but not all Pubs have rooms to rent… you might just have to ask.

There are also motels and inns and lodges in the U.K. Stop and ask… they might just have a room for you.

Native English speakers don’t necessarily have an edge here, unless it’s familiarity with the brands. We can’t always tell what those signs mean, so we’ll do what we’re recommending you do.

Stop and ask. If there are no rooms available at that inn… they will probably send you to a motel or lodge or resort where you can find one.

Western National Parks In One Week

A loop through some of the western National Parks of America makes a great driving trip. If you’re interested in seeing just how big the American West is… this is one way to do it. If you want to see natural wonders… here they are. If you like hiking… there are hikes galore.

You will need about a week to drive a representative loop through Nevada, Utah and Arizona. The actual starting point for the loop listed in most guides is Las Vegas. For the loop through the western National Parks we’re describing here, you will be driving about 1050 miles (1,690 km).

You can fly directly to Las Vegas from many cities in the U.S. You probably will want to spend a day or two in Las Vegas to gamble, see some shows, or just satisfy your curiosity about “Sin City”, so allow time for that too.

The first stop on this drive is Zion National Park. It is a deep canyon carved by the innocuous looking Virgin River. There’s a great hike up this river into a slot canyon called “The Narrows Hike”…. and the canyon does narrow to only 20-30 feet across in places. You will spend 60% of your time IN the river as the canyon walls soar above you. (You must check on conditions at the visitor center… flash floods are possible.)

If you’re not up for that strenuous hike, there are other hikes that let you see much of what the park has to offer. Scenic drives let you see some sights by car. There is a Lodge in the park and more accommodations are available outside the park. Campgrounds are available.

Bryce Canyon National Park is your next stop. It’s a small National Park, but some visitors come away saying this was their favorite park. It’s famous for its colorful spire-shaped “hoodoos”. A hike into the canyon will make you feel you’ve entered a fairy wonderland. This park has a Lodge in the Park and good lodging nearby. Two campgrounds are near the visitor center.

The drive to Capitol Reef National Park follows along Route 12 and is very pretty. The main feature in this park is the formation known as the “Waterpocket Fold”… an ancient wrinkle in the earth’s crust. No lodging is available in the Park. Find some motels about 12-15 miles (20-25 km) from the park entrance. Some camping is available in the park.

You can pass though Natural Bridges National Monument. A scenic drive will take you to overlooks to view each of the three bridges that were formed by meandering streams. Allow a couple of hours for this. Lodging is about 30-40 miles away. There is a small campground available.

You might want to make it a long day of driving and get to Monument Valley Tribal Park. This huge valley has those iconic wild-west sandstone formations that you’ve seen in the movies… “The Mittens” are the most photographed, but there are other pinnacles and arches, bluffs and buttes.

You can get guided tours from Navajo tour operators. There are accommodations in the area; the only one in the Tribal Park is the new hotel called The View. Bring your camera.

We’re saving the most famous of the western National Parks for last. The Grand Canyon. Clearly this is one western National Park that you must see. There is accommodation and camping available in the park and many options nearby with shuttles into the Park itself.

This is such a popular destination that driving is restricted in the park in some areas. Parking can be a nightmare, so just use the shuttles.

Another day of driving will have you back at Las Vegas. By driving this loop instead of staying in town, you will have kept Las Vegas from getting too much of your money, and you’ll be far richer in experiences… of the Western National Parks.

Wear A Moneybelt

When people ask us for travel advice the first thing we say is wear a moneybelt.

What kind of travel advice is THAT?

We think it’s the best kind. Nothing will ruin a trip faster than to lose your passport and credit cards or cash. The best way to protect them is to wear a moneybelt.

We’ve seen leather belts with a little zipper in them…. and people ask how can you get anything in there? That’s not what we’re talking about. Travel moneybelts are small, zippered nylon pouches that you wear under your clothes. They’re usually about 5 inches by 12 inches. (12 cm x 30 cm). You wear them around your waist, either in the front or in the small of your back.

That little compartment is big enough to slip your passport in. Paper airplane tickets fit. You should put credit cards, debit cards, and your driver’s license in there. Once you’ve gotten cash from the ATM, keep just enough for one day in your wallet and put the rest in your moneybelt.

We use them anytime we go away from home for more than a day trip. When we’re traveling, we put them on when we get up in the morning, and we don’t have to worry… all those valuable documents are safely tucked away with us all day.

When you arrive in a foreign country, you’ve gone through passport control, then you’ve probably found an ATM for money. Now before you do anything else… find a Toilet or WC (in most countries they are marked as Toilets or WCs not restrooms). You can put that passport, ATM card and most of the money away in your moneybelt in privacy….

Don’t say you’ll put it away later. Wear a moneybelt now and USE it. This is one time when you’re most vulnerable…. You’re jet lagged, taking public transportation into town, juggling your luggage…. You’re a prime target for a pickpocket. If you stop and tuck everything away, you’ll have greater peace of mind.

If you need more money or a credit card during the day, there will always be a restroom or a private corner where you can dip into your moneybelt safely. Once you’re done with your transaction… put your credit card back in your moneybelt.

Keep a good photocopy of your passport with you. Sometimes that will be enough to show to the hotel desk clerk. If they need your passport to register you, you can always get it out for them in a lobby restroom or in your hotel room and bring it down later.

We put the passports, money, and paper documents inside a plastic zip-lock bag. If you get hot and sticky, you might sweat through those money belts. The plastic bag protects your documents and money.

And here’s a story for you…. We were in Gombe National Park in Tanzania… We had a wonderful two days observing chimps in the wild. As we were taking the boat trip back to Kigali to catch our flight, a storm sprang up over Lake Tanganyika. Waves started crashing on the beach where we were supposed to wade ashore.

We’ll cut out the drama here, and just tell you that my spouse ended up in the water. The good news is the airline tickets and passport were just fine because of that zip-lock bag.

There are neck pouches that some people prefer. Which ever style you use is up to you, but wear a moneybelt. It will give you peace of mind.

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