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Travel is an Exciting Adventure for the Prepared!
Here are a few tips and tricks to help you get the most out of your trip. This list has been culled from various sources. To these anonymous travelers and road warriors, we offer our thanks and our compliments.

Culture Shock or "When in Rome . . ."
Some level of culture shock is inevitable when you first arrive at your destination. A word to the wise . . . expect the unexpected. Essential things to pack and carry with you are a smile and a sense of humor. Make sure you use them often, especially if something goes wrong - and you'll have much more interesting stories to tell when you get back home! For your sanity (and the sanity of those around you), swift acceptance of your destination's levels of customer service, opening hours, punctuality and toilet culture is essential.

A Word About World "Toilet" Culture

• Toilet facilities are usually marked with the "WC" (water closet) sign usually found throughout Europe.
• Be prepared to find toilet facilities quite unlike that which you'd normally find at home. Facilities range from pull chain to squat toilets. Cleanliness is variable, and toilet paper may not always be present.
• ALWAYS keep a roll of purse-size travel toilet toilet paper with you when you are out and about.
• Some toilet facilities have an attendant. These facilities are usually cleaner. You should be ready to shell out a Euro or two to the attendant in order to use the toilet facilities and maybe get a couple squares of toilet paper.
• Bring baby wipes. They can be used to replace toilet paper, napkins, paper towels, make-up remover, and to freshen up after a long plane/train ride or a day of sightseeing.

Savvy Traveler "Road Warrior" Reminders

• First, know that we travel to find things differently from they are at home.
• A smile and an open mind should be your constant accessories.
• "There are no foreign lands. It is the traveler only who is foreign." (Robert Louis Stevenson)
• Remember you are a guest in someone else's country. Dress like one, and act accordingly. Be modest, elegant and comfortable. The locals have had generations to develop a typical dress that suits the climate and the culture of their country. Take your cue from them.
• While you are on your tour,, remember that a church/cathedral/temple/mosque is a place of  worship. Dress and act accordingly - always keeping in mind a healthy respect for the culture of the country you are visiting.
• Learn at least a few words in the local language. Hello, please, thank you, and other "good manners" phrasing will go a long way. Also learn words that can get you out of trouble - for example, no, I need a doctor, call the police, I need help, forbidden, danger, stop, and no photographs. If you are vegetarian, learn how to say that in the language of the country you'll be visiting. It's easier to mime "chicken" than "broccoli!"
• Finally, do not judge a whole country of people by the few with whom you may have had a disagreement. Remember also that in many cultures, professional behavior does not necessarily mean warm and friendly. What you consider cold and impersonal may be considered professional behavior by the culture you are visiting.
• Celebrate the differences . . . and have fun!