Some useful travel tips for those traveling to Kefalonia

The travel tips we gathered for your trip to Kefalonia might prove useful! Try them out in all your trips! (You can also find a printable version here)

Before the trip
When traveling by airplane
When traveling by car
Traveling with Pets
When you arrive

Before the trip

A trip is just a trip. You'll be back in some days. Try to leave at least 90% of your house stuff at home. Oh, and don't forget to take a pen with you.
Don't pack your suitcase so full that you have to sit on it to close it. After all, you are the one who will be carrying it. A nice rule of thumb is to leave behind anything that doesn't serve at least two purposes.
Close tightly all bottles containing liquids. If you don't, the results are definitely not amusing.
Try not to lose your temper. You'll enjoy your trip much more that way.
Don't carry firearms with you. You might lose your temper.
Nuclear weapons are strictly prohibited for any traveler and any destination. Specially for those who lose their temper.
In a trip to countries with different climate, it is wise to ask what clothing would suit to keep you warm or fresh. Just don't ask a friend of yours who went there six months ago.
Arrange all necessary bookings before your departure. This might include accommodation, transfers and maybe special requests of food preferences. Inform people at least 24 hours before your trip, considering if it's a weekend or local holiday.
Carry a piece of paper with the complete name and address of the place you will stay when you arrive. It might prove useful when trying to explain to taxi drivers or people on the street where you want to go.
A nice walkthrough for those who have the know-how is to scan all the necessary documents for your trip and email them to your free email account. That way they will be accessible worldwide (well, as long as there is access to the Internet).
If traveling with at least one more person, split your clothes in two suitcases, so that if one gets lost, you won't have to wear the other person's clothes (which might be really funny but not always...).
Several days before your trip, make a list of all the things you have to do before leaving home. Check each one as you take care of them. It will help avoiding the oh-my-God-I-forgot-it traveler's syndrome.

When traveling by airplane

When traveling by plane, try being at the airport a couple of hours before the departure of the plane. It is highly appreciated by the airport stuff and you increase the chances of not missing your flight.
Before arriving at the airport, make sure that your ticket has the correct name on it. If not, this can cause dilemmas in airport crew and they don't like dilemmas.
Have your passport with you. Your passport. If it hasn't expired, chances are you will fly.
Check that your passport has not expired before you arrive at the check-in desk. That is, if you really want to travel.
Ask your suitcases to stay near you all the time and not to associate with any strangers.
Remove old destination tags and check-in tags. Usually luggage tend to revisit the places they have been and you don't want that, do you?
Attach a tag to your suitcase but avoid writing your full address, since malicious people will know that you won't be at home and you might face unpleasant surprises upon your return. Instead, use your mobile phone's number, your work address and of course your email! After all, through these they will contact you much faster.
Unlike above, you can put a fully detailed tag inside your suitcase. That's where companies will look at when they'll try to contact you. If you will be traveling to many destinations, include a copy of your ticket with all the stops and relevant dates. They will trace you much faster that way!
Carry your documents and medication (if any) in your carry-on bag and avoid checking them.
Duty Free shops don't like people flying. Therefore, they have a tendency to make you miss your flight.
Don't carry luggage in the passengers' cabin. Have you seen anyone travel in the luggage compartment?
Never put an airplane meal on the little table in front of a sleeping co-passenger next to you. When he/she will wake up suddenly and hit the table, the food will catapult in the air and what goes up will come down.
Even though they can't throw any passenger out of the plane, try to respect the NO SMOKING sign. In ships and trains things are different.
If upon arrival you find out that your luggage has not followed you, the clerk at the "Lost & Found" desk of the airport is probably the least responsible and appreciates your not shouting at him/her.

When traveling by car

Make your car happy! Make a maintenance before the trip. This is to avoid the maintenance during the trip.
Assume the role of tourist-photographer when you have stopped driving, not during. Otherwise, your photos will be shaken. And famous.
Check the speed limits and obey them. Ask locals if the signs represent kilometers or miles per hour. There is a difference.
If you are trying to navigate with the help of a map, try holding it with the north pointing upwards.
Ask about and carry all the necessary papers both about the vehicle and the passengers, including insurance documents, passports (if needed) and health certificates. In some countries, the authorities won't let you pass through otherwise.
Don't drink alcoholic beverages and drive. Not only it's against the law, it's your life at stake.

Traveling with pets

Remember to carry with you all the health certificates of your pet, either you are traveling domestically or abroad and regardless of the means of travel. You don't want your pet to stay in quarantine for 3 or more months, do you?
Ask for the required vaccinations your pet must have before you arrive at your destination.
One of the most amusing sights for the locals is to see pet owners running after their pets. That isn't as funny for you though, so try to keep your pet on a leash.
Make sure that your pet is accepted in the hotel (etc.) where you are planning to stay. There are many locations that accept ordinary pets, but do you really consider your 70cm tall, 68kilos mastiff guard-dog ordinary?
Don't lose your pet.

When you arrive

Remember to adjust your wristwatch at the local time. If you don't, chances are you will lose all appointments, including that of your return flight.
Ask for the local habits and respect them. Some places have very different habits than the ones in your country and the local police offices and prisons aren't exactly what you want to include in a sightseeing tour, right?
Wear comfortable clothes. But not too comfortable, especially when in churches, monasteries or temples.
To take photos or video you need a camera. Some places have large shops where you can buy one if you forget yours, but these shops are never located in high mountains or deserted islands. So remember to bring your own camera from home, along with a film or a tape maybe.
When photographs and/or video are prohibited, they are really prohibited.
Try to learn a few words in the language of the place you are visiting. It can be helpful and funny also, let along the fact that all people smile when you say "good morning" or "thank you" in their language. Exchange smiles.
In forests, beaches, nature resorts and all similar places, leave behind you only the landscape...
Before leaving your hotel room, remember to take all your personal belongings as, sometimes, it is really difficult for the hotel to return it to you. The golden rule is to check under the bed before checking out of the hotel.

Well, that's all for now! We hope you will find the above tips useful. If you'd like to send some of your own, email us now! If you want a printable version, go here

Travel tips for Kefalonia

Some useful travel tips for those traveling to Kefalonia