Google It....

Whether you are planning for an all-inclusive scuba diving vacation or a weekend camping trip, you can avoid a lot of disappointment and frustration by planning ahead and doing some research on your intended destination.

There is no excuse for not arriving at your destination well informed as to what you can expect during your visit. You should be able to find out everything you need to know about your resort, the food, activities, beaches and there is a simple tool to help you with your destination education - it’s called the Internet. The first rule of travel should be - don’t assume that everything will be the same at your destination as it is back at home.

There is nothing more frustrating for me than to overhear people complain about the differences from home. While on a recent holiday, I overheard a couple of statements that went something like “I didn’t know there would be so much poverty and garbage in the streets” or “we are scuba divers and there wasn’t any fish on the reefs, as they have been overfished.” It is statements like these that send me over the edge. What do these people expect from third world countries? Research the basic economy of the country and if you find that the average annual household income is less than what most people make in a month in developed countries, you can almost bet that poverty will be quite evident and standards of garbage removal and pollution control will be non-existent. As for the scuba divers and their lack of fish on the reef comment – what else are these people supposed to eat or better yet, where are they expected to get the money to pay for it?

I realize countries and their governments benefit from tourism and therefore have a responsibility to provide a great tourism experience; however we also have to realize that we are simply guests within their country and if you don’t like what you see, help do something about erasing poverty both within your home country and abroad. Better yet, stay at home and you will have less to bitch about later on - God knows we live in a perfect country without poverty, corruption or environmental issues.

As with anything in life, there may be a few unforeseen wrinkles, but keep in mind vacations are what you make of them. If you are a tightly wound individual while you are in the confines of your daily routine and you do not accept change or diversity with ease, I would suggest that travel abroad is most not likely for you.