I LOVE travel guides and believe in them fervently – old guides when steamer trunks ruled to today’s latest and greatest and always Rick Steves.

This year, I learned something about how I share advice with friends. Giving advice is a great excuse to share your stories with someone who is actually interested because…they are about to make the same trip. But it won’t be the same trip. Ever.

Travel doesn’t have DVR options – you can’t replay the show. One of my favorite travel days was with my sister traveling by rail from Zurich to Venice. It was direct, with no changes of train, made more exciting by the power rush we had to do to deplane, take the train from the Zurich airport to the main rail station, and dash onto this once-a-day perfect train.

It was magnificent. Cozy seats to nap away jet lag, magnificent scenery, a white tablecloth dining car, and fascinating travel companions. But then my sister booked the same schedule recently and for that date and circumstance, everything she loved had changed. Cloudy, no views, and no dining car.

Here is where I miss the mark. Any experience I’ve had has been at a unique time – for the city, the season, and for me the traveler. You can’t predict a blue sky day through the Alps or your own pent up expectations.

With every trip we take, we are different and the world around us is different. Our travel destinations are not our personal memory gardens but vibrant, evolving communities. I just got back from great trip to one of my favorite places. This time I traveled with a friend. We intentionally tried new stops, new adventures and had a brand new trip.

BUT…I did pick up a few things that seem to me to be always helpful, in sunny weather or clouds. As I had this epiphany about advice, I realize that there are a few universally good things to know.

What I Learned That Is Worth Sharing

• Rent a Car Outside the City. I may not always want the freedom of a car, but when I do… I arrange pick up and drop off outside the city. In Dublin, I took the DART to Dun Laoghaire; in Italy, I took the train from Milan to Siena and began my Tuscan drive there. My first hours of driving were much less stressful. And the staff aren’t as overwhelmed with jet lagged tourists!
• Hotels vs. AirBnB. On my own in a new city, I choose a hotel or bed and breakfast over an AirBnB. The staff can be an essential part of your team for advice and support.
• Book Flights Direct with the Airlines. I’ve used all the online travel services and they can be great. When I’m travelling abroad now, I book direct and make sure all my flights are on the same booking. If there is a problem it’s so much easier and the airline has access to your whole schedule. (I learned my lesson the hard way.)
• Subway and Tram Tickets. This is small but easy. I love to use public transportation but sometimes the ticket machines are cantankerous or don’t like my U.S. credit card. When I buy a ticket, I always buy an extra for the next trip just in case.
• Apps and reservations. I love the apps for everything from public transportation to major sites. Included audio guides, iteractive maps, up to the minute time tables. Why not? And dinner reservations. I made them on my last trip – for pubs and midrange restaurants. Why? It was such a relief to arrive and not have as many decisions to make.