Moab is a wonderful destination!

Created by the Moab Travel Council

Anticipate glitches, Pack Sense of Humor and Embrace the Unexpected - Then Have a Wonderful Vacation!

I found this article from Trusted Adventures to be helpful, so I thought it was worth sharing with you. Hope you enjoy!

If you could take one tidbit of advice with you as you leave for vacation it would be to expect the unexpected. Surprises welcome or not, are bound to come when you set foot outside your door. How mentally prepared you are can make the difference between a meltdown and a good laugh.

All travel used to be a bit of an adventure but these days, modern technology has lulled us into thinking everything will always run like clockwork. It doesn't! The recent uncertainties of travel (such as volcanic ash clouds and oil spills) now take us back a bit to an older way of traveling which expected a degree of delay, uncertainty and adventure in getting to and from your destination.

Guests who travel with Trusted Adventures members are in the hands of experts trained to prepare for surprises, before, after and during your planned itinerary. After following a tour operator's guidelines on what to bring on a trip, don't forget to tuck in a generous sense of humor to help you embrace the unexpected. A smile and laugh go a long way to counter any stress or travel anxiety you may be feeling.

We asked our trusted members for a few more tips on anticipating and coping with the unexpected. Here are nine gems of sage advice from our alliance of nine…

1. First, plan some built-in buffer time for acclimation and sightseeing before your tour to accommodate unexpected travel delays, missed connections and lost bags.
2. Pack a carry-on day bag with enough resources (books, batteries, refreshments, change of clothes, etc) to keep you occupied and happy during unplanned delays and snafus.
3. Carry energy-boosting snack bars and bottled water on as many legs of the journey as possible.
4. Never pass up an opportunity to use a bathroom and carry a small roll of toilet tissue in your daypack.
5. Keep playing cards and travel games handy for transit slow-downs due to weather, road conditions, a religious festival or custom and immigration delays.
6. Bring an empty duffel bag for unplanned shopping opportunities.
7. Keep your camera charged and readily available for spontaneous photo opportunities.
8. Make and secure copies of your passport name page should you and your documents become separated.
9. Retain a list of itinerary-related phone numbers and addresses as well as numbers from your home or business life you may need.
We want your vacation with us to be an adventure – planned AND unplanned. Follow these tips and it will surely be as rich and rewarding an experience as possible!

Here are a few vacation ideas that lend themselves to great pre and post trip extensions while also promising to deliver more than a few spontaneous surprises!

-The Trusted Adventures Team