Travel Lessons From Alisa Grifo

Nat and Rachael Lopes How has your job changed the way you travel? R: When we started, I think I was under the impression that you should follow an itinerary as much as possible. The job definitely changed that. N: Now we do less planning. We play it more by ear. How do you plan your road trips? N: We pull out a map of the U.S. and circle our destination. Since we don't like driving more than four to six hours at a time, we plot the other points by that driving distance. R: A guidebook that fits the scale of travel we do is the National Audubon Society field guides. The series gives natural historical information as well as information on all the U.S. parks. It's a great resource. N: We also use GPS heavily. Do you take your own bikes or rent? N: We don't do bike rentals. R: We learned our lesson when we tried that in Alaska. If you're an avid biker, you realize that bike rentals aren't the same. N: For extreme trails, you want your own bike for risk management. How do you transport your bikes on planes? N: Get the biggest box possible, so you have to take your bike apart as little as possible. R: Airlines often charge you the same price for any oversize box. But always call ahead to the airline. Once we had to beg to bring our bikes to Hawaii. N: And since security inspects the bike before every flight, sometimes we don't even tape the box, we just use straps. How do you transport bikes in your car? R: We keep them on the roof of our car. N: We've spent three years on the road in 46 states and nine Canadian provinces, and our bikes were only stolen once. R: Pay attention to where you park. The night our bikes were stolen we were tired, and we knew we should move the car. N: We have a lock for each bike, and then we lock them together. What's the one thing you won't leave home without taking with you? R: My camera. Nat would probably say his video camera. I bring the camera to create a log, so I'll know what I did two or 10 years from now. N: I was going to say my Spy brand sunglasses. What do you bring with you on the plane? R: We carry on all our video equipment, as well as our computers and hard drives. The key is to take everything out even if airport security doesn't require it. N: Security gets annoyed, but it saves us time overall. How do you record and take notes on your trip while traveling? N: We ride with helmet cameras, which are extremely resilient. The first camera Rachael ever got me has been in several crashes and is still working six years later. It's a Sony PRV 17. We have basically 850 locations on film that we could pretty much access any part of the trails and see with whom we traveled. R: We remember people we rode with one time. We've watched the videos since then, and we'll meet up with people we rode with and remember their names and ask them about their family members. How do you find non-touristy spots? N: Through connections. A bike store is the best place to start and to meet people. R: But the bike store is the worst place to get food recommendations. They're not paid well enough that they're eating at quality establishments. How much of your travel is on your own? R: I don't think we've been apart from each other for more than four hours in the past five years. Any travel tips? N: Don't underestimate the power of sleep deprivation and hunger while traveling with a partner. If you're hungry, you can be cranky. R: And don't underestimate the power of sitting in the backseat. I might drive while he works in the back, and that extra three feet creates space. What sorts of tourist etiquette tips have you picked up? R: The number one thing is to be interested in the area that you're in. We might drive into a town and make yuck sounds on the way in, then meet 20 or 30 locals, and realize it's a great place. Wilson, Kans., is a great example. Read on to see Alisa Grifo's top tips >

Armenia Nercessian de Oliviera How has your job changed the way you travel? Usually, people who travel for business travel somewhere and then come back "home." But since I began opening new international offices for Novica and regularly revisiting those regional offices to help search for new artists and artisans, I've spent most of my time going directly from one country to another, not seeing my home for six months at a time. This year, however, I have slowed my travels down a bit, and plan to spend a little more time at home in Brazil, working closely with the Novica office here. How much do you plan your trips in advance? I generally plan my trips two to three weeks in advance, providing time to buy tickets, make reservations, or get a visa for a particular country if needed. Sometimes, though, I have to travel on just a few days' notice or adjust my schedule and itinerary in the course of a journey. What are some packing tips you've picked up? It's essential to carry a complete change of clothes in your carry-on. And always remember to bring an appropriate adaptor that will accommodate your cell phone and computer chargers. I pack at least half a dozen attractive shawls that are suitable for different occasions. Wearing them can replace the need for five entire outfits. What do you wear on the plane? I wear comfortable, loose-fitting clothes and I always bring with me a pair of slippers, a cozy alpaca-wool blanket, a scarf to add or remove as the temperature changes, and a good book. I sleep very well in planes at night, but if I'm taking a daytime flight I generally read a book, or, better yet, begin a conversation with the passenger next to me—a very Brazilian thing to do! How do you find non-touristy spots? For Novica, wandering to remote places in search of fantastic artisans and unique handcrafts is part of what I do. This naturally takes me to many non-touristy spots. I also enjoy renting a car in a new place, and then driving around with the intention of getting lost, discovering tiny villages, wandering through local markets, and so forth. How do you approach local cuisine? It's one of the most attractive aspects of travel! Sometimes, however, it is not easy to find truly authentic local cuisine in restaurants, because they often set their menus to cater to foreigners. The most exquisite dishes I have ever tried have been home-cooked meals served when I have been a guest in the homes of our various artisans. I ask local friends for recommendations. I also enjoy dining on street food. In Bali, for example, a street vendor made the best satay I have ever experienced. I'm not saying that all street food is good or safe to eat. But when the foods are prepared fresh right in front of you, and when you can see that any perishable ingredients are indeed stored, handled, and cooked well, and if many locals are also eating right there, then I say, "Go ahead, enjoy!" How do you record and take notes on your trip while traveling? I don't keep travel journals, but my observations and comments are recorded in e-mails I send to friends and family and in company reports that I write for Novica. What sorts of tourist etiquette tips have you picked up? It is important to always remain open-minded about other cultures and customs, and respectful of locals and their beliefs. You should learn about a region or country before you visit, to know whether you should shake hands or bow, to learn which of our common gestures may be inappropriate in another culture, and to learn at least a few essential phrases in the local language. Above all, remember to use the most powerful tool for communicating in any country in the world: the smile. Read on to see Nat and Rachael Lopes's top tips >

Dan Philips How has your job changed the way you travel? When I travel with my family, I fly in coach, but for business, I fly first class and stay in nice hotels—and to pack, I just throw in armloads of stuff. If I miss something, I run to the Gap or Banana Republic. How much do you plan your trips in advance? I often plan at the last minute. Once, we wanted to go to Tasmania for a family vacation, but no cheap hotels or airfares were available. So we went to Melbourne instead at the last minute. What's the one thing you won't leave home without? You'll forget everything once, including your passport. You think to yourself I'll never travel without underwear, but then you forget it, and you get by. You just go shopping. I'm sure I've spent at least a couple grand over the years on the stuff I've forgotten to pack. What do you wear on the plane? If I have a meeting, I'll wear business clothing. If I'm traveling overseas, I'll change into pajamas on the plane. On overnight flights, I'll bring slippers. I have this fantasy that if you dress nicer on planes they treat you better, but I haven't found that to be true. We're all cattle. What do you bring with you on the plane? I have a set routine of what I bring with me on planes for short, long, and overseas flights. It includes slippers, pajamas, noise canceling Bose headphones, an iPod, work, reading material, and computer cords. I wish Bose would adapt its noise-canceling headphones so you could sleep with them on, because they're really uncomfortable when you're lying down. How do you deal with jet lag? I rarely sleep more than four hours anywhere I am. My biological clock is permanently broken. If I can sleep for 20 minutes on a bus or a train, I'll do that. How do you find non-touristy spots? I usually do a little networking with business colleagues. When I discovered Russell's Pizza [in Willunga, Australia], for instance, I went with a local wine writer and an owner of a specialty food store. If you see a farmers market or you see a small cheese store, just stop and look. Hotel concierges will send you to the places that pay them, and that's how you know where not to go. How much of your travel is on your own? Do you have any solo travel tips? Eating in a restaurant alone is one of the great pleasures of life, but one that is often forgotten or actually avoided like a social embarrassment. Don't be intimidated. I love to sit at counters. Often the restaurant is able to serve dinner at the bar, but you have to ask if they'll do it. Then you can chat with the bartender, or not. I always find I'm very creative when I dine alone. That's when I get a lot of my best writing ideas. How do you keep in touch with others while traveling? I recently set up Skype and iChat and bought computers with video cameras so I can see my kids when I'm away. I also e-mail and telephone. Cell phones are international. What sorts of tourist etiquette tips have you picked up? It makes a difference if you're really nice to the flight attendants on the airplane. They will be nicer if you establish an immediate relationship. And tip big! If you give someone a twenty and say, "Take care of me," they will. It's not a lot, and they'll remember you and jump next time you come and help you out of your cab. Read on to see Armenia Nercessian de Oliviera's top tips >

Britt Karlsson How has your job changed the way you travel? I started out just writing about wine, but now with the tours, it's a totally different activity. I spend all my time planning itineraries and making close contacts with the wine growers. How much do you plan your trips in advance? I book the hotels about seven or eight months in advance. That's the most critical thing. Sometimes you go to a town and there's only one hotel. What are some packing tips you've picked up? Don't pack too much. For a wine tour, you need to have comfortable shoes because you always walk in vineyards. You also stand a lot in cellars, which are cool, so you'll need a jacket. And you shouldn't wear white clothes. It's hopeless. Either wear nice-looking jeans and a blazer, or pants and a blazer. The French are very relaxed about their clothes, even in nicer restaurants. Ties are more rare than people think. How do you deal with jet lag? I usually sleep for a few hours on the plane. I am careful about when I schedule my flights. To go to South America, there's a flight from Paris at 11 p.m. If you can sleep for seven hours, you're fine when you get to your destination. How do you get your bearings when you arrive at a destination? Try to get hold of good maps. People love to look at maps, but they don't buy them. I always buy maps. Sometimes people are traveling by car and they don't even have maps. Never trust GPS. If the GPS breaks down, you're lost. I love a French brand called IGN, or Institut Geographique Nationale. Michelin maps are OK, too. And get a guidebook. You miss a lot of historical facts if you don't have one. How do you find non-touristy spots? If we meet local people—who are often involved in wine—we ask them. How do you approach local cuisine? I don't eat street food that often. I don't eat between meals, so when I eat, I sit. How much of your travel is for yourself? The only pleasure travel I have time for is to go to Sweden and see my family. If you have your own company, you're never really on vacation. How do you record and take notes on your trip? I have a favorite notebook in which I write everything about wine and food. It's a small, black Moleskine. I have it in front of me right now. How do you keep in touch with others while traveling? I use e-mail and telephone. My French cell phone works. It's a cell phone plan that allows you to go through Europe on a fixed rate. What sorts of tourist etiquette tips have you picked up? Be polite. Don't be too loud. Respect people. It's common sense. If you're on a wine tour, you should always learn how to spit. Spitting is polite. Read on to see Dan Philips's top tips >