Long Journey Diary

Traveling often seems like a series of to-do lists, from the pre-trip planning process (book flight and hotel, call credit card company, stop the mail, pack) to selecting the activities you want to experience once you arrive in your destination. But what about after you get home? Some of us do nothing but slump exhaustedly on the couch for a day or two after a trip, while others leap immediately back into their daily life as though their trip never even happened. Why not find a happy medium? The following list of what to do after traveling will help you save money, stay healthy and savor the afterglow of your trip for just a little bit longer. 1. Check your bank and credit card statements. While this is good advice for anyone at any time, it's particularly germane to travelers. As Ed Hewitt notes in 11 Ways to Prevent Identity Theft While Traveling, "Identity theft is a growing problem worldwide -- especially for travelers, who are very vulnerable, forced as they are to use un...

There's a smartphone app that generates a map of the nearest public bathrooms when you're desperate for a place to squat. There are countless travel review sites offering first-hand critiques of anything with a front desk and a bed. There's even a website dedicated to globetrotting canines,  BringFido.com , that features dog-focused travel guides and a compendium of dog-friendly beaches. In today's world of information overload and species-specific travel tips, it's easy to forget about the most fundamental (and free) means of improving our travel experiences. You don't need a smartphone or a computer to positively change the way you travel. Below are five refreshingly simple ways to make the most of your trip and pull off a more enjoyable, less stressful vacation.  1. Slow down. A surefire way to turn any vacation into an epic wreck is by crafting an itinerary with too many activities -- or by not making an itinerary at all and simply expecting to see and do wa...