The Essentials (aka Appendix)
Know Before you Go
At a Glance
- Language-
- Include Essential phrases - hello, toilet, please, thank-you, hotel, airport,etc. Use a phonetic spelling to aid the traveler with pronunciation.
- Currency
- Electricity supply - include a picture of the outlet
- Time Zone
- Country Code
- Religion - Include this if the local culture is dominated by a particular religion.
Weather - When to Visit (or Not to Visit)
Yearly overview grid ***This will include a 12-month average weather forecast of the location.
Write about the climate and seasonal changes in your itinerary. Itineraries purchased on Unanchor are used by tourists at various times of the year. It's good to give an overview and any words of wisdom for any particular season, for example in London, during the peak of winter (i.e. during the Christmas period) it gets dark at 4:30pm so you're better off starting the itinerary early in the morning to make the most of daylight hours. Alternatively, for a Dubai itinerary, one would recommend avoiding the city during the heat of the summer.
Getting Around
This should include public transportation information & approximate cost, subway maps, advice on multi-day or tourist passes, taxi information, and advice.
- Getting into the city - How does one get into the city? How to get into the city from the airport or by bus or train? Is there a specific airport, ferry, bus, etc?
- What form of transportation is most common? Train, Bus, Air, Taxi, Uber, Boat
- Include reference websites where applicable - ex. Train information for the major train lines
- Make sure you provide information about general transport around the city. Giving numerous options and pointing out any do's and don't's makes things flexible for the traveler and allows them to choose methods that suit their needs. Transport is a crucial part of traveling, so the more information you can provide, the better the itinerary becomes.
- Include reference websites where applicable.
Where to Stay
This could be lodging accommodation and/or specific neighborhoods that relate to your itinerary activities. Possible information to include: Recommendations on areas to stay in the city, specific hotel, hostel, and guesthouse recommendations, or other general hotel advice.
Restaurants
*Make a note if reservations are required or recommended
List any additional restaurant recommendations here. Feel free to consolidate the restaurants listed in the body of the guide here as well.
Write one or two sentences about the restaurant so the traveler gets a feel for the place. Information to include (bullet point this information).
- Address
- Hours of Operation
- Approximate cost for a meal
- Minimum 1 picture
- A menu recommendation - could be your favorite item or the restaurant's signature item, etc.
Nightlife
*This may not apply to all guides.
Possible information to include: Good areas of town for nightlife, specific drinks the destination is well known for, and nightlife activities that the destination is well known for.
Other Highlights
Possible information to include: If there are places that didn’t make it into the itinerary that you would like to mention this is a good place for those, recommendations on other places to those staying longer than your itinerary length, daytrip recommendations. Events, festivals, etc.
Random Tips
Possible information to include:
- Tips that didn’t fit anywhere else in the itinerary. Possible information to include: Information about the currency local, ATM availability, ATM tips, and credit card information.
- Be sure to provide advice on the best way to handle money in your city, how ATMs work, whether they should exchange money before traveling there or after arriving, etc. Is it a cash-heavy culture or more credit card dominant?
Practical Information At a Glance
- Police #
- Emergency #
- Tap H20 - Can you drink? Yay or Nay
- Tipping
Customs/Etiquette
*This might not make sense for every location.
Possible information to include: Information about local customs to be respectful. Scams to look out for and other safety tips. What is considered appropriate clothing to wear or not wear?
- Touch on any interesting or peculiar cultural aspects of the city you are writing about. These insider tips can often be crucial to making a tourist's visit easier, and less awkward. A perfect example... of interesting behavior in London is how people travel on escalators when using underground trains. When you use the escalators, if you want to stand still and let the escalator carry you, you need to stand on the right. This allows others who want to climb the escalator (or descend it when going down) to overtake on the left. This is a policy that only Londoners will know, but is a tip that can prevent being yelled at, and ensure tourists have a much more comfortable experience when using the underground escalators
- Typical Closures one can expect - ex. Monday museum closures, siesta times, etc.
- Visiting Religious sites - is specific attire required?
- PDA’s - Yay or Nay
- LGBTG stance
Safety Advice
This can include general safety advice as well as more detailed information. Is it safe to walk alone at night? Are pick-pockets a problem? Is the community accepting of LGBTQ folks?
Passports + Visas (list reference website)
*specific passport + visa information may not apply to all locations.
Important Tip to include: Always keep a photocopy of passports, visas, and traveler check #s in a safe place. It is good to have the contact information for someone back home written down in case your phone is stolen.
Inoculations aka Vaccination requirements
***This may not be applicable in all locations.
If this applies to your locations, include pertinent information along with an informational website that the traveler can use as a reference.
Smoking, Alcohol, & Drugs
Here you will lay out the rules of the land. What are the laws for smoking, drinking, and partaking in drugs?
Useful Websites
Possible information to include: Official tourist websites, public transportation websites, and other helpful websites for things to do at the destination.