Thank goodness for commercial flight! Without it, it would take months to get across the world. That said, sometimes flying can feel uncomfortable. Here are five of the best tips we’ve seen for being more comfortable on your next flight. 1. Stay hydrated If you asked 100 flight experts what their top three tips for flying are, we’d be willing to bet that 100 of them would list “stay hydrated” in their top three. Flying takes a lot out of you and staying ahead of it with plenty of liquids can make a big difference. The pros recommend a quarter of water for every four hours of flight. 2. Skip the booze – or at least moderate If your goal is to step off the plan in Madrid and feel refreshed after even a long flight, then you’ll want to skip the booze altogether. That said, many people like to have a glass of wine or a cocktail and say they help them sleep. We recommend either skipping the booze altogether or keeping it to a single drink. 3. Bring your snacks with you Eating healthy on the plane is a great way to feel refreshed when your flight is over. However, if you wait until you’re at the airport to buy snacks – or rely on what’s available on the plane – then you’re likely going to end up with salty, high fat, and high calorie foods. Get your snacks ready beforehand so you can have what you want. 4. Wear layers Flights can be cold. Flights can be hot. You never know! What’s why we recommend wearing layers no matter what time of year it is. Even if you’re visiting San Diego and expect the weather to be warm the entire time, bring a jacket or two for…

There’s a lot to love about San Diego and a lot of reasons that people choose to vacation there. At GoCar Tours, we think that anytime is a great time to visit this All-American City. That said, there are some tips on better times than others. Read on to get the answer to this commonly asked questions, along with a few other answers. What’s the best time to visit San Diego? San Diego historically has comfortable temperatures all year long. August is the hottest month of the year but the average high temperature in August is still a comfortable 76 degrees F. December is the coldest month but the average high is still 65 degrees F. That said, weather isn’t the only thing that will affect when to visit. If you want to skip the moderately busier tourist season, then you should tour San Diego between March and May or between September and November. These are the months that schools are still in session so tourists are at a minimum. If you visit between December and February, you’ll have the highest chance of rain while June through August are the busiest months. As you can see, fall and winter are the best months. Not only is the weather still above average compared to most of the country, but hotel rates are likely to be lower. Do I need to rent a car if I’m visiting San Diego? That all depends on where you’re staying and where you want to go. If you’re staying downtown and want to stick to the Gaslamp Quarter and Petco Park, then you may not need to rent a car. If you’re coming to town for a few days and want to see the best destinations in a unique way, then touring San Diego in a…

Heading on an international trip to Spain is something everyone should do at least once in their life. At GoCar Tours, we love giving our customers the chance to experience cities in a totally unique way. When it comes to some of our favorite cities in Spain, we bet there will be a few things that you’ll be surprised by. 1. Spanish isn’t spoken in Spain Though the truth is that most everyone from Spain can speak Spanish, it’s also true that for many folks it’s their second language. What’s their first language? It all depends on what region you’re visiting. In Barcelona, it’s Catalan. People from San Sebastian speak Basque. Galician is spoken in Galicia – and these are just a few of the many examples! 2. It’s extremely hot in the summer If you’re traveling in or around Madrid, be prepared for it to be extremely hot. This is part of the reason that so many Spanish people take a siesta in the middle of the day. 3. Visiting Spain is like visiting more than a dozen cities Spain is such a diverse city and has more than 16 autonomous regions, each of which has a unique culture. This is why a journey through Spain can feel like a journey through the world. 4. Smaller towns are completely shut down during siesta This isn’t necessarily true in larger cities like Barcelona and Madrid, but in most every other city, expect everything to be shut down from 2 PM to 4 PM for the daily siesta. You won’t be able to get something to eat, shop, or hail a taxi during these hours. 5. It’s cheaper than you think Most people assume that a trip to Europe will be exceptionally expensive. While you certainly could spend a lot of money…

In this day and age, people who’ve taken care of themselves can enjoy incredible travel experiences all over the world. However, senior citizens often have special safety concerns to keep in mind. GoCar Tours has a few to share with you. Let someone know where you’re at First and foremost, make sure that someone has a copy of your itinerary. While you’ll likely let plenty of people know your general location, someone needs to know the specifics. For example, don’t just let people know you’re going on a group vacation to San Francisco, share where you’re staying, where your plans are, and how you’ll get around. Count on doing less walking than you used to If it’s been awhile since your last trip then our biggest tip is to be aware that you’re likely not going to want to walk as much as you once did. GoCar Tours offers some great alternatives that let you zip through town, learning about the culture, and enjoying the outdoors. Depending on the city you’re visiting, you may also want to rent a car or learn about the public transportation options. Keep on top of your medications Seniors who are used to taking medications every day often don’t consider that it will be harder to remember to do so on vacation but trust us when we say that it will. Why? Because you likely have a routine that prompts you it’s time to take your medications. For example, perhaps you take your pills right after you get the paper. When you’re on a trip, you won’t have these prompts and it’s much easier to forget to take them. There are a few solutions. First, you could change your routine at home to one that you’d also do on your vacation. For example, if you…

A comprehensive list of every reason to visit San Francisco would take years to read through but certainly the many festivals in the city would be one of those reasons. As summer 2017 quickly approaches, GoCar Tours is looking at some fun things to do in San Francisco in summer 2017. The Silent Film Festival Do you want to take a trip to the past? Do you appreciate the golden years of Hollywood? If so, you’ll love the art and historical record that is the San Francisco Silent Film Festival. Held every June, and presented this year at the Castro Theatre, silent films will come to life with live music to accompany them. Haight Ashbury Street Fair One of the most famous and internationally celebrated neighborhoods not just in California, but in the world, Haight Ashbury is a diverse, culturally interesting, and fascinating place to visit. If you’re going to take a trip to San Francisco and you want to get the most from this street, consider visiting during the Haight Ashbury Street Fair, where local music, arts and crafts, and delicious foods will be used to celebrate the unique history of this neighborhood. Fillmore Jazz Festival Jazz fans won’t want to miss the Fillmore Jazz Festival, which has been running for many years and seems to get bigger and better with each year. In 2017, expect July to bring this festival in with three stages that will continuously offer a variety of jazz performances, international foods, and more than 300 different artists from the area.   The San Francisco Marathon In the end of July, runners will come from all over the world to take part in the San Francisco Marathon. Considered one of the best marathons in the world, this course has a loop that goes around the…

You want to travel outside the United States but you want to stay as safe as possible. The good news is that many, many areas of the world are just as safe as the U.S. if not safer. That said, there are some tips that can help you stay safe when traveling to the areas of the country that GoCar Tours covers. Read on to learn some new info and then reach out to us to book your tour. Make sure someone knows where you’re at Does this mean you have to check in with home on every single day of your trip? Of course not, but you should forward your itinerary to someone before you leave. If you’re like most travelers, you’ll be updating social media regularly so others can keep up on your whereabouts, but if you decide not to use social media then send out a quick email every day to check in. Don’t keep your cash with your credit cards You should never keep your cash and your credit cards in the same place. You do want some cash in your wallet, and there should be more cash either zippered into a secure pocket in your luggage or in another safe spot. Your credit cards should be stored in yet another safe space. This can be a lifesaver if you lose one – you’ll back up cash and / or cards somewhere else. Scan your travel documents before you leave What would you do if you lost your passport and other travel documents while you were out of the U.S.? Are you surprised by the fact that it can take as long as six weeks to get a new one? Scan a copy of your papers and your passport, and then keep both paper copies and…

There are so many things to do when visiting Barcelona and so many things to explore. At GoCar Tours, we are in love with this charming city and have uncovered some facts we think may surprise many people. 1. Every beach in Barcelona is man-made We’ve found that most people have no idea that Barcelona has no natural beaches. In fact, there weren’t even man-made beaches there until the early 1990s. Instead, the seaside was dotted by industry. That all changed when the city hosted the Olympic Games. Now, not only does the city have seven beaches, but they’ve been named by National Geographic as one of the top ten beaches in the world. 2. The most visited museum is not the one you’d expect FC Barcelona, which is sometimes referred to as Barca, is easily the most famous sports club in the city. Each year, the Barcelona Football Club brings in tons of football fans from around the world. In fact, the FC Barcelona Museum is not only the most visited museum in Barcelona, but is the third most visited in the country. Just how many people visit? About 1.7 million per year.   3. There’s more to Las Ramblas than you may think When tourists are touring Barcelona, they often choose La Rambla, a famous street, as a meeting point. No matter time you meet, day or night, there is likely to be a ton of people. What’s surprising to many is that this famous street isn’t a street at all – it’s actually five different avenues, each one flowing into the other. 4. You have a dozen haunted metro stops to choose from If you want to see a ghost or two while you’re visiting Barcelona, head to one of the twelve abandoned metro stations. Today there…

At GoCar Tours, we’ve seen some of the most incredible cities in the world and are firm believers that Lisbon is one of the top spots to visit anywhere. Read on to learn six of the reasons we recommend it and then check out our unique storytelling tours. 1. If you like fine dining then you’ll love Lisbon We live in an age where foodies aren’t afraid to spend a few hundred dollars on a single meal. If you fall into that category, then you won’t be disappointed in Lisbon, where there are dozens of truly fine dining establishments in nearly every type of cuisine you can imagine. 2. It’s one of the most affordable options in Europe If you’ve always wanted to see Europe but you don’t want to play the inflated prices you’ll run across in Paris or Rome, then the deals you’ll find in Lisbon will put a smile on your face. 3. You can bask in nostalgia Visiting Europe is an incredible experience no matter when you go, but if you wish you’d done so before globalization had taken over then you’ll love the cool nostalgic options available in Lisbon. For example, when you’re not on your GoCar Tour, hop on a 100-year-old wooden tram that trundles along the cobbled streets. 4. There’s street art everywhere you look Do you love street art? Then be prepared to fall in love with Lisbon. There are many cities throughout Europe that are known for their wealth of street art but Lisbon puts them all to shame. 5. You can get an incredible view from almost anywhere Lisbon was famously built across seven hills. That means that almost every street’s highest spot will give off incredible views throughout the city. One favorite spot is Castelo Sao Jorge, which requires…

When planning an international trip, there are a wide range of factors to consider. One of them is to decide how long to stay. Some people have a specific amount of time to spend while others are more flexible and try to find the right balance between feeling rushed and staying so long that they are ready to go home. If you’re planning a trip to Barcelona then there are many factors that can help you decide. What time of year are you traveling? The time of year you’ll be spending in Barcelona can make a difference in a variety of ways. First, if you’re traveling in peak tourist time then you can expect for everything to take longer, from getting from one side of town to another, to getting a seat at a restaurant, to getting through the major tourist attractions. If you’re planning to travel during the rainy season then you should plan for at least half of your time to be spent indoors and this can affect how long you need to stay. Finally, look to see if there are any special festivals going on that you might want to see. Some of the fall festivals Barcelona is known for can make your trip days longer if you want to see everything. How will you be getting around? It’s true that Barcelona is a smaller city compared to others in Spain, and that it’s easy to get around, but if you’re going to rely on public transportation then you should plan to only do one or two things per day. The other option is to rent a car, which allows you to see and do more in a single day but can be a lot more expensive. Of course, GoCar tours offers a compromise: The Barcelona Some…

If you’re planning a trip to San Francisco then you’ve likely found plenty of awesome attractions to visit during the day but what is there to do at night? Once you’ve dropped off your GoCar for the night, consider taking off to one of these four great attractions and experiences. 1. Exploratorium After Dark The Exploratorium is an exciting museum no matter what time you visit, but on Thursday nights it opens back up after closing to offer an adults-only option, complete with dimmed lights and alcoholic beverages. If that’s not enough to convince you that night time is the right time, consider the fact that the lines are much shorter than they are during the day. 2. Check out some comedy San Francisco may not be known as the comedy capital of the world – or even the west coast – but don’t let that fool you. There are actually some very talented comedians and entertainers, many of whom who can be seen nightly at a variety of venues across the city. We recommend Cheaper Than Therapy, a local favorite that’s open Thursdays through Sundays. 3. Visit a year-round haunted house If you don’t want to wait until October to get in your yearly spooks, check out San Francisco’s Dungeon. There you’ll interact with talented actors who make you a part of a story that’s as funny as it is terrifying. Fans of this show do say that the humor can be a little adult so it’s best not to bring the kiddos to this show, which goes on every day of the week except for holidays. 4. Drop some quarters into retro arcade games If you miss the arcades of the ‘80s and ‘90s then the Coin-Op Game Room is just what you’re looking for. Open seven days…