In the summer of 2008, I decided to travel to England, Ireland and Poland to visit some of our company's strategic partners. I also planned to sightsee and to film several segments for my TV show.
This is not an unusual scenario. I frequently combine my love of travel with business, because I go places that I think most of us would like to see and experience.
I arrived in Warsaw to visit our publishing partners (several Polish editions of Martha Stewart Living have been created) and to give a speech at a large shopping mall. Between appointments, I toured historic sites and savored the delicious foods of Poland.
When I found myself with a few days to fill, I started thinking about going on a new adventure. I had already traveled extensively in Poland with my mother, so I focused my attention on a Central European city that I had never visited: Prague.
Within a few hours, two colleagues and I had plane tickets, and off we went — no plans, no itinerary, just vague suggestions of where to go and what to see. This kind of impromptu trip is the true test of a traveler's mettle and resourcefulness.
Spur-of-the-moment travel is not always the most economical way to visit a new destination, but this was one time when everything fell nicely into place, thanks to some help from our New York office and a lovely English-speaking guide. As a first-time visitor to this charming city, so rich in history, I was excited to explore what the city had to offer. Prague is sometimes called the City of a Hundred Spires; a walk through the different sections of the city offers a lovely juxtaposition of palaces, churches and small city houses. A tour of the historic Jewish district, Josefov, provides a sense of Prague's rich past.
Among other sites, we visited the Charles Bridge, a walkway spanning the Vltava River; Strahov Monastery, which houses a collection of curiosities; and the gardens of the Wallenstein Palace, which feature loggias and an aviary housing gigantic owls.
I hope my travel tips inspire you to take full advantage of an impromptu trip. To see more photos from Prague, go to www.themarthablog.com.
MARTHA'S 10 TRAVEL TIPS
Here's how to make the most of a quick, spontaneous trip to a new destination.
Hotel: Reserve comfortable lodging in a central location. A charming hotel that's out of the way can cost you a lot in taxi fares — and time. Plus it will be more difficult to change clothes or retrieve a forgotten item.
Tour guide: Hire one, especially if you have only a few days to visit. A well-informed guide will point you to the most important sites and can tailor the trip to your interests (for me, that includes gardens, museums, antiques shops and markets).
Driver: In a large city, it might be worth hiring a driver so you don't waste time getting from place to place. Much of Prague can be seen on foot, so a car is not important. In Paris and London, public transportation makes navigating easy. But in Beijing, Kyoto and Tokyo, a car is essential.
Reservations: When possible, make lunch and dinner reservations in advance—- especially if dining is going to be a big part of your trip.
Cafes: Find a popular cafe. In Prague, we loved Cremeria Milano. Go there in the morning, when you plan out your day. I have found that locals sipping their cappuccinos offer great advice to foreigners.
Clothing: Dress comfortably. Walking shoes are a must, and it's good to have extra layers on hand for coping with temperature fluctuations. Always carry an umbrella.
Essentials: A small digital camera, a notepad and pen, a guidebook and a detailed map will help you locate destinations and keep a record of where you've been.
Excursions: Try to visit the countryside. On this trip, we stopped at a medieval castle just outside town and toured interesting limestone quarries sometimes used for movie shoots.
Discovery: Keep your eyes open. Fascinating shops and sights are everywhere, and an unexpected stop often turns out to be a pleasant diversion from the itinerary.
Flexibility: Wake up very early and stay up late, but don't fret if you miss one site. There are always many more to see.
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