Don’t Be Like Dan

By: Stu Cooper/Travel Editor
 
Don't leave your brain at home when you go on vacation. I have written about this many times over the years.
 
If only I could get my friend of 40 years, The Vegas Voice Publisher, to embrace this concept.
 
Dan has told me numerous times, when we have traveled together: "Stu, when I travel with you, I don't have to do any thinking. You take care of everything. Just tell me where to be, and when, and that's all I need to know." 
 
And we have had great vacations with the Roberts over the past 40 years.

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But what about those few times when the Coopers haven't traveled with the Roberts? Well, there was that time I got a call from him from Glasgow, Scotland. He asked, "I don't have a hotel room booked tonight. What should I do?" 
 
He truly sounded like the proverbial dear-in-the-headlights. Suffice to say we made a hotel reservation for him and his travel party weren't left out in the cold.
 
It's easy to see that Dan would prefer, as the old Greyhound Bus commercial used to say - Leave the driving to us. No thinking involved under this travel scenario.
 
However, when "flying solo" and on his own, Dan must do some (maybe even a lot) of thinking.  So, here's what I tell him: pre-plan, and make reservations before you leave home. If renting a car, make sure you have a navigation app like Waze or Google Maps.  
 
Be aware of your surroundings. Be alert. As must as you want to and as tempting as it can be, you simply cannot leave your brain at home. Thinking a little bit will make your vacation more enjoyable, not only for Dan, but for all travelers; including our Vegas Voyagers.
 
Ultimately, moving forward, I'm sure Dan will be calling me and asking: “Where are we going next?” While he won't admit it, I think he likes having his own personal travel agent who will go with him, so he can keep his thinking to the absolute minimum. And last, but not least: I'm happy to do it.