WHAT I DID THIS SUMMER...TRAVELERS REVEAL SECRETS OF SUCCESSFUL TRIPS

Whether it's a trip to visit relatives or a dream vacation across the seas, summer for millions of Americans means vacation.

The secret to a perfect holiday, some frequent travelers reveal, is plan, plan, plan and wear comfortable shoes.

Vacations serve double duty for the Browns Mike, Dianne, and daughter Samantha, of Cape Girardeau.

Always enjoyable, Dianne said, "It's usually History 101."

The family has just returned from their ultimate history lesson a trip to Europe.

"We took two weeks," Dianne said. "First we went to London. We are big `Phantom of the Opera' fans. We called directly to London to get tickets."

The London performance was the eighth time Mike and Dianne have seen the play and Samantha's third.

"We spent a week in London, took bus trips, went to Dover Castle, Westminster and Buckingham Palace," she said.

Then it was on to Paris for four days. "Seeing Notre Dame was quite moving," she said.

And Brown dispelled the reputation the French have for treating visitors badly.

"They were wonderful to us," Brown said. "They only trouble we had was with taxi drivers, and they are like that everywhere."

Dianne said she speaks enough French to read a menu, but not much more. "Everyone over there spoke really good English," she said.

They took a side trip to Normandy, filled with history from World War II.

Next they traveled to Germany where the Browns visited with friends they had met years ago in Memphis.

"From there we went to Austria. It was just wonderful."

Brown said the key to a successful trip anywhere is to plan.

"We started planning back in October," she said. "I did a lot of research and got some travel books and decided exactly what we wanted to do.

"You really have to have some kind of itinerary or you would just flounder while you're over there," she said.

Mike added some practical tips. Pack light. Each of the Browns took luggage they could carry on, a duffel bag and stewardess-type bag; that's it. And don't forget comfortable shoes for walking.

He recommended packing clothing that can be handwashed in a hotel room. The family was outraged when a small load of clothing cost $19.

Public transportation, especially in Europe, was safe, dependable and even fun. She added that as tourists they stayed on streets recommended for visitors.

The Browns believe seeing different parts of the country and world will help Samantha better understand her school lessons.

"One year we went up the eastern seaboard and hit everything from Boston and Kennebunkport and on down," she said.

"One year we went to California and took the California coast. We have gone to Florida and Canada and have taken her out west. Everything we do we try to make a learning experience."

Trips to the Caribbean, especially St. Thomas, are more for fun. "It's a wonderful place to go."

"Traveling is very expensive," Dianne admitted. "We try to get tickets a month or two in advance." That allows them to take advantage of special prices.

For the European vacation, she said, "We had some free airline tickets and free Marriott hotel rooms."

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"One of these days all I'll be able to do is sit in a rocking chair and think. I want to have something to think about," said Mary O. Damitz, a retired Cape Girardeau school teacher, who travels frequently.

"When I retired the teachers gave me a piece of luggage," she said. "I've worn out that piece of luggage."

She now is planning a trip to Istanbul. From there she will cross the Black Sea on ship to the mouth of the Danube River and travel north to Vienna.

"I've gone to Australia, Alaska, England, Scandanavia, traveled through the Panama Canal and to the Canary Islands. I traveled from St. Louis to St. Paul on the Mississippi Queen.

"I've gone to New York on a theater trip over Thanksgiving and taken bus trips around the United States. I've been to Hawaii and Acapulco and Trinidad and Israel."

Damitz said she always travels with a tour group.

"I never strike out by myself. I do not like to go unless I'm with an organized group," she said. "I'm not a young woman. I like for someone to have made arrangements and to take care of me."

She said friends often say they don't want to be bound by the tour itinerary.

"That's a small price to pay for someone to make the arrangements and get my tickets. I hope they have chosen the things I want to see."

Usually they have.

"A lot of times you go into a strange place, you don't really know what you want to see," she said.

"Sometimes I have a definite destination," she said. "But once you get your name on these travel lists, you get all kinds of literature. Sometimes something just catches my eye."

Her sister travels with her often, but her sister gets seasick; cruises are out for her.

"It's a lot more fun if you have a traveling companion, but a lot of the big tours, if you don't have someone to travel with, they match you up."

However, Damitz' last matched companion from Germany spoke only about 50 words of English. That was 50 more words than she knew in German.

"I don't speak any foreign languages. That's another reason for going with a group. Almost anywhere you go there will be some people who will speak English. But if you are out there rooting around by yourself, it makes it kind of hard if you don't know the language."

"I like cruises," she said. "People on cruises generally are very friendly. Anytime you sit down you always find someone to talk to. You get on the ship and unpack your clothes and don't have to pack again until you get off."

Like the Browns, Damitz said its imperative to have a traveling plan. Tour groups make those plans for you, she said.

Damitz added that at least one pair of comfortable shoes is a must.

"My daughter says they look like old lady shoes. But I tell her when you are touring, you are not as interested in how they look as how they feel."