Traveling Suggestions

We travel a lot (going to NYC this week end after a week in AZ!) so I thought it might be nice for all of us to share tips that make traveling easier.

I keep a small bag in my closet that holds all the items I need (shampoo, toothpaste, facial cleanser, etc.) so I don't have to pack what is in my bathroom. I just grab the bag and pack it. It makes it so much easier to pack.

I do the same. A day or two after I return from a trip, I refill all of the bottles. I also keep an older curling iron in there, rather than throw it away.

Whenever I try a new hair product, if I like it, I add a new bottle or replace an old one.

Oh, I forgot to mention, I always travel with one color scheme. Black for winter and white for summer. I bring black pants and skirts (or white) and colorful tops. This way everything is mix and match.

I've tried space bags, but I don't think they work all that well.

Louisa

You girls are organized. I just throw the big bottle of product in, as is.

I have gotten better about taking only the clothes I need. Years ago, I would pack everything just in case I'd need it. Now, I really pack light.

I pack light too. I roll my clothes, if you can understand what I mean. It stops a lot of the wrinkles. I don't do it with cotton tho. I put tissue paper between clothes and that also helps with wrinkling. I use ziploc bags for my liquids in case they leak. It's become much easier now that I don't do carry on.

Lost luggage. Sound familiar? I carry a separate small bag in my carry-on of makeup. Base, powder, blush, mascara. If the luggage containing the rest of the tons of makeup I THINK I have to carry gets lost, then I'm still covered and dont' have to replace it. AND ... I don't run the risk of scaring small children.

If traveling abroad, I make a copy of my credit card(s) and who to call in case they are stolen/lost. And I also make a copy of my passport and put it inside each piece of luggage.

I also take a bread tie (preferably a red or yellow one) and tie them to something on each piece of luggage. Since mine are so similar to the bazillion other travelers, this helps me to quickly identify MINE. I have luggage tags, but sometimes even those are hidden when the luggage rolls around.

Another tip would be to put a picture of your grandchild or favorite pet on the flip side of your luggage ID card. Sometimes when the luggage rolls around, their picture helps to quickly identify your luggage.

I also buy phone cards in advance so I always have a way to reach out and touch my son who is at home throwing a party while I'm away....They're inexpensive and when your cell won't work, they will. Especially internationally.

If I'm going on a LARGE vacation and know that I'll be buying gifts for the entire free world, I pack another piece of luggage (one that folds up easily) and viola! I have an extra bag to carry home gifts.

Great ideas, JJ. I tie a scarf around the handle of my luggage to help identify what is mine. It also comes in handy for pulling back my hair when I wash my face.

In addition to keeping a copy of my passport in each bag, I also carry a copy in my billfold. That way, unless I want to cash travellers cheques, I don't have to carry the real passport on day trips.

I didn't know you could make copies of your passport. But, then again, I don't travel abroad. If you lose the original, will they accept a copy?

Louisa

JJ, I do the same things as well since we travel abroad
regularly. Also, one of my fav things to do is bring lots
of ziploc bags of both sizes -- they really come in handy!

Also, have a list of your prescription meds in your wallet. I do that because if anything happened, I know my husband wouldn't know what I take. For that matter, I always forget the dosage on them. This way, I have it. If I lose any one them, I have the numbers, doses, names, etc.

I also have emergency numbers with me in case my cell phone doesn't work.

Louisa

Oh, the copy of a passport won't get you in and out of a country, but it will expedite getting a new one if you do lose yours.

The copy is good for checking in and out of hotels, Identification if you get in trouble, lost, etc. I carry a copy when I am walking around in a foreign country and keep my real passport in the room's safe. Less likely to lose it or have it taken.

My traveling suggestion today, after going to NY is: Don't travel. Especially if you have a herniated disk in your neck. Ouch. I'm beat up!

I just returned today too, and my advise is don't bring only heels, even if you don't think you will be walking all that much. My hips, back and feet are killing me. I did have a great time - a great wedding party!

I only wore heels when we went out to dinner. My sister runs me into the ground and it's hard to keep up with her so I had on my running shoes!

Gosh, it was so much fun watching the NY Marathon. That's a first for me. Of course, they were happy at the halfway mark but on the last two miles, some of them were hanging over the barriers, vomiting.

You watched the Marathon, Dianne? I read some 35,000 participated. Hope less than half were vomiting! Egaaaads. I think that would be the last thing I would want to participate in. I find it amazing that so many people want to run neck in neck with others. I'd be so cramped, worrying about stepping on someone's heel or, much more likely, that someone would step on mine.

I'm not a runner/jogger. Hate it plus, I get asthma every single time I've tried.

I heard there were 37,000 runners. They even had UPS trucks to keep their clothing in after they changed into their running shorts. The trucks were police escorted to the finish line.

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I didn't know you could make copies of your passport. But, then again, I don't travel abroad. If you lose the original, will they accept a copy?

Louisa

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I don't think they accept copies at all at the border. I live near the U.S.-Canada border. People really need to understand in post 9/11, governments on both sides of our international border, have tightened up on the ID requirement.