She’s got a lot of baggage

I won’t go through packing tips for checked bags, but the golden rule of packing is this; your carry on is NOT the place for items that will not fit in your checked luggage. Never, ever, ever. You don’t need your blow dryer or those cute tops you decided to bring at the last minute cluttering up your bag and annoying everyone in the security line.

Think ahead

Take partial tubes of toothpaste, hair products and other sundries. At end of the trip, whatever's left, leave behind; more space in your luggage for souvenirs!

And yet another scam

You arrive at your hotel and check in at the front desk. When checking in, you give the front desk your credit card (for all the charges for your room). You get to your room and settle in. Someone calls the front desk and asked for (example) Room 620 (which happens to be your room). Your phone rings in your room. You answer and the person on the other end says the following, "This is the front desk. When checking in, we came across a problem with your charge card information. Please re-read me your credit card number and verify the last 3 digits numbers at the reverse side of your charge card." Not thinking anything, you might give this person your information since the call seems to come from the front desk. But actually, it is a scam of someone calling from outside the hotel/front desk. They ask for a random room number. Then, ask you for credit card information and address information. Sounding so professional that you think you are talking to the front desk. If you ever encounter this problem on your vacation, tell the caller that you will be down at the front desk to clear up any problems. Then, go to the front desk and ask if there was a problem. If there was none, inform the manager of the hotel that someone called to scam you of your credit card information acting like a front desk employee. This was sent by someone who has been duped .... and is still clearing up the mess

Pare down on accessories:

Regardless of where we're headed, we usually only carry one nice pair of earrings, one nice necklace and one set of thin bangles. Besides, you might find some cute jewelry at your destination. Ditto on magazines and books. Take one each if you must.

Shower Cap

Use the plastic shower caps that the hotel provides for wrapping your shoes. Works great!

Food for the kids

When traveling with children on an airplane and there is no food selection, travel with the instant Kraft Macaroni and Cheese and or instant Cup of Noodles or oodles of noodles soup and you just have to ask the flight attendent for hot water and you are all set.

Tipping in other country's

Do not tip anyone in a country you are travelling in with foreign coins as they can not use them. They can not take coins to the bank in their own country and cash them in. Either take a supply of American $1 bills, or tip in the country's own currency.