What Clothes To Pack

What Clothes To Pack

1. Coordinate your clothes around one or two basic colors. This cuts down on the number of shoes and accessories you have to bring.

2. Take as few clothes as possible. Plan on laundering. One person suggested one week's worth of clothes. I take fewer unless they are my washable silks.

3. Wear and carry washable silk clothing whenever possible. It is as warm as and as cool as cotton. It dries overnight and 10-15 pieces take no more room than two pair jeans. There are some other manmade fabrics that travel as well if not better, but they cost quite a bit more.

4. Plastic rain coat can double as a bathrobe or windbreaker.

5. Take older clothes that can be discarded along the way. Great for growing children. Many places, the local people are pleased to get these castoffs. There are travelers who take nothing but old clothes so they have that much more room for bringing souvenirs home.

6. Jeans - I never take them as they take so long to dry. If both the time and money for laundering are concerns, take lighter weight pants.

The 5 smartest vacation photos you've never taken

The 5 smartest vacation photos you've never taken

Use your digital camera as a "visual notebook" to record things you may find useful later on — not just for photos of your family at your destination. Here are some ideas:

'Return to owner'
Take a photo of a sign you make that says "This camera belongs to ..." and lists your name, contact information, and (perhaps) the promise of a reward. Set this image to "read-only" to make it difficult to erase. Keep it as the first picture on your memory card. If strangers find your lost camera and start looking at its photos, they'll know it belongs to you.

'Where was that again?'
Snap the location of your parked car, or take a picture of your hotel door with the room number on it. At the end of your jetlagged day, whether you're in an Orlando parking garage or Las Vegas resort, you'll appreciate having the photo to remind you of where you need to go.

'See? My car was fine when I left the lot'
Sometimes sneaky rental car companies will "ding" you for rental car damage you didn't cause. Avoid surprises on your bill by capturing "before" and "after" views of your vehicle. (Skip taking photos if an attendant walk arounds the vehicle with you and notes any damage on a form you both sign.)

'Which temple was that one again?'
Let's say that on a vacation you see dozens of the same category of sights: a Madonnarama of paintings at European art galleries; a Buddhathon of temples in Cambodia. Be sure to record the context of what you're photographing by shooting up close the text of a street sign, historical plaque, or a relevant page of your guidebook.

'Darn it. I wish I could print out this webpage'
Let's say you're using your hotel's computer to look up some information, such as a map for a museum's location, but you don't have access to a printer — or maybe don't want to pay a silly printing charge. Simply take a photo of the screen, and then use your camera's built-in LCD screen to view it as you walk.

Your first-aid kit

Your first-aid kit
Pharmacist Laura Mandos of the University of the Sciences suggests:

•Bandages and Neosporin for cuts. For larger injuries, bring tape and gauze.
•If the water isn't safe, saline solution is a sterile wash.
•Hydrocortisone cream. Provides topical relief for poison ivy, poison oak, or stinging nettles.
•Benadryl. Good for allergic reactions — and in a pinch, it doubles as a sleep aid.
•Imodium. Your go-to solution for diarrhea. (For an upset stomach, try ginger ale.)
•Prescription meds. Pack extra, in case you get stranded.

Travel Insurance

Read the fine print
Not all medical insurance covers travel abroad. Break your leg while hiking in the jungle and a medical evacuation could set you back $10,000 or more. So ask your insurer about exclusions before you go, and consider buying a supplemental policy.

Sunny Side Up

Sunny side-up
Bathing suit: Check! Fully loaded Kindle: Check! Two bottles of sunscreen for every member of your family: Seriously? That's right. For adequate protection, you need to coat yourself every 2 hours and apply a lot more than you realize. Vanity alert: The thin skin on the top of your hands is a prime target for age spots

Communicating in foreign countries

Before traveling to foreign countries, use an online language translator to explain your food allergies, health conditions and medications. Print the translated message, one for each country you are visiting, show it to the waiter, doctor or at the hospital.
Speaking from experience, having this information could help out in a very difficult situation

Be prepared for your flight

Over the years, I’ve learned that I needed to be well prepared for our trips. Here are some ideas that may help you reduce the negative emotions that can end up ruining your trip
1.Arrange for a ride: friend, family, shuttle, taxi or limo – this will allow you to relax on your ride to the airport and will eliminate the need to park your car
2.Reserve a parking spot – if you don’t know where to park or are looking for cheaper alternatives to airport parking (AirportParkingReservations.com)
3.Stay overnight in an airport hotel – not only will you be close to the airport, some have packages that include parking which may be cheaper than leaving your car at the airport, often with free shuttle service (ParkSleepFly.com)
4.Consider having a meal before flying, in or near the airport – if you are going to eat before, plan to leave at least an hour earlier (additional benefit – you will not be hungry when boarding the plane)
5.Check-in online – this will notify the airline that you are planning to be on the flight and you may not need to go to the counter if you’re not checking luggage (Please note: if you bought a vacation package and received paper documents, check to be sure what they are for. For example, Southwest Vacations mails what appear to be paper tickets, but they are only used to get through security. You must bring them with you to the airport, otherwise you will need to purchase new tickets. If you don’t go to the ticket counter, you will need to exchange them at the gate.)
6.Print out boarding passes – if you don’t need to check luggage, you can go straight to the security check point
7.Check gasoline level in your car – you may need extra time to get some gas or you may not have enough time if you need to stop on the way
8.Print out a map of your route – if you need to find an alternative route, a GPS may not be able to help you (Google Maps, Mapquest)
9.Pack activities for the kids – the less distractions, the better
10.Be prepared to leave early – unforeseen events can happen along the way
11.Check your flight – you will want to know if it is on time, delayed, or rescheduled
12.Check the traffic report – online (Sigalert.com – in the Los Angeles area) and on the radio
13.Check the weather report – especially important if you have a long drive to the airport (AccuWeather.com)
14.Consider checking bags at the curb – it will save you time if there is a long line at the counter and is convenient
15.Have a backup plan if you miss your flight – if you know your options prior to arriving at the airport, you will know what to do if something happens