For all the obvious reasons - being basically a tiny computer with apps for just about any need, it is invaluable for travel.
I have put my permanent packing list into a grocery list app that lets me check off everything as I pack it, both before I leave and as I'm repacking my stuff, ready to leave for home.
Of course there all of the communications and GPS uses as well, plus lots of possibilities for entertainment on the road.
Games
Movies
Music
Alarm clock
Phone
GPS
Checklist
Maps
Calendar
Camera
Video camera
Calculator
Tip calculator
Weather
Flashlight
Personal alarm
Yellow pages
Phone book
Compass
Notepad
White noise / relaxation sound machine
Voice recorder
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Wednesday, November 25, 2009
The Girl Scout motto: be prepared!
Because I have no need to carry a massive bottle of shampoo or conditioner with me on a short trip, I keep travel size bottles on hand and I just refill them when they are empty.
It doesn't matter if the brand name on the bottle is no longer the brand inside--you only need clear markings that tell what item is inside. Bottles with screw on tops are less likely to get squashed and spilled in your luggage as flip tops are.
I keep my collection of filled travel bottles together in their plastic zip storage bags that I toss into my suitcase. They are always ready to go and together ready for packing.
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone
It doesn't matter if the brand name on the bottle is no longer the brand inside--you only need clear markings that tell what item is inside. Bottles with screw on tops are less likely to get squashed and spilled in your luggage as flip tops are.
I keep my collection of filled travel bottles together in their plastic zip storage bags that I toss into my suitcase. They are always ready to go and together ready for packing.
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone
Tuesday, November 24, 2009
Toilet paper in a strange land
I realized when we were in Mexico that public bathrooms may not have toilet paper. Sometimes business owners hold on to it for paying customers only and you have to request it when you use their bathroom. (I understand that. Tourists, especially Americans, can be obnoxious when they think they are entitled to special treatment, and I'll bet they feel free to use as much toilet paper as they want in someone else's bathroom.) The first place I used the bathroom in Mexico was pretty nasty, but I bought a bottled Sprite before I asked permission to use their facility. I was thirsty anyway!
For the older folks in our group, this was a real culture shock to them, and they weren't happy to have to ask for toilet paper.
I know many people go to great lengths to find special, expensive rolls of travel toilet paper to carry around with them, but I realized that was overkill.
All I really needed to bring with me was a few pocket packs of tissues. I didn't need to carry more than one pack with me at a time, and if I started running low, I could always tuck another pack into my purse or pocket without worrying about much bulk.
Added bonus- the packaging keeps the tissues clean and tidy when tossed in with other stuff.
I wound up using more than expected because a few of us in our travel party were dealing with colds and allergies. I can't deny a sweet boy a few tissues for his runny nose, can I?
Special note: my all-time favorite over the counter cold and sinus medicine is Aleve D Cold and Sinus. It works on whatever sinus type problem I'm having, lasts 12 hours, and doesn't make me drowsy at all. :)
Saturday, November 21, 2009
20 tips - girlfriend getaways
http://www.girlgetaways.com/articles/2006/AR2006042101291.html
I LOVE the travel clothes washing kit!!
Bring a laundry kit. Pack a one-gallon Ziploc bag and a travel-size shampoo container refilled with detergent. These come in handy when you need to wash hosiery, bras, and other delicate undergarments. Put a few drops of detergent into the bag and fill it partway with water. Place the item you want to wash in the bag, close it up, and shake it around for a few minutes. Instant washing machine! For larger pieces of clothing, I've used the plastic laundry bags supplied at most hotels. Just hold the open end tightly. —Erika Kumada, Mount Prospect, Ill.
I LOVE the travel clothes washing kit!!
Bring a laundry kit. Pack a one-gallon Ziploc bag and a travel-size shampoo container refilled with detergent. These come in handy when you need to wash hosiery, bras, and other delicate undergarments. Put a few drops of detergent into the bag and fill it partway with water. Place the item you want to wash in the bag, close it up, and shake it around for a few minutes. Instant washing machine! For larger pieces of clothing, I've used the plastic laundry bags supplied at most hotels. Just hold the open end tightly. —Erika Kumada, Mount Prospect, Ill.
Travel Sizes
http://www.minimus.biz/default.aspx
Minimus is a terrific site where you can buy travel-sized items, including sample sizes of foods that you can't buy in a store. :). If you enjoy making gift baskets or trying new products, you will probably love Minimus.
Saturday, November 14, 2009
What if I lose my ID?
I scanned and emailed copies of my birth certificate, driver's license, and credit card to my own email address under a misleading name. I figured that if I needed them, I could go on board the cruise ship to the internet cafe, get myself a few minutes, and download what I needed in case of emergency.
contain those messy spills
I've stopped carrying a separate makeup bag on trips. I realized that it took up space, just to have this bag to hold my stuff inside another bag.... LOL
Plus, my makeup bag wouldn't contain a spill if a bottle opened or got a hole in it while traveling, and then my clothes would be splattered.
I just use easy-zip quart sized Hefty storage bags. I put the makeup which needs to stay dry in one bag; trial size bottles of wet stuff like shampoo, conditioner, body wash, and mousse go in the other. And in a third bag goes my tiny contact lens supplies.
If the bags become torn or soiled, I just replace them. Plus, it's easier to slip three quart bags in the open spaces in the bag than to reserve a big chunk of space for a single toiletry bag.
Also, I don't need EVERYTHING when I get into the shower and close the door - I don't need my makeup in there with me on a family trip, and I don't need the bathroom every time I take my contacts out for the night if my hands are already clean. This way, sharing a tiny bathroom with 4 other people is less irritating for all.
Plus, my makeup bag wouldn't contain a spill if a bottle opened or got a hole in it while traveling, and then my clothes would be splattered.
I just use easy-zip quart sized Hefty storage bags. I put the makeup which needs to stay dry in one bag; trial size bottles of wet stuff like shampoo, conditioner, body wash, and mousse go in the other. And in a third bag goes my tiny contact lens supplies.
If the bags become torn or soiled, I just replace them. Plus, it's easier to slip three quart bags in the open spaces in the bag than to reserve a big chunk of space for a single toiletry bag.
Also, I don't need EVERYTHING when I get into the shower and close the door - I don't need my makeup in there with me on a family trip, and I don't need the bathroom every time I take my contacts out for the night if my hands are already clean. This way, sharing a tiny bathroom with 4 other people is less irritating for all.
Don't forget the duct tape...
... because it has so many uses, you just never know when some of that sticky stuff will really come in handy for you.
But it usually comes on a huge roll which will take up a lot of space in your luggage, not to mention getting everything it touches sticky, if you aren't lucky.
You aren't likely to need the whole roll, so either buy a flat pack of tape at a camping or travel supplier, or make your own. It's a very easy thing to do, actually.
Take an index card and fold it in half. Carefully wrap the tape around the card as a core, then around and around over itself like it was on the roll. Put as much as you might think you will need on the card, then cut it. Fold under a tiny bit of the end of the tape and stick it to the small roll to hold it.
Almost instant and cheap flat pack of duct tape for traveling. :)
These flat packs also fit wonderfully in the glove compartment of a car much better than a roll.
But it usually comes on a huge roll which will take up a lot of space in your luggage, not to mention getting everything it touches sticky, if you aren't lucky.
You aren't likely to need the whole roll, so either buy a flat pack of tape at a camping or travel supplier, or make your own. It's a very easy thing to do, actually.
Take an index card and fold it in half. Carefully wrap the tape around the card as a core, then around and around over itself like it was on the roll. Put as much as you might think you will need on the card, then cut it. Fold under a tiny bit of the end of the tape and stick it to the small roll to hold it.
Almost instant and cheap flat pack of duct tape for traveling. :)
These flat packs also fit wonderfully in the glove compartment of a car much better than a roll.
more power!
I brought along an extension cord in my luggage with three outlets on it. I'd heard that cruise cabins only had one usable outlet and I didn't want all of my electrics unplugged every time someone else wanted to plug something in.
At the time I wished that I had been able to find a long cord with several outlets rather than three. There were still some arguments about whose items were more important to be plugged in.
At the time I wished that I had been able to find a long cord with several outlets rather than three. There were still some arguments about whose items were more important to be plugged in.
organization in a small room
I took the often-mentioned advice and bought an over-the-door canvas shoe organizer. I hung it on the closet door rather than the inside of the bathroom door because we had 5 people in a room designed for 2. I realized that with all of my toiletries and all of their toiletries on the tiny little tabletop, things were going everywhere.
Their stuff WAS all over the place, all of the time. Mine was always where i could find it. LOL Hanging right next to the mirror.
The canvas one was better for me than the vinyl one because the canvas packed flatter and didn't hold trapped air in the pockets. It was an absolute lifesaver for me on our cruise and made it easy for me to always find my belongings when I needed them.
Their stuff WAS all over the place, all of the time. Mine was always where i could find it. LOL Hanging right next to the mirror.
The canvas one was better for me than the vinyl one because the canvas packed flatter and didn't hold trapped air in the pockets. It was an absolute lifesaver for me on our cruise and made it easy for me to always find my belongings when I needed them.
Wednesday, November 11, 2009
No man's land
In my new and satisfyingly purple suitcase, there is a lining with a zipper to get to the skeleton of the bag.
I realized that inside this zipper was an excellent place to stash emergency items like tampons and extra cash, that you don't want to get in the way when you don't need them.
It's like a tiny crawl space. You could stash an ultra small sewing kit (mind the scissors if you're flying and this is a carry on) and several bandages as well. Great place for the things you worry you might need, but don't otherwise want in your way, like allergy medicine.
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone
I realized that inside this zipper was an excellent place to stash emergency items like tampons and extra cash, that you don't want to get in the way when you don't need them.
It's like a tiny crawl space. You could stash an ultra small sewing kit (mind the scissors if you're flying and this is a carry on) and several bandages as well. Great place for the things you worry you might need, but don't otherwise want in your way, like allergy medicine.
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone
Stashing emergency necessities
I recently bought new luggage that I am in love with. I didn't buy the entire set because I don't like the idea of having to pay for checked bags on a flight, so I bought both of the carryon sizes with the understanding I'm happier when I travel ultra-light.
I used to pack for every possible need, but after lugging too much stuff to both Florida and to our family's lake house, I got tired of carrying around useless dead weight. Also, I have family members who subject me to many cruel jokes about how obsessive I am about packing. (Note: I have OCD about packing -- insecurity causes it. I know this, so I don't need patronizing reminders that stop the minute you realize I have something you need. *grin*). Until, of course, they realize they didn't pack either toothpaste or a toothbrush for their child, and then expect me to have those items for their use. Or another one realizes she forgot her pajamas and asks for a set from me.
I don't take two sets of pjs on an overnight trip. Maybe that seems gross, but I do take soap to wash clothes with.
When I didn't have sleepwear for her she requested that I just give her a clean set of my clothes to sleep in, which would leave me with no clean clothes the next day. I am still at a loss as to why she thought I should sacrifice my change of clothes so that she would have sleepwear..... I told her to wear her own clothes. She threatened to sleep naked.
She's my sister so I told her to go for it. I don't know if she slept naked or not. I put my earplugs in and I went to sleep in my bed.
I learned several years ago from an avid camper that keeping a packing list of all the things needed for every trip was a real time saver. Applied to my own travel needs, a packing list became a priceless resource.
A packing list keeps me from throwing in unnecessary things "just in case". I can't remember a time when I actually used any of those impulse items, so they were just more dead weight in my bags. *sigh*
I remember a time when I was invited to go on a weekend trip rather brusquely by my sister. She gave me only 15 minutes to pack, thinking she could upset me by doing so. I was packed in 10. Lol. She was annoyed that I was prepared. The packing list saved me all that time, plus having my travel gear stashed together helped.
I used to pack for every possible need, but after lugging too much stuff to both Florida and to our family's lake house, I got tired of carrying around useless dead weight. Also, I have family members who subject me to many cruel jokes about how obsessive I am about packing. (Note: I have OCD about packing -- insecurity causes it. I know this, so I don't need patronizing reminders that stop the minute you realize I have something you need. *grin*). Until, of course, they realize they didn't pack either toothpaste or a toothbrush for their child, and then expect me to have those items for their use. Or another one realizes she forgot her pajamas and asks for a set from me.
I don't take two sets of pjs on an overnight trip. Maybe that seems gross, but I do take soap to wash clothes with.
When I didn't have sleepwear for her she requested that I just give her a clean set of my clothes to sleep in, which would leave me with no clean clothes the next day. I am still at a loss as to why she thought I should sacrifice my change of clothes so that she would have sleepwear..... I told her to wear her own clothes. She threatened to sleep naked.
She's my sister so I told her to go for it. I don't know if she slept naked or not. I put my earplugs in and I went to sleep in my bed.
I learned several years ago from an avid camper that keeping a packing list of all the things needed for every trip was a real time saver. Applied to my own travel needs, a packing list became a priceless resource.
A packing list keeps me from throwing in unnecessary things "just in case". I can't remember a time when I actually used any of those impulse items, so they were just more dead weight in my bags. *sigh*
I remember a time when I was invited to go on a weekend trip rather brusquely by my sister. She gave me only 15 minutes to pack, thinking she could upset me by doing so. I was packed in 10. Lol. She was annoyed that I was prepared. The packing list saved me all that time, plus having my travel gear stashed together helped.
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