Let’s Travel

Remember that not all hotels and motels allow you to keep pets in your room. Asking the hotel first would sure come in handy, convenient, not to mention sparing you of being not allowed to get inside the hotel. You wouldn’t want that hustle.

Once you are there, remember to inform the management that your pet is with you, and always place the “do not disturb” sign on the door when you are out without your pet. If you have a carrier or crate, consider keeping the pet in the carrier during your absence. You don’t want to be charged extra for a broken vase or a torn sheet. If the hotels you are planning to stay at also have their own pet hotels, it wouldn’t just be a treat for you but most especially to your pet as well. A happy and relaxed can be very helpful for you who have some other things to do other than just play along with Cuddles.

Remember to respect your hosts too. Do not allow animals to sleep in the bed, or on furniture. Just make things as neat and lean as possible.

1. If you are traveling with someone, pack half your clothes in his bag, and carry half his in your luggage. Then if one bag gets lost, you at least have half your things.
2. Wear or carry your bulky clothes on the flight if possible, rather than packing them, to create extra space in your bag for the trip.
3. Make a list of items you are taking and check them off as each item is packed.
4. Insert your name and address inside your baggage.
5. Put liquids in plastic containers, not glass. They aren’t as heavy and are not as likely to break. And then place those containers inside plastic zipper bags.
6. For fewest wrinkles, it is best to lay clothing out on bed in layers, one on top of the other, and fold to fit in bag. At the folds, place stockings, underwear, whatever, to prevent a crease at that point. It’s good too, to fold all blouses in one bundle and slip in a plastic bag. Then, fold all pants and slip them in another plastic bag. Do the same with any other items you want kept wrinkle-free. For some reason, the plastic bags keeps clothes more wrinkle-free.
7. Put small things in the toes and heels of your shoes.
8. Place shoes at the bottom of the case where the hinges are. They will stay in place and not shift clothing around by their weight. In fact, all heavy items should be placed there.
9. Don’t roll belts; place them just inside walls of your bags, running around the circumference. They will take less room this way.
10. Less room is used if cosmetics, medications, etc., are placed in a zipper plastic bag and then transferred to regular cosmetic bag (which you have folded and placed in the bag) after you arrive at your destination.
11. Shoes should be packed in shoe mittens or an old pair of socks to protect other clothes from being soiled.

An item that’s invaluable when making long, night flights is an inflatable neck cushion or pillow. It takes practically no room when collapsed, but makes it so much easier to sleep. Also, try to carry an eye shade and ear plugs for sleeping.

When waiting in line or sitting in the airport (or anywhere else, for that matter), always have the straps to your carry on luggage wrapped around an arm or a leg. Then they won’t disappear without your knowledge. Do this suggestion to the extreme if you think you are in a questionable area. You can even straddle your large bags when you feel necessary. Or at least have them touching your leg so you would know if they were moved.

When you reach your seat on boarding a plane, MOVE OUT OF THE AISLE immediately. From there you can stow your bag in the overhead bin. If not, wait until the aisle clears. You might want to avoid problems with people especially on long trips.

After crossing several time zones, many travelers suffer from “jet lag.” Although there is no way to completely avoid jet lag, there are a number of ways to help your body adjust to a new time zone.

1. Try to go to bed a little earlier a few days before you leave and get as much sleep as you can during your flight.
2. Many side-effects of jet lag are the result of dehydration, so avoid alcohol, coffee, tea and other caffeinated beverages and drink plenty of water during your flight.
3. Eat lightly on your flight and forego rich or exotic foods on the first few days of your trip so that you can use your energy to adjust to your new surroundings rather than to digest your food.
4. Exercising on a long flight will help alleviate such common discomforts as backaches, swollen legs and feet and general fatigue. Stretch at regular intervals and walk up and down the aisles of the plane from time to time.
5. Finally, take it easy on the day you arrive so that you can take advantage of your trip at a leisurely pace and establish a routine in sync with the local time. I take a short nap when I arrive at my destination, then make myself stay active the rest of the day.