Traveling under any circumstance
can be hard work, no matter how much you want to go or how exciting your
destination.
There are so many details to consider,
so many unfamiliar things to do and so many things that can go wrong. Add to
that the fact that it takes so long to get anywhere from Guam or Micronesia, and
it's downright intimidating to think about it. During the years we've lived in
the Pacific islands, especially since 9-11, travel has become more and more
difficult. TSA regulations have made it increasingly uncomfortable to survive a
15-30 hour travel day. However, with some forethought, a little advance
thinking, and these lists, your trip will be a pleasant and stress-free
experience.
This page is long - be sure to scroll to the bottom for links to more information, sample
packing lists and travel checklists
HOME PREPARATION: Be sure your household
notebook (FlyLady has an
excellent setup for what she calls the
“Household Control Journal”
and you can even buy it
already printed - here) has an emergency section. Include in this notebook
any information someone would need if they can't contact you, or worse, if
something should happen to you while you are away. Things like “What if the
cats get sick?” or “How to start the generator” or “Where are the candles?”
TIPS and TRICKS
:
-
We used to use travel agents to plan our
trips for us, but our agency went out of business when the airlines started
charging them. Now we do our own travel planning online. It's up to you.
If your agent is still in business, they can get you good flight
connections, good rates, and can even plan your accommodations for you.
-
I find it easiest to travel in late
Spring, Summer, or early Fall - so I don't have to carry three seasons of
clothing with me. It's pretty uncomfortable to leave Guam in a sweatshirt,
but even more uncomfortable to arrive in New York in a tank top in January!
Even if you are merely
transiting through a different climate, be prepared: we once had three days
in Tokyo in the middle of a snowstorm, and didn't even have a sweater with
us!
- As soon as you know you are going to
travel, start making a list of what activities you will do and what the
climate is at your destination. Don't overdo the “just-in-case” concept,
especially for items you could possibly buy en route, but do be prepared.
Pick one color scheme per trip and only pack items that fit the scheme,
including shoes and accessories. It helps to hang all clothes you plan to
take together to see how they look (and if they need cleaning or repair). I
nearly always carry hangers with me, as there are never enough at hotels.
Check to see if one item can take the place of two. as soon as you know you
are going to travel, start making a list of what activities you will do and
what the climate is at your destination.
-
If possible, keep duplicates of make-up
and toiletries packed. Just replenish the bottles when you return, and
you'll be ready to go again. (And, unless you are going on a weekend
getaway, don't count on those little bottles you “scored” from previous
hotel visits. Besides the fact that most of us have our favorite shampoo,
you can figure that you'll get around 2 shampoos out of each bottle - that's
1 bottle per day for two of you. I'd certainly prefer to carry a smaller
bottle of my personal shampoo than 19 bottles of samples!)
- I use scented lotion (in a tube) rather than perfume -
it's less likely to spill and one less thing to pack.
- Your kit should be as small as will accommodate your
toiletries, be soft-sided, waterproof, and preferably clear-sided. It should
have separate compartments for body care (lotion, razor, deodorant), face
care (make-up and lotions), hair care (shampoo/conditioner), and teeth
(toothbrush & paste, floss, mouthwash)
LUGGAGE and PACKING
- Your luggage should be lightweight but sturdy enough to
protect what you are carrying. It should have wheels, preferably like the
new ones with 4 rotating wheels that don't Topple. There should be some
sort of system for connecting two or more bags together.
- Be sure you have your own (legible) luggage tags - if
they are colored ones they'll help with luggage identification, and will
save you time at the airport.
- Keep some identification inside each bag, also, and put
a copy of your itinerary in the outside pocket of each bag. If bags are
lost, this will help the airlines find you when the bag is located. Before
our last trip, we bought some new matching colored tags for each of our
bags, including the carry-ons, that had room to put our itinerary under the
name tag. It came in really handy, as the airline lost 3 of our bags, and it
only took them a few hours to find them.
- If you want to lock your luggage, you can buy special
locks that are approved by TSA - the lock can be opened only by you or the
TSA agent. We have a couple of those colored straps to wrap around your
luggage, but they can cause trouble these days.
- Always carry a folding tote or cloth bag, so you can
carry extra items back with you. We often will pack one suitcase inside a
bigger one, and then have two suitcases for the return trip.
-
You want to pack as
lightly as you can manage, especially in these times
when you may have
to check your carry-on. Also, it's easier to find things in a small
suitcase. You can always buy something en route, or rinse items in your
hotel sink. We always carry some liquid soap, a sink-stopper and a few
clothespins on our trips.
- When packing, divide your clothes among your suitcases,
so that if one is lost you'll still have something to wear. My husband and
I even add one full outfit to each other's suitcase for the same reason.
Sometimes we have one bag as the “overnight” bag, for those legs of the
trip when we'll only be spending one night. Then we only have to open one
suitcase that night. Just be sure you plan everything you will need that
night (like swimsuits for the hotel).
- Put the heavier items on the bottom, and use plastic
bags to divide items (all socks in one, underwear in one, etc. Put shoes in
bags and place along the outsides of the bag. Be sure your bags are full, as
contents will shift (and wrinkle) in a half-full bag. Try to put the first
things you'll need on arrival on top. Include a dryer sheet to keep things
fresh-smelling.
- Film used to be safe packed in your checked bags, but
these days it is not safe there. And, since clearing security with either
checked or carry-on bags is more difficult today, the best thing to do is
buy film when you reach your destination and have it developed before you
leave. If you will transport your film, put it into special protective
containers for film.
- Be sure to pack liquids in special bottles made for air
travel. Fill only ¾ full, in case the bag is crushed or there is a change
in air pressure. Wrap the tops with masking tape to help hold them closed,
and pack into groups in zipper bags
- You can roll t-shirts, lingeré and underwear and use to
pad the folded edges of other clothing to help eliminate wrinkles
- Be sure to carry a bag for dirty clothes.
- If you are going to pack your laptop in checked baggage,
be sure it's not obvious. (NOTE: currently, our airline will not allow
laptops to be checked, so check with your carrier before leaving.)
CARRY-ON BAGS:
-
We used to carry a "24-hour bag" on the
plane, containing everything we might need for 24 hours, as well as the
cameras and film, jewelry and valuables. Now that TSA has banned regular
toiletries, there's not much sense to it. Nevertheless, you will carry some
things on the plane, and your carry-on should be lightweight and
compartmentalized. You should carry your jewelry (I leave the good stuff
behind) with you, tickets and travel papers, Other important papers, money,
your address book or planner, passport and ID. Also carry
-
some reading material, whether business
or pleasure, and a small notebook for writing notes or ideas.
-
Since you have to fill out customs
and/or immigrations forms while in-flight, it's a good idea to carry an
index card with all the information you might need - flight number, passport
numbers, destination addresses, etc. so you won' t have to disturb your
neighbors to get your purse or briefcase. Even in bulkhead seating, there is
usually enough space under the seat to keep a small bag (I have a canvas one
4" x 6" by 3" high which is plenty to hold things I know I'll need at my
seat, including that index card, pen, reading glasses, Listerine strips & my
iPod).
-
Carry on your prescription medications
in their original bottles to avoid security questions. If you are carrying
questionable drugs or large quantities, bring along a letter from your
doctor.
- Comfort items we used to carry included a spritz bottle
of water (it feels really good when your face and eyes are dried out from
the cabin air). A substitute could be a handkerchief soaked in water and
kept in a zipper bag, if you can get away with carrying it on the plane.
This would also help protect you from the germs coming from behind you.
Some other things to carry:
-
-
Security money belt or pouch
-
Case for your passport and travel documents
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Travel pillow (I use the airline's pillow behind my back)
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Eye mask and earplugs or noise-filtering headphones
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Listerine Pocket Packs
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Brush-Ups (no toothpaste on the plane, remember?)
-
Before settling into your seat, take out
the items you know you'll need: reading material or work, eyeglasses, water
bottle (you can purchase it once you clear security and take it with you),
that index card I mentioned with your travel information, mp3 player &
earphones, whatever is important to you - & stuff them in the seat pocket or
under you seat. My husband has hit aisle passengers in the head trying to
get something from the overhead compartment more times than I want to
remember!
WHILE TRAVELING:
-
Wear comfortable clothes and shoes.
No-wrinkle lightweight knits are good, but even in summer you should carry
a sweater for long flights as it may get very chilly. Dress in layers,
especially if you're changing climates en route. On shorter flights, don't
dress too warmly - the flight may not reach enough altitude to be cool
inside! Slip-on shoes and socks are good for most flights, as you have to
remove your shoes for security and may not want to walk barefoot on those
airport floors. A pair of slippers or slipper-socks for the cabin will be
most welcome about 6 hours into your flight. (I recommend, however, that you
put your shoes back on before using the bathroom - I'll let you guess why -
there are some VERY inconsiderate people out there!)
- Carry quarters or phone cards for pay
phones, and plenty of small bills for tipping. If you enjoy a cocktail in
flight (the only way to survive an overseas flight in my book!), carry the
right change (or buy airline currency) as the flight attendants may run out
of change early.
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