Tropical Travel is exciting and fun - and presents problems that

domestic travel does not.

For one thing, flights to the States (not counting Hawaii)  from here take anywhere from 18 to 30 hours depending on whether you route through Tokyo or Honolulu - and, as far as I know, those are just about the only two ways to go.

Also, many destinations do not offer the comforts and amenities that we expect from domestic travel - and safe water is always a potential problem in the tropics.

Following are some tips to help you enjoy your exploration of the Western Pacific, as well as help getting to the Mainland.

PACKING TIPS:

• Keep It Small
  • Count out the # of Q-tips & cotton balls needed, for example, then add a couple extra
  • Store toiletries in small leak-proof bottles (don't fill all the way up; squeeze most of the air out before sealing; and seal with masking or duct tape) & keep them in Zip-Lock bags

• Select clothes that coordinate around 1-2 colors, and everything must go with everything.  
• Select wrinkle-resistant clothes (microfiber is great)
• Keep a list in the suitcase for the future, and another in your carry-on in case luggage is lost.
• Think of activities while planning - sports plans, restaurants, sight-seeing, beach, etc. - & how often you'll need to change clothes.
• Empty film canisters can store everything
• Put CD/MP3/iPod/Palm in a plastic bag
• Photocopy pages of guidebooks that we need so you don't have to carry the whole book

• Stick to clothes that will go with the same shoes, etc.
• Be sure to include an all-purpose, solid dress that can be dressed up or down with scarves or jewelry
• A cocktail dress or long skirt is always good
• A sundress is good for the beach (cover-up as well as dress)
• 2 walking shoes (comfort sandals), 1 dress shoe - they should be really comfortable, and broken-in, because you'll be doing a lot of walking
• Be sure to take more than 1 bathing suit & cover-up
• A sarong (lava lava) can be a dress, a skirt, a beach cover up, a picnic blanket, a liner for the bed (if you don't trust the sheets), a shawl if you get cold
• A few bandannas are also essential - as hats, napkins, sweat-catchers, wash rags, dish rags

• Roll T-shirts & casual items
• Pack hanger items in dry cleaner bags
• Pack socks in shoes
• Roll suits, then place in plastic bag
• Use Zip-Lock bags to organize clothes (underwear, PJ's, etc. - just toss bags in the drawer at the hotel
• Heavier items go to the bottom
• Be sure suitcase is full - sliding clothes will wrinkle
• Put shoes in an old pair of socks or in shoe bags
• Use vacuum-bags - saves space & protects clothes from moisture
• Share the suitcases - half of clothes in each others' - so if one bag is lost we still have clothes
• Be sure to put at least 2 luggage tags on each piece (& consider putting itinerary under business card in case bag is lost in transit so the airline can find
• us)
• Include the name of your hotel so bags can be forwarded
• Tie ribbons around handles

• Wash clothes in a sink stopped with a film canister lid wrapped in a baggie - will stop most any sink.  Rinse them in the shower.
• Use hair conditioner in the final rinse for silk
• Roll wet clothes in a towel, then wring before hanging on the travel clothesline
• Coolmax is the fastest-drying fabric
• If something doesn't dry when it's time to get on the plane, wear that - it'll dry quickly.
• Shampoo will work as detergent
• Dryer sheets will remove static cling if rubbed on a garment (although, you are not likely to encounter static cling in a sticky, tropical climate!
• Handled shopping bags make good totes for laundry
• A gallon-size Ziplock can be a washing machine

NOTE: Many tropical hotels do not have drawers for your clothes (consider buying cheap metal hangers & leaving them there), provide scanty toiletries (or none at all), and are plagued by bugs.

Flights often arrive at odd hours when there is no place to eat, so consider a couple bottles of frozen water (that will thaw by the time you get there) & a small snack for your checked baggage. We usually carry a soft-sided, insulated lunch box with us.

• Water (frozen if possible)       
• waterless soap
• Water mister  to cool you off                           
• Small Scissors (on your key ring)        
• Bandanna                                  
• Paper cups
• Small snacks, such as protein bars or crackers                                    
• Hand lotion
• Camera, with spare battery and memory card                                
• Small  hair spray & comb
• Organizer or Palm Pilot (or whatever you keep your personal information in)                    
• Eyeglasses       
• Sunglasses (on a chain)        
• Spray cologne
• A small medical kit (especially band-aids for the blisters you're bound to get)

THINGS TO DO:

BEFORE LEAVING HOME

• Eat yogurt for 2 days before leaving - helps friendly bacteria

WHILE ON BOARD

• Remove shoes & don slipper socks
• Elevate your feet on a carry-on bag or briefcase
• Put a pillow behind the small of your back
• Drink water every hour
• Stroll around the cabin often
• Bring a sweater (add heavy socks if you'll be sitting by a door)
• Use lip-balm, moisturizer & eye drops
• Bring a small toilet kit, as long as it fits TSA requirements
• Use unscented air moisturizers for face and air in front of you. They come in small enough containers that TSA will allow them

COMING HOME

• Pack all purchases in the same piece of luggage in case there are questions
• Remove batteries from everything, including cameras (remember to reset date on camera at home) (Some foreign luggage scanners, such as in Bali,  are set off by the electrical emissions from batteries in cameras, etc.)