Tips from a Travel Fanatic
As everyone who knows me is aware, I
LOVE to travel. It does not matter how near or far, by what means of
transportation, or how long we are staying away. I will be packed in
a flash and ready for the adventure!
I thought you might be interested in
some of the tips I have learned along the way.
Packing – There appears to be ongoing
debate about how to pack your clothes. Bundling? Rolling? Flat? I
found bundling really annoying unless everything was going to be
immediately unpacked. In that case, it might be a good choice for you
but I don’t think it saves that much space. Looking for items in a
bundling-packed bag didn’t work for me.
My preference is to pack flat and tuck
shoes around the edges of your case. I also like to use the plastic
vacuum bags for t-shirts, sweaters, beachwear and undies/pjs. They
allow you to put more in your bag but be careful not to use too many
or your bag may be overweight. The air gets squeezed out for more
efficient packing but the weight of the clothes remains the same. I
learned that lesson the hard way!
I always pack an extra plastic vacuum
bag for dirty laundry on the way home and one of those
fold-up-into-nothing duffel bags you can use on the return trip if
your retail therapy gets out of control!
Use clear plastic baggies for
toiletries and travel jewelery (never take your good baubles!) and
other small items, such as electronics. That way you can easily
locate everything and if you have to unpack for customs, it makes
things easier for everyone … less ‘stuff’ to unpack and repack.
Also, officials can easily see what you have.
In the last few years my husband and I
have tried, as often as possible, to travel each with a carry-on and
a computer backpack that has room for my camera, kindle, etc. I’m
amazed how well it works – particularly if you are going to be
staying where laundry can easily be done. We find it’s such a
freeing feeling to have all we need when we get off the plane and not
have to hang around for luggage.
Remember you can only take small
quantities of gels, creams, toothpaste, etc. Buy what you need when
you get where you are going.
Here’s my basic packing formula.
First, make a list! Decide on a color combination that you like. I
generally stick to black and white bottoms in the summer and black
and gray for colder climes.
For a two week basic trip
(spring/summer/fall) with no sports involved and laundry access – 5
bottoms (wear one on plane), including one pair of jeans and one pair
dress slacks, 2 tops per bottom (most of which will work with all
bottoms), two sweaters, one shawl (can be dressy), one all-weather
jacket with hood (which I may end up wearing on plane). 7 pairs
undies, 2 bras. 2 light pjs. 1 crushable hat. If I think I will need
it, I will pack one dress and one bathing suit + sarong. Flip-flops
for beach. Walking sandals or trainers. Casual but dressy shoes. On
plane wear comfy flats or casual runners.
Travel to cold places or in winter
calls for different planning and we always end up taking a suitcase
as well as our carry-on. Trips that involve tennis, golf, etc have
their own special challenges. I’ll leave that for another time and
hope you found some good ideas here!
Here are a couple of good travel info
links:
Happy trails! Bon voyage!
 |
| Amazon.co.uk |
Surprise, shock, and
a shift in life as she knows it tumble into Katherine Price’s world when least
expected. The future she envisioned suddenly vanishes, leaving little to focus
on beyond her career and the caregiving her elderly widowed mother might require.
Fate has other plans
for Katherine.
June in Provence is
full of promise when Katherine arrives from Canada, eager to feel renewed by
her surroundings. Endless rows of lavender prepare to burst into pink and
purple blooms. Fields of sunflowers flow in golden waves among vineyards and
olive groves. Ancient hilltop villages beckon. It’s the postcard setting she
envisioned, but is that all she needs?
After a year of
heartbreak, Katherine has impulsively agreed to a home exchange in the south of
France. Colorful locals, a yellow lab named Picasso, and the inspiring beauty
of the countryside breathe new life into her days.
Seeking to shed the
pain of betrayal and loss, she struggles to recapture her joie de vivre and
searches for the answer to a haunting question: is it too late to begin again?
As Katherine
explores the romantic cobblestone lanes of medieval towns, the beautiful
boulevards of Paris and the sun-kissed Mediterranean coast of the Côte d’Azur,
unimagined possibilities present themselves.
An enduring story of
hope and change in life’s later years is woven through the author’s love-letter
to France. Like a well-travelled friend, Patricia Sands invites readers into a
world she loves and entices them to linger.
"Be prepared to
fall in love with Provence! This is a story that will draw you in with its
vibrancy in setting and characters. A must read for any woman with a desire for
romance and travel." Steena Holmes, author of Amazon bestseller Finding Emma
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Patricia Sands lives in Toronto, Canada most of the time, Florida some of the time, and the south of France whenever
possible. With
a happily blended family of seven adult children and, at last count,
six grandchildren, life is full and time is short. Beginning with her
first Kodak Brownie camera at the age of six, she has told stories all of her life through photography. Her debut novel, The Bridge Club, was published through iUniverse in August 2010 and her second novel, The Promise Of Provence,
will be released in early 2013. Her stories celebrate the rewarding
friendships of women and examine the challenges life often throws in our
paths. Becoming a published author at this stage of her life was not on her agenda but she knows now she will never stop writing.
Patricia
is a popular speaker with women's groups on the subjects of writing and
self-publishing. At other events (as one half of Sommers & Sands)
along with her speaking partner, author Susan Sommers, through keynotes,
workshops and conferences,
audiences are encouraged to embrace change and see challenges as
opportunities. "It's never too late to begin something new," she
enthuses. "As the saying goes, just do it! Be a possibilitarian!"
I have not yet read Medusa.
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