EXPANDABLE POUCHES

Expandable pouches are great packing additions. They not only provide a place for those extra travel items that we seem to accumulate during a trip but they can also be used as a day bag when we are out touring. I usually attach mine to the outside of my suitcase.

CALL YOUR CREDIT CARD COMPANY BEFORE YOU LEAVE THE USA

When you are planning a trip outside of the US let your credit card company know. Give them a call before you leave to tell them where you plan to travel. Ask if they have any specials going on with banks, stores or hotels. Also ask them for phone numbers that you should call in case you need assistance while abroad. Take those number along with your credit card number and security code on the back and email them to yourself. This way you will be able access the information in case your card is lost or stolen. There is nothing worse then finding out your credit card has been cancelled because your credit company thinks your account has been compromised. Call before you go for added security.

PACKING THE BOTTOM OF A WHEELED SUITCASE

The inside of a wheeled suitcase is made up of the rods that support the expandable handle. Because of this, the lined interior is marked by crevices. I fill the crevices with my underwear, stockings and socks, trying my best to create a smooth area before I add my next layer. I usually do not roll as rolling often takes up more space. The only exception I make to rolling is when I roll socks to fill the cups of certain bras and bathing suits. Flat shoes can also be packed in the crevices. Remember to always wrap the shoes in either shoe bags or plastic bags.

IN 1779, MANY CONTINENTAL SOLDIERS ARRIVED IN MORRISTOWN, NJ WITH ONLY THE CLOTHING ON THEIR BACKS

During the Continental Army's winter encampment of 1779 and 1780, George Washington stayed in the home of Mrs. Jacob Ford, Jr. (above), while many of his soldiers spent the bitter-cold months camping in tents while awaiting the completion of log cabins. That winter, with its 24 snow storms, proved to be the worst in the known history of the time. Most soldiers arrived on foot, poorly clad and packing virtually nothing but what they wore. Yesterday Steve and I went to Washington's Headquarters Museum in Morristown, NJ, which is operated by the National Park Service. It is easy for us to forget how many of our forefathers suffered for the freedom we have today. Some of the men endured with rags for shoes and only a blanket for protection. There were times when men went hungry for days, in some cases eating bark from the trees. How fortunate we are today to be the benefactors of such brave and committed men. Let us never forget the sacrifices they made. If you are in the Morristown, NJ area please consider a visit to the museum and Ford mansion, which played such an important part in our nation's history. Call 973-539-2016 for information.

THE ESSEX BAR AND GRILL IN BLOOMFIELD, NJ

Oh, I am loving restaurant.com. That's how I found the Essex Bar and Grill in Bloomfield, NJ. Using one of the coupons that I printed out from the restaurant.com site and plugging in the restaurant directions on my iPhone GPS, we were good to go. The restaurant with a banquet  hall annex is beautiful on the outside and the bar inside looks like it came from the set of the "Cheers" TV show. The staff was friendly and Brittany, our server, could not have been nicer. We started out with broccoli rabe which was so good we had to order more to take home. Steve ordered a large salad along with a pepper and egg sandwich while I ordered the tuna salad platter. Everything was delicious and we plan on returning next weekend. As we were leaving they were setting up for karaoke. We were told they bring in bands too. So we are giving the Essex Bar and Grill thumbs up!

PACK LIGHT FOR AN NCL FREESTYLE CRUISE

Of all the cruise lines that I have been on, NCL is the most informal. The casual nature of NCL is due to their "Freestyle" theme. Freestyle cruising allows the passengers to choose when and where they want to dine on the ship. You don't have to be regimented to a set dinner time nor be banished to the buffet if you don't want to participate in the formal evenings. As a result, the passengers don't have to bring as many outfits, which helps them to scale back on their luggage. In a sense, NCL has gone green!

RESTAURANT SAVINGS AT RESTAURANT.COM

Eating out, while you travel, can be hard on the wallet, but sites like restaurant.com make it easier. Actually,restaurant.com makes finding a restaurant fun and affordable. Recently a friend and I had dinner at Mediterranea in Montclair, NJ. We found it on the restaurant.com site where we could check the menu in advance, print out a discount coupon and make our reservation. One stop planning, it was great. Our coupon, which cost $3.00, gave us $25.00 off a required purchase of $45.00. Mediterranea serves a wide variety of Mediterranean dishes. We started out with hummus, and because I am new to this kind of cuisine, we tried the sampler platter. The platter had eight different items including baba ghannoush, stuffed grape leaves and green foul. All in all, I loved the food and the baklava we had for dessert, was the best I had ever tasted. An added plus to the experience was the staff. Lance, Nick and Victor waited on us and were very patient and informative with our questions.

MAGGIE'S RESTAURANT IN AVALON, NJ

When I travel, I am always on the lookout for unique places that add their own special charm to a city or town. Maggie's restaurant in Avalon, NJ is such a place. A favorite with the locals it is the kind of place that just feels like home. The $3.99 off-season breakfast special of eggs, potatoes, toast and coffee was delicious and light on the pocketbook. It provided a perfect haven for a cold and windy day at the Jersey shore.

TRY VACATIONSTOGO WHEN YOU ARE CRUISE HUNTING

My favorite website when searching for a cruise is vacationstogo. By clicking on "90-Day Ticker", I get an overall view of discounted cruises from around the world. If you need more time to plan, you can search the area you are interested in, by clicking "Find A Bargain" or "Custom Search." The site is easy to navigate and the customer service via the telephone is excellent.

DOLLAR TREE PACK LIGHT FINDS

Check out your local Dollar Tree store for bargain travel items. Above you will find Smart Fit Button which is a must have for cruise travelers. If those pants or skirts are a little tight after seven days onboard a ship, then this product is for you. The button lets you expand the waistband! The instant Hand Sanitizer spray is about the size of a pen and keeps you virtually germ free as you travel about. A lint roller comes in handy when you wear dark colors. Travel Bottles are perfect for when your favorite toiletries don't come in sample sizes. Dollar Tree also carries small sizes of over the counter medicines like Excedrin. I usually pick up a small First Aid Kit there too. I take out the contents and put it in a quart size, clear, freezer bag to reduce the space the case takes up. 

PACKING HEAVY GUIDEBOOKS IS NO LONGER NECESSARY

With the internet on our computers and smart phones, we no longer need to lug around heavy guidebooks and maps. We can access travel information in seconds and keep that info. bookmarked or emailed for later use. Today I am in Montclair, New Jersey. It is a rainy winter Sunday and I want to get out and participate in a few of the things the area has to offer. My first stop is my iPhone with a quick look at my "AroundMe" app. This app lists hotels, movie theatres, restaurants, parking locations, just to name a few. It comes complete with maps and is very easy to navigate. A hike in Eagle Rock Reservation is out of the question due to the weather but a stroll through the Montclair Museum of Art is just the ticket. There is an Andy Warhol exhibit that I would like to see and the local High Schools are having an exhibit of some very talented students in the Art school section of the museum. In the photo above I am playing in the interactive Warhol "Silver Cloud" exhibit. After cross checking with Bank America's MOU (museums on us) program, I showed my Bank America credit card for complimentary access to the museum. The MOU program provides free admission to many US museums on the first weekend of the month.

WHAT DOCUMENTS AND CARDS TO PACK WHEN TRAVELING ABROAD

When traveling to another country remember to take:

1)    Passport

2)    A visa if needed

3)    ATM card

4)    Credit card (Visa and MasterCard are more widely accepted then American 
        Express)

5)    Driver's license

6)    Driver's Insurance card

7)    Health Insurance card

8)    Some local currency  (if dollars are not accepted)

9)    Approximately $100.00 US currency 

10)  Emergency contacts with phone numbers and any medical or allergy info. 

Scan or photograph items 1 through 7 and send them to a secure email address in case the originals are lost or stolen.