FOLDABLE WATER BOTTLE

Great lightweight water bottle for travel. It costs just $1.00 at Dollar Tree!

Sewing kit and foldable scissors

This mending kit with foldable scissors can be purchased from Walmart. Marriott hotels used to give away pre-threaded needles to their guests and I found them to be an indispensable travel item. Together with the scissors (which I have had no trouble getting through airport security), a safety pin and a couple of buttons, most travelers will find themselves adequately prepared for minor sewing emergencies. 

Travelpro Super Lightweight wheeled bag is great!

 This bag is not only "super"efficient with lots of room for two weeks of travel but it maneuvers beautifully on nearly any surface.

SKECHERS FLEX SLIP-ON SNEAKERS

MAKE GOING THROUGH SECURITY AT AIRPORTS A LITTLE LESS STRESSFUL BY WEARING COMFORTABLE SLIP-ON SHOES OR SNEAKERS. I BOUGHT A PAIR OF BLACK FLEX SKECHERS FOR ABOUT $57.00AND COULDN'T BE HAPPIER. GO TO www.skechers.com FOR A COMPLETE SELECTION. THEY ARE ALSO SOLD AT KOHLS. THEY ARE COMFORTABLE, LIGHTWEIGHT AND PERFECT FOR THE BUSY TRAVELER.

DON'T FORGET THESE ITEMS ON LONG FLIGHTS

LONG FLIGHTS CAN BE A CHALLENGE FOR ANYONE SO TO MAKE YOUR JOURNEY EASIER REMEMBER TO PACK SLEEP AIDS, AN EMPTY WATER BOTTLE THAT CAN BE FILLED AT A FOUNTAIN AFTER SECURITY, TISSUE, SANITIZING WIPES OR GEL, EAR PLUGS, WARM SOCKS, GUM, AND AN EYE MASK. IF YOU HAVE A WRINKLE-FREE COAT YOU CAN USE THAT AS A BLANKET OR ROLL AS A PILLOW. BON VOYAGE!

EIGHT GOOD REASONS FOR PACKING LIGHT

1.) IT'S VERY GREEN. LESS IS BEST FOR THE ENVIRONMENT.
2.) IT'S MORE EFFICIENT AND I HAVE LITTLE TROUBLE FINDING THINGS IN MY BAG.
3.) IT IS LESS STRESSFUL ON MY BODY,ESPECIALLY MY BACK, WHEN I DON'T CARRY TOO MUCH.
4.) IT HELPS TO REDUCE THEFT WHEN YOU ONLY NEED TO WATCH OUT FOR ONE OR TWO SMALL BAGS.
5.) WITH A WELL PACKED UNDER THE SEAT BAG I CAN KEEP NEEDED ITEMS HANDY AND DON'T NEED TO DISTURB FELLOW PASSENGERS ON PLANES, TRAINS OR BUSSES.
6.) IT SAVES TIME AT THE AIRPORT SINCE A CARRY-ON DOES NOT NEED TO BE CHECKED OR WAITED FOR AT BAGGAGE CLAIM.
7.) IT ALLOWS ME TO BE MORE INDEPENDENT SINCE I DON'T NEED TO HAVE BELLHOPS OR OTHERS ASSIST WITH MY LUGGAGE.
8.) IT SAVES MONEY AND AN EXPENSIVE TAXI RIDE CAN BE AVOIDED. WITH A WELL PACKED, SMALL,WHEELED CARRY-ON,I CAN USE A BUS, TRAIN, METRO OR EVEN WALK TO MY DESTINATION.

HIBALY UNDERWEAR

THE FRONT POCKET OF THESE HIBALY UNDERPANTS KEEPS A CREDIT CARD, A LICENSE AND SOME CASH SAFE WHILE TRAVELING.

TRAVEL SECURITY TIPS

ON TUESDAY OCTOBER 16, 2012 USA TODAY PLACED AN ARTICLE TITLED "TIPS FOR KEEPING YOUR VALUABLES SAFE ON THE ROAD."
A GOOD ARTICLE BUT LACKING IN AREAS THAT I FIND IMPORTANT. AMONG OTHER THINGS THE AUTHOR FORGOT TO MENTION SECURITY BELTS OR POUCHES, POCKET UNDERWEAR, CLOTHING WITH HIDDEN POCKETS, AND POCKETBOOKS WITH SECURE STRAPS. WHEN I TRAVEL I OFTEN FIND IT COMFORTING TO KNOW THAT I HAVE MY DRIVER'S LICENSE, A CREDIT CARD AND SOME CASH TUCKED INTO THE FRONT POCKET OF MY HIBALY UNDERWEAR. IF MY POCKETBOOK WERE TO BE TAKEN I WOULD STILL HAVE THE SECURITY THAT THOSE ITEMS ENTAIL. RICK STEVES, EAGLE CREEK AND COSMOS HAVE EXCELLENT MONEY BELTS AND POUCHES. GO TO AMAZON.COM FOR AN EVEN WIDER SELECTION.

DON'T PACK LARGE PILL BOTTLES

LARGE PILL BOTTLES TAKE UP A LOT OF ROOM. PLAN IN ADVANCE AS TO WHAT YOU WILL NEED ON YOUR TRIP. THEN PUT THEM IN A SMALL PLASTIC BAG OR IN A DAILY SORT BOX. THESE BOXES WORK WELL FOR VITAMINS AND SUPPLEMENTS TOO. A FRIEND OF MINE USES A WEEKLY SORT BOX FOR HER EARRINGS. SHE KNOWS WHAT SHE WILL WEAR EACH DAY AND PLACES THE APPROPRIATE EARRINGS IN EACH OF THE DAILY COMPARTMENTS.

SPIRIT AIRLINES UNDERSEAT BAG DIMENSIONS

SPIRIT CONTINUES TO MAKE TRAVELING CHEAP A CHALLENGE. MANY OF THEIR LONG TERM CUSTOMERS ARE FRUSTRATED BY ALL THE FEES THEY IMPOSE ON THEIR PASSENGERS. SPIRIT CHARGES FOR SEATS UNLESS YOU LET THE COMPUTER PICK ONE AT RANDOM. SPIRIT CHARGES FOR CARRY-ON BAGS UNLESS THEY FIT THE 16"x14"x12 REQUIREMENT. THEY CHARGE FOR CHECKED LUGGAGE AND ALL FOOD AND DRINK ITEMS THAT THEY DISPENSE. CONSIDERING THAT MOST SPIRIT TRAVELERS PURCHASE A ROUND TRIP FLIGHT, THESE EXTRA FEES USUALLY COST THE PASSENGER DOUBLE. IN ORDER TO REALLY BENEFIT BY THE AIRLINES LOW PRICES A TRAVELER WHO CAN PACK LIGHT AND PUT THEIR BAG UNDER THE SEAT FARES BEST. www.carryonfree.com HAS A NICE SELECTION OF BAGS THAT FIT SPIRITS UNDER SEAT DIMENSIONS. CHECK OUT THEIR SITE AND REAP THE REWARDS. KEEP IN MIND THAT SPIRIT HAS ANNOUNCED A $100.00 CARRY-ON FEE AT THE GATE STARTING ON NOV. 6, 2012. THIS DOES NOT INCUDE THE UNDER THE SEAT BAG THAT WILL REMAIN FREE.

DON'T FORGET A SCARF OR BANDANNA!!

A SCARF OR BANDANNA, WHICH ADDS A BIT OF PIZZAZ TO AN OUTFIT, IS ALSO AN EXCELLENT MULTI-USE TRAVEL ARTICLE. WEAR IT ON DAY ONE OF YOUR TRIP OR TIE IT AROUND YOUR SUITCASE HANDLE FOR EASY ID. TIE IT AS A RIBBON AROUND A HAT, PACK FRAGILE ITEMS IN IT, OR USE IT AS A NAPKIN IN A PINCH. IT IS LIGHTWEIGHT AND A MUST FOR ANY SAVVY TRAVELER.

BACKPACKING BOOKS OFFER GREAT PACKING ADVICE

REALLY WANTING TO PACK LIGHT IS A DISCIPLINE THAT CAN BE A LOT OF FUN ALTHOUGH STILL A CHALLENGE. BACKPACKERS KNOW THE HAZARDS OF A HEAVY PACK VERY WELL AND ARE CONSTANTLY LOOKING FOR TIPS AND PRODUCTS TO LIGHTEN THEIR LOAD. A HEAVY BACKPACK CAN CAUSE INJURY, EXHAUSTION, HARM TO THE TRAIL SITES AND UNDERMINE THE THRILL OF THE TRIP. A GOOD SOURCE FOR THE HIKER IS DAN LADIGIN'S INFORMATIVE BOOK "LIGHTEN UP." IT IS PACKED WITH INFORMATION AND CREATIVE SUGGESTIONS THAT ALL "PACK LIGHTERS" CAN USE.