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.

BUY TRAVEL INSURANCE WHEN YOU LEAVE THE COUNTRY

It is a good idea to check with your health insurance company before you leave the country. You may find that you are not covered in another country. Purchasing a travel policy could be the answer for you. Ask your travel agent to recommend a reliable insurance company or go on line for other options. You will sleep better knowing you are protected. 

SAFETY TIPS DURING TRAVEL

When you are traveling, you are out of your element, and are often very easy to spot. Looking at a map can distract you and when you are distracted your guard is down. Not that maps are bad, they are not, but it is best to get a good idea of where you are going before you leave the hotel, cruise ship or wherever. A "smart" phone with your location programed in is better to use as it is not as obvious. Remember though, not to put your pocketbook or day bag down on the ground while you are getting your bearings.

Other safety tips include:

1)    Don't wear flashy jewelry.

2)    Don't pull out wads of cash.

3)    Wear a money belt if you are in a big city that you are not familiar with.

4)    Don't walk around alone at night.

5)    Don't give out your room number or key to strangers.

6)    If you lose your key have a "new" one reprogramed at the front desk.

7)    Keep a whistle with you at all times.

8)    Keep a small amount of cash, credit card and photo ID in a separate pocket.

9)    Keep a cell phone with you at all times.

10)  Let someone know your itinerary.

TEN OF THE BEST PACK LIGHT TRAVEL TIPS

1)   Make a list of what you will need.

2)   Pack more tops then bottoms (slacks or skirts).

3)   Pack clothing of polyester and wrinkle free fabric blends.

4)   Pack a sweater or jacket that coordinates with most of the outfits you will 

       wear.

5)   Pack comfortable shoes that coordinate with most of the outfits you will wear.

6)   Remember "When in doubt, take it out."

7)   Pack a small umbrella and raincoat that fits in its own bag.

8)   Don't pack white slacks, pack black ones instead.

9)   Pack a compression bag for wet bathing suits or dirty clothing.

10) Use sample or trial sizes of your favorite toiletries or cosmetics. 

HURRAY FOR ONLINE SITES LIKE TRAVEL SMITH

When I am looking for specific items for travel I usually hit the internet first. Sites like Travel Smith are excellent. The dress shown above is actually a formal full length black skirt. It has an elastic waist which also lets me use it as a strapless dress. Paired with the right top it looks elegant and because it is made of a polyester blend it is wrinkle free and stain resistant.

KEEP YOUR TRAVEL GIFTS SMALL

When picking out gifts for family and friends while your on your trip, try to think small. Often the traveler has to pick up another bag for all the purchases they have made during their travels. This can be avoided by picking out articles that are less bulky. For example, choose a baseball cap over a sweatshirt, destination charms and patches over T- shirts. For little children inflatable balls and toys are usually as desirable as much larger stuffed animals. Think in terms of size and weight especially if you are taking a plane where it could cost you to check the bag. On Spirit Airlines there is even a fee for overhead carry-ons. Those additional charges could negate your bargains, not to mention the hassle of having to lug them around. 

KNOW BEFORE YOU GO

It makes common sense to check the climate and weather of your destination before you take off on your trip. Most of us do this regularly but there are times when we just assume what the temperature will be. Several years back I took a trip to Key West, Florida in the middle of January. I thought all I would need would be a couple of bathing suits, a few pairs of shorts and tops, sneakers, socks, underware and a hat. Wow, was I ever wrong. The thermometer registered 41 degrees as I got off the plane. I was freezing and needed a jacket or sweatshirt pronto. What a surprise it was to me to find out that the stores didn't stock these items in Key West. I don't make that mistake anymore. I go online to the weather channel and regardless of the forecast in the tropics, I bring a light weight sweater and poncho or a reversible jacket.