LADIES, ADD A LITTLE SPLASH TO YOUR TRAVEL WARDROBE

Michaels, the arts and craft mega store sells lots of goodies for the Pack Light traveler. I love the clip-on flowers shown above. They can add that extra splash of color to my black base wardrobe. For only a dollar or two, clip-on flowers are also a bargain. I use them on hats, pocketbooks or on the lapel of a favorite jacket. Other great Michaels finds include velcro strips and dots for quick mending on the go.

SMARTPHONE TRAVEL APPLICATIONS ROCK

I love my iPhone. I especially love it when I travel. Everyday new applications come on the market which make traveling easy and fun. One can also rely on the old favorites. Fodor's has travel guide apps, so does Zagat. If I want to find a restaurant there are apps like LocalEats and Restaurant.com. The AroundMe app will help me find banks/ATM's, hospitals, movie theatres, gas stations, restaurants, supermarkets, taxis and even the local weather. Built into my iPhone is a superb weather app that lets me select cities and towns from around the world for a seven day weather forecast. At the bottom left of that app Yahoo provides specific listings for local news, events, relevant websites, etc., all for the actual town I selected. If I am traveling abroad and need help translating, there are apps for that. Currency Converter makes purchases in foreign countries go smoothly. If I want the news I tap onto my NYTimes app, for hotel prices, I tap on Priceline or Sidestep. If I need to check up on a flight I use FlightTrack Pro. The list goes on and on and makes me wonder how Columbus ever found the new world let alone a good place to eat.

THE IMPORTANCE OF A PACKING LIST

The "Packing List" to the traveler is not unlike the recipe to the chef. It is the guide to the adventure and when used correctly can make the whole process efficient and easy. Start by identifying where, when and why you are going somewhere, remembering the sooner you start the list the better. I often start my list weeks in advance. I don't write it down all at once but add to it as I think of things, keeping the list in the very suitcase I will use on my trip. My packing list might include the following:

1)  Date of trip

2)  Location and climate

3) Length of trip and type (business, vacation, cruise, ski, family, etc.) 

4)  Underwear   

5)  Pants            

6)  Skirts            

7)  Dresses        

8)  Sweaters     

9)  Coats             

10) Shoes         

11) Stockings, socks, belts
12) Medications

13) Makeup       

14) Toiletries, combs, brushes    

15) Bathing suits and coverups
16) Misc.electronics(cords,charging docs,ear plugs)
17) Misc./other 
To make the whole process go even smoother, go to my website: www.mimipackslight.com and answer the "Questions" in the header bar and fill out the "Daily Charts".        

DON'T PACK GERMS!

Packing for a trip can be exciting, but don't let the thrill of travel take it's toll on common sense.

Remember to pack your shoes in separate bags after wiping the soles down with a disinfectant wipe. It is amazing how many germs can be on your shoes and if you think about it, you surely don't want those germs to be transferred to your clothing. As an extra measure take a package of disinfectant wipes with you in your suitcase. Top areas for germs in hotels are on the phone receiver, TV remote control, toilet seat, and all door knobs. Wipe these areas down after you get into your room. Keep disinfectant wipes, spray or gel in your pocketbook or day bag and use them frequently through out your day.

LEAVE IT TO MARY KAY

I have written about makeup kits before and how frustrating it is that they only seem to sell them on cruise ships and around the holidays. They are perfect for the pack-light traveler since they usually contain foundation powder, blush, mascara, eye shadow and lipstick. Well Mary Kay cosmetics has come up with the perfect solution. They sell a kit box that you fill with your favorite MK products. What could be better then a custom makeup kit that shows off your individual style and can be replenished when needed?

REPOSITIONING CRUISES ARE A GREAT BARGAIN

If you love to cruise but don't have a lot of money, consider a repositioning cruise. In this economy, travel lovers often find it hard to make their travel dollars work. It used to be that if all else failed one could always hop in a car to travel economically. Today, however, with the cost of gasoline going up, up, up, you get more bang for your buck with a cruise. The best deals by ship can usually be found in the spring and fall when cruise lines reposition certain ships to different areas of the world. For example, Caribbean ships take off across the Atlantic for a summer of European adventures, while southern California ships may go to Alaska.

PACKING MEDICATIONS ON A CRUISE

I recently took a cruise on the MSC Poesia and found out that passengers could not buy aspirin or any other over-the-counter medications from the ship store. This was a first for me since all of the other cruise lines I had been on offered aspirin, Imodium or the equivalent, various upset stomach remedies, etc., from their sundry markets. On the Poesia passengers requesting such items had to go to the ship's medical center and see the doctor. When I travel I always pack a few over-the-counter medications including Imodium, Milk of Magnesia tablets, Pepto-Bismol, antibacterial cream and any prescription meds that I happen to be taking. I also carry a weeks supply of antibiotics and a paper prescription for refills. In a small snack bag I pack various bandages and alcohol wipe packets. These items help to make do until I can get to a pharmacy. The best policy for any cruise traveler is to check with the cruise company in advance to see what their policies are.

TRAVELPRO CREW 8 ROLLING BUSINESS TOTE

Spirit airlines is not going to get me down after yesterday's disaster with my Solo carry-on under the seat bag. I will be using the Travelpro Crew 8 Rolling Business Tote for my May transatlantic cruise. The dimensions come in at 13"x16"x8". Spirit requires 16"x14"x12". The tote also complies with Icelandair (the airline I will use on my return flight from London) carry-on requirements that are not to exceed 45 inches for (L+H+W). The bag is a little smaller then the Solo bag which I used for the one week cruise in January so the challenge to get the 36 unique outfits into that tiny space shall be greater. This quest shall be interesting to say the least!

CHECK WITH YOUR AIRLINE FOR THEIR CARRY-ON DIMENSIONS

The Solo bag (above) failed the bin test at Spirit Airlines in Fort Lauderdale, FL today. Boy, was  I sad. Spirits dimensions for the carry-on under seat bags can be no more then 16" x 14" x 12". My Solo bag came in at 16" x 15" x 9". The one inch more in width, made for a $30.00 penalty. So maybe I was really more mad then sad! Make sure you check with your airline for the exact dimensions required for any carry-ons you may wish to take.

WHY I CHOSE A BASE COLOR OF BLACK

I chose black as my base color because it is so vesatile and it comes with a multitude of clothing and accessory options. It goes with all skin shades and today it is acceptable in both warm and cold climates. For years we have heard of the "little black dress" that is a must for all well appointed female wardrobes, well, that is still true. The plain black dress which can be dressed up or down is definetly finding its way into my suitcase. Coordinated with comfortable black dress shoes, pearls and a small black evening bag, I am off to practically any evening function. When it is worn with a multi colored (with a small black interest in the design) pullover top or blouse and I have toned it down for day wear. But get this straight, a black theme wardrobe does not mean I am always wearing black. It means that the clothing I chose will go beautifully with my black shoes, bags, sweaters or wraps that I pack. I am always adding clothing that is colorful and tasteful with that black accent that makes it easy to blend. During my May cruise you will see how this process comes about.    

PACKING CUBES

I don't use packing cubes when I travel but I know lots of people who swear by them. There are many companies that sell them. Eagle Creek has their Pack-it Cube, Magellan sells their Stow-Aways Mesh Cubes, Rick Steves and Athalon also have packing cubes that they market, just to name a few. The cubes help organize what is to be packed and they usually have a mesh side that makes it easy to identify the contents. I prefer to use freezer  and or air/vac bags like those made by Pack-Mate. You can see everything, they manage wet clothing better then a mesh cube and the price is right!

LOOKING FOR LUGGAGE? TRY TRAVELPRO

I am looking at the TravelPro under-the-seat bag for my May transatlantic cruise. That would be the smaller of the two suitcases shown above. Both bags are exceedingly well made, lightweight and easy to navigate. The blue/green color of the bag makes it easier to locate then a plain black bag but I will have a bright red strap and color tags on it to make it even more identifiable.