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.

IS YOUR POCKETBOOK CAUSING YOU PAIN?

DID YOU KNOW THAT OVERLOADING YOUR POCKETBOOK COULD CAUSE PHYSICAL DAMAGE? WELL IT CAN. I JUST READ A GREAT ARTICLE BY ALYSSA SHAFFER IN THE JULY 2012 ISSUE OF "PREVENTION" MAGAZINE. SHE INCLUDES HELPFUL TIPS ON REMOVING SOME OF THE WEIGHT, (unload pennies, coupons and extra cards from your bag regularly), AVOID BAGS WITH LOTS OF BUCKLES OR HEAVY METAL TRIMS, AND USE POUCHS OR ZIPPERED BAGS FOR LIKE OBJECTS THAT CAN BE EASILY REMOVED IF NOT NEEDED. THE ARTICLE INCLUDES DIAGRAMS FOR CARRYING YOUR POCKETBOOK CORRECTLY AND IS WELL WORTH THE READ.

AUTUMN AT THE JERSEY SHORE

WHEN YOUR TRAVEL BUDGET IS TIGHT CONSIDER AREAS CLOSE TO HOME. AUTUMN PRICES ARE USUALLY QUITE REASONABLE. THE JERSEY SHORE IS PERFECT FOR THRIFTY TRAVELLER. THE WATER TEMPS ARE STILL WARM AND THE SUNSETS MAGNIFICENT!

USE HAND-FREE BAGS OR POCKETBOOKS WHEN YOU TRAVEL

TRAVELERS ARE OFTEN VULNERABLE WHEN THEY ARE ON THE ROAD. MANAGING BAGS, MAPS AND PHONES PROVIDE POTENTIAL THIEVES UNSOLICITED OPPORTUNITIES. NEXT TIME YOU TAKE A TRIP BE AWARE THAT THE POCKETBOOK OR DAY BAG THAT YOU DECIDE TO TAKE SHOULD BE ONE THAT ALLOWS YOUR HANDS TO BE FREE, HAS A STURDY STRAP AND HAS ORGANIZED COMPARTMENTS. THIEVES LOVE TO SEE DISTRACTED PEOPLE DIGGING THROUGH THEIR BAGS AS IT GIVES THEM A CHANCE TO TAKE A SUITCASE, WALLET OR MORE.

ARE PACKING CUBES NECESSARY?

PEOPLE OFTEN ASK ME IF I USE PACKING CUBES, WELL THE ANSWER IS "NO".
I FIND THAT GALLON AND QUART SIZE  FREEZER BAGS ARE PERFECT FOR MY SUITCASE. SINCE THE BAGS ARE CLEAR, I CAN EASILY LOCATE THE ITEMS I NEED AND THEY WORK VERY WELL FOR WET OR DAMP CLOTHING TOO. AS FAR AS I AM CONCERNED, PACKING BAGS AND CUBES TAKE UP TOO MUCH ROOM AND ADD MORE WEIGHT THEN NEEDED.

AVOID WEARING WHITES WHEN YOU TRAVEL

I WAS RECENTLY LOOKING AT A TRAVELSMITH PROMOTION OF A WHITE JERSEY DRESS. IT LOOKED COMFORTABLE AND BEAUTIFUL ON THE CATALOGUE MODEL BUT RECEIVED POOR OVERALL CUSTOMER REVIEWS. NOT NOTED IN THE REVIEWS HOWEVER, WAS THE FACT THAT WHITE (THE DRESS WAS LISTED AS IVORY)CLOTHING MAKES FOR TRAVEL HEADACHES. MOST FREQUENT TRAVELERS KNOW TO AVOID WHITE AS IT STAINS AND SHOWS THOSE STAINS EASILY. I SUGGEST LIMITING WHITE PIECES TO A COMFORTABLE TEE, HAT OR BELT.

WALLET PROTECTION TIP

IF YOU ARE PLANNING AN OUTING FOR THE DAY OR JUST A SHORT TRIP, TAKE A MOMENT TO REVIEW THE CONTENTS OF YOUR WALLET. REMOVE ALL CREDIT AND BUSINESS CARDS THAT YOU WILL NOT BE USING. PUT THE CARDS THAT YOU WILL NOT NEED IN A SAFE PLACE AT YOUR HOME OR IN A HOTEL OR CRUISE SHIP SAFE DEPOSIT BOX. NOW TAKE OUT THE WALLET CARDS YOU WILL NEED AND PHOTOGRAPH THEM. I USUALLY LAY MINE IN A GROUP ON MY BED AND TAKE ONE PHOTO OF THE WHOLE LOT. NEXT, EMAIL THE PHOTO TO YOURSELF, CHECK TO SEE THAT IT ARRIVED IN YOUR EMAIL ACCOUNT AND THEN DELETE THE PICTURE. YOU WOULDN'T WANT THAT INFO. AVAILABLE IF YOUR PHONE OR CAMERA WAS LOST OR STOLEN. IF BY SOME CHANCE YOU WERE TO LOSE YOUR WALLET, THE EMAIL YOU SENT WILL PROVE VERY VALUABLE FOR REPLACEMENT PURPOSES.

DON'T LET A BROKEN ZIPPER RUIN YOUR TRIP

AS AN ADDED PRECAUTION TO DAMAGED LUGGAGE, TAKE ALONG A PACKAGE OF FIX-A-ZIPPER. THIS PRODUCT CAN SAVE HOURS OF SEARCH FOR A NEW BAG AND OR THE HIGH COST OF REPLACEMENT. EACH PACKAGE COMES WITH A VARIETY OF SIZES THAT CAN BE USED FOR CLOTHES AS WELL.

DON'T MISS A PERFECT VIEW

WHEN IT COMES TO TRAVEL THERE ARE SOME THINGS THAT IT IS BETTER NOT TO SKIMP ON. A GREAT PAIR OF BINOCULARS CAN MAKE A JOURNEY. THERE ARE SO MANY TO CHOOSE FROM THAT I ALWAYS SUGGEST TO PEOPLE THAT THEY NEED TO GO OUT AND TEST A FEW. MAKE CERTAIN THAT YOU PICK ONES THAT ARE COMFORTABLE AND COMPACT. IF YOU LIKE TO SHOP ONLINE ,TRY BINOCULARS.COM. RIGHT NOW A FIVE STAR RATED PAIR OF BUSHNELL 7x50mm PERMAFOCUS FOCUS-FREE WIDE-ANGLE BINOCULARS ARE ON SALE FOR $59.98. THIS OFFER INCLUDES FREE SHIPPING.

WRAP SHOES AND SNEAKERS BEFORE PUTTING THEM IN YOUR SUITCASE

NEVER PACK SHOES OR SNEAKERS WITHOUT PUTTING THEM INTO SEPARATE BAGS. REMEMBER THERE IS NO END TO THE GERM POSSIBILITIES OF FOOTWEAR.

SPIRIT AIRLINES TO RAISE CARRY ON LUGGAGE FEES TO $100.00PER BAG ON NOV. 6, 2012!

OK SPIRIT FOLLOWERS, IT'S TIME TO BUCKLE DOWN TO SOME SERIOUS LIGHTWEIGHT PACKING. YOU CAN REALLY PACK AN UNDER THE SEAT BAG IF YOU TRY. ALWAYS PACK WRINKLE-FREE CLOTHING AND CHART OUT WHAT YOU WILL WEAR IN ADVANCE. NEVER PACK ITEMS YOU "JUST MIGHT WEAR" BECAUSE CHANCES ARE YOU WON'T. REMEMBER TO WEAR YOUR HEAVY CLOTHES ON AIR TRAVEL DAYS. THIS WILL INCLUDE YOUR SNEAKERS IF YOU INTEND ON BRINGING THEM OR BOOTS IN WINTER. KEEP IN MIND THE ADAGE, "LAYER, LAYER, LAYER" BECAUSE IT REALLY WORKS. PICK A BASE COLOR THEME LIKE BLACK SO YOU CAN COORDINATE SHOES, CARDIGAN SWEATER, SLACKS, THE ALWAYS VERSITILE "LITTLE BLACK DRESS" HANDBAG AND COAT IF NEEDED. SCALE BACK ON TOILETRIES. YOU CAN ALWAYS PICK THEM UP AFTER YOUR FLIGHT AT A LOCAL DRUG STORE OR EVEN AT THE AIRPORT. ADD A BRIGHT COLOR SCARF OR TWO TO THE OUTSIDE OF YOUR UNDER THE SEAT BAG. THESE HELP TO IDENTIFY YOUR LUGGAGE AND CAN ADD A BIT OF PIZZAZ LATER TO YOUR WAERDROBE.