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TRAVEL TIPS
Volume 1
On Your Way
Organize Early -
Try to have everything packed, banking and housesitter instructions
completed, at least 1-2 days before leaving on a trip. It will make leaving
less stressful, since dealing with unplanned details invariably comes up at
the last minute.
Avoid Airport or Port Parking Charges -
Don't pay for airport or port parking charges. Use an airport transfer or
shuttle service from your home or airport. Most are located outside airport
baggage claim areas and usually don't require reservations. You can also
arrange door-to-door service to/from your home, by calling in advance.
Their vans can carry your party and luggage in one vehicle for a fraction of
the price of taxis, trains, and buses. Find them in phone directories, on
the internet, or through your travel professional.
Have Details When You Need Them -
Have a typed copy of all passport numbers with issue and expiration dates,
as well as a copy of birth certificates for children who do not have a
passport, with you at all times when you travel overseas. Make copies of
your plane tickets and travel confirmations and keep them in a separate
location from the originals. You will have important information with you,
in the event your travel documents are lost or stolen. Also, take a spare
photo of all your family members to enable you to comply with any unforeseen
immigration or visa needs.
Check Your Destination Tag -
During airline check-in, especially for flights originating from airports
outside the US, check the airline destination tag. If not, your luggage may
end up in MNL (Manila) instead of MIA (Miami); DKR (Dakar, Senegal) instead
of DAC (Dhaka, Bangladesh).
Packing:
Roll, Don't Fold -
When packing clothing, roll clothing in layers of tissue paper or dry
cleaner bags, instead of folding them. Clothing will not get wrinkled, and
your suitcase will hold more. Try rolling two or three items of the same
type together; three pairs of trousers, for example, rolled together will be
little more than the size of one paired rolled solo. The room you save will
be amazing.
Backpack for Carry-On -
Use a medium size backpack for your carry-on. You won't have to worry
whether it will fit in the aircraft overhead or take up all of your
underseat foot space, and it allows you to have both hands free for handling
luggage, tickets, boarding pass, etc. Pack magazines, newspapers, a
paperback, and small toiletries for the flight and any unexpected delays. It
is also a very good idea to pack sandwiches and snacks - you never know when
you might need them. After reading the magazines and newspaper and eating
your snack, you have room for souvenirs or fragile purchases on the return
flight.
How to Pack Shoes -
When packing shoes put each one inside a cotton sock. Keeps everything else
clean and keeps the shoes from getting scratched. Then put the sock-covered
shoe into a ziplock bag. No odor in your bag.
Cruises:
Cruises for the Disabled? -
There's no reason for people with physical disabilities to avoid cruises on
today's ships. The newer and larger ships are, generally speaking, the most
accommodating, with more accessible cabins in a variety of cabin categories.
However, there are also some smaller and older ships that have limited
access or have been retrofitted to accommodate people with disabilities.
Cruise ships can accommodate wheelchair passengers, diabetics, dialysis
patients, oxygen users, the visually and hearing impaired, those with
smoking allergies, and even those traveling with assistance dogs. While
cabins which address physical disabilities often carry a higher price, the
accommodations are worth the safety and peace of mind. Be sure to let your
travel professional know if you need such a cabin
Packing Tips for Your Next Cruise -
When packing for a cruise, add extra metal coat hangers to your suitcase so
that you will be able to hang much of your clothes. Also, purchase a
child-size shoe hanger; you can hang this in the bathroom and put lots of
little things in it such as toothpaste, hair brushes, mouthwash, etc. This
will give you extra space in the bathroom as well as keeping things covered
from the excess water which might come from the shower. Happy cruising!
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