Travel Tips

OK, so now that I am not pounding up and down the highway, I may want to travel again. I have learned a few tricks along the way like always carrying things like rolls of Smartees or individually wrapped Mints, Life Savers, and hard candy in my pocket (with backup supplies in my bag.) If the weather allows, bars of chocolate can also be used but be careful with them since heat, cold, and crushing can make these far less desirable.

It's amazing how much that small gesture  accompanied by a smile and a "Have a Good Day"will net you in terms of attitude and assistance (with all non tipped employees). Befriend your hotel staff, they can help you a lot in your stay. Ask them if there are places that deliver food or are nearby to sit down and what their favorite is. Ask them if there are great stores or attractions nearby. They may know far more than the hotel has in their display of neighborhood pizza places and tourist traps.

I don't advocate handing out candy with tipped employees since they may misunderstand and think you will cheap out on their tip. You can however add candy to their generous tip at the end but it does not have the same effect as the smile and attitude shift you will see when you come into your hotel every evening and do it. It works when you are not traveling too. Try it at the dry cleaners, grocery, and hair salon.

I have been traveling with my own food and drinks so long, it will seem strange to leave the house without it. I usually have clementines and a bag of prepared, carrots, pepper strips, and radishes. I often have a cooler with leftovers and a few sodas and waters. I always have microwave popcorn, paper plates, napkins and plastic cutlery in a zip lock. Another essential is a huge microwave safe cup that lives in my big bag and a tiny dish soap in my toiletry bag. With all of this my diet has improved greatly over fast food and TV dinners.

I never drink hotel water since it is probably softened (yes even the cold water). In my car I carry a six or twelve pack of water unless it is very hot. It really doesn't freeze unless it is very, very cold and you don't drive your car with the heat on very often. BTW Target sells 12 packs of small water bottles for about $2 which I have paid for one single bottle in a vending machine at the hotel.

Even a short trip to the office or shopping means I have a cold bottle of water in a koozie designed for water bottles or a thermal bottle of water, juice or tea. I usually have cookies and salty snacks in the car because I drive over 750 miles a week but since that mileage is changing dramatically, my opinion on this may take a radical change too.

I am always looking for more ideas so I thought I would share these:

8 items to pack
http://www.budgettravel.com/slideshow/8-items-you-never-packbut-should,7820/

Watch Out for these scams
http://www.budgettravel.com/feature/10-popular-travel-scams-around-the-world,7623/

Phrases that can save
http://www.budgettravel.com/feature/budget-travel-advice-12-phrases-that-mean-big-travel-savings,12866/

I have my own packing list modified over the years
http://fun-on-the-web.blogspot.com/2008/05/fun-on-web-january-2-2008.html

This creates one based on your answers to questions
http://upl.codeq.info/

This does too but requests you log in
http://www.packwhiz.com/

More nifty packing lists

http://www.johnnyjet.com/travel-resources/customizable-packing-checklist-for-women/
http://herpackinglist.com/2011/12/ultimate-female-travel-packing-lists/
http://www.goodhousekeeping.com/family/travel/packing-list
http://www.familyvacationcritic.com/family-packing-list/art/
http://www.onebag.com/checklist.html