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When traveling do you make a list of documents you will need for that trip? 

Going to San Francisco from northern California…you won’t need a passport. You will need a driver’s license, cash, credit cards, and possibly your medical card and insurance card. But, you already travel with those in your purse or wallet anyway. Right? So…no need for a list to remind you what to take.

Let’s say you’re going from San Francisco to Paris. You will need more than that. A passport is at the top of that list, along with a copy of that passport, a couple of credit cards, and more. With that in mind, it would be a good idea to make a list of documents you need to take with you. 

Cicchetti or cicheti, if you’re in Venice, are small snacks found at bacari, small casual bars packed with locals in the early evening.

Usually displayed in glass cases on the bar counter, these finger foods come to you on toothpicks or on slices of  a baguette.

At Cantina Do Mori, in Venice we found everything from arancini to salt cod puree on crusty bread; salty, hard cheeses to prosciutto; olives to fried baby artichoke hearts. These tasty snacks varied by the day and we never got tired of stopping here for a snack or a light lunch.

Do you have a fear of flying? You’re not alone. Many people have some anxiety about their flight.

In visiting with a flight attendant, she told me what she tells those who express a concern about flying.

Sit by the wings, if you can. This area usually minimizes turbulence. If you sit in the back, you’ll probably feel it more.

Sit by the window. This allows you to look out and take your mind off your fears.

Bring entertainment. Read, play games, or do crossword puzzles. Again, these take your mind off your fears.

You’re packed. And, your suitcase weighs a ton. What do you have in there? It may be your shoes.

Think about how much each pair of shoes weighs before you pack them. Do you really need more than two or three pairs? Do you really think you’ll wear both pairs of boots?

Check out travel outfitters if you need new shoes for traveling. Typically, they work with companies to offer lightweight but durable brands.

If you really need to bring a pair that is heavy, think about wearing them on the plane and pack the lighter pair. Just make sure they aren’t a pain to take off in the security line.

Consider a rental apartment, house, or condo instead of a standard hotel. If you’re traveling with another couple or if you need two hotel rooms, a rental can save you some money.

You also have more room to spread out and kitchen facilities in case you want to cook, make snacks, or have morning coffee in your pajamas.

Be sure to check out the location first. If it sounds like an amazing deal…check to see where it is located. You may find staying outside of the city is a good deal…until you see where the nearest bus or subway station is located.

You’re planning your vacation to Europe and want to get the most for your money. Great. Who doesn’t? 

Here are some things to think about.

When looking at hotels, car rentals, and other non-flight items, try to get the quotes or the rates in US dollars. Why? It’s what you’re used to seeing and dealing with. You will have the amount in a currency you recognize so when your statement arrives, that amount makes sense. You also won’t have to keep checking exchange rates.

Try to stay in one or two places and really immerse yourself in that area and its culture. Base your trip in Florence if you want to visit that particular part of Tuscany, for instance. Stay in Venice if the Veneto and northeast Italy is your focus. Want to spend some time in Champagne? Paris is a good place for a home base. You won’t spend hours in transit going from city to city, only to have a couple of hours in one new place. Figure out the area you want to see and then stay in a city central to the whole area.

Think about purchasing a museum pass for attractions, museums, and tours in that city or region. If you know the sites you really want to see, these can be a great value. Make sure those sites are listed on the pass.

If there is only one site on your must see list, check online before you leave home to see if you can purchase the ticket in advance. You avoid the long lines to just purchase the ticket and in most cases you bypass most lines with your prepaid ticket. The same goes for popular sites. Check online before you go.

When leaving home for an extended time period do you hope your home will be safe and secure? Or, do you take some precautions while you’re off vising the countryside of Italy?

Some people hire house sitters to stay in their homes, take care of the plants, feed and walk the dog, pick up the mail, and keep an eye on things. Great idea, especially if you are gone for an extended period of time.

You could notify the neighbors you’re going to be gone for a lengthy time. You may even give them the name of your house sitter.

Only gone for a week-end? Do you close your curtains or turn on lights at a certain time each day? You may want to think about a timer. 

Ask your neighbor to pick up the paper, even if it’s only a couple of days. No sense leaving it on the driveway to announce no one is home.

The next time you stay in a hotel that provides shower caps, take it with you to use later. You can use it to cover your shoes in your luggage.

Any dirt on the bottom of your shoes won’t make its way onto your clean clothes. And, your shoes won’t get scuffed by some other items.

Or, use it to cover flip flops or sandals you’ve worn at the beach. I don’t know about you, but I can never get all of the sand out of my flip flops.

Those little bars of soap in hotels…they have some other uses as well.

If you rub the dry bar of soap on a zipper that’s stuck, you can lubricate the zipper’s teeth enough to get the zipper unstuck. You might have to run it up and down several times, but at least you won’t have to break the zipper.

If you’ve been bitten by some bugs on your travels and forgot to bring any anti-itch, use the bar of soap to help with this as well. Some like to rub the dry bar on the bite, others say wetting the bar a little bit and then rubbing it on the bite works better. Either way, let it dry and you should have relief. Plus, keep a bar in your suitcase as it is not subject to TSA rules and regs.

When deciding on a hotel for your vacation, how do you know which one to pick?

Here are some things to think about.

Where is the hotel located. Look at the map and then look at Google Street View. It’s amazing what you see, that the hotel website might not show you. Is that really a train track running directly behind the hotel?

Read the reviews. Look at the positive ones and the negative ones. Are the negative ones just moaning and groaning or are there real concerns that keep popping up in reviews? Perhaps you’ll learn some great services offered by reading a positive review.

If you need an airport shuttle, see if the hotel has one and what times it runs. If you aren’t sure, contact the hotel.

Do you have to pay for parking if you are driving? How much is it?

Understand what services are actually free and what are not. If Wi-Fi is listed as available, you might want to check to see if there is a charge. 

If you can’t find something on the hotel website or if you have a question, don’t be afraid to contact the hotel directly.