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Do you ever pack these easy things? Maybe you should…

Reusable water bottles fit just about anywhere. You can fill them at water fountains, cafes, or the hotel sink. Or, purchase a large bottle of water and refill your smaller ones.

Laundry bags keep your dirty clothes separate from clean clothes in your suitcase. Throw a dryer sheet in the laundry bag to keep the dirty ones smelling a little better.

Make a First Aid Kit by adding some band-aids, individual packages of antibiotic ointment, some moleskin, and aspirin or other pain reliever.

Did you know Venice has endured 1,400 years of nearly constant siege…from Barbarians, Napoleonic armies, water encroaching on its streets, to tourists and cruise ships?

Here are some things Venetians like for visitors to know…and some things we discovered on a recent trip.

It’s good to get lost. We had maps and GPS, just like every other tourist in the city. A goal was to get lost at least one day. We did. I don’t care how you turn that map, it doesn’t show exactly that last little bridge you walked over. It just doesn’t. That’s okay. Venice is a maze. You can’t really get lost…it’s surrounded by water. It just may take you longer to get where you wanted to go.

If you don’t know whether to visit a foreign country or not, check out www.state.gov/travel before you book your flights.

Pay attention to the countries listed by the State Department as places you don’t want to visit. This site is kept up to date with information on documents, visas, travel warnings, and so much more.

Some other valuable information is to keep your passport with you, keep your tickets with you, carry copies of your passports, visa pages, and travel insurance in a separate place, keep emergency contact information handy, and know what the local customs and regulations are when visiting a foreign country.

Since summer is a prime traveling time, national parks experience peak crowds this time of year. Kids are out of school, weather is great, and the scenery is at its best.

This means lodging, campgrounds, and hotels fill up quickly. Roads can become full of cars, RVs, and campers. Do a little planning and you can have a good trip through the national park of your choice.

Visit the web sites of the National Park Service for US parks or Parks Canada for those north of the US before you go. You will find up to date information on parks, road conditions, trail reports, hours, special fees, activities, lodgings, and more.

Consider a park pass if you’re thinking of visiting several parks over the next year. The America the Beautiful annual pass is $80 and includes admission to national parks, monuments, and any sites managed by other government agencies. Your admission includes the pass holder and vehicle in some parks or the pass holder and up to three other adults in others. Kids under 16 are free.

Seniors age 62 and over pay only $10 for a lifetime pass.

Early morning is a great time to visit. So is just before sundown.

Don’t forget these items when heading to the beach for a weekend or a longer vacation.

Waterproof bag: You can protect so much without having to worry about dripping water and sand ruining your phone, computer tablet, and more.

Wet wipes: These come in handy for a multitude of uses from wiping sticky fingers, wiping sand off your face, wiping off the beach chairs, to….

Sun screen: Really a no brainer, but don’t forget the lip balm with SPF, sunscreen for your face, and leave in conditioner for your hair.

Trash bag: If you contain all your trash in one spot, you won’t have to keep running to the garbage can. Plus, your trash won’t blow all over the place if it’s secure in the bag.

Bug spray: You may not need this, but you never know.

Antiperspirant: After a day of sweating in the sun, this might come in handy. Keep in mind, many types will melt. Look for roll on ones.

After sun lotion: No matter how much sunscreen you apply and how often, it seems like your skin is still dried out and wants to burn a little. Brings some lotion with aloe which will help cool any burned areas.

Do you have a seat preference when booking your flight?

Here are some things you may want to think about before choosing your next seat.

Typically, exit rows or seats close to the front are considered the best. Exit rows offer the most legroom but don’t work if you are traveling with a family. No one under 15 or infants are permitted here. Did you know infants are not permitted in the rows immediately behind or in front of an exit row, either?

Flight attendants tell me nervous flyers may want a seat over the wing where there is less turbulence.

If you want to see what a seat looks like, what the pitch of the seat is, and what the width of the seat is…check out seatguru.com. They will show your flight, your plane, and seat configurations.

Do you use your baggage tags as lint removers?

You don’t need to bring shaving cream. Use the hair conditioner provided in your hotel.

Drinking straws have many uses. Keep your necklaces or chains from getting tangled. Wrap some duct tape around a straw instead of bringing a whole roll.

Dental floss can be used as thread.

Baby shampoo can also be used as laundry detergent, to de-fog your swim or dive goggles, or for a quick wash of clothes in a sink.

Immigration lines seem to be getting longer and the wait seems to be mirroring the length of the lines.

There are some programs you can join to help you stand in fewer lines. You may want to investigate these, especially if you travel frequently outside the US.

The Trusted Traveler Program requires that you apply, submit a fee, have an interview at an enrollment center, have at least two forms of ID, and have a permanent address and valid driver’s license.

Global Entry expedites customs and immigration clearance at airports for trusted travelers returning to the US from a foreign country.

Nexus US and Canada expedites two way clearance at land, sea, and airport border stations for trusted travelers.

Flux for US and The Netherlands expedites two way clearance at US and Netherlands airports for trusted travelers.

Smart Entry Service for US and South Korea expedites entry through Korean airport customs and immigration systems for trusted travelers.

Sentri for US and Mexico expedites two way border crossing between the US and Mexico for trusted travelers.

TSA Pre Checks expedites the security screening process at major US airports.

Clear: The Private Approach expedites the security screening process at seven US airports.

Last time I talked about what to do when you arrive back home. Let’s talk about some pre-planning tips before you leave on your next trip.

You may already do these things, but if not…ask yourself these questions.

Do you have a house or cat or dog sitter you need to contact in advance? I don’t mean the day before, either.

Do you stop your mail and paper or does your house sitter take care collecting those?

Do you have your first day of your trip planned? By this I mean, do you know how you are getting from the airline terminal to the rental car place or the hotel or the train station?

Do you have enough money or do you need to stop at an ATM?

Do you know how you’re getting to the airport?

Do you need to call your cell phone carrier?

Have you called your bank and credit card companies?

Have you checked the weather?

Have you planned your last day of your trip? By this I mean, do you know how you’re getting to the airport, do you have to check out of your hotel or is it automatic, do you know where your keys are, if you drove to your home airport do you remember where you parked, do you have money to pay for that parking?