Category: Uncategorized

Need a gift for a traveler in your family? This is the last in a series of ideas I gathered from great travel sites. Be sure to read the earlier posts as well.

What travel gadgets do you take with you when you travel? Do you take different ones depending on where you’re going? Is there something you can’t leave home without? Do they weigh you down when traveling?

Do you really need your laptop? I don’t. My tablet computer works so much better and easier to take with me.

Do you take a large camera or do you use your phone? I take my large camera. It’s important to me and I don’t mind carrying it.

Don’t forget the cables, charges, extra memory cards, and any other accessories you may need as well. If you’re traveling internationally, make sure you have the correct adapter. No use having carried your device only to have no way to plug it in.

Pack your gadgets carefully and make them easy to retrieve when you want them. It would be a good idea to have a small bag for the cables, etc. so you know exactly where they are. You could make a gadget checklist as part of your packing list…provided you have a packing list.

Things to think about before boarding your plane for a non stop ride to Paris…or any other long distance flight.

The cabin air will be dry. Since you don’t want that dry air to compromise your immune system, stay hydrated. This means…if you normally drink four glasses of water a day, drink at least that amount on the plane. Carry a refillable bottle and fill with water once you’re through security. On the plane, ask for water to drink instead of soda.

Long stretches of sitting in one spot can contribute to circulatory conditions like Deep Vein Thrombosis. On long flights, get up and walk around. Do ankle and leg  exercises at your seat. Move those ankles around in circles while sitting. Remove any tight shoes or socks.

Long flights can be boring. Pick up a book of puzzles or games to stimulate your brain. If you have recently learned a new language, practice it at your seat.

Recently I read this post about the best credit cards to use when traveling. I thought it was worth reposting.

Do you make a bucket list for places you want to visit? Many people do. They cross off sites as they see them.

What does your bucket list mean to you? Is it only a list of places you want to see? Or, do you want to do more than visit? Do you want to really experience those places?

Does it include something other than site seeing? Do you want to learn the language before you go? Do you want to spend two weeks hiking the back country?

Do you want to bring home souvenirs? Do you want to take photos for your scrapbook?

Does your list include places and sites in many different countries? Whatever you bucket list is like…enjoy the journey.

Tasting Pinot Noir wines at Sokol Blosser in Oregon…

Wine barrels decked out for the holidays…

If you love Oregon Pinot wines, the Willamette Valley would be a wonderful place for you to visit. If you go in late November, harvest will be finished a long time ago and only a few lonely bunches remain shriveled on the vines.

What do you do to make your time getting through airport security easier? Lately, I’ve seen some people that either don’t travel very often or don’t think ahead. They must not listen to the agents who repeat the same message over and over, either.

These are just a few tips that come to mind to avoid your delay and everyone behind you in the security line.

Do have your ID and boarding pass out before you get to the TSA person. Now is not the time to fumble in your purse because you can’t remember which pocket you put it in.
Do remove your belt before you walk through the metal detector. It will beep if you don’t.
Do remove everything from your pockets…everything.
Do remove your shoes…yes even flip flops.
Do remove your jacket, sweater, or sweatshirt.
Do remove any clunky jewelry…even if you think it will make it through.
Do remove the zipped bag of your 3 ounce bottles of liquids. Yes, 3 ounce bottles. The TSA doesn’t care if your 12 ounce bottle only has 3 ounces left in it.

I could go on, but you get the idea. Some thinking ahead will get you ahead. And the people in line behind you will thank you.

When you travel, do you pack everything you might need? Or, do you pack fairly light?

Does it make a difference if you’re checking your luggage or carrying it on as to how you pack?

Do the airlines you travel charge for checked luggage?

If you carry on your luggage, do you try to stuff as much as possible in that one bag?

Just curious…

Miscellaneous signs in Germany… Do you know what they say?