TravelsandEscapes

Buckets of flowers at the Alemany Market

Foggy day in the city looking at Alcatraz

More fog crossing the Golden Gate

Hard to believe this temp in the city…especially when we came home to 108!

Late lunch was awesome at Bin 38

Do you need any special immunizations for the country where you will be traveling? Not sure? It’s a good idea to check out http://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel for latest on what shots or immunizations are needed by country.

Have you ever heard of this tip? Since the outside material of your hiking socks can be softer and smoother than the inside…wear them inside out. Supposedly, this prevents blisters.

Has anyone done this and does it work?

If you are a mom traveling with kids, you probably have an oversized travel purse with a gazillion compartments.

If you are traveling without kids, you may still have a travel purse with a gazillion compartments.

How do you keep track of what you put in each compartment? How do you know where your passport and your boarding pass are? Need some aspirin or some lip gloss? Which zippered slot is it in?

Any idea where you put your snacks? You could search for days and still not find what you were looking for…right?

For starters, always keep your passport in the same spot. Same goes for your boarding pass. If it’s always in a certain spot, it will be easy to grab when you need it. Think about a bright pink folder or wallet that holds both. You’ll spot it easily, you can grab it easily, and it won’t get lost in the bottom of your bag.

Put things like lip gloss, hand wipes,and  tissues in one spot. Use another compartment for snacks and aspirin.

Organize it so it makes sense to you. Then, do it the same way each time. Get a system and stick to it. It makes your carry on bag so much more efficient.

Planning is always a good thing when traveling. While it’s fun to be spontaneous, sometimes a little extra planning can make a trip go smoother. This is especially true if traveling with kids.

Make a list and check it twice. Kids need different things than adults. And, they need different things in airports, on planes, waiting in line, in restaurants, going through security…you get the idea.

If you are waiting in a connecting airport, check out that airport on line to see what restaurants or activities are available for kids. Older kids may enjoy the museum at the airport while younger ones may be entertained by the aquarium.

Travel as light as you can. This is where your list comes in handy. Try to pack a day or so before you leave. Forget something? No worries…there are stores where you are going. If you are staying with or visiting relatives, ask if they can pick up simple supplies you use. No sense packing a week’s worth of diapers if you don’t have to.

When traveling, keep only necessary documents, identification pieces and cards in your wallet or purse. I mean…do you really need your San Francisco Museum card when you’re traveling to Florence, Italy?

Anything that has your identification on it and is not needed for your trip, leave it at home.

First tip:

What’s one of the most important things you can do when traveling?  Keep your home safe…

Make sure someone is watching or taking care of your house. Nothing says there is no one home like newspapers lying in the driveway or a stuffed mailbox or a lawn that really needs mowing. (unless of course you always live like this!)

Be careful what you post on Facebook or Twitter. Telling everyone that you are leaving for three weeks in Europe may be an invitation for someone you don’t want checking out your home. You can always post those photos once you get home.

Is Iceland on your travel list?

Did you know that when flying IcelandAir from the US to Europe, you have the option of adding a stop over in Iceland at no additional cost to your original plane ticket? If time allows, what a great way to experience a country you might never have otherwise seen. Check out the Blue Lagoon or the Northern Lights.

Of course, this forest floor is not in Iceland. Know where it is?

These suggestions may help you when traveling.

Scan your passport and any other travel documents you use and give them to family members or friends. Make sure you can easily get in touch with them. Also, email a copy of your itinerary to them. This works in case you lose something or in case of a disaster, when they need to know where you are.

If you are traveling to a new country, check out where the embassy is located. It’s much easier to have the address in your phone or in your folder of documents than it is to try and find it in an emergency.

When you check in to a hotel, grab a business card and put it in your purse or pocket. It usually has the address and almost always has the phone number on it. That way you won’t wonder if it is located on Jefferson Street, Jefferson Court, or Jefferson Avenue.

Plus, you can show it to the taxi driver for your return trip to the hotel from the restaurant or wherever you have been.

It’s also a good idea to ask the hotel concierge the approximate cost of a taxi to your destination. It never hurts to know what your fare will be.