You know you will have dirty clothes when traveling. But, why make your whole suitcase smell like dirty socks? Pack a lightweight laundry bag and throw a couple of dryer sheets in it.
If you don’t do any laundry while traveling, at least your dirty laundry smell won’t permeate your suitcase until you arrive back home.
This is NOT Lake Superior. Anyone know where it is?
Lake Superior is the largest of North America’s Great Lakes at 31,699 square miles. Did you know it contains more water than all of the Great Lakes…combined?
Amazing lunch at The Terraces Winery yesterday.
Even the stick figures had fun…
Timm outdid himself on all the courses.
Wines before, during, and after complimented all the wonderfully prepared food.
Polenta and honey cake with fresh berries…what a way to end the meal.
If I am renting a car in another country, can I use my US driver’s license? Usually, in English speaking countries…yes. Many other countries require an International Driving Permit. Be sure to check with the rental car company before you leave the US as the IDP must be issued in your home country.
Will my GPS work in Europe? Most GPS devices will work, if you purchase a European chip. Install it and the maps will appear just like you are used to in the US.
Do I need any special insurance? Check with your auto insurance company to see what is covered by your own policy and if they recommend purchasing extra insurance at the time of the rental.
Will I know the road signs? Check with your guide book or on the Internet to see if there are any special rules for driving. You can also ask your insurance company for any tips. Road signs are fairly self explanatory and well marked. Round abouts or traffic circles may be confusing the first time you encounter one, but they make so much sense once you get used to them. You just need to understand who has the right of way in one.
Happy driving.
If you are considering renting a car on your next trip to Europe, here are some things you may want to consider.
Book in advance. We always decide how many days we will need the car, where we will be picking it up, and where we will be returning it. This gives us time to ask about any discounts (motor club, senior citizen, airline affiliations, etc. ) they may have and to comparison shop for the vehicle we want or need on our trip.
We have noticed that in many countries the vehicle will have a manual transmission. Sometimes automatics are available but for a much higher price. Think about your comfort level with a manual transmission and the roads you will be driving. And…if you are going to England or Australia, be sure to think about driving on the left side of the road.
More tips to follow…
Traveling with kids on an airplane can be challenging or it can be fun. How do some parents make it a fun time? I visited with one seasoned traveling parent and here are some of her suggestions.
As adults we know how to make our ears adjust to taking off or descending. Kids often do not…especially young ones. Have the kids suck on suckers. The constant swallowing helps equalize the air pressure in their ears. If they are too young, a pacifier works or anything that gets them to swallow.
Take things for kids to play with…but not to throw around. Coloring books are good and so are hand held puzzles (with no pieces) or games. Anything to keep them occupied…
Talk to them before you leave for the airport, she also told me. Tell them there are things they can and cannot do. For instance, no kicking the seat in front of you. No screaming…use our inside voice…whisper…pretend we are hiding. As a passenger, I appreciated what she was telling me.
She also said…they use the restrooms immediately before boarding!
Seems like good advice to me.
Looking for last minute travel sites that may offer just the ticket you’re looking for? Recently, I read about some sites I have not yet used.
Some of them listed include: www.airfarewatchdog.com and www.licketytrip.com
Others include: www.us.lastminutetravel.com and www.lastminutetravel.com
Has anyone used any of these sites? If so, what were your experiences?
This is the Pacific Ocean…and it’s not landlocked.
Did you know the Caspian Sea is the world’s largest landlocked body of water with about 143,000 square miles of water? The Caspian Sea is so large, it has characteristics common to both lakes and the sea. Many places list it as the world’s largest lake even though it is not a freshwater lake.
Recently I read an article listing several travel sites that may be helpful when booking your next trip. I have used some of these but not all of them.
The list included:
GetGoing…which allows you to pick two locations
FlyinAway…which requires you to bid
Hipmunk…which allows you to track an airfare by email
Momondo…which may suggest different airlines for each way
Bing Travel…which gives you a tip on whether to buy now or wait a day
Google Flights…which works best on domestic flights, with international ones coming
Have you used any of these? Were you pleased or were they more trouble than they were worth? I know what I like and I know what it takes for me to use or recommend a site.
My recommendations will come later…stay tuned.
