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Do You Plan?

Here are a few more simple travel tips compiled from frequent travelers, flight attendants, and fellow travel writers. Want to know what they all have in common?

Hint…they plan ahead. 

If you check your bags, pack an outfit in your carry on. This way, you’ll have a spare set of clean clothing ready to go in case your bag is lost. Be sure to ask the airline about their compensation policies. Depending on which route you’ve flown, you may be reimbursed for purchasing toiletries.

Pack some travel size or small packets of laundry detergent. You can use a sink to wash out some underwear or lightweight tops.

Pack a small first aid kit with the basics like bandages, antiseptic wipes, pain meds, and upset tummy meds. You don’t need to bring it all…just some simple basics.

If you can, travel with carry on luggage only.

Keep backups of your travel documents. You can store copies in a cloud-based server. If you’re traveling with a companion, carry a copy of each other’s documents.

Bring noise cancelling headphones, eye mask, ear plugs, entertainment, or whatever makes your long flight more comfortable.

Learn some basic language phrases when traveling to another country. Please and thank you go a long ways. So does asking for the bathroom.

Talk to the locals about the best place for morning coffee or a late-night drink and everything in between.

Remember your chargers. And, remember to pack an adapter if traveling to Europe.

Try to avoid using the airport money exchange counters as they usually charge a higher rate of exchange. Instead, use an ATM when necessary. You can always get some local currency ahead of time.

Prepare for security at the airport. Have your things easily accessible for security check. If you’re not TSA Pre, wear shoes that are easy to remove, take off your belt, and remove your laptop. Don’t hold up the line by not being ready.

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Is Your Plane Delayed?

Excerpts are from an article which appeared in The Points Guy.

The table below provides a proxy for total weather delays, measured in minutes, for the period between October 2017 and October 2018. It includes delays to the National Aviation System that are not strictly weather-related, such as traffic pileups at the major hubs and late-arriving aircraft that may not be due to weather, but it excludes maintenance issues or airline-controlled delays. What we know is that between 50-60% of NAS delays are due to weather — but not extreme weather — and that airline-controlled delays represent less than 5% of the total.

Worst US Airports for Weather Measured in Delay Minutes

AIRPORT NATIONAL AVIATION SYSTEM DELAYS  EXTREME WEATHER DELAYS LATE-ARRIVING AIRCRAFT DELAYS    
Chicago O’Hare  (ORD)  1,707,353  270,189  1,867,386    
Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta (ATL)  986,176  263,847  1,514,276    
Newark Liberty (EWR)  1,888,390  114,335  732,926    
Dallas/Fort Worth  (DFW)  815,032  234,693  1,456,957    
San Francisco  (SFO)  1,435,733  101,105  936,938    
LaGuardia (LGA)  1,207,991  169,228  807,517    
Denver  (DEN)  527,483  108,565  1,159,518    
Boston Logan (BOS)  756,415  92,246  923,118    
New York JFK  825,634  98,234  705,328    

Source: Bureau of Transportation Statistics, Weather Delays by Airport for the period from October 2017 to October 2018

So…what does this tell you?

You probably already know Chicago O’Hare is to be avoided in the winter. Atlanta is affected by weather as well. In fact, it’s 32% worse for delays due to system delays and thunderstorms.

Dallas/Fort Worth, American’s major hub, is also affected by thunderstorms.

San Francisco has fog. And, they have two parallel runways separated by only 750 feet. In good visibility…not a problem. In poor weather conditions FAA regulations do not permit aircraft to land side by side unless the runways are separated by 4,300 feet. According to SFO, this reduces operations by half during poor weather.

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Sunnylands…a Gem in the Desert

A gem in Rancho Mirage has to be Sunnylands. If you’ve never heard of it or been there, it’s worth finding out more about it.

First…a little background.

Walter and Leonore Annenberg were extraordinary philanthropists, designating more than $3 billion in grants and gifts to major research universities, hospitals, medical centers, public schools, and cultural and civic organizations.

In addition, Mr. Annenberg served as Ambassador to the Court of St. James’s, Great Britain. They continued to play important roles in public service.

For more than 40 years they welcomed political, business, educational, and entertainment leaders to Sunnylands, their 200-acre winter home in Rancho Mirage.

They established The Annenberg Foundation Trust in 2001 to address serious issues facing the nation and the world. This is a place where intimate and solution-driven meetings can take place. Presidents, premiers, experts, scientists, generals, CEOs, leaders can meet here in a neutral location surrounded by beauty.

It’s so much more than just a great venue for leaders to meet. It’s truly a peaceful place, as only the magic of the desert environment can provide.

Over 70 species of native and arid-adapted plants from North and South America, Africa, and the Mediterranean are displayed in the nine acres of gardens.

Plan a visit. Just wander around the grounds, watch the short video of the history, or schedule a visit to their historic estate. If birding is your thing, book a tour with a local birder. Activities change with the seasons.

If You Go: Sunnylands Center and Garden is open with free admission and parking Wednesday through Sunday, 8:30 am to 4:00 pm. Sunnylands is at 37977 Bob Hope Drive, Rancho Mirage, CA 92270.

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Do I Lock It?

Should You Lock Your Suitcase?

According to TSA, airline passengers filed almost 8,000 yearly claims against them for losing items like clothing, jewelry, electronics, and gifts.

Would it have helped to have your bag locked? Maybe not. Putting a lock on your suitcase isn’t a guarantee that your stuff will be safe.

Locks can be cut. Someone could slice through your soft-sided bag. Locks only discourage casual thieves, causing them to move on to easier targets. In reality, locks are only flimsy protection if someone is determined to get into your bag.

That’s why you should always keep any valuables with you in your carry-on bag.

What if your bag is locked and TSA needs to get into it?

The TSA has master keys that allow agents to open all TSA-approved locks, if they determine your bag needs extra screening. If you use a non-TSA lock, they’ll cut it off your bag.

If you are traveling internationally, keep in mind that not all security officers outside the U.S. have the same master keys. Your lock may have to be cut in that case.

You could just use zip ties to lock your bag. They’re cheap. If the TSA needs to cut the zip tie, it’s not a big deal to replace it next time. If the TSA doesn’t access your bag, you will need to have a small scissors or some other way to cut it off once you get to your destination.

Or, you could go to a service that wraps your bags in plastic, which makes them harder to break into, protects their exteriors from dings, and keeps them from getting dirty. Still, the TSA might determine they need to cut open the plastic and inspect your bag.

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You’re Packing What?

Packing doesn’t have to be an issue. You’ve probably read tips and more tips for packing this way or that way. Everyone seems to have their own tips. Take a look at a few of these…then let me know what works for you.

You don’t really need to pack all the clothes you think you’ll need. Try to stick to a simple color palette and work pieces around that. I pack clothes that don’t wrinkle and can be rolled for efficiency and space in my bag. I also know ahead of time whether there will be a washer available. If not, I pack things I can wash in a sink.

There is no need to bring things ‘just in case.’

Plus, unless you’re going to a very, very remote spot…there will probably be shops. So you forgot to bring more than one pair of socks. I’ll bet you can buy them.

How many shoes do you bring? How do you pack them? Think about what you will be doing and bring the bare minimum. If you’ll be hiking or walking where they will get dirty, pack them in your laundry bag to keep them from getting dirt all over your suitcase.

I also check ahead of time to see if there is a hair dryer. Hotels, Air B&B’s, VRBO’s will all list it on their website. No need to pack one if there is one there.

How about your extra lithium battery? It has to go in your carry on luggage. Your corkscrew? It can go in your carry on if it doesn’t have a knife on it. If it does, put it in your checked luggage.

Did you buy the latest travel gizmo or gadget? It looked so cool in the ads. Now…you have to pack it. Before you buy it, decide if it’s really worth the space it’s going to take up.

If you’re going outside the US, be sure to pack the one travel gadget that’s worth it. Your adapter…you’ll need it.

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Ocean Beach and Wine

Wine tasting at 3rd Corner in Ocean Beach

Who would have thought wines from Greece, Sicily, Georgia (the country), and Lebanon would be so interesting and tasty? They were.

What did we taste?

Malagouzia, a white Greek wine grape, from Domaine Michaelidi. It was virtually extinct until Professor or Oenology Bassilis Logothetis re-discovered it in Nafpaktia in 1983. Delicious, it reminded me of a sauvignon blanc with a hint of semillion. Great for patio, pool, and summer.

Carricante, a white wine indigenous to Sicily, from Cusumano, Alto Mora. Late-ripening and grown on the steep slopes of Mt. Etna, it was a little more full-bodied. Don’t think chardonnay. Think a nice, food friendly drink with a hint of minerality.

Saperavi, native to Georgia, from Doqi. It was acidic and quite fruity, with a hint of oak. These grapes are also grown in the US in the Finger Lakes region of New York.

The one from Lebanon was a blend of Cinsault, Syrah, Cab from Chateau Musar in the Bekaa Valley. Lots of dark, red fruits came through on this one. With a smooth finish, it would pair well with lamb or prosciutto.

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What Time is It?

If you travel very much, especially longer flights crossing multiple time zones, you may be aware of jet lag.

What is it?

Jet lag occurs when our body clock isn’t in tune with a destination’s light-dark cycle.

As we age, our circadian clock cycle might adjust more slowly. What do we do about it? Can we prevent it?

We really can’t prevent it. But, we can ease some of the symptoms. Here are few tips to check out.

Perhaps booking an evening flight will help. You will have the opportunity to sleep at a relatively normal time.

If not, you could adjust your routine at home for a few days before you leave. Eat and sleep at the times where you be traveling. If it’s three time zones or six, adjust accordingly.

When you get on the plane, adjust your watch or phone to your destination’s time zone.

When you land, eat at that destination’s time. If you arrive at 9 in the morning, have some breakfast. Even if your body thinks it’s only 4 am.

Drink some water. Then, drink some more.

Get some sunlight. It will help stimulate your body.

Try to avoid long naps when you arrive.

Try to get on your destination’s clock and schedule as soon as possible.

What are your tips?

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Why Are the Trains Full?

Research holidays before you travel. Why? It may make a difference in your train schedule, museum pass, or highway closures.

Check for local and national holidays, parades, religious events, and major conferences. Sometimes banks are closed. Other times, train schedules changes. Some museums change their hours. In smaller towns, shops may be closed on a particular day or holiday.

Or…everyone is on holiday and the trains are full of locals headed to the beach.

If you are concerned about a major holiday, check before you purchase your tickets.