PACK IT UP – How & How Much
How (and how much) you pack can greatly impact your comfort level 
while on vacation. Follow these tips as you pack your bags.
• Pack light. When in doubt, leave it out! Adopt a European standard for fashion by wearing your favorite things multiple times while on vacation. You can hand-wash in the hotel sink if necessary. No one ever wishes they had brought more stuff on vacation! (But you might consider bringing an empty duffel bag or backpack to cart home souvenirs.)
• If you’re flying, consider taking only a carry-on to save time and frustration upon arrival. If you’re checking luggage, make sure to pack essentials (change of clothing, bathing suite, medications, toiletries, snacks) in a carry-on bag, just in case you’re separated from your checked bags.
• Invest in handy travel accessories, such as a mini-clothesline, “compression sacs” to compress your clean or dirty clothes, sleep mask, ear plugs, and inflatable neck rest.
• Know the current airline carry-on restrictions by visiting www.faa.gov/passengers or www.tsa.gov/311/ before you go.
• Clean out your wallet before you leave. Take only bare essentials, such as two major credit cards, ATM card, your driver’s license or state ID, passport (if traveling abroad), health and car insurance cards, and cash or travelers checks. Leave all other cards at home (you can’t lose them if you don’t bring them!)
• Make a photocopy of the front and back of your wallet essentials and stash it in your suitcase or leave it with a trusted friend or relative back home. If you should lose your wallet, you can more easily get replacements. Also, leave a copy of your itinerary in your suitcase in case you misplace your original.
Recommended Products to simplify and organize your travels:
Pack This – packing organizer pad
The Travel Organizer
Next up – Home Sweet Home – Keep Your Home Safe During Your Travels
Originally posted 2009-06-22 09:30:04. Republished by Old Post Promoter
HOME SAFE HOME – Tips for Keeping Your Home Safe When on Vacation
Take these simple precautions to keep your home safe while you’re away.
• Don’t put out the “we’re not home” sign – install timers on lights and a radio or television so your home looks and sounds lived in. I never leave on vacation without setting my timers.
• Let trusted neighbors know how long you’ll be gone and how to reach you in an emergency. Ask them to keep a watchful eye on your place. Have them collect your mail and newspapers, or suspend deliver until you return. Perhaps they could park their cards in your driveway occasionally. In snowy climate, ask them to shovel your walk and driveway
• Remove home address and phone numbers from your luggage tags and add your cell-phone number instead, in case an unscrupulous baggage handler gets any shady ideas.
• Lock up and hide your valuables. Keep some shades partially closed to keep expensive items (such as big-screen TV) out of view. (But don’t completely close all window covering, or it will be obvious that no one is home)
• Set the thermostat to an energy-saving level. Unplug most appliances to save electricity.
• Remove all perishable items from your refrigerator, and take out the trash so you don’t return to unpleasant odors.
• To avoid a musty smell from having your home closed up, before leaving on your trip, place small bowls of distilled white vinegar in each room. The vinegar will keep the air fresh, so you’ll breathe easier when you get home.
• If you’ll be gone long enough for mildew to form, place the top of a cardboard storage box in each bathtub and pour some clay kitty litter into it. It will absorb moisture and prevent mildew while you’re away.
• It may seem obvious, but don’t to forget to lock all doors and windows. If you leave a vehicle in the driveway, be sure to remove any garage door openers.
• Lastly, hire a housesitter to bring in your mail, remove newspapers or flyers at the front door, alter the lights inside and out, and water plants.
Here’s a great service to check out to find a reputable housesitter, babysitter, petsitter, caregiver, or nanny: SitterCity
Originally posted 2009-06-22 09:30:39. Republished by Old Post Promoter
