Jun 1 2014

Summer’s Here, Get Packing!

Summer’s Here, Get Packing!

By: Jodi Cross

 

Chances are you are heading on a vacation this summer, even if it is just for a short getaway. They say there is two kinds of luggage, lost and carry on!

Nothing is worse than arriving at your destination without your luggage.  Packing can be overwhelming for many people; there are travel restrictions and weather.  A little preparation and organization can result in a perfect trip with all the right outfits.  I have a knack for packing; I can go on a 10-day trip with simple carry on luggage.



Here’s how to get started with your trip preparations:


  1. Start with a list and consider the climate and activities; I literally write down each day of the week and place an item of clothing on the calendar. Once you create the list go back and ruthlessly review it and try to cut it in half.
  2. Bring more tops than bottoms and focus on light, wrinkle free fabric like silk or polyester. Silk blouses in multi-colors can get you from day to night and tanks can keep you cool during the day.
  3. Organize your outfits with a color theme for example, black/red/white, or brown/cream/orange this way you can mix and match and you can limit the amount of shoes you need too!
  4. Pack comfortable shoes in neutral colors. I look for shoes that can compact down flat like sandals, thongs and compliment that with one pair of dressy shoes. I use newspaper delivery bags for shoes, it keeps dirt off your clothes.
  5. Bring one nice outfit, I have the perfect silk skirt or black dress that folds up without wrinkling, I could pair it with a pashmina and be ready to meet the Queen if need be.
  6. Maximize all space; I fill my shoes with socks or undergarments. This is especially helpful if you have to bring sneakers, as they can really be bulky.
  7. Roll all your clothes or double layer them and fold this will minimize wrinkles.
  8. Never travel with a blow dryer, iron or other items that can be inexpensively purchased or that the hotel normally provides, even in remote place such as Peru they have blow dryers.
  9. Find a comfortable travel outfit that can be re-worn and tie your sweater or jacket around your waist. The jacket can double as a pillow on the plane. Stores like Stein Mart and Travel Companion have mix and match wrinkle free outfits. Tuck a pashmina in your carry on to use as a blanket.
  10. Always bring a mini-medicine kit, just in case! Think emergency medications, as travelling can be rough on your body both inside and out. Stores like Target have mini-travel items.
  11. Never move locations with dirty clothes. I travel with a small bottle of detergent. You can even use hotel soap. An accompanying plastic bag is great to keep dirty items together.

If you apply these tips you can fit everything in one bag and look fabulous too.  Packing lite will save you a lot of backaches and headaches along the way. Have a great vacation, wherever you might go! 

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Jun 20 2013

Summers Here…Get Packing

Summers Here… Get Packing

By: Jodi Cross

Summer brings longer days, a slower pace and the opportunity to take a vacation. Last year, we never got a chance to get away and I felt gypped of the right of passage that Summer symbolizes. We work hard all year and by the time summer rolls around we all need a break!  Over Memorial Day, my husband and I visited Prague, Vienna and Budapest. As our trip approached my excitement grew. We toured gothic churches and palaces and walked from one end of the city to the other.

Some of the highlights included; Old Town in Prague, the Clock Tower, and a multitude of beer gardens and open markets. In Austria, we caught a Mozart concert at Schonbrunn Palace and watched the magnificent Lipizzaner Stallions practice their routine. Budapest was spectacular with the Danube dividing Buda and Pest. We visited the Royal Palace, soaked in the thermal baths and took in the art nouveau architecture. We sampled authentic cuisine, enjoyed savory goulash, fresh fish and local favorites like stuffed dumplings.  


Jodi’s Travel Tips

Travel is one of my passions in life and I take trips frequently for both business and pleasure. I have everything from packing to pre-planning down to a science.  For example, you must pack light in Europe if you are using trains and visiting multiple cities. We travel with one carryon roller bag each and a small back pack. We saw folks lugging jumbo bags along cobblestone streets and boarding the trains with bags that couldn’t fit down the aisle. My husband had to help countless people hoist  their burgeoning bags overhead into the stowaway compartments on the train.

Here are some other useful tips if you are planning to traveling here or abroad this summer;

  • Start with a detailed packing list broken down by day, always pack less bottoms and more tops. Work on a color theme so you can mix and match.  Limit your shoes to three pairs. Include; walking shoes-which need to be broken in prior to the start of your trip, dress shoes and sandals. Make sure to pack a couple of converters.  We used our phones as a camera and alarm clock, and noticed our battery depleted quickly.
  • Order a small amount of foreign currency from your bank before you go. On each envelope write the conversion numbers to help you with purchases and exchange rates. One couple we met on a train to Budapest had no currency. The cab driver took them for a ride that lasted 45 minutes and the equivalent to $100 which included a stop at an ATM because they only had Euros which are not accepted in Hungary. We arrived at the hotel in 10-minutes and it only cost us the equivalent of $25.
  • Make a copy of your passport and credit cards and place them in your luggage or room safe. If something gets stolen you will have the numbers to  cancel your cards immediately. Alert your bank, credit card company and phone service that you are traveling out of the country. I can’t tell you how many times I have had a card cut off for suspected fraud because I didn’t call in advance. For your phone, ask for a flat data package and be sure to turn off your roaming and location services so you don’t end up with whopping bill upon your return.
  • Plan on inclement weather. Bring layers, including rain gear and a small folding umbrella. It rained almost everyday on our trip. If I didn’t have a coat with a hood and an umbrella it would have ruined our vacation.
  • Pack airlock shrink bags. Stores like Bed, Bath & Beyond sell bags that you can use to seal and shrink your clothes down to half their size. I use these on my return for dirty laundry. This creates extra space for purchases you make along the way. Bring laundry detergent, there is no reason to pack extra socks and underwear when you can wash as you go. Print out a list  of key phrases in each language that you can use as cheat sheet. Being able to communicate in the native language bodes good will.
  • Use the hotel concierge- upon arrival we always inquire about the best transportation method and local restaurant recommendations.  In Budapest ,we found a bus that took you around the entire city and included a cruise. Not only did this help us get our bearings immediately, it was an excellent and inexpensive way to see all the attractions.

Wherever you go this summer…have fun, savor the adventure and embrace the local culture. Bon Voyage!      


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