Travel Tip Tuesday (on Thursday) - Holiday Travel Eating

When you know you are traveling on a major national holiday like Christmas, it's best to have a game plan for eating. Does the hotel you are staying at have an open restaurant? Will you have a kitchen to make some basics you pick up from an open gas station? Are there nice places where you can eat if you make reservations? Will you be able to find an open fast food restaurant?

Kris and I knew we'd be in Phoenix on Christmas evening, and, while I knew we could rely on IHOP or Denny's being open, we had that on Thanksgiving with my brother Jimmy.

We didn't want fast food, but we also didn't want to spend $35+ dollars for a fancy Grand Prix meal at an upscale restaurant. After a little internet research, I found a local Jewish deli called Chompie's would be open. Better yet, they were featured on Man vs. Food.

Sometimes a bit of pre-prep can save you a bunch of headache.

Happy eating!

Travel Tip Tuesday: Pack the Wrapping

With holiday travel taking place, it's easy to forget security etiquette. Remember not to wrap your gifts that you are taking on a flight. Bring the wrapping paper & tape with you, and leave the gifts unwrapped in your luggage.

 If there is anything questionable about the package when that gift is scanned, they'll have to unwrap it.

 

Travel Tip Tuesday: Security Timesaver

While waiting in line for your ticket or for security (or better yet while getting ready for the day), put all loose items you’d put in your pants (wallet, keys, change, etc.) in your jacket pockets or carry-on bag instead.

You have to take your jacket off anyway, so it’s already ready for security and none of your items will be floating loose in the plastic bin.

Travel Tip Tuesday: ITA Flight Matrix

One of the best websites I know of for finding airfare is the ITA Flight Matrix (which also has an app called On The Fly).  This awesome website will search more airlines than any compiler I've found and returns the best rates.

You can't book your flight through the Matrix, but you can use the codes to contact a travel agent or, at least, have the information needed to ensure you are getting the best flight prices possible through Orbitz, Expedia, Travelocity, or the airlines directly.

Happy Hunting!

Travel Tip Tuesday: Colgate Wisp

On long flights where you might not have access to a toothbrush, try Colgate Wisps.  They're inexpensive, refreshing, lightweight, and barely take up any room.  No water needed.

Borrowed image from notcom.com

Travel Tip Tuesday: Necklace Packing Trick

I love RealSimple.com.  One brilliant suggestion I ran across lately was to use a drinking straw to keep necklaces from tangling during travel.  So simple and smart!  I may try it on our next trip.

Reclining in flight

When traveling, it's really easy to forget about those around you. We're often harried and stressed and oblivious to those around us. The one thing I notice the more I travel is how awful the seat recline is for the person in the seat behind you.

I get super frustrated on short flights when the person in front of me reclines. Those tiny inches of recline really don't make that much of a comfort difference for the person reclining...I know...I've tried, but they make a heck of a lot of difference to the person behind you who can no longer access the stuff they've stored under the seat in front of them. Those inches matter a lot to the person who can no longer use their tray table or laptop, or even easily get up to go to the restroom.


I'm sitting behind a person right now going from Denver to Dallas. He isn't sleeping, which would, in my mind, make reclining forgivable, and he's in the exit row. There is nobody seated next to him. But he reclined anyway...and he's using the tray table of the seat next to him. And, to top it off, he's not even leaning back!

So do people a favor and think twice before you recline.

End rant.