Travel tips 101

So there's this trip I'm going on.  I'm leaving in a day or two.  I'm leaving a very large pitt bull in my house to watch over it, along with my brother in law Spike and his biker buddies, so, possible burgulars, BEGONE!

I travel quite a bit.  Well, maybe not QUITE a bit, but a few times a year, and I think I've gotten fairly good.  I was wondering, though, what are your best tips to share?

I will never travel without the following:

• snack to eat on the plane - I can't stand the food on the plane, and it costs a FORTUNE to eat in the airport.
• Empty water bottle, to refill after I pass through security.
• stain stick for my clothes - I am the queen of spilling stuff on my shirts.
• all shampoos/soaps/makeups/etc packed into ziploc baggies.  I've had more clothing ruined in the suitcase than I care to count.
• tweezers.
• Tylenol PM.  I never sleep as well away as I do at home.
• a few things to munch on during the trip - small ziplocs of homemade granola, larabars, fruit.

What are your best travel tips?

(I'm also currently in the midst of my pre trip freakout, where I try to leave EVERYTHING done before I take off.  Laundry is completed, dishes done up to this minute, emails answered, extra food cooked and extra milk bought and extra bread made.  I've read to my kids more and tried to be extra kind - all the while I'm partying inside.)

Comments

[Kendra]

You are all cracking me up! I dream of the day that I leave the brood home for a five day trip with ADULT WOMEN!!

You ave all the bases covered-milk, bread, they'll be fine!!! Have a fab time, laugh with the girls, and tell us EVERY DETAIL! ;-)

[Katie W]

Never ever travel without a good book, or my mp3 player, with sound blocking headphones to block out noise in the airport and on the plane!

[Mariah]

I second the sound blocking headphones. Mine aren't fantastic, but they do the job. They block out whining kids on airplanes! Also, depending on where I go, I don't usually bother to even take shampoo and most other personal items. It's too much hassle for me, now that we can't take them in a carry on. I just pop into Walgreens or somewhere once I arrive and buy just what I need for the time I'm there...I leave leftovers behind. A bit expensive, maybe, but worth it as far as I'm concerned! Less weight in the suitcase (you'd be amazed how much that stuff weighs!), less chance of spillage (though ziplock bags are good for that), less hassle all around for me. Have a great time!

[meritt]

As someone who never, ever flies... (5 people in our family - airfare alone would cost $2000 before we even add in hotels and food!) I LOVE seeing flight hints.

I fly once a year (about) and the 'empty' water bottle is an excellent idea that I never thought of!!! Thanks for that one!

So - I didn't think you could bring your own food in. You can? In your purse or carry on? It's perfectly ok??????

[Liz in Seattle]

Even for car trips, the liquid-ziploc trick works wonders. Also, keep small like things together for easy access. For example, in-the-shower things in a net bag (in a bigger ziploc). Or recharging cords with the packed item (if there's room in the carry-on).

And even if you can stomach the airplane "food", having a couple of energy bars and an extra water bottle can mean the difference if you get one of those eight-hour-on-the-tarmac situations (grrr). It's especially important if you have kids.

[Christy]

You can't take the stain stick on the plane with you. My mom had a Tide-to-go pen in her ziploc baggie and the screeners took it away. Only personal toiletries are allowed on the plane. Very annoying because those pens are awesome!

[mcewen]

Great to have something to look forward to. I suspect that the blogosphere will be empty with so many people nipping off.
Cheers

[Brandy]

Isecond, or third the book and mp3 player ideas!

[Brandy]

Oops! I second. I am the queen of typos.

[Nobody]

Just so you know it is the Benadryl in Tylenol PM that makes you sleepy. You can sometimes get 50mg of Benadryl for cheeper, and if not then you can try asking the hotel desk clerk if they have anything for an allergic reaction and many times they'll give it to you for free..

[Jennifer]

Good points, but I prefer Lunesta to Tylenol PM any day of the week. No weird hang over feeling the next day, just 8 hours of sound zzzs.

[AJ]

I had to travel for business right after they first restricted liquids in carry ons. So, having to check all the goopy stuff, I bought gigantic ziploc bags (the ones to store blankets, toys, etc) and now I just put all of my clothes in the big plastic bags and all the bathroom stuff in another big ziploc, put my shoes on the bottom of the bag, toss the big ziplocs in on top of 'em and I'm good to go. Added bonus - I travel to DC several times a year and my checked luggage usually gets searched and when it's all bagged up they don't seem to mess it up as bad.