Travel Tip$

Airports are notorious for the high prices they charge for everything.  Try a few of these tips to save a few pennies

1)  Bring your own reading material--especially magazines which can be left behind for the next traveler, thereby, lightening your load as you run for your connection.  A puzzle book can keep travelrs of all ages occupied.

2)  Bring your own individually packaged snacks like peanuts travel well, as do pretzel and cheese in those little cellophane boxes.  Cookies and crackers have the tendency to crumble so I stick with items that weather the trip.

3)  You can't carry a water beyond the check point bu you can make that bottled water a bit more tasty by adding a dry drink powder.  My family likes Wyler's pink lemonade.

4)  Can't go without your Starbucks?  How about a VIA package.  Ask the flight attendant for some hot water and VIOLA--instant breakfast that is quick, filling and tasty!

5)  Speaking of hot water...take along instant oatmeal packages for a filling snack.  Don't forget the spoon.

6)  Make sure your bag has a few health care essentials packed to avoid excessive charges at the shops.  Pain relief meds, lens cleaners, tissues and hand sanitizing wipes are essentials in my bag.

7)  Don't forget your charger to keep travelers of all ages connected.

Pack your Travel Ca$e

It seems like I never get sick at home and being on vacation or a business trip without some basic first aid items can really break the bank.  Here are my tips for packing the travel case to pack in your suitcase.

I have a Vera Bradley travel bag that have multiple plastic sections.  I purchased some small dispensers from Target and create my own small bottles of shampoo, conditioner and body wash and body lotion.  These are larger than the containers you buy and let me go for a weeks vacation.    I keep a Toothbrush, paste and dental floss in the case (replace the toothbrush the first of the year unless you are on the road so much that you require a more frequent change).  I place a new razor in the bag at the beginning of the new year and replace it after every 2 weeks of travel.  I take travel sizes of my hair products and a high quality cork screw!

Medications:
Insect repellent or AVONs Skin So soft
Sun Screen--I buy a 3 pack at SAM's and take a NEW bottle (or 2 when traveling with family)
Imodium
Benedryl (this also helps me sleep the first night in a strange hotel)
Prescription medications in their ORIGINAL containers
Pain reliever such as Advil, Tylenol or aspirin
Neosporine
band-aids


Nice to have:
Baby wipes or facial cleaning cloths
tweezers
nail clippers and emery board
hand lotion
travel size perfume or those scented papers from magazines (vacation is a nice way to try a new scent)
feminine protection
ear plugs
moleskin to help with blisters or hotspots
sewing kit


I leave my travel bag packed, replenish when I return home and I ALWAYS have what I need to travel at a moment's notice.

Don't Let the Bed Bugs Bite

Follow these tips to keep Bedbugs at bay.  While traveling, Bedbugs are one souvenir you don't want to bring home.
The National Pest Management Association's Vice President of Public Affairs, Missy Henriksen, shares the following tips for avoiding these pests while traveling.

Check Your Room. If you don't want to let the bedbugs bite, thoroughly inspect your room for signs of infestation. Henriksen advises placing your luggage in the bathroom when you first arrive in your hotel room, because there's no place for bedbugs to hide in most bathrooms. Next, says Henriksen, "Pull back the sheets and inspect the mattress seams, particularly at the corners, for pepper-like stains or spots or even the bugs themselves. Adult bedbugs resemble a flat apple seed." Also look behind the headboard, inside chair and couch cushions, behind picture frames, and around electrical outlets. If you see anything suspicious, notify management and change rooms (or better yet, establishments) immediately.

Request A Different Room. If you do have to change rooms, don't move to a room adjacent to or directly above or below the site of the bedbug infestation. "Bedbugs can easily hitchhike via housekeeping carts and luggage or even through wall sockets," notes Henriksen. "If an infestation is spreading, it typically does so in the rooms closest to the origin."

Cover Your Bags. Even if you don't see any signs of bedbugs, you should still take precautions. Never place luggage on a hotel bed or floor. Use luggage racks if available, and place your suitcase in a protective cover. Even a plastic trash bag will suffice.

Keep Everything Off the Floor. Despite the name, bedbugs lurk in many spots, not just where you sleep. Always be vigilant when you travel. Avoid putting your personal belongings on the floor of an airplane, bus, train, or taxi. Keep your small bag or purse on your lap at all times, and seal your bigger bags inside plastic or protective covers before checking or storing them in overhead bins.

Treat Your Luggage and Clothes After Travel. "The best way to prevent bedbugs is to remain vigilant both during travel and once you return home," says Henriksen. The National Pest Management Association offers the following checklist to make sure you leave the bedbugs behind:
• Inspect your suitcases before bringing them into the house, and vacuum all luggage before storing it.
• Consider using a handheld garment steamer to steam your luggage; this can kill any bedbugs or eggs that might have hitched a ride home.
• Immediately wash and dry all of your clothes—even those that have not been worn—in hot temperatures to ensure that any stowaway bedbugs are not transported into your drawers or closet.
• Keep clothes that must be dry-cleaned in a plastic bag and take them to the dry cleaner as soon as possible.
• If you suspect a bedbug infestation in your home, contact a licensed pest professional promptly. Bedbugs are not a DIY pest, and the longer you wait, the larger the infestation will grow. A trained professional has the tools and knowledge to effectively treat your infestation.