Factoids for Travel

Over the years I have developed a set of travel rules and ideas that seem to work well for me, and I thought I might share them because some others might find them helpful.

So, here goes....

1. Always carry an extra set of underwear, socks, and a tee shirt in your carry on luggage.  I put these in a gallon sized zip lock bag.  I learned this the hard way when my late husband's luggage was lost between Rome and Athens on an Alitalia flight....it was four days into the trip before it caught up to us in Kalambacka.

2. If you are traveling with a traveling companion, pack an extra complete outfit in their checked luggage, and do the same for them.  The reason?  See above.

3. Zip lock storage bags are your friends.  Use them to separate items in your carry on luggage: one can hold your prescription drugs, another can carry your various electric wires and power convertor,  (invest in a good electric converter if you will do any serious traveling), and yet another is good for holding travel documents. You should also keep a few coins of your destination currency in one of these bags, if you have any coins.  You can use them to tip at your destination.

4. If you are making an international connection, remember, if you purchase anything at the duty free shop at the first airport, be careful NOT to purchase any liquids in containers larger than 3 fluid US ounces.  I was reminded of this the hard way on my recent trip to Italy.  My sister bought a 10 euro bottle of lemoncello in Rome, only to have it confiscated in Montreal by US customs agents.  The cute little boxes of four 3 ounce bottles of the same liquid that was supposed to go to her kids as gifts were not.  They have now became her's to keep, sorry girls.

If the duty free shop is in your ultimate return airport, this is not a problem.  Unfortunately for her, they don't sell lemoncello in Montreal.

5. Always bring a small tube of zinc oxide and several packets of alka seltzer....because, that is why. Buy bottled water at the local grocery store.  You will save money.

6. You get the best exchange rate using a debit card.  Make sure it has an electronic "chip" in it, and you should notify your bank that you are going out of town. You will pay a fee for use, as you do here when you use your debit card to get cash from a non-network bank. I also use the debit card to pay for meals and other items for the same reason.

7. This one is a tip from my daughter, Tara. Don't be buying new underwear for your trip.  Wear the old raggedy stuff and throw them out as you use them.  Buy the new stuff when you get home; you'll enjoy them for a longer time and eventually, they will become your travel panties.

8. And finally...if you forget something, don't worry, you can buy on the road. There are stores all over the world.