travel

I am so excited as we have just a little over a month until we travel. We will be spending one month in the US to visit my family and to just enjoy America. We travel to the US at least once a year to visit my family so I like to think that I've become quite experienced with the whole traveling far away thing. Our flight is usually about 13-14 hours depending on which flight we take. That is a very long time to be on a plane but at least it's straight through.

About a month before we travel I start preparing things. As I was organizing and preparing things today I thought this topic would make for a great blog post. So I will share some of the things that I like to do.

PLAN AHEAD...It's never too early. I start months before by looking online at things I'd like to do with my family. Last year we went to the zoo and for an island getaway. This year we planned a trip to the beach as well as some smaller trips like parks and museums. I find that most places do not have their summer schedules and event calendars up until sometime after the new year. But once they're up I look at their hours of business, rates, and their calendar of events. This year we're going to a park that will have a "Christmas in July" parade as well as a circus. Also, because of the holiday theme, guests will receive a discount if they bring a canned good. All of this info I found on their website.

Once I make a list of the things I'd like to do, I make my own calendar. I fill in the activities we plan to do on the dates we'd like to do them. This really helps me to stay organized. With living far away, I have lots of people that want to visit with us while we're in town. When they ask when we can get together, I just take a look at my calendar to see when we're open.

PAPERWORK...When traveling internationally, lots of paperwork is required. Passports, exit/re-entry stuff, immigration stuff, and of course tickets. Prepare all of this well in advance. That way if a problem comes along, you'll have time to straighten things out. Also, the earlier you buy tickets the lower the fare.

RESERVATIONS...If you're staying in a hotel or renting a car, make your reservations early. Our hotel for the beach has been booked for weeks now. And this week I plan to make our rental car reservation as well as reserve a hotel room for the night we arrive. Keep in mind that most hotels require a one night's payment to hold the room for you.

FOLDER...I like to organize all of our important papers into a folder. Some things I include; reservation confirmations for hotels and rental cars, directions for road trips, and my above mentioned calendar. That way everything is together in one place and easy to access. Keep this folder in your carry-on.

PACKING...I make my packing list about one month before I travel. This way I can see if there's anything I need to shop for before we travel. There's nothing worse than running around trying to find those last minute things for your trip the day before you go. Give yourself adequate time to shop. My goal is to have most things done one week before traveling.

Try to pack as light as possible. We are lucky because we stay with my parents which means we can use their washer and dryer. So we can take a small amount of clothing and then wash and wear again. Also, we shop. We shop, A LOT! So we have learned that we don't need to take too much because we need to save suitcase space for new things we buy. But as a general rule, I pack about one week's worth of clothing for each of us. And don't forget the extra but very important things like PJ's, underclothes, socks, and shoes (again in moderation).

I agree with those who say rolling saves space. But I usually don't roll my clothes when packing. Why? Because airlines give such strict weight limits and charge a bundle when you go over. Rolling means saving space, which means more will fit, which means more weight. Folding clothes kinda keeps me in check with the weight of my luggage.

CARRY-ON...I try to keep our carry-on luggage as light as possible. I always pack an extra set of clothes for each of us just in case (little guy gets extra), a hoodie or jacket because it will get chilly, some toiletries like deodorant and toothpaste (make sure they are all 3 oz or smaller and in a clear quart sized bag), a book or magazine, and maybe a few snacks. For little guy, he gets some small toys, some activities like coloring books, and snacks. Our airline does a wonderful job with food, drinks, and snacks but it's always a good idea to have a few snacks of your own, especially for children.

SAFETY...It is so important to stay as safe as possible while traveling. Be careful with your money. Don't keep all of your cash in one place. I carry a cross shoulder bag because it frees my hands, but also I can keep a better eye on it. The same holds true for important things like passports and tickets. Check often that they are in their place. Hubby and I laugh at ourselves because we are constantly checking that our passports, tickets, and wallets are where they should be. Better safe than sorry.

Traveling with children is a HUGE responsibility. Last year I had to travel alone with little guy. I went against my beliefs and bought one of those leash looking things for him. I would rather people look at me and think whatever they want, than lose my son.

Once we arrive in the US we have a three hour drive to my hometown. Three hours is not all that bad, but after a 13 hour flight it can be. If we leave here at night and get a good 8 hrs sleep on the plane we're usually good to go. However, if we leave here in the morning and do not sleep enough, we are just too exhausted to drive. We play it safe and stay in a hotel. It's actually quite nice to get a good night's sleep, wake up and take showers, eat a nice breakfast, and then drive to my hometown. The rule is to be wise. If you feel too tired, do not get behind the wheel.

So those are a few general areas that I organize and plan out ahead of time. I'm sure there are a million and one things I forgot to share. But seeing that this post has become quite long I should end it here. :)

Do you have any good traveling tips to share?