Travel gear

So imagine yourself in a beautiful vineyard at a wine tasting enjoying one of the most amazing wines you have had in years.  It sounds like paradise right?  It is!  You then learn from the vineyard owner that they have a very small annual production and the wine is not exported; as a matter of fact the wine is only sold locally right here at the vineyard in Mendoza Argentina.  Oh no!!!

Sadly this scenario has become a common problem for me traveling around the world and discovering some of the very best wines are not exported.  After 10 years  I still crave a wine from Stellenbosch South Africa.

How do you bring home these amazing wines?

There are a few options:

• Ship it from the vineyard directly to your home.  This is an option that most larger vineyards provide however there are additional fees involved and it can get quite pricey quickly.
• Buy it and then ship it yourself from a local post office.  This is usually a good option but does require some additional effort on your part and ideally you have a rental car to transport the wine.  It make take several weeks for your wine to arrive at your home and I would not recommend doing this with expensive wine.
• Buy it and pack it in your suitcase.  My favorite choice! I have successfully transported wine from over a dozen countries as far away as Australia and South Africa.

How to pack wine in your checked luggage?

Let me start by saying that I have NEVER had a bottle of wine break in my suitcase.  I have packed up to 10 bottles into a medium roller board suitcase with no issues.  I sadly cannot guarantee your success of course but I have followed these simple steps dozens of times.

1. Utilize a t-shirt (or any clothing item) to wrap around the bottle of wine; wrapping like a present.
2. Place the wrapped wine bottle into a plastic carrier bag or ideally large ziplock bag to avoid any clinking.
3. Put the plastic bag that contains the bottle into a medium packing cube.
4. Repeat the process for 2 additional bottles of wine that will all fit firmly into one medium packing cube.
5. In the event that you have less than 3 bottles continue to fill the packing cube with additional clothes until firmly packed.
6. I recommend putting your shoes on the bottom of the suit case for extra protection; then load the packing cubes on top.
7. That’s it!   Get home and enjoy some amazing wine!

Reminder: Check the customs policies for your home country.  In many countries you are allowed 3 bottles duty free but if you bring more just declare it on your customs form.  There may be a small tax but well worth the price of amazing wine!

Seek your adventure!

All trips are unique and will require something different to be carried in your day bag.  However after 60 plus countries around the world these 5 items are always in my day travel bag regardless of where I am traveling.  In a prevoius post I wrote about “5 must have items for any flight!”  and today let’s consider what you should be carrying with you before you leave your hotel for any adventure.

1. Water bottle:  I personally drink a lot of water and always have a bottle with me regardless of the situation. I could be traveling around a big city or in the rainforest no exceptions; there I am carrying a water bottle.   You could bring your own water filter  but I always take a flat packable water bottle to refill.
2. Note pad & pen: This has been extremely helpful in international travel to write down the name and address of the destination we are going to as my pronunciation may not always be perfect.  Just grab the one from your hotel room before you head out for the day.
3. Headache & Pain Relief Tablets:  There is nothing worse than being on a vacation that you have waited months for and not feeling well!  I always carry 2-6 tablets with me in a teeny tiny plastic bag  in case I get a headache, tummy ache or etc.
4. Baby wipes:  Not just for babies anymore.  These really should be called “magic wipes”  as they resolve so many travel needs from washing your hands, toilet paper substitute, getting dirt off clothes and cleaning leather shoes.
5. Collapsible shopping bag: This is critical.  You may have absolutely no intentions of buying anything while you are out for the day.  Yet somehow you end up unexpectedly at a local market or artisans fair.  In many countries you have to purchase a bag to take your purchases home; so bring your own!  I personally have been utilizing the same set of Envirosax bags for daily shopping for over 7 years now and they are still in great condition.

Seek your adventure!

I am so excited to share with you my latest travel gear purchase because I have never seen anything like this before!  As you can imagine my travel gear collection is quite extensive which has a dedicated closet in my home.   I have extremely stringent criteria for any new travel gear to ensure it will stand the test of time.

Without further ado let me introduce you to….my new travel gear item is The Grayl water filter.  You may recall from previously posts that I am a strong advocate for always carrying a packable water bottle so that you can get drinking water anywhere and most importantly save your money for margaritas.  Well that solution does not work in all countries especially where the tap water is not safe to drink.  In most instances the locals are immune to the many issues associated to the water and it only affects us delicate travelers. You may be familar with a few terms “Montezuma’s revenge” or “Delhi belly” for common illness that many travelers endured from drinking water or food washed in the local tap water.

Alas, the Grayl water filter eliminates 99.9999% disease-causing bacteria, virus protection and protozoan cysts in addition it has been tested according to NSF/ANSI standards 42 + 53.

The water filter is extremely easy and quick to utilize transforming stream or tap water into pure drinking water in mere seconds.  This avoids the countless trips to the local corner store then carrying heavy bottles of water back to the hotel.  In addition you no longer have to continual monitor your remaining water supply.  There have been numerous times I was ready to collapse into bed after a long day of travel only to realize that I don’t have any water left.  Ugh another journey out to search for water!   While the Grayl device is a little expensive I anticipate that after 3-4 trips it will have paid for itself and the luxury of convenience is worth every penny.

Seek your adventure!

Well friends,  I am guessing that most of us over the age of 25 have daily medications that you take even if that might only be vitamins. For many years I had been traveling with the 7 day pill organizer which worked perfect for short trips.   However for longer trips I would load up the 7 day pill pack then carry extra medicine to refill at some point during the trip.  UGH!  Who wants to be spending precious vacation time in a hotel room reloading pill organizers?

So I got creative and got super organized!  I now fill a teeny tiny plastic bag for each day with any pills that I need to take; which makes them very transportable to take anywhere including the airplane.  You can even find teeny tiny plastic bags with different designs if you need to keep morning and evening medications separated.   I previously carried a small bottle of aspirin, Alleve, Tylenol, etc when I travelled or even on a daily basis in my purse.   I have even replaced that small bottle with these teeny tiny plastic bags to save space.

I have found that these teeny tiny plastic bags can be recycled to be utilized for many other purposes:

• SD card or SIM card
• hair ties
• stamps
• foreign coins
• little sea shells
• hydration tablets

Please remember that medications should always be packed in your carry-on luggage!

Seek your adventure!

I just returned from an amazing trip to Romania, Moldova and Bulgaria this past weekend which reminded me to share my routine to avoid jet lag.   Anytime I am going to cross 4+ timezones I have a process to avoid jet lag that what works for me.  Keep in mind that everyone is different but this process could become your solution to avoiding jet lag.

When I was living in the UK I would get terrible jet lag from traveling back to the US or vice versa.  Over the years I have learned a few tricks along the way to eliminate the sleepy, dizzy and nauseous feeling so common place with jet lag.    I am not completely immune to jet lag.  There are rare instances when I fall victim to jet lag; for example when returning from Bali to Chicago which involved over 42 hours of travel crossing 14 timezones.

So here is my typical process for US to Europe transatlantic assuming an overnight flight.

24 hours before the flight

• No caffeine at a minimum of 24 hours before the flight but ideally 36 – 48 hours prior to travel
• Eat only healthy foods 24 hours before travel; absolutely no sugar, alcohol or heavy meals

Day of departure

• Get up earlier than normal
• Get some physical exercise: long walk, bike ride, yoga, etc
• Keep yourself hydrated and increase amount of water consumed early in the day
• Consider taking an aspirin an hour before departure; consult your doctor for advice based on your medical history
• Eat small and light meals or snacks throughout the day.

During the flight

• Stay hydrated during the flight and bring your own water bottle on the flight.  I never board an airplane without my own water bottle.
• Wear compression socks
• Try to keep moving.  It is becoming more difficult to get up and walk around on flights but at a minimum do some leg exercises in your seat just to keep your legs moving
• Limit your alcohol ideally only 1 drink but definitely stop at 2 drinks
• Continue to eat small and light meals
• Bring your earplugs, eye mask, inflatable headrest, etc to attempt sleeping as much as possible on the flight
• Consider taking some homeopathy pellets to help get your body back on track or even JetZone homeopathy chewable tablets

Upon arrival

• Keep moving!  It is your first day perhaps in a new city so go for a walk.
• Continue to eat small and light meals
• Enjoy some caffeine to help get you through the day
• Get your body adjusted to local time; stay awake as late as possible on your first day
• Go swimming if your at a hotel that has a pool and utilize the jacuzzi to loose your muscles or consider taking a bath.

For the return journey from Europe to the US transatlantic I would suggest following the same steps with one very important difference.  On a day flight back to the US do not sleep on the flight except for a brief 20-30 nap.  Be sure to set an alarm to ensure you don’t nap for too long.

Do you have any routines to avoid jet lag that work for you?  Please respond with your comments or send me an email at 1girlwhotravels@gmail.com.

Seek your adventure!

I have a confession to make; I hate to iron.   I know my local dry cleaners will get my clothes pressed to perfection and why would I want to compete with that.   I do not iron at home so there is no way that I am going to iron my clothes while I am on vacation.    When I am packing I try to bring clothes that are wrinkle-free so that I do not have to worry.

However there are a few occasions when you may need to travel with dress clothes perhaps a business trip, a wedding, or even a night on the town.   In last week’s post I shared my strategy for how to avoid wrinkles with good packing solution.   Yet now you have arrived and the worst has happened….the dreaded wrinkles.  UGH!

What is a girl to do?

My secret answer is simple and does not cost you anything.  Take the dress clothes into the bathroom and hang them on a hook somewhere while you are in the shower so the wrinkles are naturally steamed out.  I have on occasion been known to run the water a little longer if necessary.  I realize of course this may not be the best solution environmentally but I am obsessive about minimizing unnecessary water usage at home; so 1-2 times a year to steam my clothes I think we are even.

In the event that this solution did not work there is always the hotel laundry service or the local dry cleaners down the street.

Seek your adventure!

So for a big trip I will start packing usually 2-3 weeks before; my project manager personality takes over here;  I will start by simply setting specific items in the guest room.

#1 Packing cubes:  Hands down one of the best travel inventions ever!  It is a lot like the iPhone; I don’t know what I ever did before they existed.  It allows me to organize clothes and better yet it compresses the volume so more actually fits into the suitcase!  I put absolutely everything in my suitcase into a packing cube.  There is nothing left to roll around freely.  Warning these cubes are addicting, several friends and the majority of my family members have joined my addiction.

#2 Walking shoes:   It is very important to have comfortable walking shoes especially if you are traveling internationally.  Most Americans don’t really walk anywhere on a daily basis.  However in many countries it is very easy to live without a car.  Wait what?  There are people in this world that live without a car. Huh!  So get ready to move those legs and ensure you have comfortable shoes on.

#3 Flat packable water bottle:  I always carry one of these so it can be easily stored away when not in use.  I hate paying for water in countries that have perfectly fine tap water.  Save your money for beer.

#4 Earplugs: You never know when you will be on a plane next to the crying baby or a noisy hotel room.  I have had good luck with this brand.

#5 Face clothes:  Many countries do not have washcloth size towels.  I like this brand because they start out dry and you just add a little water which is nice for travel as it reduces spaces.

#6 Collapsable duffle bag:   I mentioned in a previous post but it can come in handy for transporting travel purchases on the return journey home.  I have also utilized it to toss things into when moving on to the next city catching a train / taxi / bus etc.

#7 In Flight Seat Pack:  For long flights I always ensure I have organized myself a small in flight personal amenity kit.  In business class most airlines still provide an amenity kit and on a few airlines you can still find amenity kits in coach.  Regardless I hate fumbling around in the dark looking for my headphones, cough drops, contact lens case, mints, etc.  This handy seat pack can actually hang on the tray table hook as well.

#8 Clothes:  It depends on the destination and schedule of events but majority of trips I generally focus on bringing clothes that are practical and versatile for the trip.  Think layers and recycle clothing articles during the trip  i.e. one sweater that matches most things.    I usually have one outfit for evenings out black skirt/pants and dressy top so if I end up going to a nice restaurant or theatre I am prepared.

Ask yourself “Am I actually going to wear this on the trip?”

On several trips I have done “disposable clothing” where the clothes only get a one way ticket.  It may be clothes that I was getting ready to donate anyway or hit the super clearance racks.  This can be very handy for quick overnight trips however this strategy has yielded interesting results.  Last year in Indonesia on an overnight trip my friend and I both left behind our clothes that were worn the previous day in 100+ degrees.  While we were waiting for the taxi to the airport  a gentleman came running over with our clothes.  He was quite bewildered that we would intentionally leave behind our belongings however we requested that he donate them.

Let’s pack!

So once I have gathered everything I think I need for the trip I begin to prioritize.   For anyone who knows me from a professional level you will appreciate that I apply the Must – Should – Could agile principles to my suitcase.  I start filling the packing cubes with anything that is an absolutely “must have” take on the trip and if capacity allows I add in some “should have” or “could have” items.   Now let’s go to the airport!

Seek your adventure!