Pack one outfit for every two days of travel.
For instance, if you’re traveling for seven days, you only need to pack three outfits; you’ll actually be wearing a fourth outfit … that can be worn again.
You may also want to consider choosing to wear (or pack) a jacket that you can use with some of your other outfits, to help give them a “fresh” look.
Think like TSA when you pack your Christmas presents for your flight home. If you don’t think like TSA, your child may end up losing a gift. It almost happened to us.
In the past, I have said goodbye to a full bottle of suntan lotion and a corkscrew with a knife attached. Those were not fun to lose, but these were items that ended up in our carry on bag as we hurried. I’ve known about snow globes for awhile so I never would forget about one of those.
Still, to not be like me, don’t pack in a hurry. Sift through that carry on bag one more time. Don’t think logically; think like TSA. Items that may seem harmless to you can cause TSA’s warning bells to ring. This summer, as Scott posted, one boy lost a Star Wars toy from Disneyland at a security checkpoint.
In general, when it comes to TSA’s warning bells, I’m not one to argue, but when it came to one of my son’s Christmas presents, I went head to head with Mr. TSA Man. I tried to stay polite even though I was mad enough I could have spit.
Here’s how it went down and who won. Will a certain present be under the tree this year?
As a last minute shopping trip the day we flew out of the airport in Albuquerque, New Mexico this summer, I headed to the Indian Pueblo Cultural Center and my favorite gift shop. There, among other things, I bought a hand-painted, flimsy bow and arrow set for my son for a Christmas present.
Because both could be easily snapped in two–the arrow was more of a stick really with merely a suggestion of a tip, I decided to keep the set in the shopping bag and use the bag as a carry on. I had “toy” on the brain. I did not have my TSA thinking cap turned on.
As soon as Mr. TSA saw the bow and arrow through the monitor of the X-ray machine, he saw weapon. Of course he would. He’s TSA Man.
TSA Man pulled the bow and arrow out of the bag.
“It’s a child’s toy.” I tried to be reasonable in my tone.
TSA Man said, “It’s a bow and arrow.”
By this time the bow and arrow was on the counter in plain sight. My son looked happy to see it. “Is that for me?” he said. There went a Christmas surprise.
“Could you remove the arrow so we could take the bow?” I asked TSA man, thinking this might be a solution to keep us both satisfied. I really liked the bow.
“No,” said TSA man.
“Why not?” By this time, TSA man was really getting on my nerves. I was trying to be helpful. He didn’t seem to care that he ruined a perfectly good Christmas present that I wouldn’t find anywhere else.
TSA Man: “Because it’s a bow and arrow.”
At this point, I may have said “That’s dumb.” I did say, “If you take off the arrow, wouldn’t it be just a bow?”
“No,” he said. “It’s still a bow and arrow.”
Recognizing the futility of the power of logic, I said, “Then I’ll check it.”
I had a carry on that the set would fit in and I’m stubborn.
I reached for the bow and arrow.
TSA Man: “You can’t touch it. I have to carry it.”
“Fine.”
I waltzed toward the terminal door that lead out of security with my carry on and with TSA Man following close behind. He handed me the child’s bow and arrow once I was on the main terminal side of the door.
Ever polite, I did say “Thanks,” although by this time I did not sound pleasant.
The bow and arrow set made it home safely. Checking it last minute cost $15 dollars–twice as much as I paid for it. Oh, but keeping that bow and arrow set was so worth it.
This is a lesson in having a carry-on you can check if need be and enough time before your flight to do a last minute check in.
By the way, there were three wooden tomahawk toys in the shopping bag as well. I guess tomahawks aren’t weapons.
The bow and arrow set is not going under the Christmas tree. My son already has it.
When you are packing, remember to think, what would TSA man think about this? If you’re not sure, check out this list of prohibited items from the TSA website. Also, here’s the information about traveling with food and gifts.
There’s a photography book Chameleon with a Camera: A Unique Primer on Travel Photography and How to Survive a Trip in the Philipsburg, Montana Public Library. It’s a slim volume perfect for taking along on a trip for inspiration. The author, Dennis Carlyle Darling is a professional photographer and a professor of journalism at the University of Texas in Austin.
Each summer he and his wife, Helen Darling, country western song writer and singer, come to Philipsburg. They are both charming, lovely people.
As I read through the book, particularly enjoying the travel related quotes and rejuvenating my interest in taking pictures of people–one of Dennis’s fortes, his packing list caught my attention. He’s traveled to various countries on several occasions and has suggestions for items that are easy to take along and useful. One of them I haven’t seen on a packing list before.
It’s a sink stopper. As Dennis pointed out, and I’ve found to be true, many sinks and bathtubs in hotel rooms or hostels don’t have stoppers. To do laundry, keeping water in a sink can be helpful. Dennis suggests the round, flat rubber kind. To jazz it up, try this dolphin stopper version.
Dennis also suggests:
Although the book is not recent, the information is particularly pertinent to anyone who is interested in hitting the road with a camera and ready to capture artistic images worth sharing.
Dennis also points out that taking photographs is solitary and time consuming. Great shots come from effort. When traveling with others, such shots can be hard to come by. In that case, perhaps a dolphin sink stopper might be a welcome, happy looking relief at the end of a day of chasing images.
I have a drawer full of pantyhose I haven’t worn for years. As it turns out, there are uses for pantyhose and nylon stockings whether you’re male or female. Some are useful for traveling.
We’ve already covered duct tape and dental floss. Here’s what you can do with pantyhose. The first few tips I read in April’s issue of Outside Magazine. In most cases, you’ll cut the pantyhose to fit the use. I’ve culled from other sources plus thought some up on my own.
The possibilities for stretchy nylon are astounding. Who knew?
Because nylons take up little space and weigh next to nothing, tucking a pair in your suitcase isn’t a bad idea. If the mood suits you, you can wear them on your head like the fellow in the photo at the Sasquatch Music Festival a couple years ago. Or not.
There are other uses for pantyhose that don’t have to do with traveling, but seem like handy hints to know. Here’s more. Gardening is a big one.
When deciding how to get to New York City from Columbus at the last minute earlier this week, airfares were hefty, even for flights with connections that may or may not happen according to schedule. Fly to New York from Columbus and you’ll see what I mean. Frankly, when tossing in the realities of making my way through airport security, Greyhound was a better option. Last summer I traveled from New York to Columbus on the bus, and I’m still a fan of bus travel.
One advantage to bus travel was being able to leave at 11:25 p.m. Because it was a last minute trip, I had much to do before heading away from home for a few days. There wasn’t a flight that fit my needs.
Before embarking on a night bus, however, there are a few items to consider. Here are some tips to having a more restful, relaxing and enjoyable ride.
Things to keep in mind:
I’ll be heading back to Columbus on another night bus tomorrow. Because it’s a bus ticket, as long as I’m heading from New York to Columbus, I can go on whichever bus suits my schedule.
Not a bad deal for $169 round trip, the cost for a last minute ticket. If I had purchased it a week earlier, it would have been cheaper.