ADVICE SISTERS ARTICLES -
TRAVEL TIPS TO MAKE YOU FEEL "AT
HOME" WHEN YOURE ON THE ROAD, by Alison Blackman Dunham
In the past few decades, people have become increasingly mobile. Whether it’s for
business or pleasure, it's likely that you'll find yourself spending some time away from
home this year. Travel can be exciting and fun. It's life-expanding and memories. But most
of us are also creatures of habit. We may crave the experience of being on a safari, but
we still long for our own pillows! In addition, enhanced security checks and the
uncertainty of travel in general, can make any journey more stressful. Here are some
suggestions from Alison Blackman Dunham (aka" Advice Sister Alison") who wrote a
regular advice column for Porthole Magazine. These will help make your next trip
away from home easier, more fun, safer, and more successful:
Tip #1 - Bring a Bit of "Home" Along With You:
Familiar tastes, sights, and smells make even the
gloomiest motel more comfortable." Susan, a mother of five, remembers
that her when her family took road trips, her mother always brought along the family's
favorite brand of soda, candy, and soap. Doing the same reminds her of happy memories,
and, of course, of home. For the traveler who doesn't need to pack in all in a knapsack,
try bringing your own, luxe linens along. You'll feel better and sleep better, too.
"What puts me off the most about hotel rooms is that "antiseptic smell the
minute I walk in" says Pamela, a saleperson and road warrior/ Her solution? She
immediately lights up a cone of the same lavender incense she uses at home the minute she
checks into her hotel room. If you don't want to light a scented candle or incense (some
places discourage this) simply use a scented room spray or your signature perfume (and not
just on yourself, but lightly on those unfamiliar sheets and towels). Men who travel are
also beginning to see the aromatherapy benfits to using scent to make unfamiliar hotel
rooms feel (and smell) more like home.
Most motels and hotels provide travel-sized soaps and shampoos, but they may not be a
brand you like or that works well for you (particularly if you have sensitive skin). Bring
along travel-sized products that you enjoy at home. If they're not made in mini-sizes,
purchase a few plastic bottles and jars at a beauty supply and fill them with your faves.
Women with thick hair may find that the hair dryers in
the bathroom just don’t pack enough power. Worse, you may find the dryer doesn’t
work (usually when you’re already running late). Be sure to carry a mini-hair dryer
(dual voltage makes it especially flexible). They don't take up much room in your luggage,
but it will be invaluable, if the need arises.
Tip #2 - Feast Your Eyes:
Jessica, a savvy exec who jets around the world on
business, always packs a colorful shawl in a lightweight cotton fabric. "I drape
it over the ugliest thing in a hotel room which is usually the dreadful artwork that hangs
over the bed," she says. The shawl also reminds her of what she loves most about
traveling- unpredictability and the a sense of adventure. At home, the same shawl makes
reminds her of special travel memories. A sarong serves the same purpose and can be
used for anything from a swimsuit cover-up, to a curtain, a towel, even a head covering
when required. These items pack flat and are a must-have fo rwomen. Men might consider
bringing a large sports pennant or beach towel.
Photos remind us of our loved ones. A photo of your favorite person or thing makes you
feel better, and closer to home. A cute, practical, and inexpensive way to enhance a photo
is with a "talking" photo frame, that lets you add a short recorded message.
Some of these talking frames even have a travel alarm clock on one side of the frame,
making them mutli-purpose. Seeing your child’s face and hearing: "I love you
daddy, come home soon," or hearing your cat’s purr, your dog’s bark, your
spouse’s sexiest voice--these sounds keep you close to home! Just bebe sure
that whatever photos to take on the road, that you have copies at home, in case they
get damaged or lost.
Tip #3 - Soothe your Senses and Set A Mood:
Set the scene for sleep. Eye shades, earplugs and white noise machines, and even blackout
shades (or a shawl draped over the window to keep out the light) can help. Norm, an
audiophile, likes listening to relaxing sounds on his MP3 player before going to bed at
night. "I listen to the same sounds at home too. The sound of ocean waves
crashing on the beach are the next best thing to that deluxe hotel room with an oceanfront
view! "
Don’t count on getting your favorite television station, or hearing your favorites
music. Bringing your CDs and player, or an MP3 device, and even your favorite DVDs
can make the time pass more quickly, and remind you of what you enjoy at home. You
can usually ask about what equipment you'll find in that rental car or hotel room before
you leave.
Tip #3 - Bring the Tried-and-True, Never the "Brand
New":
Don't bring anything that you haven't tested, first
unless you want unpleasant surprises on the road! Inexperienced travelers often purchase
new products and clothes specifically for a trip, and "save" them until
they’re at their destination. This is not a good idea. Do you really want to use a
product (e.g. new suntan lotion or moisturizer) that you’ve never tried before, only
to find that it makes you break out in hives? More than one man has purchased a new tuxedo
shirt, only to find it was the wrong size and he had to scramble at the last minute to get
ready for a black-tie event. It is Murphy’s law that the first time wear those great
shoes that felt fine in the store, the minute you have to stand in them for any length of
time you'll be in pain--but they'll be the only black shoes you have with you, of course!
Women who travel a lot need multi-tasking beauty products. A lipstick or blush that
doubles as a bronzer or eye shadow, or a scented body product that acts as fragrance, too,
helps keep you traveling light. If you're going to spend time in the sun, as
well as at meetings, it makes sense to pack cosmetics and moisturizers with an SPF rating
of 15 or higher, too. "Face in a case" type compacts with all the makeup basics
are perfect for travel, and great for home. Men should also pack products with SPF 15 or
higher. More men than ever before are purchasing products made just for men, and many also
have SPF. These are great choices not just for travel, but for every day.
Save the exotic and unique clothing in your closet for when you’re back home. It's
best to keeep clothes simple and in basic neutrals so you can mix and match easily. Choose
basic styles that fit well, dry fast, don’t wrinkle, and feel comfortable. If
you choose a basic color scheme, so you won’t have to bring shoes, handbag and
accessories for a multitude of outfits. Accessories are great to stretch a limited
wardrobe. Select items that pack flat, like belts and scarves instead of carrying a lot of
jewelry.
When you rent a car, check to be certain that you know the basics before you drive off.
Mary and Michael rented a fancy sports car for their tropical getaway: "The
car looked slick, but, we would have been a lot better off with a regular sedan, because
we couldn't get the air conditioning to work--but then we found that the owners manual was
missing. We weren’t anywhere near a rental car agency for days, and couldn’t get
anyone on the phone," said Michael. Instead, they spent five very hot, sticky
days trying to figure out how the to work the air conditioning. Their luggage also
didn’t fit in the trunk and they had to leave it crammed into the tiny back set--NOT
romantic!! (*Alison's comment: unless it's already pitch-dark outside, do check for
the owner's manual and read the basics before you take off--and you can't find the light!)
Tip #4 - Little Things Mean a Lot:
Each seasoned traveler has a fit little things that they
never leave home without because they're indispensable when they travel. The top ones are:
masking tape, travel alarm, and plastic "zip" bags in assorted sizes. Masking
tape is a multi-purpose wonder, for fixing hems, holding broken luggage together, shipping
a box, and even removing lint. If you are the type who never is quite sure that
you’ll get that wakeup call or is baffled by the complicated alarm clocks that are a
fixture in hotel rooms (and never seem to work right), an "old faithful" alarm
clocks that you know and trust is a must. Plastic "zip" bag are great for
everything from carrying potentially leaky tubes and bottles, to toting home a wet bikini
after that last-minute swim. One man who fancies himself a gourmet always takes extras so
that he can bring back aromatic spices and other treats, without exposing everything else
in his luggage to the pungent scents. Now that the airlines have cut back on food, zip
locks can also help you safety tote your favorite treats and drinks. And, zip lock bags
may help you keep your film safe from fogging by allowing you to clearly show your film
canidsters to security for a hand-check without having to fumble to find them. Get the
good ones that ZIP shut.
Many if not most seasoned travelers have a "lucky" object that helps make their
trips more bearable. One man brings his son's little stuffed animal the boy is now a
teenager). Another never leaves home without his yellow rabbit’s foot. Some women
enjoy beautiful lingerie bags which help keep their things clean and neat--taken directly
from suitcase to hotel bureau drawer. So take that indispensible lucky pen, hat,
briefcase. Large small, useful, or not useful at all, whatever "travel token"
works for you is the best one!
Tip #5 - Feast on Food:
The average traveler gains five pounds for each
week they’re away. Skipped meals, irregular eating habits, a poor diet, and
heavier than average drinking, are the culprints. Travelers also end up eating more
fattening or unhealthy food because that's what is available. You can help keep the
calories down by taking your own healthy snacks with you. Granola bars and dried
fruit or fresh fruit (apples travel especially welll), individual packages of trail mix or
salty snacks, and bottled water, are inexpensive, satisfying choices. Other foods
that are popular with savvy travelers include: soup in a cup, oatmeal in a cup, mini-sized
cups with easy-open lids containing ravioli, fruit cup, and tuna. If you are a
tea drinker, tote your own tea bags (many hotel rooms have coffee but not tea), and just
in case they may not have a coffee maker in the room, bring a small immersion heater. Even
if you’re not flying, it’s nice to have a few thing to eat without having to
leave the room, or pay (and wait) for room service. Pete and Nancy, world travelers who
want to make their trips even more fun, bring luxury items such as pate and cheese and
their own "cocktail hour" (E.g. travel-sized bottles of rum, mixers,
trail mix, crackers). When they reach their destination they can recharge, without being
charged an arm and a leg for the mini-bar!
Tip #7 - Bring Something To Do:
Even business travelers who are focusing on work, need
some "down time." Bring something relaxing, fun, and familiar that helps you
relax and feel comfortable during your "time off." You can more easily divert
your attention from the couple fighting next door, that wild party at the pool, or a
heating system that sounds like a drum solo if you're absorbed in a book or magazine that
you enjoy, with noise-cancelling headphones for your IPod. Don't count on finding
extra-curricular reading material you will really like, unless you’re not picky about
what’s out there. This is particularly true in foreign countries where you may not be
fluent in the language. To quote one road warrior: "I always seem to forget
my book, but then all I can find in the bookstores at the airports and train stations are
novels and sports magazines. I prefer history and politics!"
Don't forget your hobbies when you travel. Monique, a woman who loves to knit, says
that she always brings her latest knitting project when she travels. " I
generally knit while sitting in front of the telvision anyway so why shouldn't I do the
same when watching television in a hotel room?" says Monique. Monique's hobby
has been a conversation starter and a way to make friends on the road. "Women and
even men always come up to me to ask what I'm making when I'm knitting in a public
place," " says Monique, "My hobby helps me make friends,
too." If you are a collector, traveling gives you a reason to get out and see
the town. Ben likes to collect "floaty pens" (pens with scenes with pieces that
"move" up and down in the cap). "Even when I don't feel like
leaving the room, I'm usually motivated by my search for another, unique pen and I've
had some great experiences walking around in search of these pens, meeting interesting
people on the way," explains Ben. *note: If your hobby requires sharp objects
(e.g. knitting needles or scissors) be aware that changes in airport security may
make it difficult, or impossible, to bring your usual tools in your carry-on bag. Check
before you fly or you might have these items confiscated.
Tip #8 - Be Sure of your Safety:
It is amazing how many otherwise-savvy people will travel
flashing a lot of jewelry or cash, wearing very expensive handbags, or toting lots of
expensive electronic equipment. These may be fine for hom, but they will call attention to
you on the road, with potentially dangerous consequences. Even if you love flashy
and expensive jewelry, take it down a notch when you are traveling. Anything too
eye-catching is a liability- even fakes. Thieves are not likely to be able to tell them
from the real thing, and may rob, hurt or even kill you--even if the item is
"Faux." (*Alison's comment: I am writing this from personal experience--I
was assaulted and badly hurt for a fake diamond ring, many years ago). If you
wear jewelry, at least cover it up in public (turn flashy rings around, wear a scarf over
your necklace, long sleeves or gloves over your bracelets. When you're not wearing your
treasures, put them in the hotel safe. If all else fails and there isn't a safe in the
room or at the front desk, try hiding them in a tampon or maxi-pad box, using the pads or
tampons to cover the valuables. This is not necessarily going to deter all thieves, but
men are less likely to go digging in those boxes first.
Place your coat on the back of the seat opposite you in bars and restaurants to make it
look as if you have company if you don't want to be social in bars and restuarants. If
someone is persistent and bothers you anway, enlist the aid of the bartender, server, or
hostess. If none are around, always bring a book and bury you head in it, or put on
your headphones or bring out your computer and at least pretend to be working. Tell
them you’re on a deadline and can’t talk (this works on planes and trains, too).
And in a hotel room, one woman's strategy is to always place a robe on the bed, just in
case she gets an unwelcome visitor. She points to the robe and tells the intruder that her
husband is in the shower.
Cells phones are not only convenient and a way to connect to your friends and family back
home, they are invaluable for emergencies (eg. you get stuck on the road, the car service
doesn’t arrive, you are sick, or lost, or you just feel a bit lonely and want to hear
a friendly voice). Do make sure that your calling plan works in the area you’re
going to be in prior to your trip (you can call your service provider's customer service
of check on the company's web site). Using your own phone also saves on connection charges
in your hotel room, too.
Always lock the doors in your hotel room. Always lock your car doors too, and hide
any road maps or tour books which might tip off a thief that you are not a local.
Don’t leave luggage, coats, or anything interesting (e.g. your computer or
cell phone) in the car or at least hide them in the trunk. If you can, avoid renting
from car companies that put huge "rental car" stickers on their fleet. They also
tip off theives and make you a target.
Don’t accept a room on the main floor unless it's the last room available and it's
too late to move to another hotel.Many women traveling alone also do not like being at the
end of hallways, or near the stairwells where someone can hide and wait for a victim to
walk by. You are generally able to make special requests when you book your reservations
in advance. If you travel frequently, bringing a portable travel alarm to put on the
door may help. Leaving a television or radio on in the room when you're not there
will help to give the impression that you're "home." Never leave your key where
someone can glance at it (most new systems do not have room numbers on card keys or actual
keys, but some do) and never accept room if the desk clerk has already said the room
number out loud and there are other people around you. Always use the
elevator...save the stairs for your workout at the gym! Check the fire exits–you
never know when you may need to use them.
Alison Blackman Dunham is a life & career expert, advice columnist, and personal
public relations consultant and creator of the Advice Sisters online publications,
including the Advice Sisters Great Relationships Web Site, http://www.advicesisters.net
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