|
Travel has become more and more challenging, but it won’t keep me at home.
Here is a list of tips I’ve created for quilters joining me on one of my cruises/tours. No amount
of planning can change the weather, but there are ways to help maintain some control and eliminate
potential problems. I hope you’ll find these suggestions helpful.
What To Bring And How To Pack It
- Carry on bag: medical/personal needs - carry all medicines, (including motion
sickness remedies for cruises and bus travel and read the directions, some must be taken
prior to travel.) If traveling by car, do not leave in car overnight.
- Carry your valuables. Do not put them in unlocked checked baggage, or consider
just leaving that special necklace at home!
- Zipper Closures: Carry on bags/purse should have zipper closure to prevent loss,
no matter how you travel, via plane, car, bus, on foot! Remember, items can spill out as
the bag travels along the screening belt at airports. Bags with open tops are easy targets for thieves.
- Cell phone: bring charger if necessary, lock your keypad so if item is lost or
stolen it will be more difficult to use. (and remember the code!)
- Emergency Lists: Bring list of all health and emergency info, extra
pair of glasses and copies of your prescriptions.
- Passport: Make photocopies of your passport to be carried with you, not with
your passport, and leave a copy with someone at home that you can reach while you are away.
- Weather: Investigate what weather conditions you can expect, and pack accordingly;
temperature (day & night), precipitation possibilities. Check this website: www.weather.com
or do a web search for a specific city...many have great info on their tourist or Chamber of Commerce sites.
- Luggage: check your carrier when flying.
The general rule is 2 checked bags, each no more than 50 pounds. You’ll have to pay
an “overweight” baggage fee if it exceeds that amount, about $25.00 per bag, each way.
Invest in lightweight bags with wheels and retractable handle. Even if you are willing
to pay a porter, they are few and far between these days.
Make sure YOU can move all your luggage yourself! Place ID tags inside and out,
personalize your black bag with brightly colored yarn or ribbon strips.
Many airports still require bags to be unlocked, if you use a lock and they need
to open your bag, they’ll cut it off, destroying the lock. A new lock, TSA approved
(because security has the codes/keys to open them) is now available. I purchased mine
at Brookstone, $20.00 for two. The second time I used it, the lock was gone when I got
to my destination, apparently cut off, or unlocked, removed and not put back on.
Basically, I spent $10 to use the lock twice.
I’ve gone back to using plastic cable ties, plastic strips that are used to hold
cables together and electric wires etc. They are easy to find at any hardware superstore.
If TSA cuts it off you’ve lost nothing. It won’t prevent theft, but will make it more time
consuming and difficult so the offender may move onto someone else's bag. Once you get to
your destination, you’ll need to cut it off yourself. Since we can’t hand carry pointed
scissors, I have a large nail clipper in the outside zipper pocket of my checked suitcase
for that purpose. (You can pack scissors inside your suitcase.)
- Packing: Place cosmetics (or similar items) in spill proof bags, bring plastic
bags for wet clothing, wash cloth (often not provided in Europe), less bulky clothing,
non-wrinkling items that can be washed and air dried, walking shoes, small medical kit
with antiseptic, Band-Aids, remedies for upset stomach, and if you are old like me:
fiber or laxative!
Most hotels have hairdryers, irons, & in-room coffee pots. If you know where you
are staying and these items are important, check availability at their website or phone
ahead. I always bring a hand held steamer on cruises, because irons are a no-no, due to
the safety hazard.
- Creature comforts: ipod, sun screen, sun glasses, ear plugs if you are a
light sleeper, small umbrella or lightweight rain poncho, snacks, water, dollars or
change for vending machines.
- Your quilting supplies!!
Before You Leave Home:
- Pay bills that are coming due in your absence
- Stop or put a hold on mail & newspaper delivery
- Arrange to have grass cut, plants watered, or snow shoveled
- Alert neighbors or neighborhood patrol that you will be gone
- Have someone check your porch, if expecting (or for unexpected) UPS or other deliveries
- Secure all windows and doors
- Unplug computers, TVs, iron, etc.
- Set light timers
- Set answering machine to toll-saver
- Discard food that might spoil & remove garbage from under sink!
- When gone for an extended time we turn off the pump for our well
- Depart with a positive attitude, travel can be frustrating at times.
Always treat the people that serve you, as you would wish to be treated,
even if your contact with them is because of a problem. If the airport
is closed with 10 inches of snow on the ground, it’s not their fault that you can’t find a hotel room.
Mary hosts many quilting trips every year.
Come join her sometime and have loads of fun!
www.a1specialtytours.com
©2004 Mary Stori
www.quilt.com/MaryS
Author of the following books:
The Wholecloth Garment Stori
The Stori Book Of Embellishing
The Stori Of Beaded Embellishment
Beading Basics: 30 Embellishing Techniques for Quilters
2004 Professional Teacher of the Year
www.thequiltercommunity.com
|
