9 Tips for Packing Light

It's the bane of every traveler's existence in these days of airline pay-for-packing schemes. How does one confine oneself, if at all possible, to a carry-on bag?  Here are some ideas. 

Prime Packing Tips

1. Pick a color scheme and stick to it. Many people choose black and white. I find that quite blah. Not to mention that once you spill something on those white pants, they are down for the count. Opt for basics in blue, chocolate brown, or green to stand out from the crowd. Having a color plan allows you to limit purses and shoes (see below).

2. Do the mix and match thing. If your skirts and pants sport patterns, bring solid tops. Make sure you can wear different tops with different bottoms to give the illusion of tripling the size of your wardrobe.

3. Thank goodness for accessories.  They can truly change the look of an outfit. Pop a belt over that flowing dress and you have a whole new silhouette. Those who are handy with scarves can find a million ways to change things up with one small piece of fabric.

4.  Jackets and sweaters can also alter a look. Just add a top layer to an outfit you have been wearing all day and voila, you have a new outfit. Plus, the new layer will serve to cover any stains, man-made or natural, that you may have acquired on your blouse during the day.

5. Ladies, since all of your clothing now mixes and matches, you only need one purse.

I do not recommend choosing
clogs as one of your
three pairs of shoes.

6.  Likewise, you will be able to stick to my famous Three Shoe Rule. Now, I am not saying you can only bring three shoes. But I am limiting you to three pairs of shoes--one for dress (heels); one for fashionable walking (comfy loafers or sandals or flat boots, depending on the season); and one (sneakers) for those workouts I know you do on the road..

7.  Pack lightweight, wrinkle-proof, hand-washable clothing.

8.  Use compression bags. Packing carry-on doesn't have to suck when you use these, because by sucking the air from the bag with a mini-vac, you can basically shrink-wrap your clothing--reducing bulk by half. Travelon Space Mates are also airtight, leak-proof, and cheap (2 for $15).

9. Wear your heaviest clothing (parkas, boots) on board. If you resemble the Michelin Man, so be it.

9 Things to Know About Martinique

1. Martinique is located in the Caribbean's Lower Antilles, between Dominica and St. Lucia.

2. No point on the island is more than 12 kilometers from the shore.

3. Ooh-la-la, it's French. Officially, Martinique is an overseas department of France.

4. Ooh-la-la, that means the locals speak mostly French, although Creole is also commonly spoken here. However, English is on the upswing, as the tourism bureau is encouraging more locals to learn English. 

5. That's because Martinique is suddenly receiving an influx of tourists from the United States. Cruise visits have jumped in the past few years, and this winter, East Coasters will be discovering the island big time.

6. That's because Norwegian Air is now flying non-stop flights from New York (JFK), Boston and Washington (the latter via BWI Airport) to Fort-de-France. Winter fares start as low as $79 one-way. That includes airfare and taxes, but you will pay extra for things like checked bags and water. Still....

7. The Euro is the currency here. And with the Euro almost on par with the dollar, that means Martinique, beyond the airfare, will be a bargain this winter.

8. Napoleon's main squeeze, Josephine, was born in Martinique. Folks here have mixed feelings about her, as this headless statue insinuates.

9. Local produce includes breadfruit, cacao, bananas, mango, sweet potato,guava, and passion fruit. Oh, and rum, if we can count rum as produce.

For more information, and awe-inspiring video, check out my most recent Let's Talk Live television segment.

More posts to follow soon.

Tourism, Terrorism and Tactics for Travelers: Nine Tips

In the wake of the recent terror attacks in France, Mali, and to some extent, Lebanon, travelers are once again faced with the question, "Should I stay or should I go?" I have a rather unique perspective on this issue. In addition to covering travel for the likes of CNN and other national outlets for more than 20 years, I assisted the Travel Industry Association of America* (TIA) in media outreach after 9/11.

Much of the effort to get people traveling again was focused on the international market. At the time, the Internet, was not nearly as ubiquitous as it is today, and outlets like Twitter and Facebook, et al, did not even exist. Imagine that, Millennials.

Media messages, therefore, were mainly delivered via print and television. For international television outlets, I produced a video news release starring the President and Bill Marriott. The message--the USA was safe and open for business. I also wrote articles that were placed in international travel publications. For the domestic market, TIA tasked me with developing special See America travel supplements for USA Today. 

Three days after the recent attacks in Paris, I attended a media luncheon held in Washington, DC by Atout France, the country's tourism promotion arm. I was glad to see the event was not cancelled, as it sent a message that France was staying strong and carrying on. All travelers should follow suit. Yes, the U.S. State Department just put out a travel caution, but it really doesn't say anything new....and it certainly isn't very specific. For more on this, check out this op-ed from ETurboNews.

If you are considering a trip overseas, I would suggest the following:

1. Do check government websites for country-specific travel advisories and travel warnings. For Americans, the place to start is travel.us.gov.  At times, State Department travel advisories may be tinged by politics, so I suggest cross-checking. The Canadian government site is http://travel.gc.ca/travelling/advisories, while the United Kingdom's advisories are housed at https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice. The Australian government's website, http://www.nationalsecurity.gov.au/Pages/default.aspx, may offer added insight into countries located in southeast Asia.

2. Do consider staying at a non-Western hotel chain....or one that doesn't advertise its chain affiliation on its sleeve. 

3. Do buy travel insurance. If you have to nix a trip due to terrorism, or are stuck in a place because of events, travel insurance policies often cover trip cancellation and expenses borne from delays in getting home, including extra hotel nights and added flight costs. This USA Today story offers more details.

4. Do be vigilant. Be extra-aware of your surroundings. Avoid political demonstrations and mass gatherings.

5. Do be aware of anniversaries of political and/or controversial events within a country.

6. Don't publicize your nationality  

7. Always have a hard copy of emergency contacts with you. Include in the contact list the address and phone number of your country's closest embassy or consulate.

8. More advice from MI5, the United Kingdom's noted security intelligence agency, is here. 

9. In offering this last piece of advice, I must serve up a cliche, thereby making an exception to my rule of avoiding trite and banal phraseology. Here goes: If you stop traveling, the terrorists win. So, go, go, go.


*TIA was the predecessor to the US Travel Association.

Traveling in Russia: Images of Moscow

Just revisited Moscow in July thanks to Viking River Cruises. Here are nine images taken there. Check them out while listening to this radio segment updating the tourism situation in Russia.

Vintage Portrait of a Young Pioneer
at Izmailovsky Market.

Cyrillic 101: Mockba=Moscow

I spy the Kremlin.

The famous GUM department store has transitioned
into a luxury mall featuring Louis Vuitton and
Manoli Blahnik.

Leaving Moscow on the Viking Truvor.

Nine Images...and a Radio Segment....Vietnam and Cambodia

Here's my recent Around the World Radio coverage of an AMAzing adventure on an AMAWaterways river cruise through Cambodia and Vietnam. Go to the May 28 show in the archives and play Track 4 for the entire segment.

Angkor Wat at dawn

The peaceful shot belies Cambodia's bloody past.

A Cambodian floating village



Everyday life on a Cambodian river

 

I was in Saigon, aka Ho Chi Minh City,
on the day of the 40th anniversary of
the reunification of Vietnam.

 

The next generation waves the red
flag, albeit without a lot of gusto.

Ha Long Bay, Vietnam is a UNESCO
World  Heritage Site.

Sunset Ha Long Bay

More pictures are on display in an archive of the live stream of the May 28 show. It's available at http://www.atw.tv/ivideos.jsp. Go about 37 minutes into the show to catch the ten-minute segment. The images don't always match up with what I am saying, but you'll get the picture.

9 Images from Saigon on the 40th Anniversary of the Reunification of Vietnam

It's been fascinating to be in Saigon/Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam on April 30, 2015. It's the 40th anniversary of what they call Liberation Day--the day North Vietnamese troops stormed the gates of the presidential palace and seized control from the South Vietnamese government.

Reunification Palace, formerly
the Presidential Palace

Interestingly enough, in no way does this feel like an anti-U.S. celebration (that said, I can't understand what is being said). But the vibe I am getting from the locals is that while Vietnam is very much following the Chinese model in terms of a Communist government allowing some private enterprise, the younger generation is very much pivoting toward the U.S. In fact, their favorite president is Bill Clinton, who normalized relations with Vietnam in the 1990s. He's a huge hero here.

The Reunification Day Military Parade
Channels Chanel

Despite the seeming prosperity and consumerism rampant in Saigon, communism reigns. When I quietly ask if the Communist Party will ever be swept from power, people clam up, citing the fact they have children or otherwise deflecting the conversation.

And this 40th anniversary celebration --it's orderly in a way reminiscent of Soviet-style special events of old in Eastern Europe. For example, I was told by several people that all potential troublemakers were rounded up and thrown in detention the week before. 

Also interesting to note that while the public could watch the military part of the parade (from my vantage point, the soldiers were marching right in front of the soon-to-be-open Chanel store), only dignitaries got to watch the floats and the singers and the dancers gyrating to tunes like the theme from Star Wars. The masses watched those festivities on big-screen monitors.

This is the 'crowd" that turned out to watch
the festivities (closed to the general public) on big
screens in front of the Opera House.

Finally, one further indication communism that is still in full force here--although I found two versions of Monopoly in Cambodia, there was not a Mr. Moneybags to be found in Vietnam, knock-off or otherwise.  Plus ça change, plus c'est la même chose.

  

The Top 9 Countdown Continues: Happy Sheep Year!

Given that this is The Year of the Sheep, it is somewhat fitting that my pun-filled homage to Idaho's Trailing of the Sheep Festival gets retold today. In fact, the Hemingwayesque tale is among the most popular yarns ever spun on this blog. In fact, as we count down the Top 9 Daily Suitcase posts to date, Idaho entries rank at numbers 6 and 5. Read up and you'll understand why the state should be famous for more than potatoes alone. 

6.  A Farewell to Yarns:  An ode to one of the country's top festivals.

5. Nine Things You Didn't Know About Idaho: Idaho doesn't get a whole lotta love from the rest of the country. Certainly, when most people think of the state, if they think of it at all, images of potato fields and a blue football field come to mind. But Idaho has so much more to offer, including shimmering lakes, spectacular mountains, and quirky museums. I write about the state frequently, but this particular post piqued the most interest.

Payette Lake in McCall

Sun Valley

Top 9 Posts: The Runner-Ups

I've written hundreds of posts during the five years Daily Suitcase has been in existence. But certain topics always seem to resonate with my dear readers. They include accounts of exotic excursions; my infatuation with Idaho;  my proclivity for punning; and rants against hackneyed travel writing. But by far the most popular post ever...and this is the naked truth...is the tale of going au naturel at a German spa.

But that's just a tease, because I am going to do my Top 9 countdown in reverse, in threesomes. Today, you get numbers seven, eight, and nine.

9. A Trans-Siberian Postscript: An account of  my adventures on the Russian rails.

Riding the Trans-Siberian Route
Along the Shores of Lake Baikal

Me in Front of the World's Largest
Lenin Head in Ulan Ude

St. Basil's Cathedral, Moscow

8. It's Just Another Manic Punday: Although I have recently started a #ManicPunday gabfest on Twitter (every other Monday from 12:30-1:00 PM EST....please join in), this success of this early quip of the same name astounds me. If you don't feel like clicking the link, below is the post in its entirety. 

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I have been staying at the Peabody Hotel in Orlando the past few days for a speaking gig at a travel industry conference. Inspired by the ducks that march through the lobby here on a daily basis, I present this week's Punday entry. Hope it quacks you up.

A duck walks into a bar.

He orders a Wild Turkey.

He asks the wader to put it on his bill.

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7. Go Directly to Jail:: I've been collecting international versions of Monopoly for 25 years. I have nearly 50 boards, but.those bought in Communist countries are my pride and joy. Yes, I have authentic 1980s versions of the game that celebrates capitalism at its most unscrupulous from Yugoslavia, Poland, and Romania. This post recounts tales of the chance discoveries.

One of Two Games Purchased
in Romania. Note the presidential
caricatures on the money.

In the next post, we shall move up the food chain. Expect stories from the Spud State 

and my beefs with bad travel writing.

To be continued ...