Ellen PhillipsAs promised, I'm continuing the summer traveling tips, especially pertinent for August, the most heavily traveled vacation month of the year. Packing hints and safety strategies for air travel and beyond, for example, have led to this month's extraneous tips, courtesy of smartertravel.org, to secure a cheaper, happier, and more memorable vacation.
' Use a toiletry bag to stash electrical items. If you're like moi, you carry chargers for iPad and smartphone. Additionally, my husband packs extra camera batteries and any other he thinks may be needed. Rather than fishing around in a suitcase, pack all these items in a water-resistant, zippered bag so they'll all be together and handy.
' Pack plastic grocery bags. Whether used for dirty clothes or sandy sneakers, these can be a lifesaver if you're caught in a downpour and need to cover cameras and phones when out touring the sights.
' An infinity scarf is a multi-tasker, even for guys. This fashion accessory can be utilized for much more. Forget your beach bag? Make the scarf into an over-the-shoulder bag to carry sunning essentials. Use it to cover those parts of your body that begin to burn early on. Purchased breakables to bring home in your suitcase? Use the scarf to wrap those items that fit into a suitcase.
' Use small collapsible cloth boxes to compartmentalize your suitcase. Whether purchased from a high-end travel company or from a more cost-conscious department store, these boxes are great to separate and maintain nicely pressed articles, such as shirts or slacks. (I love Bed, Bath and Beyond's 20-percent-off coupons that you can use for every item in your shopping basket - even if they're out-of-date)
' Email a copy of your itinerary and important documents to yourself. I always pack a copy in my carry on and give a copy to immediate family members. Let's say my carry-on bag or purse is stolen and, worse, it includes my passport and driver's license. Assuming I've followed my own tip, I run towards the nearest Internet café, check my email and voila! With all this said, my husband and I never go on big trips without an around-the-neck or under-the-belt pouch to carry important documents. (Periodically, I've written about these life-savers so it may pay to review past travel columns.)
' If traveling overseas, use ATM and credit cards instead of exchanging money. Most of the time, your bank will have the best possible exchange rate. So instead of searching for and exchanging local currency, make purchases with your ATM or credit card. Check transaction fees before your plane lands, as international fees can add up. And don't forget to notify your bank and credit card company about where you are going and when you will be there, so your transactions are approved.
' Separate your money. Before we embarked on our years-planned-for overseas vacation a couple of years ago, I made a "plan." First, I divided our funds into cash (the bulk in Euros and pounds, which we exchanged at our local bank), traveler's checks and a bank card apiece. We set out each morning with a photo ID, a miniature version of our passport, a credit card and only a certain amount of money for each day - mine in a travel pouch hung around my neck and my husband's in a similar contraption around his waist.
P.S. If any of you visited your local Triple A office to purchase the first aid road kit I recommended last week, I do apologize for the wild goose chase. As it turns out, the company doesn't sell the product through its offices; however, Home Depot, Walmart, Sears and other local stores carry the kit. Call the store first, to make sure the item is in stock."
Contact Ellen Phillips at consumerwatch@timesfreepress.com.