Packing! What a Nightmare

I just spent the weekend packing for our Christmas Holiday trip to Puerto Vallarta.  Yes, I'm spoiled.  My husband surprised me with a trip to Puerto Vallarta for Christmas.

This will be our first time away from home on Christmas Day, and I think I will be alright with it.  I'll let you know when I get home.

This year packing was especially challenging because I was doing it in the middle of Christmas wrapping, family dinners, eggnog, Christmas carols and the in-laws.

Packing?  My first dilemma is always what size suitcase should I take?  There is the challenge of weight versus my need to have the things I want.  I love to rise to the challenge of complying to the airlines weight and size restrictions.  I pride myself in never having to pay the fees for being over weight. On the other hand I need to take everything I want to have a great vacation.

For example, I need to have three or four bathing suits to wear over seven days, and each bathing suit weighs two pounds.  (Yes, they weigh two pounds each.  I'm over 50 years, nothing that I have fits into a string bikini, and Lycra is heavy)

Then there are the cover-ups, the day time clothes, the evening clothes, and the appropriate shoes to go with it all.  That's three outfits per day over seven days.  You do the math. 

I need four pairs of shoes, minimum.  Running shoes for the plane, walking sandals, beach sandals, and evening sandals.  And even then I have to wear the same sandals with every outfit every evening.  What's fun about that? 

Going down my check list there are necessary things to pack.  The extra book to read, the sun hat and the beach bag.  Sun tan lotion alone can weight up to ten pounds.  You need the SPF 30+ for the first two days, then you can drop to the SPF 15 for two days, and then finally you might be able to drop to an SPF 4, if you don't get two days of rain that sets back you tanning progress.  Oh, and you can't forget the SPF 80 for your nose and toes.

Another thing that gets complicated are purses and bags.  You need a big purse to carry your valuables on the plane, but once you've arrived at a Resort, you don't need a big purse anymore.  You need a small purse to carry around the resort that holds your room key card, SPF lip gloss, and cell phone.  Heaven forbid, you didn't have your cell phone and missed the facebook posting of the cute cat under the Christmas tree.

You need a beach bag to carry your book/kindle or tablet and the multiple bottles of suntan lotion.  You may need a knapsack or shoulder bag for day excursions which is not the same as a beach bag.  All of these bags and purses are important and very necessary.   I hear you guffawing in disbelief.  Yes, one bag can be used for more than one purpose.  What's fun about that?

Did you know that some high end resorts are now using the wrist band as your room key, eliminating the need to carry a room card in your bathing suit top.  Very Smart.

Finally there is the decision of whether to take a carry-on suitcase or not.  Now I'm not talking to the women who can travel with only a carry-on suitcase.  I don't relate at all of those skinny women who can wear a string bikini, with a sarong that doubles for evening wear.  Real women need stuff and more than one suitcase.  I can assure you that I use everything that I pack.

In closing I'm proud to say that I packed it all.  Everything that I wanted to take, and I met the airlines weight challenge.  My suitcase weighs 42 pounds (allowance is 50 lbs)  That's enough weigh allowance to buy two bottles of tequila cream, and I know I'll get it back safely, because I remembered to pack my bubble wrap.

See you in the New Year.

How to get an Amazing Vacation

Picking a Resort among the hundreds of options.

This time of year, every Travel Agent in Canada is pricing out package vacations to the Caribbean.   It’s what we do.  Some days, it seems like it’s all we do.   Customers can be hard to please and I know why.  Everyone wants an amazing vacation.  What does that mean, amazing? 

An amazing vacation is a vacation that dazzles you the minute you walk off the plane. 

Where people smile at you and make you feel like you are the most important person in the world. 

Where your favorite cocktail is waiting for you when you arrive at the resort.

Where someone carries your luggage to your room while graciously telling you about the pools and the spa and then refuses your offer of a tip, because he is simply "pleased to serve".

In this fantasy of an amazing vacation, you have miraculously lost ten pounds during the flight and found a whole new wardrobe in your suitcase.

Sounds wonderful?  Now let’s call your Travel Agent and find That Resort.

Do you know what your travel agent hears?  “I want to go to a 5 star Resort in Cuba for $800 in peak season”

The expectations of the customer and the reality are rarely the same.  However, it is our job to find you the best resort possible.

Here are a few hints to help make the process easier.  If you know what you like, what’s important to you, what you can live with and what you can’t live without, then the process will be so much easier.

Your travel agent is not clairvoyant, the more information you provide, the better the outcome.  Answer these simple questions, and your Travel Agents will be able to make suggestions that will get you so much closer to your amazing vacation.

• Are you a pool or a beach person?
• Are you a picky eater?  Do you like spicy food?
• What kind of décor do you like, Spanish Revival, or Ultra Modern?
• Do you like to explore off the resort? Do you want to go parasailing, or shopping?
• What are your daily habits?  Are you up with the birds for a walk on the beach, or stay up late dancing in the Disco?
• Do you like to meet strangers or keep to yourself?
• Do you like to dress up or stay in a bathing suit the whole time?
• Which TV show would you want to appear on?  Gillian’s Island? the Love Boat? Magnum PI? 

Remember:

• set a flexible budget; don’t buy the cheapest option, it’s cheap because no one else wants it.

• don’t wait for last minute, last minute is what’s left over that no one else wants. 

• expect the worst of your airline and be pleasantly surprised when everything goes according to plan. 

• when ever possible in this life, Upgrade.  Upgrade your seats, upgrade your room, you won't regret it
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• and finally, if you don’t like bugs, stay home.  You are going to the Tropics.  There are bugs everywhere.  Spend your money on a nice Spa Day here in Canada and leave your poor travel agent alone.

Here's wishing you an  Amazing Vacation!

Living out of a Suitcase

Living out of a suitcase sounds like a very exciting way to live.  It implies that you are carefree, easy going, can roll with the punches.  It means you are not tied down by a lot of clutter and things that get in your way like nick knacks.  All you need is a bathing suit, a tooth brush and a passport.  If you are a backpacker, you can even live with just one change of underwear, one good pair of jeans and two tee shirts. 

You can be the ultimate traveler.  Just let it all go and let the wind take you.

This, of course, is not me.  As much as I love to travel, I need my creature comforts.  My suitcase is always just under the allowed weight. I mean just, like a ounce or two.  When I put my suitcase on the scale at the airport, I hold my breath and say a little pray to the Travel Gods that it will not weigh over and cost me money for excess baggage.  When it comes in slightly under, I do a little dance, and think  "Yes, I did it. Take that you oppressive airline with your rules and restrictions.  Ha!" 

Let's take a moment and talk about my Creature Comforts.  You won't believe what I put in a suitcase.  First, let's address the need for one pair of underwear per day, and one extra, just on case.  That's what my mother taught me and I cannot do any less.  I have heard about the four ways to wear a pair of underwear, and frankly, Yuk, I'm not interested.

Next, I cannot travel with less than three pair of shoes, one for walking/sightseeing, one pair of sandals, and a pair for evening wear.  It's very difficult to narrow the choices down to just three pair.  No one understands the sacrifice I am making.  If I could get away with it, I'd have a carry-on bag full of shoes.

What I am most proud of is my emergency Kit, it is a miniature version of: a tool box; a sewing kit; a first aid kit; office supplies; and kitchen gadgets; all in one.  It is approximately 4" X 8" and weights 3 pounds.  Trust me, if you need it, I've got it.  The phrase "Be Prepared" was coined after me and my Emergency Kit.  Not one trip goes by when I don't bail out a fellow traveler with a safety pin, or blister band-aid. I can fix your sunglasses, open your wine, and give you drugs to help you poop.  I am the "Ultimate Traveler".  (Wow! I think I just invented my Super Hero Name).

And last but not least, always travel with bubble wrap, don't you?