Tips and Tidbits

A few days ago dear friends of mine asked if I would submit an article for their travel blog. I immediately agreed and then thought, oh dear, what did I just do? They wanted my thoughts on women traveling solo. Ideas, suggestions and the like. I went back into my old blog posts, sent them a few and was told to try and come up with something else. So I did. Something brand new. Hopefully they will post it, but even if they don’t, you should check out their site. It’s so cool. www.takemeshowmetellme.com

I’m not a frequent flyer. I don’t fly every week or every month. Sometimes I only fly a few times a year. However, after years of flying internationally and spending mountains of time in Europe (mostly Italy) I know how to find the best airfare and seats, how to research my destinations (before arriving), how to pack (less is more), what to do in case of an emergency (flight canceled due to hurricane), how to tip (or not), how to blend in with the locals and most of all: how to have an incredible time.

I subscribe to many travel websites and a few on youtube as well. Over the years I’ve learned so many interesting tips and ideas from people who know how to travel. Even if you travel a lot there’s always something new to learn.

Here is a tidy little list of some of my favorite travel sources:

www.kayak.com

Put yourself on a fare alert. You can get daily updates in your email. It will give you an idea of the seasonal fare trends. When the price is right, bite.

www.seatguru.com

Now that you have your booking, time to figure out which seat to choose.

www.routehappy.com

Another fun site to help you find the flight of your dreams.

www.smartertravel.com

I love this site. Tips on everything from packing to getting seat upgrades.

www.tripadvisor.com

Read reviews, find a hotel or restaurant and connect to websites via this site. Trip Advisor is not a booking agent but it will point you in the right direction.

www.airbnb.com

My favorite places to stay. I’m not big on hotels. I like small, cozy and personal.

www.travelchannel.com

Research, research, research. And the photos are stellar!

www.vayable.com

Intimate, personal tours and things off the beaten path. This is one cool website to explore.

www.flight001.com

Travel store deluxe. Everything you need for travel. Not your most inexpensive gadget store but I’ve gotten some great ideas just from perusing their site.

On youtube:

Sonia’sTravels: She’s so interesting, gives great tips and she’s cute too. Posts every Thursday.

TravelwithKate: Kate doesn’t post weekly but her videos are fun and informative.

woltersworld: This guy has been everywhere. I am in awe. He’s well spoken and gives you an in depth look into corners of the world.

Books and Magazines

Ah, travel guide books. I could buy them all. Most travel guides have expiration dates. It’s not the places that change, but certain hotels, restaurants and museums may have changed their pricing or may not even exist anymore. Always good to double check online if you’re using an older edition of a travel guide.

Some good guide sources:

Frommer’s

Fodor’s

Lonely Planet

DK Eyewitness

Rick Steve’s

Afar Magazine

Budget Travel Magazine

National Geographic Traveler

There are many more. Check out your newsstand or bookstore.

There are also language phrasebooks. You don’t need a dictionary. Seriously. You’re going for what…say a week or two? Conjugating verbs is not going to help you find the nearest bathroom or learn to read a menu. These little phrasebooks are a gem. Just enough phrases to help you ask the price of that fabulous pair of shoes. They are also small enough to stick in your back pocket. 

OK. I’ve given you some good basics. Now get out there and see the world!

Snow Day or Sick Day?

There’s a raging blizzard outside. My bed is so warm and comfy. The idea of calling in sick is so tempting. But I can’t. I just can’t. Unless I’m having a relationship with the porcelain god (standing or sitting) or suffering from an intense migraine-the kind where it feels like 200 fraternity boys are having a keg party inside your head- I go to work. I go to work when I have a fever. I go to work when I have a sneezing/coughing/sore throat kind of cold. I go to work when I can’t talk and can barely breath. I won’t come in if I know I’m seriously contagious. That wouldn’t be fair to my colleagues ( I did 3 weeks ago-sorry you guys).

I’ve called in sick so infrequently that sometimes I amaze myself. This is retail for goodness sake. It’s not rocket science. It’s unbelievable the amount of employees that call in sick in a single week. Even when I was teaching full time I didn’t call in sick. It was too much of a bother to explain my lesson plans to a sub. Nobody wanted to sub in music. Too complicated. The only time I ever called in for a sub was when my child was home sick and then the following week I too would be miserable and sick. And working.

Growing up with a nurse for a mom we never were able to fake it. She knew. Even the penny under the tongue didn’t work. Now that I think about it, it’s a wonder I didn’t catch some kind of disease from putting a filthy coin in my mouth. Mom was never one to tell us you’ll catch a cold if you go out in the cold or stand in the rain. She’d hand us an umbrella or an extra sweater and say go. To this day I will argue ‘till I’m hoarse that you catch a cold from germs. Not from 20 degree weather or a monsoon.

I remember once, in third grade, we were scheduled to go on the best field trip: Circle Line boat cruise around Manhattan harbor with a visit to the Statue of Liberty and then the Empire State Building. It was kind of a rite of passage for New York kids. The night before the trip my mother took a concerned look at me and knew I was coming down with something. After confirming that with a good old mercury thermometer, it was decided that I would have to miss the trip. I cried myself to sleep that night. The next summer we went as a family on the field trip that I missed. It was the only time I really remember being so sick as to miss school for several days in a row. Yes, I had chicken pox, mumps, measles, rubella and all that. I was too young to really remember it. And then there was the time I had mono the summer I was 19….but that’s a different story.

And so, there’s a blizzard outside but I’ll set my alarm clock and hit the floor running when it goes off. After all, it may take some time to clear the foot of snow off my car.

Happy Blizzard everyone. Stay warm!

What's in a Number?

So I took the plunge. I joined AARP. Yes, indeedy. I even have my little membership card to prove it. My friend Cathy was horrified. I don’t care. I’m all about discounts. If I can save a buck here or there it’s all good. And I get a glossy magazine in the mail and online tips on everything from health and well being to recipes, fashion and money advice.

 

I’m not one to lie about my age. Sure, I’d like to be 30, 40 or even 50 again. Ain’t happening. There is no fountain of youth. There is no magic pill. Age is inevitable.

BUT…looking your age is not inevitable. My greatest thrill is when I ask for a senior discount and I get a wide-eyed look followed by the blunt statement, “you’re kidding, right?” I’m pleased I don’t look my age. It’s all about attitude, lifestyle and a great nightcream.

I’ve embraced my age. I’m not a kid anymore. But I’m young at heart as the saying goes.

And you know what? That little plastic card can go a long way and my wallet thanks me.

Here’s to a great new year!

Happy 2014!