carry-on bag Archives - Wanderboomer

How to Pack Light for Your Luxury Cruise Adventure

Pack Light

Over the last two years my mantra has been “Pack light. Pack light. Pack light.” I ditched my DSLR camera in favor of a small point-and-shoot, then scaled down further with an iPhone 6. I swapped out my paperbacks (because I could never just take one) for a Kindle. I gave up my clunky laptop in favor of a MacBook Air. And I replaced my trusty Travel Pro with a Traveler’s Choice Sedona 21″ Spinner.

Even so, I’m still often asked how I manage to trot around the globe with only one TSA-approved carry-on bag and a personal item, e.g. handbag. Admittedly, some destinations are easier to pack for than others. Hawaii anyone? Just tuck in a couple of T-shirts, a few wrinkle-free dresses, flip flops and a bathing suit and you’re good to go for at least two weeks.

Pack Light Summer

Viking Cruise

When it came to packing for my 8-day European Viking Cruise earlier this summer, I toyed with the idea of checking a bag for the trip. But in the end, I stuck with my original resolve – to pack light and only take a carry-on bag and personal item, which as it turned out, worked just fine.

Pack Light Viking Cruise

Warm-weather Destinations

To pack light for a value luxury cruise to a warm destination (Let’s skip Antarctica for now), here’s how I make the most of my carry-on bag and personal item – and how you can do it, too:

Travel outfit

Long jeans
Tank top
Long sweater
Scarf
Closed-toe shoes (also recommended for travel safety), i.e. tennis shoes which doubles as my walking and workout shoes (Travel tip: Wear your heaviest shoes rather than carry the weight in your luggage where they also take up too much room)

REI First Aid Kit

Packing List for 21″ Carry-On Bag

Clothing

Underwear
Nightie & robe
4 Dresses
2 pairs of pants
Yoga pants & top
3 long-sleeved shirts
Light sweater
2 tank tops
8 pairs of sneaker socks
Rain jacket
2 pairs of sandals
Flipflops
Bathing suit

Toiletries

Make-up/remover wipes
Flat-iron
Contact lenses
Hand, body & facial lotion
Sunscreen
Razor
Toothbrush/toothpaste/floss
Deodorant
Comb & hairbrush
Hair ties
Q tips
Earplugs
Small sewing kit
Small manicure kit

Accessories

Sunhat
3 Scarves
Costume jewelry
Small handbag
Small fold-up umbrella

First-aid Kit

Band-aids
Sterile gauze pads
Neosporin ointment
Lip balm
Eye drops
Antiseptic towelettes
Moleskin
Tiger balm

Personal Item (Baggallini Bag)

Kindle
MacBook Air
iPhone 6
iPod
Canon G-16 point-and-shoot
Hard drive back up for downloading images
2 – 3 extra memory cards
Chargers/cords/extra batteries for first five items on list
International plug adapters
Notebook/journal and pens
Host/destination information
Travel documents/passport/driver’s license (Travel Tip: Carry copies of important documents and passport in a separate place, like your carry-on bag)
Small amount of cash and credit cards
Emergency contact information
Snacks: Power bars, dried fruit & nuts, dark chocolate 🙂
Vitamins/medications
Sunglasses
Prescription glasses
Business cards

What I Wish I Had Packed

Light jacket
Small daypack

Q & A

Q: What about shampoo and conditioner? Facial cleanser?
A: Since TSA applies the 3-1-1 Liquids Rule, i.e. each passenger is allowed 1 quart-sized, clear, plastic, zip-lock bag limited to 3.4 ounces or less of liquids, creams, gels, aerosols and pastes per container, and most travel carriers and/or destinations provide small toiletries, only carry the liquids you can’t live without.

Q: What if I want to bring home some souvenirs?
A: Remember: think light! Save the heavier souvenirs for shipping home or purchase on-line when you get home. Jewelry made by local artists, small packs of savory spices (like paprika from Hungary), scarves, CDs (Yes, some people still buy these) and sweets from the region all make lovely gifts.

Q: But how can I stay a fashionista with only two pairs of sandals, flipflops and tennis shoes?
A: Whatever you wear, wear with confidence!

Thanks to my host Viking Cruises for the chance to practice packing for a luxury cruise adventure!

In case you missed these previous posts on packing tips, check out:

Favorite Travel Items to Lighten Your Luggage – Part I
Pack Light with Favorite Travel Items – Part II

For more information, visit:
TSA Travel Information

Wander on!

Nancy

What about you, wanderboomers? What else should I add to my list?

BY Nancy Mueller 8 Comments

Travel Tips: Snack Packs for Your Journey

Maria'sLunch (387 x 450)

My 14-year-old daughter inspires me daily. Whatever she takes on, she does so with strategy, focus and determination, whether it’s her academics or extracurricular activities like music or sports. She’s even taught me how to pack my own luggage and carry-on bag, methodically removing whatever she thinks I should be able to live without for two days or two weeks.

Lately I’ve been watching what she packs for lunch before school each morning, forgoing the sweets in favor of more nutritional snacks like fruit and vegetables. She even passed on the slice of pie that her math teachers offered in honor of “Pi” Day yesterday. Once again, I realize how much I can learn from my daughter.

Snacks (425 x 450)

Now when it comes time for my travels, I take along a snack pack for the ride, whether for a road trip or a flight. Here’s what I might include:

a mix of fruit and nuts, like dried apricots, raisins, cranberries, almonds, walnuts or cashews
an assortment of small vegetables like carrots and broccoli
pecan nut and rice crackers
protein bar
small pack of roasted seaweed

SnackPacks (450 x 260)

And sometimes – shhh! – promise not to tell – I even sneak in a little cookie, because unlike my daughter, I still enjoy just a tiny taste of something sweet to cap it all off.

For more fun Friday photos, be sure to check out Delicious Baby.

How about you, Wanderboomers? What are your favorite take-along snacks when you travel?

BY Nancy Mueller 4 Comments

Top Stress-Busters for Boomer Women Business Travelers

Business Traveler (299 x 450)

Photo courtesy of flickr – fechi fejardo

You arrive at the airport to catch an early morning flight for an important business meeting in a different city. The flight, however, is delayed, kicking your stress level up a notch. You decide to grab a bite to eat before boarding but your healthy eating options are limited. By the time you arrive at your destination, you’re a little more relaxed until you discover that your luggage didn’t make it.

Sound familiar to any of you boomer women business travelers?

Last Fall Carlson Wagonlit Travel published a report, “Stress Triggers for Business Travelers,” based on the ranking of 33 stress factors by 6,000 business travelers around the world. The results might surprise you.

Among respondents in the CWT survey, women reported on average four points of stress more than men on the top stress factors cited. Whoa!

Let’s take a look at women’s top travel tensions and consider strategies that enhance serenity, health and well-being on the road.

#1 – Lost Luggage

carry-on.bag (450 x 450)

Photo courtesy of flickr – starpause kid

On a scale of 1 – 100, women gave this category a rating of 83 – the highest of all stress categories – a full six points of stress more than men.

Action Step: The easiest option to combat the stress of lost luggage is to travel only with a carry-on bag that stays with you at all times. Travel light. Wear your heaviest shoes (typically running shoes). Pack only one other pair that you can color-coordinate with your professional attire.

#2 – Poor or No Internet Connection

Laptop (438 x 450)

Photo courtesy of flickr – tachyondecay

Women gave this category a rating of 81, seven points of stress higher than their male counterparts.

Action Step: Prepare a back-up plan before your trip. Dropbox, for instance, is a free service that allows you to access your files from any computer. Even if you can’t access the Internet from your hotel room, chances are good that the hotel business center can meet your needs.

#3 – Flying Economy on Medium/Long Haul

Interestingly enough, the business women respondents gave this category a 71, three points less than male business travelers. While the survey includes business women under age 30 to over 60 years of age, the authors came to the conclusion that the stress of traveling medium to long distances increases with age.

Action Step: If you can’t convince your company to book you in business class, ask for seat preference, whether aisle or window, front or back of the airplane, wherever you feel less stressed. Bring your favorite comfort aids like an inflatable travel pillow, travel throw, noise-cancelling headphones, favorite foods, DVDs, music or reading material to help you enjoy the flight as much as possible.

#4 – Delays

In this category, women responded with a rating of 75 compared to their male counterparts’ rating of 71.

Action Step: The same aids that give you comfort when flying economy on medium to long distances can help again when you have time to kill at the airport. But you can also use the unexpected delay to browse through gift stores, get in a little walking exercise, call family or friends, even have a neck and shoulder massage to reduce the tension of waiting for your next flight.

#5 – Inconvenient Departure/Arrival Times

Women respondents gave this category a rating of 71 compared to 68 for men. Whenever travel plans disrupt family time or require adjustments in one’s daily routine, stress typically follows.

Action Step: Sometimes the best strategy for handling stress is simply to accept the things you can’t change. You might not have control over your flight schedule but you can choose how you react to the inconvenience. Planning a fun event with family and friends for your return home gives you something to look forward to while you’re away.

What causes you the most stress when you travel for business, Wanderboomers? How do you cope?

BY Nancy Mueller 8 Comments

The Perfect Sun Hat for Summer

Wanderboomer gals need the perfect hat for summer getaways, don’t we? You know the kind I’m talking about. One that looks fabulous no matter how many times we scrunch it up in our carry-on bags. One that shades our fair complexions on sunny days spent cruising or at the beach. One that doesn’t fly off in a sudden gust of wind.

Good news, ladies: I’ve found it! My top pick for the perfect summer sun hat was waiting for me at Chapel Hats, a boutique on Kalakaua Avenue in Waikiki Beach. Not heading to Hawaii any time soon? No problem. Chapel Hats can be found in several locations: Edmonton and Calgary, Alberta, Roseville and Santa Clara, California, Las Vegas, and the Mall of America in Bloomington, Minnesota.

Still not in your neighborhood? Of course, there’s always the on-line option, though you owe it to yourself to visit one of the site locations if you can. What a fun shop when you’re looking for just the right hat for a special need or event. After all, can we Wanderboomer gals ever have too many hats?

Three features of this black-striped de Lux hat make it a stand-out: first, the wide-brim provides plenty of protection for hair and face, a definite plus; second, the brim is supported with a wire insert that keeps the hat from flopping or drooping and makes it easy to re-shape after having it crushed in your carry-on bag; third, pulling down the inside band over your head prevents it from blowing off when the wind picks up, a benefit that I failed to notice the first two days I wore the hat. Who knew?

Chapel Hats Kalakaua
2356 Kalakaua Ave
Honolulu, Hawaii
96815
808-931-4984

Have you found your perfect summer hat, Wanderboomers? Tell us where you found it.