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TRAVEL & DINING IN THE TIME OF COVID

Covid certainly has changed the world of travel. I’ve had to cancel two major trips this year and I’m sure that others have had to cancel long anticipated trips, as well.

When Americans travel these days, it is mostly domestic and very often by car rather than by plane. While a great many restaurants are open, many are operating at reduced capacity. Some people are choosing only to dine on-site if outdoor seating is available. However, curbside pick-up is readily available and when traveling, that might be your best or even your only option in some locales.

So how can you make the most of your curbside pickup? It’s not particularly appetizing to eat out of a Styrofoam box, using the plastic flatware that the restaurant may or may not have remembered to stick in with your food.

The best solution is to take some simple dishware and flatware with you. There are some nice affordable options on the market.

If you’re traveling solo, a simple lunchbox like this one might suit your needs. It comes with its own flatware. The bonus is that is that it snaps shut, which makes it a great way to safely stow leftovers in your cooler or hotel fridge.

If you’re traveling with others, you might want something more substantial. I love this backpack that came with everything needed to dine away from home, including service for four, a small cutting board, a sharp knife, and salt and pepper shakers. I’ve taken this thing on several trips with me, including sailing trips when no galley was available.

Oh – and it also comes with a corkscrew and four wine glasses. That definitely improves the quality of your on-the-go dining experience.

TRAVEL RAINCOATS

Every time I’ve visited Europe, there has been at a notable amount of rain. I now know to never cross the pond without a sturdy raincoat tucked into my luggage. Yes, you can wear a regular coat and take an umbrella but if you’re being very active at all, an umbrella can be cumbersome.

It is helpful to wear a jacket that allows you to quickly pull up a hood when a light shower pops up. Also, look for one with large front pockets for your cell phone, tissues and anything else you want to keep dry but close at hand. The best kind of hood will allow you to fully cover your head loosely. Drawstring hoods are nice if you’re hiking in the woods during a monsoon, but if you are checking out the sites in London or Paris, you’ll want a hood that will cover your hair without scrunching it up and ruining your hairstyle.

You'll need a jacket that is long enough to cover your tush. Trust me on this one. Not even a good umbrella can keep your rear dry in a good London downpour.

Price is also a consideration for most of us. You need not spend a fortune to get a coat that suits your travel needs. This Columbia jacket from Amazon is functional and affordable. It comes in a nice range of colors that should fit just about any travel wardrobe color scheme.

B&B, HOUSE OR HOTEL?

These days, there are so many lodging options available to choose from that making a choice can be overwhelming. How do you choose the right one from the myriad of options available? 

Many people think that the most important factor to consider is price. However, the most important thing to consider is actually the size and composition of your travel party. When trying to decide what kind of lodging to book for your next trip, ask yourself the following:

1. Are you traveling solo or with others? 
2. If you are traveling with others, what personal tastes and needs might they have? Is anyone in your group handicapped? Will anyone need a quiet place to work? Is anyone on a special diet that might require an in-room kitchen? Does anyone need a fridge for medication? 
3. How long do you intend to stay? The longer you intend to stay, especially when traveling with others, the bigger you will want your space to be. 

You’ll also want to consider your own personal taste and travel style. When I travel solo, I prefer the quiet comradery of a B&B. B&Bs are usually charming houses with lovely furnishings. On my last road trip, I picked Hall Place B&B in Glasgow, KY specifically because it was old (which I love) and absolutely gorgeous. The owner was quite welcoming and I felt comfortable there. It was the perfect choice for me during that solo trip.

When our family went to the Outer Banks, we needed more space than even a large hotel suite would have afforded us. We needed plenty of space to stretch out and enough rooms that we could each find a private little corner when we’d had a bit too much togetherness. Since several restaurants were still closed due to Covid, we also needed a good-sized kitchen to cook most of our reals. We found this great beach apartment that met our needs beautifully. 

When traveling with friends, we're usually just crashing somewhere for one or two nights and all we want is a clean, safe place to lay our heads, so any decent chain hotel will do. 

There are so many wonderful and affordable lodging options available these days and, with a little bit of research, travelers are often able to score excellent lodging at an economical price. You can research hotels on the web and book directly, but I often find better rates on travel discount sites.

I have long been a fan of Expedia.com, which not only offers great prices on all kinds of places to stay, but also offers phenomenal rates on rooms (often free) if you bundle your hotel, air and car package through them. Another company that I've been using over the past year is Booking.com. You can't go wrong with either site. 

TRAVEL LAPTOPS

Very often when I travel, I need to take a laptop with me to work on writing projects. The one that I work on at home is far too large and heavy to stuff into a bag and drag along with me.

The good news is that there are several small, lightweight versions that can be had at ridiculously low prices. I love this one from RCA. It weighs a mere 2.4 pounds. You can't find one much lighter than that. It suites my needs just as well as a full-size laptop and it also fits quite neatly on those small airplane tray tables.

There are several other options as well, at several price points. These models also come highly recommended. I suggest that if you are shopping around for one, you carefully consider your individual needs. Some are better suited for gaming, while others are better suited for work-related projects.

In order to make sure that you can save and recover your files on any of your devices, be sure to use as service such as OneDrive or Google Docs. That makes switching back and forth between different laptops absolutely seamless.

DITCH BAGS

When I was sailing, I learned to keep a “ditch bag” handy at all times. My ditch bag contained everything that I might need should we have to abandon ship in an emergency situation.

Some people equip their ditch bags with everything they need to survive for 72 hours, including first-aid, food and water. Since our boat was always in sight of land, I didn’t worry about survival issues. I packed only the basics that I would need once ashore – my wallet, cell phone, car keys, etc.

Now you might be wondering why I’m talking about ditch bags on a travel blog. Well, here it is: You never know when you or a loved one might have some sort of emergency that will require you to be away from home for a couple days. If that happens, you will want to take along some basic grooming supplies, electronics and clothing.

Just a couple of weeks ago, I received such a call, summoning me to my hometown, roughly 75 miles away. Chances were that I’d be staying for at least one night, possibly two. No worries - I tucked enough clothes for two days into my prepared ditch bag and was out the door in five minutes flat.

The best time to prepare your ditch bag is when you return from a trip. Instead of unpacking those grooming supplies, stash them in an overnight bag that you can grab in a hurry. If you have an extra wall charger and/or cord for your phone, add that to the bag, as well. The goal is to get out the door quickly and efficiently when the time comes. Whatever you can think of that you might need for a two-night stay should go into that bag.

Keep the bag relatively small and the clothing that you pack quite simple. On my last emergency trip, I stuck to jeans and tees. I wouldn’t need anything dressier than that for the situation I was rushing into. It would be an odd emergency indeed that would require any sort of dressy clothing.

I love this bag I found on Amazon. Not only does the classic black and white design go well with any outfit, but the bag’s design is highly functional. It has a separate compartment in the bottom for shoes, as well as several interior pockets that will help keep you organized.

I hope that you rarely, if ever, need a ditch bag. However, you will never regret being prepared.

WALLETS & WRISTLETS

Travel wallets are a very personal choice. What one person might deem the perfect wallet could actually be a giant fail for another person. It’s all a matter of priorities and of taste.

What do you look for in a travel wallet or wristlet? Do you want maximum protection from identity thieves? Are you more interested in convenience? Or are you all about personal style? The choice is yours and the options are practically endless.

Personally, I opt for safety first. RFID blocking wallets are essential for protecting your credit cards and passport. Thieves can and do use scanners to read magnetic strips on credit cards right through your pocket or bag in order to grab your info and go on spending sprees. Twice when I went to Florida, one of my credit cards was hacked. I highly suspect that my cards were scanned while I was walking in a large crowd. Once I bought this RFID blocking passport wallet, that issue was resolved. My cards have not been hacked since.

Now, as effective as that wallet is, it’s not particularly attractive, nor does it lend itself to use as an evening bag. For a little more style and utility, I love this simple wristlet. It has enough room for my phone, reading glasses and lipstick, along with the RFID passport wallet. Plus, it tucks neatly into my carry-on bag.

When picking wristlets, I also suggest that you pick one that matches your travel wardrobe as much as possible. The same wristlet that rode along in your backpack all day could serve as a sleek clutch bag when you go out to a nice dinner in the evening.

Finally, rather than buying a wallet or wristlet strictly for travel, I suggest that you find one that fits your daily lifestyle so that you need not change back and forth between the wallet you use for travel and the one that you use in daily life. It just makes life a little bit simpler and easier, and couldn’t we all use a little simpler, easier life these days?

THE OUTER BANKS – THE ULTIMATE FAMILY BEACH VACATION

This post is a little longer than I usually write, simply because there is so much to love about North Carolina’s Outer Banks. I fell in love with the Outer Banks (OBX) when I was just a kid. Family friends kept a boat at the Oregon Inlet marina and I was smitten on my very first visit.

Located on the east coast of North Carolina, the Outer Banks stretches out approximately 200 miles to the south, offering pristine beaches, interesting historical sites, ancient lighthouses, fun shopping and great dining options, all accompanied by intriguing myths and legends. There truly is something for everyone there.

Beach in Hatteras Village

Love wildlife? The OBX is home to wild horses, sea turtles and ghost crabs, to just name a few.

Interested in history? You can check out the lost colony of Roanoke, visit the spot where the Wright Brothers took their famous first flight or explore the island that was once Blackbeard the Pirate’s hideout.

View Atop Wright Brothers Memorial

Want to shop? There are too many shops to count in the Outer Banks. One of my favorites is called Wings, an OBX chain. They are a great source for affordable hats, tee, beach gear and salt water taffy (an OBX staple). If you prefer your shopping a little more upscale, you’ll find lots of boutiques and art galleries along the way, as well.

No mater what kind of lodging you seek, you will find it somewhere in the region. Everything from campsites to small cottages to luxury hotels are available, almost all with easy beach access. I recently rented a spacious two-bedroom apartment in Hatteras Village. Looking out the living room window, we had a glimpse of the Atlantic Ocean. On the opposite side, the kitchen window provided a panoramic view of the Pamlico Sound.

The Atlantic Ocean From Our Apartment

Even though our visit took place right as restaurants were starting to re-open from Covid shutdown and dine-in was limited, we were able to find amazing food. The apartment had a full kitchen and we took groceries with us, but we also indulged in some wonderful curbside pick-up meals. We enjoyed pizza from Gingerbread House Bakery & Pizza in Frisco, an assortment of amazing entrees from Eduardo’s Taco Stand on Ocracoke, yummy pastries from Orange Blossom Bakery & Café in Buxton, and delicious  ice cream from the Happy Belly, located just a few yards from our lodging. On our last night there, we were able to enjoy eating on the deck at Oceanas Bistro in Avon. Every meal was a delight.

When you visit the beaches of the Outer Banks, you’ll want to take some beach equipment with you. During our visit, I didn’t see any beach-side rentals for chairs and umbrellas like you might see in other locales. I suggest you take some sort of tent or umbrella, along with some chairs. I like this beach tent, which offers not only shade but a safe hiding place for your belongings. 

I am just as in love with the Outer Banks as a grandmother as I was as a child. I suggest you pack up your family or your friends or your significant other and go have a summer vacation that will result in a lifetime of precious memories.

 

P.S. If you go, I highly suggest that you go ghost crab hunting. It’s a fun, educational, free activity for the kids. The object is not to actually catch the little critters but rather just spot and watch them. To find ghost crabs, walk on the beach just after sunset. Take a flashlight and shine it out just in front of where you walk. They only come out at night when the beaches are dark and quiet. When they see your flashlight, they freeze for a moment, then scatter away as fast as they can. We saw dozens within just a few minutes of being on the beach.

Moonlight Ghost Crab hunting

Ghost Crab

Safe & Clean Travel

Travel can be oh so glamourous. And, it can sometimes be oh so gross. When you travel, you are facing the hazard of contacting cooties no matter where you go.

Think about every surface that you will touch during your travels that was likely previously touched by others:

• The handrail on the parking shuttle or the door handle of your taxi or shuttle
• The escalator or stair rail 
• The luggage tracking ticket you were given when you checked your bag
• The bins at security
• The ID, boarding pass or phone that you just handed over to airport staff
• The credit card that you just gave the barista, not to mention the cup that they handed you
• The arm of the chair you sat in at the gate
• Someone else’s luggage that you gave a little nudge to in order to make room in the overhead bin
• Anything and everything on the plane

Once you land, if you checked baggage, just think of how many people have touched the handle of your luggage since it last left your hands. Think about that rental agreement that requires you to sign a screen with your finger.

Are you grossed out yet? I am. There way too many opportunities for those cooties to be spread around.

Some things have recently changed in light of COVID. TSA and gate agents now ask that you scan your own documents rather than hand them over. Airlines are actually cleaning and sanitizing their planes between flights. Restaurants and shops are doing all that they can to prevent the spread of infectious diseases. Most airlines are requiring that all staff and passengers wear masks when boarding and in-flight, which is a big improvement in and of itself.

Still, the responsibility for your own health and safety, as well as that of your family, rests squarely on your own shoulders. What can you do to minimize your risk? It doesn’t take a lot of money or effort the ward off those worrisome cooties.
First, arm yourself accordingly. Carry both liquid hand sanitizer and wipes. Sometimes a quick splash of liquid sanitizer works fine but at other times you will want the wipes to clean a surface that you will be touching repeatedly, like your tray table or armrest. Regulations now allow you to carry up to 12oz of liquid hand sanitizer through security. However, you can carry as many sanitizing wipes with you as you want because they do not fall under the restrictions for liquids. I love the fresh scent of these from Clorox.

Thin disposable gloves are handy too, at least until you get through security. It is easier to put on gloves to get through the process, then pitch them in the trash once you get through security than it is to worry about sanitizing after you touch each surface you come in contract with.

So many stores and restaurants still ask that you sign your receipt on check-out. They are supposed to give touch screens a good sanitizing after each customer but I’ve seen how half-hearted those efforts can be. This handy little multi-tool can put space between you those touch screens or door handles that must be pulled towards you to open. I put mine on my keychain and it goes with me everywhere.

Please pack smart and take these items along with you so that you can stay safe and truly enjoy your travels.

The Perfect Cabin Bag

I have long searched for the perfect cabin bag, a.k.a. personal item. Some were just too big, while others were just too small. Some were too cumbersome. I’ve come close to finding the right one several times and I was almost there with the last one but it had no outside pockets.

Why are outside pockets an issue? Given that seatback pockets are so filthy, I put absolutely nothing into them. On my last trip, that left me sitting and holding my bottle of water for the duration of the flight. What I really needed was a bag with outside pockets to provide easy access to anything that I might want while in transit, such as my water bottle, sanitizing wipes, reading glasses, tissues, etc.

One day, I stumbled across the perfect bag, quite by accident. I’d ordered this lunch tote for work. After using it just twice, I realized that it would serve as the perfect personal item when I fly. 

It fits neatly under the seat in front of me, leaving plenty of room for my purse and my feet. It opens wide and provides ample space for my electronics, cosmetics and anything else that I want to keep nearby during the flight. I can put a water bottle in one outside mesh pocket and the other things I’ll need in the other pocket. The flat bottom allows it to set up neatly without falling over. Because it was designed to a lunch tote, it is durable and easily wipes clean. It suits my needs perfectly. Finally, the low price makes it a winner all the way around.

Save Time and Money with Mobile Parking Apps

While planning a weekend trip to Chicago with my two oldest grandchildren, I found a lovely boutique hotel right off the Mag Mile. Looking at the hotel website in regards to parking, I learned that the only parking option offered by the hotel was valet. I planned to drive a rental car and did not want to turn it over to any other driver. Plus, their valet service was a bit pricey.

So, I emailed the hotel, explaining that I could not use the valet and asked what other options were available nearby. The hotel staffer kindly recommended two garages very near the hotel and he also referred me to two different mobile parking apps.

I looked at the parking garage sites first and found that one was full and that the other wouldn’t allow the size of vehicle I would be driving, so I turned to the mobile parking apps. I was shocked to see the differences between the parking garage sites and the parking app sites. Not only did I find that parking app I chose (SpotHero) had more up-to-date information regarding height restrictions (my behemoth-size rental car would fit my chosen garage after all) but the rates were considerably cheaper. The garage offered a rate of $63 if I prepaid on its site, but SpotHero offered a spot in the same garage for $50.

I was leery because it seemed too good to be true, but I took a chance and booked it anyway. SpotHero emailed my confirmation to me, complete with directions on how to use my code and what to do if something went awry. The whole experience was just as smooth and easy as can be. Never again will I park in a city garage without first checking SpotHero.

Makeup on the Move

Traveling with cosmetics is a pain. They can take up a lot of space, there’s that whole Ziploc issue when you fly and there’s always a risk of something popping open in transit and ruining other stuff in your bag.

Yes, I know I could be brave and just leave it all at home. However, I do not want to scare small children I may encounter, so I never travel without my cosmetics and I never will.

Packing cosmetics does present some challenges: 1) You want to keep them secure so that they don’t leak; 2) You’re only allowed to take so much in that little Ziploc; and 3) Organizing your brushes, pencils and compacts can be difficult with some bags.

Using your stuff once you arrive can present some real problems, too. So many guest baths lack the counter space you might need to spread things out.

The best solution is a sturdy makeup bag that can hang on a towel rack near the bathroom sink. I’ve tried many versions and while all have been decent enough, my all-time favorite is this version from Lyceem.

Click here to purchase for $18.99 on Amazon

This bag has so many divided pockets that it is super easy to be super organized. It can sit or lay on a counter. If there is no counter space, it can hang on a towel bar for easy access. The mesh pockets allow you to see exactly what is in every pocket, so you’ll never have to dig around to find what you want.

When you fly, only liquids, pastes and gels need go into your quart-size Ziploc bag. Powdered and solid cosmetics can go directly into your Lyceem. Once you’ve cleared security and don’t need to have the liquids bag out, it slips neatly into the main pocket of the Lyceem.

I have used this bag on several trips and have been quite pleased with it. At just $18.99, I was quite pleased with the price, too.