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.

Should you buy trip insurance?

Travel can be awfully expensive. When you’re planning a trip, the costs add up quickly. So, should you add another $25-$150 for trip insurance to that already large travel bill? A few years ago, I would have said a firm no. However, I have seen and experienced enough that I’ve changed my stance on that.

So many things can affect travel plans. I’ve seen countless friends cancel travel plans at the last minute due to illness in the family or their own illness. I myself nearly had to cancel a trip because of a surprise, late season snowstorm.

Travel insurance often covers many things in addition to last-minute cancellation. I plunked down $125 for insurance on my last trip. It not only covered me if the trip was cancelled but it also provided extra protection for lost luggage, medical expenses, emergency evacuation and extra life insurance. That $125 investment brought me great peace of mind.

Just like with many other travel options, buying insurance is subjective. Consider the following factors:

• How much is this trip costing you? If something goes wrong, can you afford to lose the money you’ve already invested?
• How is your health? Is there any potential that you might encounter health problems when traveling far from home? Does your health insurance cover you once you leave your homeland? Some do not.
• Do you have loved ones whose health could cause you to cancel or interrupt a trip?
• How dangerous is your trip? Will you be enjoying quiet days in museums or will you be skiing in the Alps?
• Are any of your deposits non-refundable?
• Do you want the peace of mind that insurance can bring?

I have to admit to making a somewhat costly mistake recently. We were supposed to travel to the U.K. in early October and spend two weeks driving about England, Wales and Scotland. The cost was relatively low. The risk was low. I thought about insurance at least my airline ticket but just never got around to doing it.

Two days before departure, I go the devastating call that my son was diagnosed with a brain tumor and would be having surgery to remove it in just a few days. Of course, the trip was instantly cancelled.

The airline charged a change fee and said the we could use the tickets later if we booked by January and traveled by March. That's just not going to work for me. I'm not going anywhere for a while.

What did we lose? The cost of the airline tickets, airport transfers and deposits on hotels. I lost about $1500 out of pocket. I should have at least insured the plane ticket. It definitely would have been to my financial benefit to do that. I could have given that recouped money to my son to help with his expenses.

While the loss of $1500 is the least of my concerns right now, I do consider it a lesson learned. From now on, I will always buy the insurance.

Save Money by Changing Airports

I live less than 30 minutes away from a perfectly good airport. However, when I travel I often drive to airports in neighboring states. Why? Because departing from an airport just two to three hours away from home can save me as much as $600 on an international flight and $300 on a domestic flight.

When researching flights online, I always mark the box that gives the option of checking multiple airports. Many major cities have more than one. For example, if you fly into or out of Chicago, you can choose between Midway and O’Hare.

As lovely and convenient as our Indianapolis airport is, I rarely fly out of it. I usually find better rates out of Cincinnati but research is key. Sometimes the Cincinnati rates are only about $50 cheaper than Indy, so I’ll pass on those. It’s not worth the cost of gas to drive two hours for that slight difference.

Airfare shouldn’t be the only consideration. Ground transportation can be a principal factor. If someone can drop you off at your home airport and you don’t have to pay for long-term parking, it might be better to do that than drive two hours and then pay for parking.

Convenience can be important, too. When flying to D.C. for a conference a few years ago, I had the choice of landing at Dulles or Reagan. The Dulles flights were cheaper but Reagan was closer to the conference. I could take the subway straight from Reagan to my hotel. That saved me both time and money after landing, so I was willing to pay a slightly higher airfare in that instance.

When you’re booking your flights, a little flexibility can save you a lot of money. Just be sure to weigh all the factors (length of drive, cost of gas, cost of parking and convenience) to make sure that the money you save on airfare is more than any additional costs you might incur on the ground.

Overcoming Airport Anxiety

A dear friend of mine hates to travel. I once asked her why and it boiled down to the stress of navigating the maze that she perceived airports to be. Having to take connecting flights left her particularly nervous. She hates getting off a plane in a strange city, reading the connecting flight screens and trying to find her next gate. She is not the only person I know who finds all of that to be stressful. I’d say that roughly half of my friends and acquaintances hate airports.

Personally, I find airports to be fun and exciting. I love people watching, sampling different restaurants, checking out art displays and shopping. Once upon a time, though, I also found airports to be intimidating. Like my friend, I really hated changing planes.

How did I make the switch from being a timid flyer to a calm, confident one? The answer is simple: Preparation. The more you know before you go, the more relaxed and confidant you will be while traveling. Preparation eliminates that unsettling feeling that being in an unfamiliar place can bring.

Before you leave, check out the web page for your home airport and any airports that you will be in during your trip. Airport maps can be a wealth of information. If you’re going to be changing planes and your gates are far apart, there might be a short-cut tunnel or a train/bus that will get you to your departure gate faster than walking the length of both terminals. Those maps also show you where the restaurants, shops and restrooms are.

There are some free phone apps that help you navigate your way through the airport. I love Ifly, both the web and the app. You can plug in your flight info and get very specific directions to your next gate. I hear GateGuru is good, although I haven’t tried that one yet.

The most useful app to download to your phone is the one that your airline provides. I am currently a Delta devotee and their app is wonderful. Before you even book a flight, download the airline app to your phone and create a personal profile. You can book flights through the app but if you booked your flight using another tool or even an agency, you can add your flight information using your reservation number. Be sure that your reservation is in the app because the tools provided will come in handy before and during your flight.

Delta’s app allows me to: 

• See how many days are left until I can check in.
• Check in by phone and keep my boarding pass on my screen, eliminating the need for a paper boarding pass.
• Check my flight status and receive notifications regarding last minute delays or changes.
• Pull down up those handy airport maps. The app knows what flights I have coming up and it has those maps in queue for me.
• Track my checked bags.
• Record a parking reminder for help in finding my car when I return.
• See what movies are currently playing in-flight and download an app that provides free entertainment while in the air.

There is a lot of comfort in having all of that information at my fingertips. I am able to travel calm and confident knowing that I can find my gate, my luggage and my car simply by looking at my phone.

Finding Your Bag in a Sea of Black

Have you ever stood in front of the luggage carousel, waiting for your stuff and accidentally picked up one that looks identical to yours? Have you ever seen someone accidentally pick up your bag? Have you ever had a bag stolen at the airport?

The problem is that most of us gravitate to either black, navy or gray luggage. There are only so many suitcase manufacturers out there so it only makes sense that a lot of us carry identical bags.

You may have read on other blogs to tie a ribbon or a scarf on your luggage to set it apart. That’s not a bad idea except that ribbons and scarves are too easily removed, whether by intentional means (by a thief) or unintentional (excessive bumping around while being handled).

There are several affordable and effective ways to set your bag apart from the look-alikes at the airport. My favorite method is two-fold. First, I bought a set of big pink luggage tags. Luggage tags are easy to remove, so as a back-up, I bought pink Duck Tape and put a strip on the bottom of each of my bags. I put it on several years ago and it’s still hanging tight. With my bright tag on the top of the bag (if it has survived the flight) and the pink tape on the bottom of the bag, I can spot my bag quickly no matter which end comes off the conveyor first.


Big, bright luggage tags


Bright strip of tape


Duck Tape

Two other options are handle grips and luggage straps. It’s a matter of personal choice but I say the brighter the better.


Handle Wraps


Luggage Straps

If your luggage is uniquely marked, not only will it help you find it in baggage claim faster but it will help the airline find it faster should it be misdirected. It also deters thieves. Most thieves will avoid uniquely marked bags because they are too easily spotted by their rightful owners.

My Favorite Travel Accessory

You’ve probably heard the theoretical question, “If you could only take one thing with you to a deserted island, what would it be?” For me, the answer is Huggies baby wipes.

Why? Baby wipes, in my opinion, are darn-near magical. Here’s what I use them for:

• Makeup remover. They work great on all kinds of makeup. 
• Shoe polisher. One quick swipe and your shoes will be clean and shiny again.
• Hand cleaning. I like them better than hand sanitizer to get gooey things off my hands.
• Stain removal. Be sure to test one out on a hidden area of your clothing first to make sure that it doesn't fade the color. I've never had that happen but that seems to be the standard disclosure.
• ATM button cleaner - or any questionable surface, really. Keep them handy to wipe down the hotel room TV remote, door knobs or anything else that you suspect might not be sanitary.
• Spill absorber. Wipes are damp but not too wet when they come out of the package, which means they can be pushed into service to clean up spills.
• Quick freshen-up on long flights. Wash your face, cool your neck, wipe down any part of you that needs a quick clean-up.

I’ve tried several brands but the Huggies brand works best for me. They have just the tiniest bit of texture to each wipe, making them more effective than other brands.

Huggies Simply Clean

Now, before you go into doubt mode about what baby wipes can do, think about what substances they are designed to clean and what surfaces they are intended to be used on. ‘Nough said.

Travel Flat Iron

On my last CIE trip to Ireland, one of my fellow travelers came to breakfast one morning and confided that she’d just burned off a lock of her hair with her flat iron. She said that it happened in the blink of an eye. She’s not the first or the last woman to experience that.

When you travel to another country, the haircare appliances that you use at home might not act the same, thanks to varying electrical systems. The “medium” setting that you use at home might translate to “super hot” in another country.

I looked around and finally found the international travel iron shown here.

Worldwide Dual Voltage Flat Iron

It comes complete with adapters for the most commonly traveled countries, as well as a thermal carrying case that allows you to pack it in your bag while it is still warm.

The best feature of this model is that the heat settings are not a mystery. Rather than guessing whether you need to set it at low or medium, you can set the exact temp that you want. I asked my stylist what setting I should use. He advised 385 degrees and that seemed to work out well. It was hot enough to style my hair but not hot enough to damage it. If you decide to try it out, ask your stylist what temp you should use for your own hair.

I’ve tried it out in several locations and it hasn’t let me down yet.