Tuesday, September 3, 2013
Late Posting
I am 6 months late posting from my previous trips. I will be better at blogging for the upcoming "TRIP OF A LIFETIME"
Wednesday, February 13, 2013
Packing & Luggage
Packing can be a chore and most people wait until the night before or the last minute. Yes, I am one of those people. Although for BIG trips I have been known to thrown things in an open suitcase all week long as I think of items.
I am packing for my first pleasure trip of the year; I will tell you where tomorrow. For my work trips, packing is fast. I throw in the scrubs, socks, underwear, pajamas and toiletries. I wear the same clothes going and coming on the plane. But for pleasure trips, it is always unknown territory because the activities will vary.
There will be warm weather [sundresses, flip flops], beach [cute swimsuit - NOT bikini]; but there is also discussion of rain forest [that means I need closed toe shoes, something to cover the arms and legs], kayaking [durable swimwear], and partying [aluring, dancing clothes]. This all adds to the clothing, 1 more pair of shoes and using luggage that will be checked.
Yesterday, I had to purchase a new suitcase. The last set I bought was fashionable brown snakeskin. It looked great but was not very durable; although it did last over a year. I usually only check my luggage if the trip is over 5 days. This luggage was great because it was weatherproof; Delta in ATL (the hub I travel through 99% of the time) has a habit of leaving your luggage out in the rain. The middle piece (24") separated between the zipper and leather Dec 2011 on my trip to Spain. Imagine standing at the baggage claim in a foreign country and your luggage arrive split open with your %% hanging out. What did I do? I had medical tape and safety pins. I put it back together and once I got to the hotel, found some duck tape. Yes, the luggage came back home with me. Last week, I was using the 29" piece [long trip] and the luggage arrived on the belt with the handle missing. A perk of being a Delta Elite member - they will replace, repair or give points for the damage. Since it is a unique piece, I will go with the repair option. So now I am in need of a checkable luggage. I searched the "outlet" stores. I settled on a "TravelPro" piece; luggage of the flight crew. The actual flight crew luggage prices in the $200 category. I went for the clearance rack of last year's model and 24" red; I want to be able to find my lugagge on the belt. Also, it will match a new carryon duffel I got for Christmas which is red & black. The luggage has a 10 year warranty but they always challenge the damage as "wearable" parts. I just hope it lasts 1 year. It has the 4 wheel spinners that allow you to roll it upright but I don't have to worry about rolling through the airport because it's my "checking" luggage.
The brown snakeskin, carry size.
The new TravelPro 24"
So now I am off to pack in my new red luggage. Sundresses, flip flops, swimsuits, and ........
I am packing for my first pleasure trip of the year; I will tell you where tomorrow. For my work trips, packing is fast. I throw in the scrubs, socks, underwear, pajamas and toiletries. I wear the same clothes going and coming on the plane. But for pleasure trips, it is always unknown territory because the activities will vary.
There will be warm weather [sundresses, flip flops], beach [cute swimsuit - NOT bikini]; but there is also discussion of rain forest [that means I need closed toe shoes, something to cover the arms and legs], kayaking [durable swimwear], and partying [aluring, dancing clothes]. This all adds to the clothing, 1 more pair of shoes and using luggage that will be checked.
Yesterday, I had to purchase a new suitcase. The last set I bought was fashionable brown snakeskin. It looked great but was not very durable; although it did last over a year. I usually only check my luggage if the trip is over 5 days. This luggage was great because it was weatherproof; Delta in ATL (the hub I travel through 99% of the time) has a habit of leaving your luggage out in the rain. The middle piece (24") separated between the zipper and leather Dec 2011 on my trip to Spain. Imagine standing at the baggage claim in a foreign country and your luggage arrive split open with your %% hanging out. What did I do? I had medical tape and safety pins. I put it back together and once I got to the hotel, found some duck tape. Yes, the luggage came back home with me. Last week, I was using the 29" piece [long trip] and the luggage arrived on the belt with the handle missing. A perk of being a Delta Elite member - they will replace, repair or give points for the damage. Since it is a unique piece, I will go with the repair option. So now I am in need of a checkable luggage. I searched the "outlet" stores. I settled on a "TravelPro" piece; luggage of the flight crew. The actual flight crew luggage prices in the $200 category. I went for the clearance rack of last year's model and 24" red; I want to be able to find my lugagge on the belt. Also, it will match a new carryon duffel I got for Christmas which is red & black. The luggage has a 10 year warranty but they always challenge the damage as "wearable" parts. I just hope it lasts 1 year. It has the 4 wheel spinners that allow you to roll it upright but I don't have to worry about rolling through the airport because it's my "checking" luggage.
The brown snakeskin, carry size.
So now I am off to pack in my new red luggage. Sundresses, flip flops, swimsuits, and ........
Saturday, February 9, 2013
The Beginning
Hello to all those interested in my adventures. I decided that 2013 was the year of travel. So I am going to record all of my "nonwork" travel, adventures and musings.
Wanderlust is a strong desire for or impulse to wander or travel and explore the world. [definition by Wikpedia]
My impulse for travel started at a young age; it started with me wandering the city of Cleveland [my mom said I was lost but I always knew the direction home]. My love of books allowed me to travel the world and time while cuddled on the living room floor with my green blanket. As a teenager, I explored the world by having penpals through the "Blue Blue Marble" show. At the age of 13, I spent 3 weeks in West Germany [it was still divided] to visit one of my penpals, Gretchen Hofflin. It was exciting getting "shots" for travel, going to the travel agency [the only way you could get airline tickets],and getting a passport. And then I boarded the plane by myself. But I had my favorite friend, a book.
I traveled from Cleveland to Zurich to Basel, Switzerland. The family picked me up from there and we drove back to Germany via the Autobahn. They lived in Botzingen; Bötzingen is a municipality in the Breisgau-Hochschwarzwald district, Baden-Württemberg, Germany. It's in the Black Forest region of Southwest Germany. It was a new adventure for a girl from the city. We walked everywhere in town, through the vineyards; rode bikes over to France; traveled to the Swiss mountains for the weekend. It was at that time I knew I was meant to wander the world.
So back to 2013. I have planned small and big trips throughout the year. I travel for work and collect miles/points/status: Delta Airlines Diamond Elite Member [228,540 miles], Marriott Platinum member [50,878 points - I gave some away last year], Hilton Diamond member [217,979 points - I gave some away last year]. Each year you have to renew the status but the perks pay off: first grade upgrades on Delta flights, executive/concierge levels at Marriott & Hilton hotels with free breakfast and/or nightly snacks & drinks, 4 nights stay at the Doubletree Times Square hotel using points.
My adventures start next week, so come join me while I travel the world. I will critique it all from the plane seats to the weather and the joy of the world's population.
SIDENOTE: Last year my niece let me plan her honeymoon to Italy. I LOVE IT! I am a planner and enjoyed designing the trip of her lifetime. It gave me the bug to become a travel agent. So I am pursuing a correspondent course to become a certified travel agent with the plan of becoming a honeymoon specialist. It will open the door for me to travel to the sites and experience what I will be promoting. So I am open to resorts offering me a "look see" for what they have to offer.
Wanderlust is a strong desire for or impulse to wander or travel and explore the world. [definition by Wikpedia]
My impulse for travel started at a young age; it started with me wandering the city of Cleveland [my mom said I was lost but I always knew the direction home]. My love of books allowed me to travel the world and time while cuddled on the living room floor with my green blanket. As a teenager, I explored the world by having penpals through the "Blue Blue Marble" show. At the age of 13, I spent 3 weeks in West Germany [it was still divided] to visit one of my penpals, Gretchen Hofflin. It was exciting getting "shots" for travel, going to the travel agency [the only way you could get airline tickets],and getting a passport. And then I boarded the plane by myself. But I had my favorite friend, a book.
I traveled from Cleveland to Zurich to Basel, Switzerland. The family picked me up from there and we drove back to Germany via the Autobahn. They lived in Botzingen; Bötzingen is a municipality in the Breisgau-Hochschwarzwald district, Baden-Württemberg, Germany. It's in the Black Forest region of Southwest Germany. It was a new adventure for a girl from the city. We walked everywhere in town, through the vineyards; rode bikes over to France; traveled to the Swiss mountains for the weekend. It was at that time I knew I was meant to wander the world.
So back to 2013. I have planned small and big trips throughout the year. I travel for work and collect miles/points/status: Delta Airlines Diamond Elite Member [228,540 miles], Marriott Platinum member [50,878 points - I gave some away last year], Hilton Diamond member [217,979 points - I gave some away last year]. Each year you have to renew the status but the perks pay off: first grade upgrades on Delta flights, executive/concierge levels at Marriott & Hilton hotels with free breakfast and/or nightly snacks & drinks, 4 nights stay at the Doubletree Times Square hotel using points.
My adventures start next week, so come join me while I travel the world. I will critique it all from the plane seats to the weather and the joy of the world's population.
SIDENOTE: Last year my niece let me plan her honeymoon to Italy. I LOVE IT! I am a planner and enjoyed designing the trip of her lifetime. It gave me the bug to become a travel agent. So I am pursuing a correspondent course to become a certified travel agent with the plan of becoming a honeymoon specialist. It will open the door for me to travel to the sites and experience what I will be promoting. So I am open to resorts offering me a "look see" for what they have to offer.
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