Pay No Attention

Airline meal site

Wondering what the food will be like on the plane?  Wonder no more!  Here's a website that shows you photos of actual meals served on a ton of airlines, taken by passengers, along with the passengers' ratings and comments.  Gotta love it.

It's rather fun to check out the difference between what people are eating in first class versus economy.  I may have to post photos of my own airline meals.

Grouchy Woman's Travel Tips, Chapter 4: Miscellaneous tips

Here are a few more random tips for surviving your international trip:

• Forget about the traveler's checks.  Use ATMs to get currency.  They are literally everywhere today.  You get a better exchange rate, you don't have to worry about losing the damn checks or finding somewhere to cash them.  All you need is your regular old bank card and/or a credit card, and a four digit numerical PIN, and they'll work in ATMs abroad.  (If you have a longer PIN or one with letters, change it.  A 4 digit code works everywhere.)  You know all those nifty Cirrus and PLUS symbols on the back of your card? Look for ATMs with those symbols and you are golden. 
• BIG CAVEAT:  find out the conversion rate, if any, your credit and debit cards charge when you make purchases or withdrawals.  All cards are not created equal.  For example, your average credit card charges you 3% every time you make a purchase or withdrawal overseas, and many bank debit cards do too.  Plus, the ATM bank itself will charge you a couple of bucks each time you withdraw money.  (However, FYI, it's still a lot less than you'd pay in fees if you brought traveler's checks, and you'll get better exchange rates.)  These charges can really add up by the end of a trip.  Call ahead to each credit card and your bank and find out what fees they charge when you make a cash withdrawal or a purchase overseas.  A very few credit cards charge no conversion fees (Capital One, last I heard).  Most charge at least 2% and usually 3%.  TIP:  If your bank has ATMs  in the country you are going, you can often use them and pay no fees whatsoever!  Find out ahead of time and note the location of those ATMs.   Is it worth the trouble?  Well, 3% of $1000 is $30.  Assuming you need at least 3 withdrawals to get the $1000, that's another $10.  Is one phone call to your bank before you go worth it to save $40?  I think so.
• Buy phone cards, here or abroad.  Your cell phone may not work overseas.  Don't make direct calls from your hotel room -- it will cost a fortune.  However, you can buy phone cards that will let you call from your hotel room or a pay phone for very cheap rates.  I have a card I bought at Target.  I can add more minutes to it right over the phone.  All I have to do is get the country access code before I leave.
• Make a copy of your passport and tickets, and write down the numbers to your credit cards and the emergency numbers on the back of the cards.  Give one copy of this info to someone reliable at home, and bring one copy with you.  Keep that copy in a safe place, separate from your passport and credit cards  (like in the locked portion of your luggage).    If your passport, cards, etc. are lost or stolen, having this info will make them much easier to report and replace.  If you lose everything, even your copy, you can call your friend at home to help you.  Do not leave home without doing this.
• Find out what your existing insurance already covers.  Does your health insurance cover you where you're going?  Do you have to pay the doctors directly and get reimbursed?  Does your credit card cover your collision damage on car rentals?  Does your home insurance cover stolen or lost articles?  [TIP:  your credit card probably covers collision damage.  But it probably does NOT cover third party liability.  That means that if you get in an accident, the damage to your rental car may be covered, but NOT the damage to the other car.  A friend of mine learned this the hard way, and ended up paying through the nose.  Please check into this and consider getting the third party liability insurance when you rent a car.)
• Consider buying travel insurance to cover the gaps.  A three week trip will cost you $100 to insure at this website (and no, you don't have to be young or a student to buy it) -- less if your trip is shorter, more if it is longer.  It will cover things like emergency medical assistance, evacuating you if you need it, extra insurance on your luggage (the airlines don't give you much if they lose your luggage -- it will maybe replace your bag), and cancellation insurance if your trip is canceled because of weather, illness, terrorist attacks, etc.  Worth the money, I think.
• Buy and use a TSA approved combination lock for your luggage.  Why TSA approved?  So they don't have to break it to examine your luggage.  Why combination?  So you don't lose the key.  Why a lock?  Well, sure they can carry away your entire bag, and sure they can saw it off.  I wouldn't keep your diamonds in your luggage or anything.  However, a thief may well decide to pick another target.
• Don't use those "service my room" signs at your hotel.  Instead, hang a sign on your door that says "hi there, I'm gone for the day and won't be back, if you'd like to break in and steal my stuff."  Seriously -- if you don't have a "do not disturb" sign on your door, the hotel maids will knock, and if you don't answer, they'll come in and service the room.  Therefore, you don't need the "please service the room" sign.  (You do need the "do not disturb sign.")   Why alert thieves to the fact that the room is occupied, but empty for the day?
• Don't leave valuable stuff lying around your hotel room.  Lock it in your suitcase, the room safe, or the hotel safe.  That includes your passport, tickets, and credit cards.
• Don't let anyone take your credit cards out of your sight.  Have them run them through a machine in front of you.  If for some reason this isn't feasible, remember where it was that they took the card out of your sight (which hotel, restaurant, etc.) and check your statement vigilantly to make sure no extra charges make their way onto the bill.
• Know the tipping customs of the place you are going.  They are not always (or even usually) the same as in the U.S.  It is better to do what the locals do, whatever that is.
• If you take a taxi, have some general idea of how far you are going and about how much it should cost.  (The hotel or airport information desk will almost certainly know, and you can look at a map to get an idea of where you're going.)  Ask before you get in a cab.  It's easy to get ripped off if you have no idea what you're doing or where you are going.  And you may find you don't need a taxi at all.
• If you book a "single" hotel room, don't assume that your friend or spouse can crash there with you.  A single usually means one small bed and they won't let more than one person stay there, even if it's a couple.
• If you are abroad and book a cheap room, don't assume it has a bathroom attached unless the hotel specifically says so.  It is not a given in the cheaper places -- you may have to share.  Also, do not assume there is air conditioning if it doesn't say so.  If in doubt, ask. 

Grouchy Woman's Travel Tips, Chapter 3: Packing Tips

Ditch that giant suitcase and travel light! 

I never, ever, ever bring more than a carry-on size bag, even when I'm traveling for a month or more, and I'm a bit smug about it.  It's one thing if you have to pack skis or a bike or special equipment for a trip -- then, yeah, you need to lug a lot of stuff.   But if you are just going to roam around somewhere for a month, get rid of that huge bag and go light.  Trust me, you don't actually need all that crap.  Wash stuff as you go along.  Buy it if you discover you need something you didn't anticipate.  You'll be a lot happier with less luggage.

If you can avoid checking luggage at all, that's ideal.  You avoid an annoying wait at the baggage carousel, and your luggage will never be lost.   I never check bags on domestic flights. 

However, if you are traveling internationally, unfortunately you may or may not be able to get away with carrying everything on board, even if your bag is small. These days, the usual weight restriction for a carry-on bag in economy class on international flights is 15 pounds (7 kilograms).  I can easily get my stuff into a carry-on size bag, but it's hard to meet that weight requirement.  A pair of shoes and the weight of the bag take up more than half of that weight allowance (try it on your bathroom scale and see).

But whether or not you have to check your little bag, there are still huge advantages to traveling light.  It is way, way easier to lug your bag around and you won't need any help or a cart.  You may have to lug the damn thing up and down stairs and through city streets.  (Your bag should either roll or convert to a backpack, as you prefer.)  You can avoid taxis and take public transportation and trains -- which are often faster and more efficient, not to mention cheaper.  You can lift the thing into upper racks on trains without giving yourself a hernia.  You'll swear a lot less.

So how do you get your stuff in a tiny bag? Well, here are a few suggestions.

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1.    Stop lugging full-size containers of toiletries!  Geez Louise, get sample sizes or transfer them to smaller bottles!  You do NOT need that full size bottle of conditioner, even if you are traveling for a month!  If worse comes to worst, and you run out, buy more.  Also, think about whether any of your toiletries can do double duty -- can you use shampoo or conditioner as shaving cream (I do.)  Also, can you just use the toiletries at your hotel?  (Caveat -- if you are staying at a cheap place, they may not have a full array of toiletries.  You can usually count on soap and shampoo, but not much else.) 

2.    Ditch the blow-dryer!  Just about everywhere you go will have one anyway, unless you're in a youth hostel.  And if you are, be youthful and let your hair dry naturally (unless it's winter and you have long hair).

3.    Also ditch those travel irons, steamers etc.  If you require clothes that require ironing, odds are good you're staying at a hotel will have an iron in the room.  Otherwise, bring clothes that don't wrinkle much.  Hang 'em in the bathroom while you shower to release wrinkles.    

4.    You don't need a new outfit for every day and every occasion.  Unless you are going to a ball or coronation, you probably don't need a super fancy outfit -- you likely only need one set of nice pants and a jacket, or a skirt.  (Maybe not even that.)  The rule of thumb is to bring half of what you think you need.  I'd say that for most people, it's more like a third.   You can wear stuff more than once, and wash it as you need to.  Try to bring stuff you can easily wash in the sink and hang to dry.  I  bring a tiny, springy clothesline to stretch across the tub or over a balcony (if you're lucky enough to have a balcony).    However, DON'T have the hotel do your laundry unless you must -- it is hellishly expensive!!   Hotels charge you about $6 to wash a single pair of socks, and double that for a pair of jeans.   Also, you cannot always count on finding a laundromat -- you could spend the better part of the day looking for one and then washing your clothes.    It's best to bring things you can wash out in the sink.  The only thing I send to the hotel laundry are big heavy things like jeans, and only after they really need washing.  (You don't need to wash jeans every time you wear them.  Who are you, Beau Brummell?)

5.    Instead, pack a few smart, simple, flexible layers in coordinating colors that you can dress up or dress down.  Almost everything I bring on a trip is black or white, with a few brightly colored things as accents.  (I'll give a typical packing list for me below.)

6.    Ditch the pajamas!  Be sexy and sleep nude --  unless you will be sharing a room with a platonic companion or sleeping in a train sleeping compartment or something like that. If you must bring pajamas, limit it to one set.  Two at most.  Better yet, sleep in sweats/shorts and a t-shirt, which can do double duty as workout or lounging clothes. 

7.    Similarly, only bring one set of workout clothes.  I'm a runner, and wouldn't think of traveling without a set of running clothes.  But since they are made of technical fabrics (not cotton), they dry fast -- just bring one set and wash 'em out.

8.    Don't carry tons of shoes!  They weigh a ton, and you don't need them.  I'm a runner, so I bring my running shoes (actually, I usually wear them on the plane because they generally weigh more than my other shoes), plus either one or two pairs of other shoes, depending on where I am going.  For my upcoming trip Down Under, I will bring my nifty sports sandals (which can be worn in the water and, since they have enclosed toes, can be used for hiking, too) and one pair of nice black shoes that will pass muster with a decent outfit but are still comfortable to walk in.

9.    Don't bring expensive jewelry!  OK, it doesn't take up much room, but you don't need it, and you're risking losing it or having it stolen.  You're making yourself more of a target for thieves, too.

 

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I have a small, but expandable bag (I rarely use the expansion space, but it's nice to have in case you buy stuff along the way):  Briggs & Riley Transcend 21" Carry-On Expandable Upright  I pack a small, lightweight, foldable, zippable totebag, in case my stuff really overflows my bag and I need a second one on the way back.  It takes almost no space in my luggage, and can double as a beach, gym or shopping bag. This isn't the one I have, but it is very similar: Eagle Creek Packable Tote 40301

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Below is a packing list for my three week trip to Australia in May  (including all the stuff I'll wear and bring on the plane). .  The temperatures will range from 40 degrees Fahrenheit to more than 80 degrees Fahrenheit, and I'll likely see some rain.  I'll be in cities, deserts, a rainforest and at the ocean shore.  I'll go to some nice restaurants, take in a show, hike in the outback, and hang out at the beach.  It all will fit in a 21" carry-on size bag and a small "personal size" purse or bag.

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Obviously, if you are just going to the beach for a week, you don't need all the stuff I list below, and of course if you are going camping or are off to Prince Edward's wedding, your packing list will look different. 

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GROUCHY WOMAN'S PACKING LIST FOR A 3 WEEK (OR MORE) TRIP WITH VARIABLE WEATHER AND A RANGE OF OCCASIONS FROM DRESSY TO SPORTY

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·       2 pairs of jeans (will wear one pair of them on the plane).  You could ditch the extra pair, but you'll wear them a lot, and it's hard to wash them in the sink.  If you don't mind paying for the hotel laundry or trying to find a laundromat (or if you don't mind them reeking by the end of three weeks), go ahead and ditch the extra pair.

·       1 pair black pants

·       1 plain straight black skirt .  If I'm sure that I won't be going to any nice restaurants or theaters, I ditch this.  If I'm going to a major city, though, I almost certainly will go somewhere nice at least once or twice.

·      1 pair (non-running, street-wear-type) shorts

·       running shoes (will wear on plane).

·       sports sandals (waterproof and durable -- suitable for long hikes or white water rafting).  Here are the ones I have: Women's Keen Newport H2. There is a man's version, too: Newport H2 - Men's by Keen

·       nice but comfortable black shoes (for when I wear the skirt or black pants and want to look nice.).

·       warm black wool zip-up sweater (will wear on plane).  It is simple and nice enough looking to wear with a plain skirt or nice pants, but sturdy enough to rough it a bit.

·       light rain jacket (will wear on the plane).  If it's 40 degrees and rainy, I can layer the sweater and jacket.  If it is 70 degrees and rainy, the jacket alone will still work).

·       1 sleeping outfit (in case I crash with a friend for a couple of nights -- I normally am happy to sleep nude and save the luggage space.)

·       4 t-shirts  (I wear one of them on the plane, and carry one with me.)  I bring nice fitted solid-colored t-shirts with scoop or v necks, not grungy crew neck race t-shirts.  Why?  because they can dress up or dress down.  They look just fine with my skirt, or with my jeans or shorts. 

·       one black silk sweater (in case I really put on the dog.  If I'm sure that I won't be going to any nice restaurants or theaters, I ditch this.) 

·       1 running shirt, and 1 pair running shorts (they dry fast -- only need one set).

·       2 pairs running socks, and 2 running bras (they don't dry quite as fast, so I like a spare).

·       4 pairs of non-running socks   They take some time to dry, so I bring extras. They don't necessarily dry overnight.  Cut 'em down if you don't mind washing stuff constantly.

·       4 bras, 4 pairs underwear  (they're easy to wash and dry fast -- why bring more?  Wash 'em out and hang 'em overnight.  I like to have enough to go a few days without washing anything in the sink.

·       bathing suit

·       watch and jewelry (will wear on plane)  I limit the jewelry to one pair of simple and inexpensive silver earrings and a simple and inexpensive necklace.  Why wear expensive crap that might get stolen?  And why bring six sets of jewelry for every occasion?  Bring stuff that will work for casual or dressier occasions.

·       glasses and glasses case (they come on the plane)

·       sunglasses

·       tiny packable umbrella

·       black belt (to dress up pants or jeans a bit)

·       big sun hat (foldable and packable).

·       baseball cap to run in.

·       pashmina (bring on plane as blanket -- also doubles as shawl when I dress up a bit).

·       Toiletries (all in sample size containers):  contact lens solution and eyedrops (they come on plane with me), conditioner (it's rarely in any but the nicest hotels these days), Vaseline and chapstick (they come on plane with me), face moisturizer, sunscreen, toothbrush paste and floss (which comes on plane with me), razor, small container of Dr. Bronner's liquid soap (concentrated -- can use it for laundry or your body), extra set of contact lenses and case (I wear two week disposables), deodorant, comb (comes on plane with me).  FYI, I can get all of this in a quart-size ziplock bag with the miracle of sample sizes.

·       safety pins,

·        travel alarm clock

·       converter/ appropriate plug for any electrical appliances I bring.  All I need to be able to plug in are my camera and ipod chargers.  Luckily, they both adjust to either 240 volts or 100 volts, so I don't need to bring a converter.  However, I do need a special plug adapter to plug them in.  Here's a handy international converter and plug set for traveling: Lenmar AC5 World Travel Adapter/Converter Plug Set.  Before you leave, check out the voltage and the type of plug they use in the country you are visiting.   

·       tiny stretchy travel clothesline (stretches over tub with suction cups -- in some hotel bathrooms, there is nowhere to hang things to dry): Lewis N Clark Travel Clothesline

·       To bring on plane:  guide book, passport, itinerary, money (I bring a couple hundred in US currency) and credit /debit cards, inflatable travel pillow, earplugs, eyeshade, gum, earplanes, camera and battery charger, Ipod and headphones, extra batteries,  wet wipes, tissues, booklight (the light on planes, trains and buses does not always work!),travel journal, pen, a novel or two    (By the way, I usually pack half a dozen books when alone and traveling to countries that won't have much in the way of English books --books take up half my luggage -- but I won't bother when going to Australia.  I can buy books and abandon them as I go along.  Also, when I'm traveling to the third world, I bring extra wet-wipes and tissues, because they really come in handy the squat toilets and such, and it's cheaper and easier to bring them from home.)  [FYI -- this sounds like a lot when listed this way, but it all fits in a large handbag -- well within the airline's bounds for a "personal item".  My headphones fold down to a tiny size and fit in a small carrying case along with my Ipod.  My digital camera is minuscule.  The rest barely takes up any space at all. ]

·      Medication:  I bring allergy pills, a little sample pack of Advil, a few Imodium tablets, and some Gas-Ex tablets.   Why?  I want my own allergy pills -- don't want to be at the mercy of whatever they sell where I'm going.  The Advil and stomach medicines are just in case it is the middle of the night and I have an issue.  Sure, maybe you could buy it there, but believe me, you don't want to go shopping in a foreign drugstore when you have diarrhea or a fever, trying to find something suitable (especially if you don't speak the language).  I know this from sad experience.  Keep the medicine in its original container (for security, so they don't think you're smuggling drugs), but you don't have to bring the whole box.  Just bring one of those foil sheets with the tablets in them.  FYI -- If I'm going to Asia or South America or Eastern Europe, I bring a bit of cold medicine too, just in case.  It's sometimes hard to find, and it sucks to get a cold on vacation and have nothing to make you feel better.  Laugh at me all you like for my little traveling medicine cabinet.  The last time a friend of mine mocked me for it, he used most of my Imodium.  Laugh at your own risk.

I guess if you're a guy you could add a sports jacket and tie to that list, and ditch the skirt, pashmina, jewelry and bras.  But the principle is the same.

Grouchy Woman's Travel Tips, Chapter 2: Surviving a Long Flight in Coach

As you might guess, Grouchy Woman gets grouchy on a plane.  I love traveling, but I absolutely hate flying, especially in coach.  I find it very hard to sleep, the noise drives me nuts, and I get terrible, terrible jet lag.  However, I've learned a few ways to make it better, which I will now pass on to you.   Most of these are for really long flights -- like, at least transatlantic -- but they may help you on shorter flights, too.

·       Stuff I always bring on board a very long plane trip in coach: 

o      earplugs (I like the soft foam kind).  Great for blocking out crying babies.

o      eyeshade (for when they don't dim the cabin lights).  You can buy foam earplugs at any drugstore, but for your convenience, here's a really nice eyeshade and earplug set: Escape Travel Relaxation Sleep Mask with Earplugs and Carry Pouch. Here's a really cheap eyeshade and earplug set: Samsonite Eye Shades & Earplugs

o      a tiny, tiny sample size container of vaseline.  Look in the sample size section of a drug store for an extra teeny size (there is a 1.75 oz. size), or transfer some to a little container (obviously 3 ounces or less, but smaller if you can).  Why?  Your skin, lips and the inside of your nose get extremely dry on very long flights.  It can actually be painful.  It sounds gross, but smear a tiny little bit of vaseline inside your nose -- it will make breathing more comfortable.  And use the vaseline as lotion for your hands and as chapstick for your lips.  Bring a chapstick too, if you like (I always have one when I travel), but vaseline can cover for it.

o      eyedrops.  Your eyes get dry and irritated on long flights.

o      my noise-canceling headphones and Ipod.  These are godsends, especially on long flights without personal TV screens or flights with a particularly noisy baby.  Tip:  just earplugs or just noise-cancelling headphones don't always block out a screaming baby.  BUT -- put in the earplugs, put the noise-cancelling headphones over them, and turn the music or movie to the point where you can hear it and presto!  It will block out just about everything.  Make sure the Ipod is fully charged, and that you carry extra batteries for the headphones, just in case!  You'll find that the headphones work much better than the ones the airlines give you, by the way, so use them for the movie, too. Here are my headphones -- I love them: Sennheiser PXC 300 Noise Cancelling Headphones  If you don't already have an Ipod, what are you waiting for?  Here is a great 8 GB Ipod nano for as little as $139.66!  It shows movies and tv shows too!  Crap, I might have to replace mine and get this one. Apple iPod nano 8 GB Black (3rd Generation) 

o      A book.  Or two.

o      tissues and a couple packs of wetwipes.  You and your tray table will be grungy, and if you have these, you have an instant bath for you both.  And you may want to blow your nose, too.

o      my inflatable neck pillow.  The airline's pillows are not comfortable and are very dirty.  Use 'em as lumbar support behind your lower back.  Get a good inflatable one for your neck.  Why inflatable instead of a cushiony one?  Because it takes up way less space in your bag when it isn't inflated.   The ones that go around your neck look stupid, but they'll keep your head from lolling to the side or forward and waking you up. Here's mine, which I love: Obus Forme Inflatable Travel Pillow

o      chewing gum and/or "earplanes":  I have a terrible problem with painful ear pressure when landing, and it helps to either chew gum or use EarPlanes Earplugs, Flight Ear Protection 1 Pair, 2 Pack, and it really helps to do both.  Put 'em in and/or start chewing about half an hour before you are supposed to land.

o      my pashmina shawl:  Sorry guys, this tip won't help you, but the ladies might like it.  A pashmina shawl is small and light, takes almost no space in your bag, but is incredibly warm and makes a great blanket.  (Did you know that airline blankets are rarely washed?  True.)  On your trip, you can use it as an shawl, too, so it serves double duty.

o      one set of underwear, socks and a t-shirt.  If you checked luggage and they lost it, you'll be glad you have it.  Don't bother with pants -- you can wear the same ones a second (or a third) day.  Who are you, Beau Brummell?

o      travel toothbrush, paste and floss.  With a 22 hour flight, you'll want to brush your teeth.  Also, if they lose your luggage, you'll be glad you have it.  (Try those Oral B brush-up things!  they come in little packets that take up no space at all, and they work pretty well.  Also, you don't need water to use them.  Another thing you might consider are individual packets of floss -- every bit of space in your carry-on counts.)

o      a comb.

o      glasses and/or contact lens stuff, if you wear them.  I always wear my glasses rather than my contacts on a flight.  Your eyes get dry, and glasses are more comfortable. Also, if they lose your luggage, you'll be glad you have it.  Don't forget your glasses case!

o      sample size of any toiletry you absolutely positively cannot live without when you land.  Please be sparing about this.  Not only do you have to get past security with a tiny bag of liquids, but you just don't need everything.  You just need an emergency kit to get you through 24 hours.

o      any medication you absolutely must have during the flight or for the next 24 hours thereafter.

o      all tickets, identification, credit cards, valuables,  a copy of your itinerary, and emergency phone numbers.  If they lose your luggage, you'll be glad you have it, and also, you don't want to risk it being stolen.  My camera and jewelry stay with me.  Anything you absolutely cannot live with losing forever, bring with you and hold on tight.

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·           What to wear on the plane:

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o      comfortable layered clothes that will also be useful on your trip.  It can get too cold or too warm on the plane, and you should be prepared.  I wear jeans or comfortable pants, a t-shirt, and a warm wool zip-up sweater or fleece (whichever will get more use on the trip).  Don't wear stuff you won't touch for the rest of your trip, if you can avoid it.  (Granted, that's hard to do if you're leaving for a vacation in the tropics from Maine in the winter.  But there is the layered approach . . .)

o      If you'll need a coat, wear it if possible.  You can take it off on the plane, but that way it doesn't count as part of your baggage allowance.  I like to wear a light raincoat over a sweater -- that covers most situations you'll face above freezing temperature, and you can take them both off on the plane, or leave the sweater on.

o      Socks and the heaviest shoes you are bringing.  Your feet will get cold on the flight, and you'll have to remove your shoes to get through  security, so wear socks, even in summer.   You can get special socks that help prevent deep vein thrombosis (DVT) and swollen ankles during long flights, and you may want to consider getting a pair:  Jobst Travel Compression Socks    Don't think you are immune to DVT just because you're young and fit. Athletes are actually more vulnerable than sedentary people, and it is a dangerous condition. As for shoes, wear your heaviest ones because that way they aren't weighing down your luggage.  My running shoes are usually the heaviest thing I'm bringing, so I usually wear them on the plane.

o      avoid unnecessary metal -- do you really need the belt?  you'll have to take it off at security.  Think about anything metal you put on -- jewelry, watches, etc.

o      woman -- avoid underwire bras -- they set off metal detectors.  (I find a sports bra to be most comfortable on long flights, but suit yourself.)

Grouchy Woman Travel Tips, Chapter 1: Planning and Booking Your Trip

I travel a lot, and I've learned quite a bit along the wayabout how to make myself less grouchy on a trip.  I’m going to post a few columns containing some of my tips for saving money, being comfortable, traveling light, and being prepared.  Actually, I just discovered that I have 10 single spaced pages of suggestions in a Microsoft Word document, so I’m going to have to post them in several columns.  (Really, I should just write a book.)  I'll do future installments as ideas occur to me.

CHAPTER 1:  PLANNING AND BOOKING A TRIP

·            Try Kayak.com to research your airfares and hotels.  It is far and away the best site I've found --better than Travelocity or Priceline.  In fact, it will give you a comparison of the fares Priceline, Travelocity etc. would have given you for the same flights.  It includes a lot of airlines that other travel sites don't always include. It also will allow you to search flexible travel dates, narrow or expand your search, etc.  Sign up for Kayak's flight bargain alerts -- I've found some serious bargains that way.   By the way, Kayak is not a travel agent -- you do not book tickets through them, and thus, you don't pay them fees.  What Kayak does is gather and compare all of the prices offered for a particular flight or hotel or itinerary.  If you select a flight or hotel, Kayak will redirect you to the airline site or the site of the agent with the cheap ticket price. (By the way, I'm in no way affiliated with Kayak -- I just love them!)

·              If you are going to book your airfare or hotel through a website that is not the airline's or hotel's official website, take a look at the airline's or hotel's official website before you book.  If you've found a fare or a room at a cheaper price than they are offering, a lot of them have a policy that they'll give you an even deeper discount.  They want their official site offering the best price, and they want you to book with them.  Often you have to book with the official website (say, Holiday Inn), and then alert them to the cheaper rate within 24 hours.  However, check their rules carefully before you book anything so you don't get stuck with a higher rate.

·             Start early when researching and booking your airfare.  The best fares can usually be found at least three weeks (and usually more) in advance.  There are generally only so many extra cheapo seats available, and they usually go very fast. ( That said, if the flight isn't fully booked, sometimes you can get a serious bargain at the last minute.  Last year, some friends wanted me to travel with them, but it was June and the cheapest airfare I could find was $1400, so I declined.  Two days before they were going, I found a $700 airfare, and promptly booked the trip and went at the last minute.  BIG CAVEAT with this approach -- it's unusual for such last minute bargains to materialize, and you're taking a big chance by waiting.   It's worth checking out last minute deals, but if you really want to go, plan ahead.

·            If you can, travel during the "shoulder" season of your destination.  (When that is will depend on your destination.)   This should be obvious, but hotel and airline rates can be cheaper -- WAY cheaper -- in the off season.  You'll also get fewer crowds and often, better service (hotels are happy to see you).   The down side is that the weather might not be so great and attractions may be closed.  [ALWAYS check on this before planning your trip!  You don't want to be travelling during the monsoon season!] The trick is to plan your trip when the rates are cheap, but the weather doesn't suck and the attractions you want to see are open.  Oh, and check on holidays, too.  It can be great to be somewhere during a festival, but it can also mean that everything is closed, or that all of the schoolchildren in the nation will be at the museums.  Know before you go. 

·              If it is at all possible, be flexible when choosing your travel dates and times.  Leaving or returning a day or two earlier or later can make a huge difference in the fare.  Time of day can also make a difference.  For example, did you know that airfares on Tuesday or Wednesday are frequently cheaper?  You also tend to have fewer crowds at the airport.

·              For the cheapest rates (and peace of mind), book hotels, train tickets, and rental cars ahead.  Yeah, I know you're a free spirit and you love to be flexible.  So do I .  But frankly, it's not always worth it.  With all the stuff on the internet, it's not all that hard to figure out where you want to go in advance, and where's the best place to stay.  It's often way easier than it is when you're actually in some foreign country where you don't speak the language.  I sometimes go "flexible" when I'm traveling in the off, off season, but generally, I found it's well worth my while to research where I want to go and for how many days.    Also, unless you book an unrefundable rate or ticket, you can generally cancel 24 hours or so in advance if you change your mind (but make sure of this if you pay ahead of time!  sometimes it isn't refundable!).  Why book ahead? For starters:

o      You can get cheaper deals by booking ahead rather than waiting until you get there.  This is true of every aspect of your trip.  If you are traveling internationally, there are often special deals (especially with regard to car rentals and train tickets) that you can ONLY get by booking when you are still in your home country. 

o      You won't be spending your precious time on your trip scrambling for hotels and tickets.   You can spend the better part of day waiting in line, and end up with a less good room at a higher rate than you would have gotten if you'd spent a few minutes at home on your computer.  Wouldn't you rather spend the research time when you're at home or bored at the office than waste half your trip?

o      You'll have some peace of mind knowing that there's a room waiting for you, or that there is indeed a train from X to Y and you're on it.  Oh -- and if your luggage is lost, you can tell them where to send it.

·       For really long flights, look into whether they have personal TV screens before booking, or whether you are going to be watching a single screen at the front of the plane.  If financially feasible, book a flight with the personal TV screen flights.  OK, I won't pay a ton more for the personal TV, but I'd pay a little more.  On a long flight, being able to have entertainment of your choice at your fingertips, and to actually be able to see the screen, makes a HUGE difference.

·       Try to get a good seat!  If you can select one when you book, do so.  If not, get to the airport really, really early to snag a good one!  Where you are sitting makes a HUGE difference in the quality of your flight, especially in coach.  So what's a "good" and "bad" seat?  As we all know, middle seats suck.  But whether you'll be happier in a window or an aisle depends on whether you tend to sleep most of the flight or whether you get up a lot. 

o           If you want to sleep a lot, and don't get up much, choose the window.  You won't have to get up everytime someone else does, and you can prop yourself against the wall when you sleep.  Oh, and you can control whether the window is covered or not.  It's great.  The cart and people going by in the aisles won't disturb you as much.  Also, people tend to push on the aisle seats as they walk by, which, if is annoying as hell.  People also will lean over you to talk and even lean on your seat to talk to their friends. Those people will rot in hell.

o           On the other hand, if you get up a lot, an aisle seat is your friend.  I exercise a lot during the flight, so I like an aisle seat. (You should exercise too, to prevent deep vein thrombosis, which hits the young and fit as often or even more often than the old and unfit, and can be fatal.  I like to be able to go to the bathroom without asking two people to get up. (Impossible when they have trays of food in front of them.)  And I don't sleep well anyway on an airplane.  I sleep better in a window seat, but it's not worth the trade-off to me,  so I'm an aisle seater.

o           Check out seatguru.com and seatexpert.com before choosing a seat!  Beyond the aisle seat/window issue, some seats are much better and worse than others, and it totally depends on the configuration of your plane.  The airline can tell you what kind of plane it is (if you book online, and you should -- you usually save money -- the type of plane will be listed along with the flight number).    A general tip is to avoid the very back row of the plane or right in front of the bathrooms.  The bathrooms smell, people will be hanging around them all the time and bugging you, and your seat won't recline as far.  But it goes further than that.  Seatguru.com and seatexpert.com will show you exactly where the good (more room, etc.) and bad (smelly, smaller, cold, noisy) seats are on your plane so that if you have a choice, you can snag the good ones and avoid the bad ones.  It's worth checking out both sites, since they have slightly different viewpoints on the pros and cons of various seats in various configurations.

·       Consider selecting a "special" meal.  E.g., kosher, vegetarian, low fat, asian, whatever is on offer and sounds OK.   Usually you have to select them at least a couple of days in advance.  Why do you want to do this, if you're not kosher or vegetarian?  Well, usually they are fresher, because the airline has to make them up specially for you.  Also, you usually get served first, which can be nice.