Road trips.

Road trips.

Covid realities are still a concern for many.  As many now contemplate travel, the option of a road trip can be an excellent choice for travel.  Road trips enable a bit more control over social distancing than air travel. So, whether for a quick weekend getaway or a weeklong trip, here are a few ideas to consider.

On a road trip, the traveler is in total control of the itinerary. The departure and arrival times of the trip are flexible, and you are free to take as many or as few stops as necessary. Overall, traveling by car gives freedom and flexibility not offered by other travel options.

You can pack as much or as little as you desire.  There are no weight limits for your luggage. Therefore, you can carry items you may not have the luxury of carrying on an airplane or ship.  However, I would strongly suggest keeping your valuable things out of sight and not exposing yourself to possible theft.

Even though a road trip will add mileage to your car, the costs are often a much better option than airplane tickets.  Considering the price of gas and having more hotel options can be a much more affordable way to travel and see the country.

Planning out a road trip is essential, especially for the driver.  Fatigue is a genuine concern, and the driver takes on a big responsibility with having passengers in the car.  A good playlist, audiobooks, and podcasts are great ways to ease the boredom of a road trip.

There are many benefits of a road trip. Road trips offer a lot of time for self-reflection.  They provide an opportunity to try something new and to find inspiration from the surroundings you pass through.  Additionally, road trips can provide a break from social media and a great way to make memories with family and friends.

Have you taken a road trip recently?  Did you like it, or do you prefer other methods of travel?  I’d like to know.

5 Covid friendly hotel stay tips.

5 Covid friendly hotel stay tips.

Having flown as a career for over 20 years I have stayed in many hotel rooms and so the experience has taught me a lot about what to look out for in terms of cleanliness.

1. Check the hotel sheets. No one wants to sleep on possible dirty covid sheets. I can’t tell you how many different times I have gone into a hotel room just dying to shower and get into bed and found that the sheets have not been changed. If you do this when you first get into the hotel room, there is plenty of opportunity for the hotel to fix the issue before you are ready to go to bed.

2. Make sure the sheets are visibly dirty before you check out of the hotel and prevent any possible Covid spread. I think it’s just a matter of kindness to the next guest and just plain hygienic. Don’t feel bad as the hotel should automatically be doing this anyhow. I always wiped the bottom of my shoe across the sheets before I checked out.

3.Place a face towel or hand towel on the bathroom counter to place all your items on. Especially in this time of covid you do not want to transfer any germs to your face or hands. It’s also a visual reminder of anything placed on the counter and it helps in not forgetting items like jewelry in the bathroom.

4. Take an extra washcloth and wipe the toilet seats down. I think we all assume that the hotel room has been cleaned thoroughly but my experience has shown that the toilet seat is often overlooked.

5. Treat hotel room floors like airplane bathrooms and never assume it’s just water. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve passed through hotel corridors and seen the remains of a hotel room party gone wild. Let’s face it, the hotel does not have the manpower or capability to thoroughly clean hotel room floors, nor do they often have time between checkouts. Covid can be easily spread through bodily fluids.

I hope my tips have been helpful, check back in for more of my lived travel experience.

5 must have items that stay in my carry-on.

5 must have items that stay in my carry-on.

As an avid world traveler who has done this both professionally and personally, my carry-on is always semi-packed. Here are my tips and advice on the 5 items I consider must-haves and should always be in my carry on.

1. A lingerie organizer bag (details on another blog post). The one I use has two sides, one for clean underwear and the other for dirty. You never want to get them confused!

2. An electronic organizer bag (blog post coming). With people being so connected it is so inconvenient to lose connectivity and most hotels do not provide enough power outlets for the technology we use in our daily lives.

3. A toothbrush which in my opinion is even more needed than the electronic organizer. Many people pack this in their suitcase but with the chances of your luggage being lost, I like to always have this at hand.

4. A medicine bag with items like Tums, ibuprofen, cold medicine, etc. I tend to also have eye masks, face masks, prescription medications, band-aids, Neosporin, alcohol pads, and such (more on another post).

5. Finally I always have a small makeup bag with the basics like mascara, lip moisturizer, lipstick, makeup remover cloths, toner, and face moisturizer. These are always found at beauty supply stores and pharmacies in travel sizes.

You make have other priorities for your carry-on. If so, what are they? I’d love to find out.

Pin It on Pinterest