Be a Fabulous Host…or a Fancy Traveler 12.14.11

Don't forget to enter the holiday giveaway! You have until Sunday to get your name in to win fabulous (travel) prizes!

So, I know people have the hatred for airport security and limits on liquids and that “stupid” 3-1-1 bag they make you cram all your stuff into. You’re paying $200+ for an airline ticket and you still aren’t free to bring anything and everything you want? Lame! I know it can be a pain, but I have also come to think of TSA rules as a blessing in disguise…and a fun challenge. Remember the good old days when you could pack your whole closet and 32 pairs of shoes for a 3-day trip and not pay $700 for it to fly under the plane? Then the struggle of dragging your 92 lb. non-wheeled suitcase through the airport – after you were successful in wrestling it off the baggage carrousel – and seeing the taxi driver’s face as he attempted to pick it up and heave it into the trunk? Yeah? You miss those times?

Well, aside from still wanting to bring 32 pairs of shoes, I’ve decided that I don’t want to get a hernia from my luggage, even though it would make for some interesting pictures and stories. Do I really need a tuxedo pants or a satin ball gown and 5” stilettos in 3 colors when I’m going to Ecuador or Greece or even Seattle? I think not. So, why am I lugging that stuff with me everywhere I go? It will still be in my closet when I get home. Downsizing is a good thing. You aren’t cranky when you get to your destination (or even just on the plane), you don’t have to wait in the sheep-herding area known as baggage claim and you definitely don’t have to bulk up at the gym months prior to your trip in order to carry your bag from the car to the ticket counter.

Why oh why, would you complain about not throwing your back out, having much more time to relax and be on vacation and having everything your packed with you on your entire journey? We often talk about packing lighter by packing less, like making sure your tops and bottoms all match, you only take two pairs of shoes and using accessories to dress up a boring outfit. With so many people traveling over the holidays, it’s a must to mention toiletries. Make them smaller! You only have so much room in your 3-1-1 bag for liquids and gels, so make it count. I always pack products that do double-duty (tinted moisturizer, powder foundation, lip/cheek tint, shampoo/shower gel). There are some things that you can’t get that do something else, like conditioner, hair spray or facial scrub, but you can still make sure they fit in your bag by buying smaller containers of them. Now, where can you get these tiny miracles? There are several online merchants that I recommend, if you can’t find them at your local discount drug store or beauty salon. The best part is that if you want different brands and types of items, you don’t have to drive all over town to find them:

Here's an entire makeup routine: tinted moisturizer, powder
foundation, moisturizing lip gloss and beauty palette. Easy!

Minimus.biz – Your one stop shop for all things mini. Buy shampoo, moisturizer, hand sanitizer and then go on to buy single servings of Cinnamon Toast Crunch, ketchup packets or your preferred dressings and hot sauces. Not only are these freakin’ awesome to pack in your carry-on (assuming you have room for hot sauce and dressing with all your moisturizers), but they also make amazingly fun and simple care packages for other travelers, college students and your favorite war hero who can’t make it home for Christmas. Aside from their huge selection of items, you can get free shipping with $20 worth of product!

High-end skincare

3floz.com – For the fashion mavens among us who MUST use the same high quality beauty and hair care products everywhere we go. Whether you’re a loyal Murad skin care user or never use anything on your hair but Fekkai products, then this is where you go. You get free shipping on orders over $50 and they carry every fancy brand from 21 Drops to Yes to Carrots. You won’t find any mustard packets or travel-size antacid here though, so don’t be disappointed when you can’t find them. With all the fun-sizes available, you can easily get a few to slip into stockings!

Basket for a couple, full of useful items, like deodorant
toothbrushes, sunscreen, snacks and something to read.
This is easily customizeable for each guest.

Okay, so you have heard about how these two sites can make you a “fancy” traveler, but how can they make you a fabulous host? Well, there is always the possibility that you will have family coming to stay with you over the holidays – or any other time of year – and will need want to make them feel at home. Why not put together a little hospitality basket with products from either site? Stock it with shampoo, conditioner, moisturizer, shaving cream, make-up wipes, maybe some cookies. Your guests will never want to leave! Wait, is that a bad thing? If so, make sure you encourage them to pack up early the day before they head out, so they don’t forget anything and are ready to go at the crack of dawn…for their afternoon flight! They're going to tell everyone what an amazing hostess you were, up until you kicked them out, and possibly want to pay it forward by making their own guest baskets for their next visitors.

Unexpected guest who overindulged? Here's an easy to put together "hangover" kit, including mouthwash, pain reliever, snacks and antacid so they feel fresh in the morning.

Have you ever put together this kind of basket for those staying at your house, or had someone make you one? They can make your visit seem even more inviting and you don't have to beg a ride to Target if you've forgotten your toothbrush.

Be sure to take a look at my guest post on the Alice.com blog on family vacations on a budget and also my author interview and book review with Allison from Allison Writes.

Holiday Giveaway!

Would you like to win a copy of Shereen Travels Cheap? Enter this week to win a copy of my book, a fun quad-cam camera that takes four sequential photos in one picture and a $15 iTunes gift card. All fun things to take on vacation and amuse yourself with. This giveaway is open to all 18 and over entrants. If the winner chosen lives outside of the US, only a digital copy of the book will be provided. If a US winner is chosen and would prefer a digital copy of the book instead of paperback, that can be arranged. Winner will be given 48 hours to respond to congratulatory email on the 19th to ensure shipment by Christmas. Good luck!

Gifts for Travel Gurus in Your Life 12.10.11

Coming soon on my blog "tour": guest post on family travel on the Alice.com blog and author interview on AllisonWrites.com

The Holidays are upon us, which means you’re probably visiting friends or relatives and you have to show up with gifts for Christmas, Hanukkah or, in some cases, a birthday. But what to get for people who already have everything, are super picky, you don’t know as well as you used to or you just don’t have time to shop for? If you will be traveling to see them and you don’t want to wrap stuff up to ship ahead of you, or are a super procrastinator and do things at the last possible moment, then you have options! First of all, your carry-on bag is probably not big enough to hold much more than your clothes and toiletries, so consider some small, but amazing options:

Where do the gifts go? 

Get them a copy of Shereen Travels Cheap – You know I had to say it. But if you truly have someone who is always searching for bargains on everything or for the person who aspires to travel the world, but then never goes because they say they can’t afford it, this is the perfect gift! There are hundreds of tips in this book to help even the most inexperienced traveler or Internet researcher get the most for their money. College students, seniors and every age in between have said this book was easy to read, was amusing and gave them excellent money-saving tips within even the first few pages. It packs small, but is a wealth of information. Pay $14.95 and help them save thousands!

Get them gift cards – Usually, this is a big no-no on my list of gift ideas, because I feel like it’s not trying, but if you know someone who loves to travel, this is the most useful gift you can get them. Choose from their favorite airlines, hotels or get them an annual pass to airport lounges. You can get them something for where they are going, like Disney gift cards. If you are simply clueless, buy a gift card for a reseller site, like Travelocity or Hotels.com.

Get them a QuikPod – For the solo traveler on your list (or even a couple), this thing is the greatest invention ever, and super affordable. The QuikPod has a camera mount and a telescoping handle, so you can take pictures of yourself – or you and your travel companion(s) – and also get some cool background in the shots. It takes up minimal space (even in the package) and is one of the best things I’ve ever bought, because I no longer have to ask passersby to take a photo or figure out how to angle the camera on my purse while also hitting the timer button and running back to position. It’s fabulous when you are traveling off the beaten path…or need to use it to beat someone, as it’s very sturdy and could make a good self-defense weapon. Ha! Two useful products in one!

Get them an Eye-Fi memory card – Got a budding photographer on your list, social media addict or a blogger to buy for? The Eye-Fi card is perfect! With built-in WiFi, it magically sends any photos or videos taken with it (you know, with a camera) to an iPhone, iPad, Android device or computer. Instant back-up! Not only that, you can set up your card to also send your photos and videos straight to an online sharing site, including Flickr, Facebook, Shutterfly and even YouTube. Pictures don’t need to be uploaded at the end of the day to be able to add them to a blog, making it so much easier to share and save. While they aren’t technically inexpensive, starting at $40, they can be a lifesaver, especially if a camera gets stolen on a trip, because all their memories will be backed up. It also saves a lot of time for those that make a living with photos or a blog, or just like to take many pictures everywhere they go. Plus, it’s smallness will make it easy to slip into your carry-on.

Get them some iTunes credits – Is your traveler all about their gadgets? Do they have a smartphone, iPad, iPod and more? If they are connected traveler, then a card full of audio and visual possibilities is perfect. They can buy apps, music, movies, games and more to keep them from ever getting bored anywhere they go.

Get them a universal gadget wrist charger – This is one of the new fun things I’ve found over at ThinkGeek, for the person who is always running out of battery! Give them this futuristic looking “bracelet” and they can charge their device while using their phone, iPod or gaming device. When you can’t plug in for more juice, plug your device into yourself…sorta. Fantastic gift for those that are forgetful or always in transit. Comes with 9 connectors to be used on the most popular devices.

Get them a BackTrack personal GPS – For the person who habitually gets lost wherever they go. The BackTrack is a small, digital GPS from Bushnell that can clip onto a bag, belt loop or fit in a pocket. It comes in many colors, too, though I think the pink is fun. They can save their starting point, run around and sightsee and then find their way back to their car, hotel, a coffee shop or wherever else they originated from. Super easy to use and highly portable. Does not work inside, so if they get lost in a parking garage or mall, they’re out of luck.

Get them a CityPASS – Last week I posted about a great deal on five cities that offer the CityPASS. Buy them for the holidays and if they are used for the first time December 15^th or after, they remain valid until the end of February, instead of the normal 9 day validity. CityPASSes are great for travelers, because they allow them to see and do more on a budget. Pay one price and get the most popular (and sometime obscure, too) attractions included. If you have a gift recipient that will be going to Hollywood, Philadelphia, Seattle, Atlanta or Boston, then get them some cool experiences. On average, CityPASSes save half off regular attraction rates, which is a huge savings if they get to all of them. Even if they are just going home to one of these cities, chances are they haven’t done some of the activities included and would like the chance to go back to the ones they have.

Do you like these ideas? They can certainly fit the bill for travelers you need to buy for, or even for you to put on your last-minute wish list. Do you have other ideas that are useful, fun and easily packable?