Super Useful Travel Posts

Happy Friday, Everybody! It's been a while since we've had a post round-up, so I decided today was a good day to run a super useful post, with a bunch of travel contests at the end. I hope you're having a fantastic week, and if you've come across anything fun and travel-related, then please enlighten us with a link back in the comments so we can all enjoy!

So, even though "it's a free country", you can't just wear whatever you want everywhere you go. If you remember my post about not showing up to the airport in your pajamas (come on people!), this one goes a bit further, as this burlesque dancer thought wearing tiny shorts on her flight was also a good look. Jetblue disagreed.

National Parks are turning 100 this year and this summer is going to be really busy. If you can't hit up your local park or others on your travels this year, you can virtually visit Alaska's Katmai National Park by checking out their bear cam online, as well as some others, like Glacier and Yellowstone.

So, we probably all agree about this by now, but some people just have no common sense. More people are killed every year because they think they must capture every moment on film. You know, pics or it didn't happen. I love to take photos, but sometimes you just need to put your camera (or phone) away and either just enjoy the moment or get the hell out of there. Smarter Travel gives you 10 places not to take selfies.

I know most people aren't like me and don't research every airport they'll be going through. I like to know what I can do there if I get delayed, but also what food they have to offer, because generally you have enough time to grab a meal. You know how I like to try new places, but I also like to sty on a schedule when I travel, so eating meals at meal time are important to me. Eater made a list of what to eat at 30 airports, so you can make a note for your next trip.

So, I know that I can find something fun in every city I visit, even if it's tiny. You just have to look and also ask people. For those of you looking to take a staycation this summer, because maybe you're waiting to take your next trip when it's cheaper to do so, then you'll need some ideas. Of course, some cities are better for staying home than others. WalletHub has rounded up the best and worst cities for staycations this year.

If you're not into taking a staycation this year, that's okay, because there's plenty of affordable places to travel, even when travel is really expensive. BudgetTravel has put together a list of 29 Affordable Trips to Take This Summer. You might also be interested in a unique trip to Utah. Both the Heber Valley and the city of Logan are fantastic for those on a budget, family travelers, solo travelers, adventure travelers, history buffs. You name it, Utah has something. Plus, if you're on the West Coast, they can easily be driven to, so you save on airfare!

I'm a big lover of Disney and if I ever got sick and missed out on part of my trip, I'd be bummed. Not just because of a lost day at the parks, but tickets are expensive. This lady learned that if your tickets are old enough, you can totally get around today's rules. Lucky her!

Most Americans don't use all their vacation time, but there are some people like me who do (or I did when I had an 8-5 gig) and wish they had more time, so they could get the most R & R they can. Studies have shown that vacations are good for us and more travel makes us more productive at work, because (a) you have something to look forward to and (b) you have recharged your batteries for a week or two and are ready to get back to the daily grind. Wish you had more time away? Here are some tips on how to negotiate it with your boss.

And now for the contests!

Win a 3-night trip to Waikiki.

Enter to win an escape to The Hamptons! 

Want a fun-filled, adventurous escape to Boise, Idaho? Enter now!

Win a culinary tour of the rustic Amalfi Coast in Italy.

And there you go! I hope you have a fantastic weekend and something in this post helped you out in some way. Let me know what was your favorite or what you hated or what you found on the internet lately.

5 Items You Pack But Probably Shouldn’t

I used to pack a bunch of things when I traveled. Over the years, I've learned what is a must and what should stay home in order to get the most use out of it and allow me to carry-on my belongings and save baggage fees. Every time I travel, I get better and better at packing, especially when returning to places that I've been several times. Of course, I still make mistakes – like when I decided I didn't want to take a rain jacket to Orlando – but that's me being human. I'm willing to continue to learn. Fortunately, I've learned these five important lessons when traveling and it makes me a more efficient packer/traveler.

photo credit

Umbrella

I’ll admit it. I live in Oregon, where it rains…a lot. I’m used to it and I couldn’t even tell you where any of the umbrellas I own are located. I either just walk around in it or put on my rain jacket, because if I didn’t, I’d never really go anywhere for a majority of the year. Umbrellas are impractical and take up space in my travel bag and can only be used in one situation. If it’s windy when it rains, they’re useless.

What to pack instead: Get a good, lightweight, packable rain jacket with hood. This will free up your hands, keep you drier and won’t poke out people’s eyes if you’re in a crowded area (like the theme park). If you’re traveling somewhere warm, it can also be thrown on when inside an air conditioned space or a cold snap happens. Multi-purpose.

photo credit

High Heels (impractical shoes)

If I can’t walk all day in a pair of shoes without wanting to cut off my feet, then they aren’t coming with me in my bag, with the exception of flip flops that I can wear to the pool, down to the lobby or to the grocery store. Uncomfortable shoes or high heels rarely get worn on vacation, because after walking all day, your feet already hurt and squeezing your feet into a pair of stilettos sounds like more torture than usual.

What to pack instead: A nice pair of sandals or ballet flats that work with your shorts, pants and dresses and have good support, so you can wear them out sightseeing and then to a nice dinner in the evening.

1 outfit per day

Okay, this is a complete no-no for those packing light to avoid checking a bag. You don’t need 14 tops and 14 bottoms and 9 pairs of shoes. You just don’t.

What to pack instead: Be creative and pick a color scheme for your clothing, so that you can mix and match. All your tops should be able to go with all your bottoms and give you the maximum use of everything. I like to go with this equation: 5 tops + 3 bottoms = 15 unique outfits. Throw a dress into the mix and your travel outfit (that one you wore on the plane) and make your travel wardrobe even larger. Maybe you’ll have to do a little laundry. Suck it up.

photo credit

All your makeup

Let’s face it. You probably have a crapload of cosmetics in your bathroom and you probably use only 5-10% of what you have on any given day. Leave that giant makeup bag at home and go a little more natural.

What to pack instead: Smaller sizes, the bare necessities and multi-use products. If you missed my last post on your summer beauty bag, check it out for more help on this.

photo credit

Books/magazines

Okay, I’m not telling you not to read, but books and magazines are bulky and take up valuable space you need for more important things, like pants.

                                                                                                          

What to pack instead: Take a magazine (or two) and load up your phone or tablet with your favorite books and mags. I will take a magazine just for the parts of my flight where I can’t have my electronics on, but I tend to read or play a game on my tablet or play a game with my husband the rest of the flight. My tablet packs a ton in a small package and saves me a lot of room. Just remember your backup battery.

I stick by all these tips for every trip I take, just so I don’t overpack and can pack as light as possible. Being able to carry all my own baggage is key. If you’ve ever tried to drag everything you own up three flights of stairs after a 12-hour – or even a 2-hour – flight, then you know the pain of packing more than you need.

What items do you make sure to leave at home and what do you pack instead?

5 Ways to Put Together Your Travel Beauty Bag

With summer here, your beauty bag should majorly feature SPF, beyond that you don’t need to bring everything in your beauty drawer “just in case”. In my experience, I’m even less concerned about putting on a full face of makeup when I’m traveling. I want to be low maintenance while still looking good. If you typically use the same few items at home, don’t take a bunch of extra items that will just take up room in your bag, because chances are that you won’t use them when on vacation either.

Here’s how to put together your Travel Beauty Bag that helps you minimize, still look great and pack light (so you don’t have to pay to check a bag):

Hang onto those samples

When I purchase from Sephora or anywhere else, I look for samples that I will use in the future. I have a good collection of trial size items that I can rotate into my travel bag, including powder, mascara and eye shadow. I buy smaller sizes of my foundation, or go for a powder foundation and everything else is tiny and lasts me several vacations before I need to toss and replenish. If you’re a member of ebates, you can always find great promo codes for deluxe size samples of Sephora buys.

Decant or put into a zip-top bag

I don’t need to take a full-size product with me anywhere. I’m not moving to my destination. I decant my moisturizer, face scrub and other items I only use small amounts of into smaller containers and bring toner or facial exfoliating pads in a zip top bag to eliminate bulky packaging and avoid putting such things in my 3-1-1 bag. If you have a favorite toner, soak some cotton pads in them, toss them in a zip-top bag, squish the air out and put directly in your toiletry bag. This way it won’t spill out in your 3-1-1 and also doesn’t need to be put in that bag at all.

Simplify

Do you actually need those 47 products you almost never use at home? I don’t. I barely even use eyeliner when I’m at home, so I tend to only pack the basics: moisturizer, foundation, powder, blush, mascara and a tiny eyeshadow quad (which I may not use either). I’d rather use my toiletry space for things that I do use, like hair products to keep my hair from getting all frizzy or dry.

Speaking of, I have invested in a great solid shampoo and conditioner, so I don’t have to waste space on liquids when I don’t have to. These work just as good as my at-home products, and no chance of spillage. If I feel like my hair needs a little extra help, then I will bring a small, extra-moisturizing liquid conditioner instead. Usually, I just pack a tiny bottle of hair oil, which you can find just about anywhere, that will de-frizz whenever I need it.

Size down

That full-size shampoo that lasts you 6+ months really belongs at home. I mean, you’re going to be gone 2 weeks, so 3oz is likely to be more than you actually need, even if two of you are sharing it. Same goes for moisturizer and other products. You can purchase smaller containers pretty much anywhere.

I take this same stance on hair appliances. I have a travel-size flat-iron that will actually fit in my small toiletry bag. The one I take most often has a rounded edge, so it can be used as a curling iron, too. Don’t waste all the room in your carry-on with a full-size iron, hair dryer or other item. You can find “mini” ones that work just as well, or better, that you can keep in your bag.

I typically travel with that and a folding brush, too. It makes my mornings really easy, because I don’t have to juggle a bunch of things and they don’t take up the entire bathroom sink…if there’s even counter space for them in the first place.

Bring Multi-use products

This is a must. I make sure I bring items that have SPF in them, so I don’t have to bring a separate facial sunscreen. I also have a great lip and cheek stain. And I swear by philosophy bath gel, which I use as shower gel and in place of shave cream. It can also work as a shampoo or bubble bath if needed, plus they all smell heavenly.

Packing light can actually help you pare down at home, because you see what you really use and what you don’t. It also allows you to be a little creative, get out of the room more quickly and care more about your actual vacation than looking like a beauty queen. You can still look great with fewer products, and you’ll be able to pick up your travel bag. Think of all the things you can spend baggage fees on instead. That’s an extra $25+ – each way – in your pocket.

How do you pare down and/or simplify your beauty bag? {Stay tuned for more packing tips.}