Staying In Touch with Home

When you travel, it can sometimes be hard to keep in touch with home, especially if you're traveling out of the country.  I'm not about to just cut off all communication for a week or two just because I don't want to pay $.60 for a text message or much more than that per phone call minute. Here are the ways I stay in touch with home when I travel.

Photo by ROBIN WORRALL on Unsplash

You could rely on email, but if you're traveling solo or actually want to speak to a human being, that's a bit impersonal, though you can also email people in addition to emailing them all the fun details of your days. I tend to do both, but I like for people to know that I haven't died, and I want to see my dog while I'm away for a week or more.

Photo by Paul Hanaoka on Unsplash

Voxer

Instead of texting, I use Voxer. Not only is it free, but it works off WiFi, so it can push through your "texts" when you have a signal, but will timestamp it when you actually sent it. It will also tell you when your message was delivered and when it was read. If the recipient clicks on it, can see exactly where it was sent from. This way you save money and people know you're alive, and if you go missing, they know where you were last. Voxer allows you to send/receive messages, videos and voice recordings, and it's free, unless you upgrade for more capabilities. You could use WhatsApp instead. I just didn't think it was as user-friendly.

Photo by Glen Anthony on Unsplash

Skype

Yes, I'm old, apparently, because the kids all snicker when you mention Skype instead of Facetime. One, I don't have an iPhone, and two, I don't want one. Skype is mostly free, easy to use, and allows you to actually see another person, even if you think you look like a hideous beast on camera like I do. 

Trying to figure out a time to talk to someone when there's a very significant time difference can be difficult, but I generally send a Voxer to my mom (or whoever I'm going to call), to let them know when I'm planning to Skype, so we can have the app open. I use it on my phone, so I can give them a walk thru of my Airbnb. Ha! 

Photo by Guilherme Stecanella on Unsplash

Swarm

This doesn't strictly help you stay in touch, but it does let people know where you are at any given time. I check in to most places I go, because I like a record of things I did, in case I forget, but I also like my friends to know where I am, just in case. If I'm away and I don't check in somewhere for a day, they probably know there's something wrong. Plus, Swarm check-ins are fun and you earn points and stickers. 

Photo by Oleg Magni on Unsplash

TripIt

This is another way for me to allow people to keep tabs on me. I upload my entire itinerary to TripIt, including my flights and where I'm staying, so I have something with all my confirmation numbers and addresses and phone numbers in one place (which also saves paper) and then I share it with one or two other people who like to know what I'm doing and who I want to check in with.

These are just a few of my favorite apps, but they are especially useful for keeping up with people wherever you are. If you have a favorite app to stay in touch with home, I want to hear about it. Let me know about it in the comments.

Art + Other Cool Stuff at the Airport

The only thing I love more than the airport is visiting an airport I've never been to before. I view it as part of my trip and the start (or middle) of an adventure. I will plan what I want to do and where I want to eat at airports long before we even travel. I have Gate Guru downloaded to my phone, so I can see what art and other cool stuff there is at the airport. If you hate the travel part of traveling, here are ways to actually enjoy the airport.

Why do I enjoy the airport so much? It could be that I live where the best airport is (Travel + Leisure has awarded it six years running), but I like most other city's airports, too. I'll tell you why: Viewing the airport as a part of your trip makes it seem way better than just a waiting room to get into a smaller waiting room to get to where you really want to go.

It's like a mall that also has a portal to another destination! (Yeah, I actually hate the mall, but it's the best comparison.) Once you start thinking this way, you might feel differently in the future too, not be one of those annoyed harried people who look at the route monitors with a permanent scowl. Listen, you'll eventually get to where you want to be, so chill out and enjoy yourself. Get  a snack or a beer, buy a new magazine and go check out what the airport has to offer.

Art collection

All airports now have some sort of art collection. Some even have their own galleries for those travelers who have quite a bit of time to kill. I always like to see the different things on display at different airports. Take some time to wander your terminal to check out the exhibits available. One of my favorites is the History of Flight "museum" in McCarran Airport in Las Vegas. They have a main exhibit and smaller exhibits throughout. 

Play area

Travel with kids can be trying and, after having to sit for hours without getting to flail or even stand up, jumping around and annoying people near the baggage carousel is not a fantastic way to burn off energy (or make friends). Head to the nearest play area, which almost all airports have, and let them climb and run and yell and whatever else so they can be ready to fly or for the next leg of your journey. Bonus is that they are usually airplane themed and lots of kids love pretending to be a pilot. 

Workout rooms

These may be few and far between, but if you're lucky enough to go through an airport with some, pack some shorts and a tee in your carry-on to do some running or strength training. Getting some exercise is a great way to stay alert and get moving after a long flight of being folded into a tiny space. If you normally get a workout in during the day, then you're not missing out by sitting on the plane.

Movies

You're probably bringing your laptop, so why not toss a couple DVDs in your bag to watch if you have 90+ minutes to spare on your layover. If you're lucky, you might be in one of those fancy schmancy airports that have an actual theater for travelers and you can see a new movie on a big screen.

Spa

Treat yourself to a massage, pedicure of something else a little luxurious. I've been lucky enough to get a manicure at the Butter London location in Seattle, but we've also hit up the Xpress Spas on trips as well. They do their best to make your treatments short and sweet, so if you have a tighter connection, you can still catch your flight.

Specialty souvenir shops

Bring home gifts to commemorate your trip for yourself or others. If you're just passing through, this is also a great way to sample some of the local flavor, whether it's candy or beer or whatever else. Fair warning, when you go through Portland (PDX) and think Oregon Rain sounds like a fantastic water choice, just don't.

Go sightseeing

If you have a fairly long layover, don't think you can't get out and enjoy your stopover city a bit. We had 8 hours in Vancouver, BC (YVR), rented a car and made a fun day out of it. On our way to Philadelphia, any flight we chose out of PDX had a layover in SFO and the outgoing flight from there wasn't until 10:30pm no matter when we flew, so we took the earliest flight, had 12 hours there and met a friend for some sightseeing and catching up. We went to lunch, the zoo, the wax museum, the San Francisco Dungeon and finished up with dinner at Pier 39, then went back to the airport and had a nice sleep overnight on the plane.

Recently, we flew through Salt Lake (SLC) and they had a brochure about taking a two-hour tour into their historical center. They have an airport shuttle to drop you off and bring you back and they get tourists into town and a little extra money in their economy. That was pretty genius to me. 

Buy something you forgot 

Or entertainment. My favorite new shops are the 24-hour kiosks in airports. You can buy everything from travel-sized makeup to fancy noise-canceling headphones to an ebook reader. You pay full price, but if you forget that sunscreen you love from Supergoop! or the best ever Benefit foundation, you can get them at whatever time you're stuck at the airport.

What do you like to do to pass the time at airports?

Review: Hydaway Collapsible Water Bottle

When you travel, it is pretty important to stay hydrated, especially when on the plane, when the air is dry. Drinking water can also keep you healthy, but purchasing bottles everywhere you go can be both expensive and wasteful. I always bring a reusable bottle with me, but it can be annoying and cumbersome, especially when it's empty. Hydaway knows what you want.

The collapsible bottle from Hydaway comes in fun colors and has a unique design to keep it from collapsing in on itself when you're attempting to drink from a partially full bottle. I was intrigued by this new bottle, and not just because it is made in Bend, Oregon (a short, and beautiful, drive from where I live). The silicone  material is  what allows the bottle to be collapsible, and the BPA-free plastic gives it structure where it needs it, including making the lid a lot more user-friendly. Each lid has a convenient handle, so you can use a clip to hook it to the outside of your bag or carry it more easily when it's full. 

When your bottle is empty, you can collapse it down to a small 1.5" profile that can fit in your bag or your jacket pocket until you need it again. This is smaller than a lot of other bottles on the market, giving you more room in your bag for other things you need, like snacks or souvenirs. I don't judge.

What makes this bottle different from all the others you've seen? Well, as we've already established, it packs down small, and collapsing and expanding it is super simple. There's no twisting or squishing. You can even do it with one hand. The silicone keeps its shape, and the plastic ring that makes up the largest part of the bottle gives it structure, so when you're drinking out of it, it doesn't get all floppy on you, because you can't squeeze it inward. 

The ring also helps keep your bottle from wobbling around in your car's cup holder. That's a big plus for me, because I always bring something to drink with me in the car. The weird shape works in many ways, but it's also unique and no one's going to mistake it for their water bottle. 

You can put this bottle in the freezer, too. No more trying to stuff ice cubes into a space not designed for it, though the wide mouth opening will allow you to do so. I collapsed mine halfway, filled it mostly with water and put in the freezer, so the next day, I had a nice base of ice, expanded it all the way, and filled the rest with water. Boom! Cold water for running errands! (I didn't need to partially collapse it, but it fit better in my freezer door this way.)

You can put this bottle in the dishwasher! This is a game changer for me, because I hate handwashing things and I hate having to buy special tools/cleaners for things. I put it right up on the top rack with my other cups, and it came out exactly as it went in, despite the high temps of the water in my dishwasher. I love it! This makes me happier than I can even tell you, because it means I'll wash my water bottle far more than I do now and probably avoid a lot of bacteria that might build up.

Do you often fill up your bottles at drinking fountains or the sinks in your hotel room? That can be really icky tasting, right? We go to Vegas once or twice a year and their tap water is groooossssssss. Actually, most places have gross tap water. Well, you can purchase a carbon filter "system" for your Hydaway and it takes all those yucky impurities out as you drink. I love it!

Now you're ready for all those summer travels you're doing to the beach, theme parks, even city sightseeing. Maybe you're just a mom who has kids who are always thirsty THE SECOND you leave the house or where your only option is to buy a drink. Well, not anymore. Buy one or more of these and have water on-hand, or the ability to hold water, all the time. 

Don't have kids? That's okay too. Not only can you use this for all your trips out and about and your travels and everywhere else, I'm assured you can also use this bottle for adult beverages. What?! Yeah. Fill it with wine or a cocktail to take on a picnic, to hang out in the yard, to enjoy at Fourth of July celebrations. Much less conspicuous than a flask, plus it just looks cool, and no one will suspect you have booze and want you to share. Ha!

Mother's Day, Father's Day and graduations are coming up. Create a fun little travel gift box with a Hydaway in it and other things your recipient might like, because no one will ever be disappointed by a gift of easier hydration, especially if it makes their trips better. You can grab a travel pack and get more than one bottle, so you can give several away and keep one for yourself!

Other details:

Where can I buy it? On Hydaway's website

How much does it cost? $25.00

What colors does it come in? Bluebird (shown) | Midnight | Mist | Plum | Seaside | Sunset | Thunder | Timber | Lightning

more specs: 17oz capacity, leak-proof, non-toxic, 15% lighter than original model, full height: 6", collapsed: 1.5", diameter: 3.75"

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Disclaimer: I was given the Hydaway bottle for the purposes of this review, but all opinions are 100% my own.