Do You Need a Real ID?

Travel restrictions are easing and disappearing in a lot of places, meaning people are traveling the world again. If you want to be one of them and not sure if you have the correct identification, you're not alone. Many states have already switched over to Real ID, which is going to be necessary to fly domestically soon. If your state hasn't switched and you still want to travel, there are ways to get in compliance with this new rule going into effect. 

Oregon is one of those states that makes you apply for a Real ID, but we both have valid passports and have Global Entry ID cards as well, so we don't have to figure out how to make time to go to the DMV. 

Are you prepared for travel after this new rule goes into effect?

How To Pack For A Cruise

With travel bouncing back and cruising becoming safer than before, you might be planning a cruise trip. While there are lots of ways to save on a cruise, what about packing for a cruise? Just because there are so many different things to do on the ship, it doesn’t mean you need to bring your whole closet. In fact, you can still pack light and have everything you need for your cruise.

Photo by Adam Gonzales on Unsplash

• Bring multi-purpose items, like a top that you can dress up or down depending on the situation. A plain black tank top can work for a formal night when paired with a statement necklace and a light wrap.
• If you want to really dress up for those formal nights, invest in a bag like a Skyroll, that incorporates a garment bag in the design. You can pack all your regular stuff and then the garment bag wraps around it. Both are carry-on size, so you don't have to check them and *hope* they make it to your cruise. Another option is this 2-in-1 garment duffel.  I would still opt for a few pieces that can be reworn in different ways, even if it's just a little black dress or great pair of pants.
• A nice pair of sandals can also be worn for formal nights, so you don’t have to pack a pair of heels that you’ll only wear a few hours the whole time you’re cruising.
• Men can bring a lightweight sport coat and a few ties to dress up any outfit…and not have the same look twice if there’s more than one formal night on your ship.
• Aside from these things, bring what you normally do: 5 tops, 3 bottoms, a pair of really good walking/running shoes, a rain jacket, sunscreen, a hat and sunglasses. If you need more help packing light, here’s a post for you.
• Stage, roll and stuff. To avoid overpacking, set up a staging area where you can lay out everything you are packing. Make two piles: one with essentials and one of things you might need. Roll and pack your essentials first, then see how much room you have left for "maybes". Stuff shoes with socks, belts and other small items. Think of your bag like a game of Tetris and fill in all the available space of each layer. This will eliminate shifting and wrinkles as much as possible. You don't have to stuff your bag to the point of having to sit on it to close it though, because remember that you might want to buy some things at your ports of call. 
• Don't forget your passport if you aren't going to a closed-loop U.S. port.
• If you "check" your bag at the port authority, it may be an entire day before you get it delivered to your stateroom, so make sure you either don't check your bags (you can wander the ship with them, which you might find annoying) or have a smaller carry-on or tote bag with necessities like your bathing suit, extra clothing, sunscreen, camera, etc. I always have a packable tote in my bag just in case. This is a great way to use it.
• Take along a pop-up mesh laundry hamper. Not only does this keep your clean and dirty clothes separate, but it gives you something to carry your dirty clothes to the laundry room. You aren't going to be doing something 24 hours a day on your cruise, but having to do a bit of laundry will remind you to slow down and take a breather. Plus, you can always start your load and hit the buffet while you wait.

I think you're ready to head out on the open seas now, with an excellent mix-and-match wardrobe that doesn't weigh you down too much.

What are your favorite cruise tips?

Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links, which may compensate me monetarily if you make a purchase through them. Your purchases enable me to run this blog, so thanks in advance.

Know Your Travel Rights

We've all been there. You get to the airport and sit down to wait for your flight and then wham! Flight Delayed! Or worse, your flight is totally cancelled. What the??? Now what? 

With staff shortages and fewer routes due to Covid, delays and cancelations are becoming more normal. Airlines are still trying their best, even if they are also still overbooking. 

If your flight is cancelled
In this worst-case scenario, the airline will rebook you on the next available flight. If there's another flight on another airline that leaves earlier, you might be able to talk them into transfer you over, at their expense.

If your flight is delayed or you get bumped
Yeah, this sucks, but not as much as your flight being totally cancelled. Most airlines overbook flights, meaning if everyone checks in, someone's not making it on the plane, because there aren't enough seats. If you don't mind waiting, you can volunteer to get on the next available flight and make someone's day. (Sometimes you are made aware of overbookings on the airline's app. The last time I flew, I got a push notification asking if I wanted to leave on a later flight for a voucher.) Even if you don't want to and are the unfortunate one to get stuck at the airport, it's not the worst thing ever. Here's what you can do though:

• Next time, get to the airport earlier. Like 2 hours before your flight. 3 hours if you're flying internationally. Or, just check in as soon as you can and hope you make it to the airport before the flight starts boarding.
• If you get bumped, make sure you're comped. 
  • For flights that arrive one to two hours later than your scheduled arrival time, you're entitled to the one-way fare of your ticket up to $400.
  • If you're delayed two to four hours from your original scheduled arrival time, you're entitled to 200% of the one-way fare, up to $700.
  • If you arrive more than four hours later than your scheduled arrival time you're entitled to 400% of the one-way fare, up to $1400. If this requires an overnight stay in a hotel, the airline will almost always pay for it and also give you vouchers for meals.
  • Ask for cash, instead of vouchers. Cash works just as well and has no black-out dates or other stipulations. Plus, you can use it on another airline if you find a better deal, or blow it all on your trip when you finally get on it.
  • If your flight arrives an hour or less than your original arrival time, you aren't entitled to anything, but that doesn't mean you can't maybe ask for miles, a free drink or something similar. Be nice about it though, because that's really the only way the gate crew are going to want to do a little extra for you.
• Unfortunately, flight delay rules only apply to delays that result from a foreseen circumstance like a plane change. If the delay is weather-related, the airlines aren't required to comp you at all. Anything they give you is up to the representative's discretion.

If your flight has been changed
This always sucks, but it rarely happens that flight times change more than a few minutes either way. In even more rare cases, you may be informed that your flight departure destination has been changed. Um, what? If either of these things happen and have made your travel inconvenient for you, the airline is only obligated to refund your purchase price and send you on your way. 

Of course, some airlines are more generous than others, and better at customer service. We had to wait on the tarmac on one flight for about an hour and when I got home from my trip I had an email giving us both $50 flight vouchers for our troubles, which I didn't even feel was that big a deal. It was nice though and one of the many reasons Alaska is my preferred airline.

Always check each airline's terms and conditions when it comes to delays and cancelations. And if you end up getting stuck in the position where one of these things happen to you, don't just settle for standing in line to talk to a gate representative. While you're in line, get on the phone with the airline (or use their text-back system) or get on their social media to see if you can get helped sooner than the line moves.

I hope your future trips are all awesome, but if they aren't, you are, at least, armed with knowledge. Carry snacks in your bag, just in case, and some non-digital entertainment. 

What's your worst flight delay or cancelation story?