Packing: Pack only what you think you need and then take some of that out! We Americans always take way too much stuff when we travel. Remember, you can buy most of what you need in your host country and that’s a great way to meet the locals. HOWEVER: never pack your medications in the bag you are going to check. Find a carry-on that is small enough to really fit under the seat in front of you. In it put a change of clothes and everything you REALLY need. I find a heavy paper bag with plastic handles a great “extra” carry-on that is good for books, magazines, and munchies.

Munchies: Leave the chocolate at home!! It will melt into gelatinous goo, and foreign counties have fabulous chocolate!! Volume saving goodies like jerky, bagged nuts, dried fruit, and trail mix can all fit into those baggage side pockets that seem useless.

Clothes: Take one dress-up outfit and make everything else comfortable. One fun thing to do is to put aside money just to buy some new clothes. Remember, it will be a real gas to offhandedly say, “Oh, this shirt, I found it on sale in Soho, or Milan, or Paris.” :) Pack for as few days as possible and find a laundry. To make room for all the cool things you’re going to buy take really old underwear and throw it away as you go. (Just don’t lose count of the days!)

Children: IF you aren’t planning on leaving them at home then plan as much of their time as you can. For the plane, get enough stuff for them to do for the entire flight. Please tell them how to behave on an airplane and make sure your kids are sitting next to you --- so YOU have to put up with their problems and in-flight boredom. Many an enemy has been made on transoceanic flights that could have been avoided with some pre-planning and pre-teaching.

Remember, the people around you are on vacation too.

To keep them busy on down times or just to give you some alone time have them keep a journal, read novels in a series, do crossword puzzles, or write postcards to friends. In this electronic age you can find everything and anything they want to play --- just don’t run out of batteries! If you have the time and money fill a cheap backpack with surprises to bring out when you need a smile from your offspring.

Strange and weird places: Do the research on the area of the world you are planning to visit. Sure, bookstores are easy and great and they cost you lots of money. Try the Public Library and their copy machine. The search engine www.google.com is the place to go to find out about everything. Don’t forget to rent at least one travel video –- the more the merrier. Those old used bookstores are a wealth of cheap information too. And don’t forget to pick the brains of every person you or anyone else knows who has already been there and done that! If you are lucky enough to know a native, even better!

Guide books: Shun those really pretty ones full of pictures-they cost too much and weigh too much. In stead get the bare bones ones that you can tear apart. Even better tear out only the places you plan to go to and throw it away as you go. There are lots of free magazines with stuff to do in your hotels. Use these too.

Jewelry: Don’t take it. Yes, I know you always wear your wedding ring. Well, don’t. Never take anything on vacation you would be upset about if it got stolen, lost or broken. A nice side effect is your hands won’t feel as swollen, your ears won’t get infected, and nobody will know you really have a $5,000 wedding ring. Besides this gives you another thing to buy in some cool place you’ve never been before!

--------------------------------------------------------------------

Insurance: It is always a good thing to look into when you plan a trip either across the country or across the world. There are any number of plans available for any number of prices. Either health insurance or car insurance may be something you may want to look into well in advance of your trip, especially if you have any particular health concerns. You can start by checking with Matt Lockard