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Here is a quick travel tip if you have trouble lifting stuff around. It's one thing if you're traveling by car to take a roll-along suitcase to solve the lifting of the apparel and sundries, but what if you have gear and you can't lift it in and out of your car. You should go to Office Max or Staples and invest in one of two things. Either purchase a roll- along crate that you can load full of your gear and other totes and drag it behind you along with your suitcase or you can invest in a lightweight dolly. Now this works especially well if you are driving and going in and out of hotels along a specific route. Or it just works well in general to make loading and unloading so much easier. Even better, you can pack the equipment and totes right in the box and leave it until you're ready to haul it. 

Three Things to Make Flying Easier

Always keep your confirmation number on hand -- with e-ticketing, it's best to keep your confirmation number for your ticket handy. Sometimes during check-in you may run into glitches with your credit card and/or their system. The confirmation number makes everything easier to research and rectify.

Always make sure your name on your driver's license matches your ticket. They will send you back to the ticketing counter if this doesn't match. This will not only stress you out, but also delay your ability to get through security and get on the plane, as you may have already stood in line once.

Always make sure you carry only two bags -- the airlines have tightened up on how many carry-ons you can bring on the plane. If you have a bag, small suitcase and a purse, be prepared to stuff your purse in the bag. They will not let you have all three. Don't press it either -- it guaranteed they will stop you as far back as security.

Three Great Things for the Beach

 

It's slowly turning into fabulous beach weather. Within another month, crowds of beach lovers will flock to their favorite ocean side paradises. So, for the beach lover at heart, here are three things you should bring with you to the beach to make your visit more enjoyable.

Big Hat -- for the sun sensitives, bring plenty of sunscreen and protect your face with a great beach hat with a wide brim. Not only does a great hat protect your face from the harsh ultra-violet rays of the sun, but also it makes great shading on a book if you chose to bring one. 

Bottled Water -- do not forget to bring bottled water. Some beaches do not have drinking fountains nearby, and you will want to stay well hydrated in that harsh summer sun. You also don't want to have to walk way back to find a drinking fountain, so don't forget the bottled water. 

Flip-Flops -- hot sand in warm weather burns feet. Flip-flops are much easier to manage than sandals that often have buckles. You can also get plastic flip-flops, which makes it easier to rinse sand off them. Try this: put your flip-flops on the ground and rinse your feet off and then easily slip them back on your clean foot. Works every time!

 

Best Lazy River Pool -- The Grand Wailea

Nothing is more fun or relaxing than a chance to lazily float in a tube or raft down a manmade lazy river. While many hotels nationwide have some great lazy rivers, nothing beats the The Grand Wailea lazy river and pool. The resort offers a 25,700-square-foot, 2,000-foot-long pool complex comprised of nine pools connected by river that takes floaters from lazy to rapids. It also features four jungle pools, a Tarzan rope swing pool, six waterfalls, a baby pool, five water slides, three hot tubs, and the world's only water elevator. You will not find another water recreation area -- especially on Maui -- with so much diversity and water fun to be enjoyed.

A Packing Tip for a Quick Exit

When you travel and stay in a hotel, here is a packing and unpacking tip sure to save you from leaving anything behind. When you first arrive at your hotel, take all of your clothes and hang them up or put them in a drawer. As you wear your clothes each day, take the dirty clothes and repack them in your suitcase. By the time you finish your trip, all of your dirty clothes are repacked one at a time and you won't leave anything behind. You can also easily on the last day simply close your suitcase and you're ready to go.

Don't Make these Travel Mistakes

Don't under estimate the size of your airport. Some airports are huge (think Chicago O'Hare). If you're traveling on a tight schedule, make sure you scope out your next gate before you do things like eat or shop in the airport. Not understanding the dimensions of the airport can put you on a never-ending sprint to a gate you didn't realize was on the other side of the terminal. 

Always check your flight times. You can end up waiting much longer than you intended for a delayed flight that a simple phone call to their airlines would have cured. Most people don't relish spending too much time in an airport lounge, so make sure you check your flight times and adjust accordingly.

If it smells bad, ask to be moved. You don't have to be tortured sitting next to someone whose body odor could make a pig faint, especially if there are open seats. While it might feel rude to ask your stewardess, you should think of your own comfort. Don't force yourself to sit next to Patty Over-Perfumed or Sam Too Much Old Spice either, especially if you're allergic. 

Road-Trip Tip

When driving into remote regions or tourist areas, always gas up in the low-cost market. Do a little research into the gas prices in the area or if you own an iPhone, there is an app that will do that for you. If you're driving a gas-guzzling RV you will especially want to map out a route to your destination with the lowest gas prices to save a lot of money. Also, realize that the state of California has some of the highest gas prices in the nation, because of the gas tax. In states like Oregon, you will find a dramatic price drop, so you might want to get as close to the border as possible without having to fill up and do most of your refills while you're there. You might even opt to bring some gas cans to fill up and put in the back of your vehicle. These suggestions might sound extreme, but with the rising price of fuel, you could literally save hundreds of dollars.

Napa in the Springtime

The dry and sunny Northern California weather begs for a beautiful drive through Napa. The mustard flowers are blooming, daffodils have come up early, and the grass is greening. Many of the trees are blossoming into a light floral pink of pedals that blow off the limbs and can look like a gentle snow. A favorite, scenic drive is to take Highway 12 from the city of Napa and head lengthwise down the valley and through the small towns of Yountville, St. Helena and Calistoga among others. Make it a family day to picnic at one of the family-friendly wineries. Stop at a delicatessen as there are several along the route, pick up sandwiches and other assorted goodies such as cheese and fruit and make it your goal to stop perhaps at the Beringer campus where they have outdoor picnic tables. Continue your peaceful and beautiful drive on down to Calistoga and opt to stay in one of the many bed and breakfasts or resorts. Enjoy the drive. You'll see plenty of natural beauty, and when you arrive at your destination consider renting a bike and taking a ride through the winding backcountry roads in and around town or maybe just shop and stroll the streets of Calistoga, enjoy lunch and head back home.

Entertainment for Road Trip Tips

If you travel long distances in the car, you will need certain creature comforts to make your trip more enjoyable. Here on some tips to keep you and your family comfortable when driving for long distances over two hours.

Audio Books for You and the Kids -- depending the age of your children, you might want to invest in some age-appropriate audio books. Think of books you can both enjoy. Perhaps some Harry Potter or Narnia books that are appealing to everyone. DVD players are nice, but you cannot listen and drive, too. So audio books will keep everyone listening. Smaller children can listen to children's books, but you may not be entertained, but at least you will enjoy peace as they listen.

Lots of Fun Music -- teenagers will enjoy listening to music and you may like their tunes. If they don't like what you're listening to then give them iPods to stuff in their ears. They can listen to what they like and you can listen to what you like on the main stereo system. 

Board Games for Cars -- Lots of kids board games can be played and you can assign a kid to represent you on the board so you can interact. If the kids don't get car sick, handheld digital games will keep them entertained, but not you. Interactive board games keep the entire car involved. Or you can always go back to old-time favorites like the ABC game (spot the letters of the alphabet on signs) or "I spy with my little eye." 

Tips to Stay Dry While Traveling

When traveling in winter time, you will want to bring a few extras with you in your bags or carry-ons. These tips will help keep you comfortable on your trip in cold or wet weather.

Umbrella -- always bring a travel-sized umbrella no matter where you go. In springtime in places like New York City a sudden shower will leave you drenched as you try to hail a cab. If you don't bring it with you then you are forced to buy it, and in a big metropolitan city that means paying $15 for something you can buy for $6 at home. Make sure it's small and compact and fits easily in your purse.

Poncho -- if you're going to be outdoors in a tropical location where it rains a lot or in a place that is generally known for rain, bring a poncho and an umbrella. If it's windy, an umbrella will not keep your clothes dry. A poncho enables you to freely walk around without concerns about getting soaked. For example, in Disneyland a poncho will keep you dry if it suddenly rains in winter and the same goes for Walt Disney World where it is famously wet and tropical.

Windbreaker -- if you're traveling some tropical and warm, you won't want a full coat. You will get too hot and still get wet. Bring a thin windbreaker you can easily stuff in your bag and pull out on a wet, tropical day. Make sure it has a hood to cover your head so you don't get wet. REI sells some fantastic windbreakers in all different sizes and colors. A durable windbreaker never goes out of style and lasts a lifetime.