Travel Essentials

Everyone has certain things that they can't leave without when going on a trip. Of course things like phone chargers, socks, a book...but there are some things that make travel easier that you might not think of. Here's what I always like to have when I travel.

Empty Laundry Bag -
If your'e staying at a hotel you can usually grab a plastic laundry bag out of the closet and throw your dirty clothes in it. But to always have with me, I use a fabric bag from a dollar store. Keeps my clean clothes away from my dirty ones, and makes unpacking much easier. Laundry bag straight to the laundry room!

Hobo Bag and/or Wristlet - 

If I don't need to carry much beyond cash and my phone then it's wristlet time. 

If I'm out and about in the city for the day then I ditch the purse and the wristlet for a hobo bag. It fits all my stuff, plus any little things I buy that I don't want to carry around separately. I'm less likely to set a hobo bag down and lost it if the strap is across my body, plus in large crowds I can move it to the front of my body to keep an eye on it.

Wisps -
These little water-less toothbrushes are perfect for overnight flights. If you really didn't want to get up and go to the bathroom, you could actually brush your teeth in your seat. They give you just enough freshness to feel a little human again during a long haul - by air, sea, or road.






Headphones -
The reason is fairly obvious, but I go for headphones instead of ear buds because they block out more background noise, especially on a plane. But whatever you're using to hook up and listen, bring your own. Some airlines still charge. Plus, even if you don't want to listen to music or watch tv, headphones can save you from a chatty neighbor.



Bandanna - 
There are a ton of good reasons to have a bandanna around. If it's hot outside it makes a good forehead mopper, ya know, for sweat. Bandanna's are easy to tie around your wrist if you don't have pockets. You can use it to tie back hair, or as a headband. If you were really desperate you could use it to make a tourniquet. Or rob a bank (not advised). Maybe create a make-shift, literal hobo bag. Sky's the limit.


What do you always have to pack??

A Shutdown Government is Bad for Travel

You may or may not have actually noticed anything different going on in your day-to-day life in America, but you probably do know that our government is "shut down." Well wait, just in case you aren't aware I feel I should put in a brief update, since I may have totally just freaked someone out, ya know?

Those who sit up on Capitol Hill and spend our money actually have to pass laws on how to spend that money. And they can't seem to agree on a spending bill, which really comes down to the inability to agree on whether to provide funding for the Affordable Care Act. So since they can't agree on how to spend the money and what to spend it on, they can't spend it at all. Which means suspending all government jobs (except for the exceptions of 'essential' employees, ie: those involved in national security, postal offices, etc.).

Anyway, this blog isn't a spot for debating which political party is to blame for this shut down or what it means in depth, it's to discuss what it means for travel. Because it actually means pretty big things.

My first bit of travel advice during this shut down would be to not visit Washington DC. For me, DC holds a lot of appeal as a travel destination because once you're there so many activities are free. They're free because they're government funded, which means all of their doors are locked right now. All of the Smithsonian Museums and the Zoo, the National Archives, memorials are fenced in and closed (Lincoln, WWII, Vietnam). Plus, aside from them all being free, aren't they the main attractions? Not the past few days they aren't.

If you are in DC, it's not to say there's nothing to do. There are plenty of other options, just be prepared to pay for some of it. Here's a brief list of things you can do in DC during the shutdown to ensure you still have a fun and memorable vacation. You can also just Google to see what is open and what is closed, or get more out-of-the-box ideas on how to spend your DC time.

Even thought the government lives in DC, it isn't even remotely just DC that is affected by the shutdown. National Parks across the country are shut down, closed to visitors, temporarily out of business. Visitors staying in parks when the shutdown began were given 48 hours to vacate, packing up their camps and RVs and getting out of dodge. So at this point, no one out there is enjoying Yellowstone, Yosemite, or any other American National Park. No one's taking in the grand views of the Grand Canyon, despite the Governor's offer to re-open the park with state money. South Dakota's Governor was also rebuked in an effort to re-open Mount Rushmore.

All told 401 sites throughout the country have been closed - Independence Hall in Philly, the Statue of Liberty, battle fields, historic homes...on and on. Here's a long and full list of the contingency plans for government funded agencies and which of them are open or closed.

What the shut down does not affect is air travel/security or public transportation in cities such as metros. You may or may not be able to get a passport right now if you need one, but chances are not good. You can also enter or leave the country, as customs areas are open.

While we're talking about leaving the country, our government being shut down could also put a cramp in your plans over in Europe. American Military cemeteries overseas are closed, such as the Normandy American Cemetery and 23 other cemeteries. But consulates and embassies are still functioning...for now.

We're all hoping the government shutdown will end soon and that travel life can get back to normal (plus everything else!). But if you are planning to travel check and double check your plans. Make sure what you're wanting to see is open and functioning and then if it's not try and find something else that's fun to do. Good luck!