Pack Your Bags!

Have you seen this clip on YouTube? In Part 1 of the interview, Marlys explains why she wrote Pack Your Bags! and what kinds of packing and travel tips are included.

Part 2 (shown here) features a demonstration of tips and tools for packing a suitcase. Marlys shares tips for maximizing space, getting through airport security without hassles (including the TSA's 3-1-1- Rule), and more.

If you've been waiting to get your passport for your summer travels, you may be okay after all.

The TSA has announced that they are making an exception to the deadline requiring passports for air travel to Canada, Mexico, the Caribbean and Bermuda. If you've applied, but not yet received your passport, you can still use a government-issued photo ID along with official proof of your passport application. This applies through Sept. 30, 2007. The TSA really had no choice with this ... the State Department has been completely slammed with all the applications they've received these past few months, and the wait is up to three months or more. Note the key is that you must have already applied, and can't just have the intention of applying for a passport.

For more information, visit:
http://travel.state.gov/travel/cbpmc/cbpmc_3254.html
or
http://www.getapassportnow.com/

Kansas City, MO - November 9, 2006 -- With the holidays right around the corner, Americans are preparing to head over the river, through the woods ... and into the airport. With all the new airport restrictions, travelers may be especially nervous about what to expect this year. Marlys Arnold, frequent traveler and author of Pack Your Bags!, an interactive book on CD-ROM, offers the following tips to make travel planning (and the journey itself) go smoother.

- Don't be a chronic overpacker. It really is possible to pack for a week in a carry-on! The keys are to make a packing list and plan a mix-and-match wardrobe.

- Never wait until the last minute to pack. That's a sure sign that you'll be missing items you really need.

- If your travel involves a child, take their needs into consideration. Don't plan your days too full. And be sure to take along toys and activities to keep them entertained while in the car or on the plane.

If you're flying:

- Be smart at the airport. Leave plenty of time to make it through the screening process. You may even want to check the airport's Web site to see how early they recommend you arrive. And prepare for long lines and delays – bring a book or a fully-charged MP3 player to help pass the time.

- Don't attempt to take items that will cause you or your fellow travelers grief at the security gates. All liquids you carry on must be in quantities of three ounces or less, and all bottles must fit inside one quart-size clear zip bag. (Check the TSA Web site for a list of what is and is not permitted on board.) If you're pulled aside for further search or for wanding, don't try to argue with the security officer.

- Avoid peak travel days (like the day before Thanksgiving). If your schedule is flexible, consider traveling early in the day on the holiday itself. Not only will flights be less crowded, you might just get a better deal.

- Leave all gifts unwrapped – take some gift bags and tissue to package items after you arrive. And if you plan to give any liquid gifts, such as cologne, it might be best to ship them, rather than placing in checked luggage.

If you're driving:

- Get a routine maintenance check of your car and top off all fluids, especially anti-freeze and windshield washer fluid.

- Always check road conditions before starting out. If you'll be crossing multiple states, call each one's road condition hotline to get the latest information.

- Pack a winter survival and emergency kit with blankets, jumper cables, flashlights (with fresh batteries), and non-perishable food.

- Never drink and drive.

With proper planning and a bit of caution, holiday travel doesn't have to be stressful.


(These tips are adapted from Pack Your Bags!, by Marlys K. Arnold (2006). Used with permission.)

About Pack Your Bags!: This interactive book on CD-ROM is filled with tips and real-world examples to help travelers prepare, no matter the destination or occasion. It includes articles, along with audio and video tips, on various aspects of travel: planning a travel wardrobe, creating a packing checklist, (with video demos of a master packing method), selecting quality and practical luggage, staying safe and healthy on the road, traveling with kids, and more. To view the Table of Contents, or take a tour of the CD-ROM online, visit: http://www.imagespecialist.com/packyourbags

People tell me that every time they open Pack Your Bags! they discover something they never knew was there. If you like the mystery of stumbling across something new, then perhaps you don't want to read this entry. But if you want to know where all the "goodies" are hidden on the CD-ROM (or maybe you already found them, but just can't remember where), then you'll love what I'm about to share ... where to find all the hidden audio, video, and other 'Easter egg' bonuses! (But I won't tell you how to find the 'Easter eggs' ... to learn that, you'll just have to take the Pack Your Bags! tour, either online or on the CD itself.)

Section 1: Shop for Luggage

Luggage Basics -- Bright Idea contains an audio clip about luggage carts; Quick Bit is a video clip about luggage shopping
Luggage Sizes & Types -- Hidden audio clip on luggage colors
Luggage-Shopping Tips -- Hidden video on checked bags

Quality Check -- Pop-up details on various luggage features


Section 2: Plan Your Trip

Choosing Clothes
Tips for Your Travel Wardrobe -- Hidden audio clip on what to wear on the plane
Accessory Tips -- Hidden audio clip on losing small items

Getting Through Security -- Quick Bit is an audio clip on passenger statistics
General Tips -- Hidden audio tip on mailing home banned items
TSA Regulations -- Hidden audio clip on most intercepted items

Before You Take Off -- Quick Bit is an audio clip on sources of travel information
Travel Prep -- Hidden audio clip on the use of travel agents
Care for Your House -- Hidden audio clip on using a checklist

Road Trips -- Quick Bit is a chart on how Americans travel


Section 3: Pack Smart

General Packing Tips
Ready, Set, Pack! -- Hidden audio tip on cell phone chargers
How to Pack -- Hidden audio tip on credit cards

Man's Business Trip -- Bright Idea is an audio tip on buttoning shirts

Woman's Business Trip -- Bright Idea is an audio tip on buttoning shirts

Couple's Leisure Trip -- Quick Bit is a chart on summer trip statistics
Tips for Honeymooners -- Hidden audio clip about honeymoon spending


Section 4: Bonus Travel Tips & Tools

Healthy Travel
General Tips/Eating Healthy -- Hidden audio clip on hotel fridge
Reducing Travel Stress/For a Good Night's Sleep -- Hidden audio tip on how to avoid getting stranded

Safe Travel -- Quick Bit contains a video clip on hotel safety
General Tips -- Hidden audio clip on camera safety
Safety When Renting Cars -- Hidden audio tip on car rentals
Safety at the Hotel -- Hidden audio tip on carrying hotel information

Business Travel -- Quick Bit contains a chart on business travel statistics; Bright Idea contains audio clip about frequent flier/hotel programs
General Tips/Trade Shows -- Hidden video clip on airport travel tips
Trimming Travel Costs -- Hidden chart on most expensive cities

International Travel -- Bright Idea contains an audio tip on clothes as souvenirs
International Travel/Passport Requirements -- Hidden chart on international destinations
Cruise Travel -- Hidden audio on cruise statistics

Travel with Kids -- New Trend contains an audio clip on business trips with kids; Special Note contains an audio tip on kids traveling with only one parent
Packing for Kids -- Hidden audio clip on letting kids have their own bag
Prepare for the Journey -- Hidden audio clip about infants on planes

Resources & Checklists
Resource Guide: Airport Codes -- Hidden chart on busiest airports
Resource Guide: Airlines -- Hidden chart on busiest airlines
Resource Guide: Hotels -- Hidden chart on largest hotel chains
Resource Guide: Car Rental -- Hidden chart on the main purpose of trips
Resource Guide: Cruise Lines -- Hidden audio clip on suggested packing for a cruise
Resource Guide: State Tourism Offices -- Hidden audio clip on tourism industry statistics

Did you see business travelers around the country doing a 'happy dance' in airports this week? If so, it's probably because the ban on liquids in carry-on luggage has been lifted. Not completely, but enough that we won't have to be inconvenienced anymore.

So here's the scoop:

- As of September 26, travelers may now take small amounts of liquid personal toiletries on board. The catch is that you must take travel-sized bottles of 3 ounces or less, and all of the items must comfortably fit in one clear plastic zip-top baggie -- quart sized. This means toothpaste, shampoo, makeup, and sunscreen are all back on the 'good guys' list now.

- You may also take beverages purchased behind the security lines at airports ... coffee, soda, bottled water, etc. (Which is exactly what I've been saying since Day 1! If the stuff must be screened to get past the lines anyway, why isn't it safe enough to take on board?) But of course, be prepared to pay more this way. The Boston Globe did an article which includes a handy comparison chart of beverage prices.

- One thing that wasn't addressed: Whether the items must be in their original bottles. If you're like me, you have some items in unmarked plastic travel containers. So just to be safe, you might want to hunt down actual sample-size packaging of those. If it's any kind of moisturizer or cosmetic product, chances are the manufacturer makes samples. And if they don't now, it's a pretty safe bet they will be soon, to help with this new ruling.

As you can probably tell, I'm thrilled with the new policy. While I never wanted anyone to be unsafe, those extreme restrictions seemed absolutely ridiculous. It's good to know that I won't have to ship my makeup ahead of time to my hotel on any future trips.

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In a related story, rumors have been circulating for weeks now that the confiscated liquid items were being sold by airport employees on eBay. While I haven't been able to confirm that regarding liquids, it is a known fact that other types of contraband items (knives, tools, etc.) are sold by airports at auctions. I also found an article about what at least one airport was doing -- gathering discarded toothpaste and shampoo for the homeless. Although I see both sides of this story, my biggest question is ... if these items are potentially dangerous explosives, why would you want to give it to some unfortunate homeless person?