Travel Library
Picks with Shelley Waugh

PACKING FOR YOUR HONEYMOON
Pack Smart, Pack Light - 5 Simple Rules to Smart Packing
Packing expert and author, Susan Foster, suggests a good first step is to "pack light - fly with a carry-on bag only so rebooking options are completely open." Packing light in one carry-on bag gives air travelers the freedom to change flights quickly and to be the passengers who gets the last seats on the next flight without checked luggage hassles.

Foster sees at least one positive result of recent travel nightmares. "Packing light eliminates sore backs and offers freedom," she points out. "With less to worry about, less to lift and lug, travelers will benefit with more flexibility to cope with the various stresses of travel."

Going by car or train or bus? Don't use that as an excuse to pack a lot more. If you use these same tips, you will have less to drag around and less to keep track of.

Foster's tried-and-true advice for packing light is to follow five smart packing steps: plan, select, edit, pack  and go.

1. PLAN: As you plan your trip, think about what clothes you'll need for the weather and your scheduled activities, then create a packing list (see ready-made lists at  www.smartpacking.com). Without a list, you are sure to forget an important item either at home or along the way.

2. SELECT items to pack, placing them out in an undisturbed area. This is best done several days before departure. Check the destination weather again to make sure you've chosen the right things to be comfortable. Smart travelers know the amount of clothing packed has nothing to do with the length of the trip. There is little difference between packing for a week and packing for a month, you simply wear and clean the same things more times.

3. EDIT your selections to fit into a small suitcase. The larger the bag, the more you will pack and the more it will weigh. A 22" rolling bag, the largest legal carry-on size, should serve most travelers for most trips. How? Just take less.
• Choose versatile pieces that can work in different combinations; expect to wear each item more than once.
• Take fewer things and plan for laundry, either hand washing, a stop at a coin operated laundry, or using hotel service. For example, pack only three pair of quick-drying underwear that can be washed out and dried overnight: one to wear, one to wash, and a spare.
• Resist the impulse to add in "but what if I need..." items.
• Three pairs of shoes are absolutely the maximum, one to wear and two pair to pack. Make sure these shoes are comfortable; you won't have fun if your feet hurt.
• Take only three ounces of essential cosmetics and toiletries. Buy sample/travel sizes, or transfer the amount needed into small containers. Remember, you are only allowed three-ounce containers of liquids and gels; place them in a one-quart zip-top baggie for easy airport security inspection. Think you need more? Search out "non-liquid/gel" alternatives: stick deodorant in place of roll-on; powder makeup in place of liquid. Also remember, unless you are going to a remote locale, you can buy sample-size items at your destination, and discard them before flying home.

4. PACK at least a day before travel to allow plenty of time to edit and repack if necessary. Use the most efficient packing techniques and aids to minimize wrinkling and speed the process.
• Interfold large items by alternating layers so they will cushion each other in the suitcase; adding plastic cleaners bags between layers minimizes wrinkles.
• Group small items (socks, underwear, rolled tee-shirts) into packing cubes or zip-top bags to organize and speed packing and repacking.
• Tuck small items into shoes to make use of every inch of space.

5. GO. Travel light to any destination and be comfortable, well dressed, and happy.

Smart Packing for Today's Traveler by Susan Foster (248 pages, illustrations ISBN-13: 978-0-9702196-7-1, US$19.95 paperback) Visit www.smartpacking.com.

TIPS FOR VISITING ROME
Rome's combination of romance, relics and ruins makes Italy one of the top three Western European destinations. Anthony Capozzoli, author of UNABELLAVISTA ROME: How to Tour Italy, fell in love with Italy at a young age. His must-see sights always include museum tours but while he loves the masterpieces and the sense of history he doesn't ignore the call of fine shopping, food and wine.

“To really explore a city, you need to travel independently and look for the local attractions—not just the tourist traps,” says Capozzoli, who is a Chicago native whose family hails from Campagna and Sicily, “Find a restaurant that looks and smells wonderful then defer to your server’s expertise. That’s how you get the best authentic dishes. The same applies for your entire experience. Just embrace the culture and they’ll want to guide you.”
 
To truly enjoy Italy, you need to plan accordingly to avoid the common aggravations that can dampen overseas travel.  Here are some key tips to make the most of your visit:
· Be respectful and try to speak some Italian; it will inspire locals to guide you
· Buy train tickets/rail passes online (this helps ensure you understand the rail system)
· Book museum reservations online so you don’t waste time standing in line
· Call your credit card company to inform them of your trip ahead of time so they don’t think overseas charges are fraudulent
· When packing, less is more.
· Bring an empty duffel bag to carry souvenirs home.
· Bring extra digital camera memory cards and/or film and batteries for your camera; they’re expensive in Italy.
· Rent a mobile phone if you want to be reached.
· Grab your hotel’s card with the phone number and address to help you find your way back; remember to add the major sight or piazza the hotel is near to aid in directions.
· Bring electrical adaptors for your hair dryer, iPod, camera or anything that needs electricity.
· Keep a color copy of your passport picture page in your money belt;  hide your passports in your hotel safe.
· Consider renting an apartment instead of booking a four star hotel.
· Don’t flash your cash and NEVER leave your camera or purse unattended.
  UNABELLAVISTA: ROME How to Tour Italy, Guidebook and CD by Anthony Capozzoli (Bella Industries Publishing 2007; 161 pp. paperback, $18.95) Visit www.amazon.com or www.unabellavista.com

GETTING MARRIED IN HAWAII
Over 20,000 brides choose Hawaii for their destination wedding each year. Author and wedding planner Tammy Perkins knows so much about what the islands have to offer, that she has taken careful consideration in providing the best locations, top vendors, and best professional services to take the guesswork out of planning.

Perkins has created The Best of Hawai'i Wedding Book showcasing Maui, Lanai, and Kauai that features exclusive reviews of top wedding and reception locations, including beaches, churches, resorts, restaurants and gardens; listings of services such as officiates, caterers, photographers, videographers, musicians, flowers and rentals; Hawaii specific tips, worksheets and timelines; and resources for accommodations and transportation. She has planned thousands of weddings for Hawaii-destination brides including a featured wedding on the Travel Channel.

The Best of Hawai'i Wedding Book : A Guide to Maui, Lanai, and Kauai' Top Locations, Services, and Resources for Your Destination Wedding by Tammy Perkins (Inner Ocean Publishing ISBN 1-930722-64-8 $16.95 U.S.) Visit www.innerocean.com.

Pucker Up
Windswept beaches, soaring mountaintops and dramatic sunsets make the northwest one of the most romantic regions in the country. The ninth edition of The Best Places to Kiss in the Northwest: A Romantic Travel Guide includes the best of the best and the worst of the worst to make sure that there are no unpleasant discoveries on your romantic travels.

This revised and updated paperback edition guides couples through the most idyllic spots throughout Washington, Oregon and British Columbia with detailed reviews and telephone numbers in every major destination features a clear and precise lip rating system with a range of one to four and a price range rating system. Each section contains a map of the area so that you can orient yourself as well as the occasional sidebar with everything from Puppy Love (pet-friendly places) to companies that will help you to arrange for such things as the rental of a private home, condo, or a moped.

Each destination includes a “Romantic Highlights” section with addresses and telephone numbers, and it details the area’s most romantic activities that are designed to be relaxing for couples.

The Best Places to Kiss in the Northwest: A Romantic Travel Guide, ninth edition edited by Kate Chynoweth (Sasquatch Books, ISBN 1-57061-458-X $21.00 paperback $21) 1.800.775.0817 or visit www.sasquatchbooks.com.