Cruises: The First Day

05/22/2012

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I hope you are one of the lucky ones planning an upcoming cruise. I have now been on 15 cruises (most recently the Mediterranean on Holland America Line) and have loved every one of them! If you are wondering how to plan for your first day, from embarkation to a candle lit dinner, plan for the essential items to make it a great day. For cruise vacations, I recommend boarding the ship wearing an outfit that is appropriate for the whole day. Resort wear or basic travel pieces that can be dressed up or down are the best since they can carry you through the entire day and through multiple activities. You will likely be without your baggage for a while after boarding, until it is delivered to the cabin, so make sure you are dressed appropriately for both sunning on the deck and casual dining in the restaurants. You may also want to bring a swimsuit and sunscreen in the bag full of the necessities you carry onboard yourself so that you (or the kids) can enjoy the pool or spa right away. 

For a selection of travel-friendly clothing that will take you from sun deck to dining room, check out http://www.travelsmith.com/.

For high fashion resort wear for all ages that will take you from day into evening, check out http://www.harpersbazaar.com/fashion/fabulous-fashion/fabulous-at-every-age-november-1111.
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Packing for Summer Vacation

05/07/2012

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I just returned from Chicago and a great visit with a great friend. We had a chance to explore her hip downtown Chicago neighborhood and it was great fun to drop in to the trendy shops, cool antique markets, and sip delicious chai tea lattes in the coffee shop. The spring weather in Chicago (including gray skies and the cold wind off Lake Michigan) made me long for a summer vacation of sunny days, warm breezes, and sandy beaches. I was ready to pack for the Caribbean as soon as I got home. But, even in tropical climes, the weather can turn cool in the evenings and the air temperature can be much cooler on the water than on land. As a result, when you are thinking about your summer vacation destination, be sure to pack the right attire.

The smart traveler knows that it is best to pack for wide variations in weather and pick some activities that can be enjoyed indoors, should the weather just not cooperate. Wondering what to pack? The correct answer is always: Layers.  Warm weather destinations can become chilly; cool mountain destinations can be surprisingly warm. Always bring a variety of clothing that can be layered comfortably and shed as the temperature rises. A t-shirt, long-sleeved shirt, and thin jacket or sweater can all be layered, if needed. Bring the right layers to wear and you will always be comfortable throughout the day.

To check out the travel weather at your summer vacation destination, visit the The Weather Channel at http://www.weather.com/.

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THE MINIMALIST

09/25/2011

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I am packing for my cruise today. This is cruise number 15 for me and I feel like I now have my cruise packing down to both a science and an art form!  I know exactly what I need to bring and exactly what I will use.

First, and foremost, I only travel with a carry-on suitcase. I am always tempted to bring 15 pairs of shoes, as I am sure many women are tempted to do when traveling, but I resist. I know that I will live in one pair of sturdy shoes for hiking around the cities, and, I will live in one pair of cute sandals on the cruise ship. In lieu of my comfy pink fuzzy slippers, I will bring cashmere slipper socks for lounging in the room. Although the trip is 14 days, I will bring half that number of tops. I will plan to wear each shirt two different days during that time period. I find that dividing your travel days by half will give you a good idea of the number of shirts to bring. This is generally adequate, unless you are a clothes horse. The cruise ship has self-service washers and dryers, as well as, laundry service. I also limit pants to all-purpose blue or black ones, along with some capris, and a skirt. I plan to skip the formal nights in the dining room and eat elsewhere on those evenings, and, I can always dress up a skirt and top a bit for semi-formal nights in the dining room. 

If you really want to attend the formal dining evenings, you can often rent dresses through the cruise line and have them delivered to your cabin. To help things out further, I only pack items that will mix and match with everything else and are in basic colors and no-wrinkle fabrics. If you really feel the need to dress up those basic items further, then you are probably a shopper who will enjoy looking for fabulous jewelry, scarves, and other accessories to wear during the cruise. Don’t bother bringing your accessories from home and enjoy the excuse to shop—you were probably going to anyway. As a bonus, those souvenirs generally take up very little room in your suitcase at the end of the cruise. Are you a minimalist when it comes to packing? 

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