Traveling With Debe

Detroit Airport

I flew through DTW (Detroit) airport on Thursday night and here's a few tips-

If you have to go from the long A concourse to the B/C concourse via the Magical Mystery tunnel and you have time - walk slowly and enjoy the show.  It reminds me of a cross between Disney's Journey Into Imagination and the Beatle's song Magical Mystery Tour.  Somebody had a good time putting that together.  I think it's a real testimony to the American need for constant entertainment.

Although I love a good Fuddrucker's burger, do NOT go there if you are pressed for time.  It was a 15-30 minute for anything (but it was good....)

I read in a travel mag that you might be able to grab a free WiFi signal hanging around outside the World Clubs...didn't work...didn't feel like ponying up $7.95 for the 15 minutes I needed to confirm a booking.  Where's a Caribou when you need one?? 

Scrabble tips

I like to play Scrabble, whether it's the traditional board game, on-line or the travel version...although the letters have a tendency to pop out and land under the seat in front of me.  Somehow calling out "Has anyone seen my P?"  does not put people at ease....

Anyway, here's a cool list of valid two-letters Scrabble words and other helpful hints...   

What's in your 1 Quart Zip Top bag??

As I prepare for a 3 night trip to NY, here's what made it into my "secure" bag:

• 2 oz. Avalon Organics lemon bath gel
• 3 oz. Aveda Rosemary Mint Shampoo
• 1 oz. Aveda Rosemary Mint Conditioner
• 1 oz. Aveda all sensitive lotion
• 1.4 oz. Aveda hand relief lotion
• .30 oz. Burt's Bees lemon butter cuticle creme
• 1.3 oz. Crest Pro-Health Rinse
• .75 oz. Neutrogena Acne treatment
• .85 oz. Crest toothpaste
• .35 oz Bach Rescue Remedy
• 3 bottles of sample colognes

...with room to spare!  Yes-the deodorant is missing but I figure I can pick-up a small one on the way from the airport.  No worrries.  And for facial cleansing, I packed an Aveda facial bar in my non-liquid bag.  I took the quart bag as a challenge and had fun filling it with cute little versions of my fullsize favorites.  Granted, I'm only going away for 4 days...a week long  trip would probably require a checked bag...although you'd be surprised how far 3 oz. of shampoo can last.

PLUS! You can take on liquids that are purchased in the "secure" area, i.e. everything after you go through security.  Don't forget to bring on your Caribou...no more airline coffee!

Click here for up-to-date TSA travel tips.

TSA relaxes rules for carry-on items

From an article that appeared today in Travel Weekly, an industry trade publication-

The Transportation Security Administration has relaxed its rules for airplane carry-on items and said it would allow airline passengers to carry small amounts of liquids, gels and aerosols onboard.

The agency said that, effective Sept. 26, travelers would be allowed to carry travel-sized toiletries, of three ounces or less, if they are contained in one quart-sized, clear plastic zip-top bags.

Travelers also may bring on the aircraft beverages that they have purchased in the secure areas of the airport.

The TSA said it was "unlikely" that the restrictions on liquids and gels would be changed further in the near future.

Kip Hawley, the TSA's assistant secretary, said in a statement that the agency had "learned enough from the U.K. investigation to say with confidence that small, travel size liquids are safe to bring through security checkpoints in limited numbers."

Larger amounts of required medications, baby formula and diabetic glucose treatments have been exempt from the liquid ban, although travelers must present them to screeners at security checkpoints.

The TSA had banned liquids, gels and lotions in carry-on bags Aug. 10, after U.K. officials announced an investigation into a terrorist plots involving transatlantic flights.

On Sept. 25, the TSA said it also would be enhancing security measures throughout airports, including adding more random screening of employees, more canine patrols and tighter cargo screening, and deploying more officers trained in bomb appraisal and screening by observation techniques.

Disney 2006 Part One

Greetings from Walt Disney World in Orlando, FL!  We are currently on vacation at the Happiest Place on Earth.  I was hoping to post a blog-a-day but we are really busy running around the world!  Here are some of the highlights:

• Expedition Everest is awsome - a MUST DO
• Favorite NEW thing is Turtle Talk with Crush - another MUST DO
• Halloween party was disappointing this year...
• Meal plan is a great deal-lots of snack options
• Weather is beautiful but Spetember is love-bug season
• Great bus service to Pop Century from all Theme Parks, usually two at a time!

Look for an extended review after we return on Wednesday Sep 27th.  Until then, be sure to book your fall travel NOW as Disney has packages on sale through travel Oct-Dec 2006 but you must book by  September 30.  Please email me if you'd like more information.

Have a Magical Day!

New Passport Regulations

On msn.com today, there is an article about the the new passport regulations that are due to go into effect in 2007.  A particularly helpful paragraph reads-

For a list of post offices, town clerk's offices and other facilities where passports are processed, type in your zip code at http://www.iafdb.travel.state.gov/. There are more than 7,700 such locations around the country.

Wow...holy useful batman...

Travel Clothes & Packing Tips

The Disney Trip Countdown widget on my desktop reminds me that there are only 8 days till my next trip to Walt Disney World.  But before that we will be in Buffalo, New York to see family, friends and the Dalai Lama at UB. 

Packing for back to back trips is always tricky.  Differences in weather and activities can leave you staring at piles of hopeful clothes wondering-who gets to come and who stays home?  The best trick is an old stand-by...layering.   Although Chicos is the store that usually comes to mind for travel clothes, I recently found a bunch of great, new favorites at Target. My favorite thing to pack is thin, long sleeve shirts and cardigans that I can roll up and stuff in my small back pack/purse to have for when the sun goes down.  Right now Target has a slew of long sleeve cotton shirts by Cherokee and Mossimo for $7.99, a rayon polo by Mossimo for $12.99 (love it!) and a fine gauge cotton cardigan for $14.99. 

When you are in Orlando, and it's 90 degrees out, it's a tank or t-shirt with shorts or capris.  But at night, after the sun goes down, you need a little something more.  A long sleeve cotton shirt or a fine gauge cardigan are just the trick to keep you comfortable.  Here are some other things that I always bring:

• Rain ponchos-it's a drag to keep buying them when you have 4 at home
• Binoculars-great for animal viewing at Animal Kingdom PLUS we're doing the Backstage Safari tour this time around. Plus, my seats for the Dalai Lama's talk are not as close as I had hoped...
• Pre-printed address labels and postcard stamps-don't laugh!  I like to send postcards to friends and family and my Disney clients!  Having labels pre-printed saves time.  You can grab a pack of generic Disney postcards (best value) and write out short notes while you wait in line for.
• Ziploc bags-I always seem to need these...wet bathing suit, snacks to take on board, small items that could get lost, above mentioned postcards and stamps...
• All relevant power cords & rechargers...'nuff said
• A good book-flying is always an opportunity to see just how much patience you have and how resourceful you can be with an indeterminate delay.  My latest choice is Saving Fish from Drowning by Amy Tan (who will be in Minneapolis at the Hopkins Center for the Arts on September 28)
• DVD player or laptop-along with that good book, another thing that keeps your sanity intact.  If you live in Minnesota, check out Half Price Books for cheap, used DVDs. 

Remember: Rolling clothes does decrease winkles, if you don't wear it at home-you won't wear it on vacation, the reason you are on vacation is to...............(fill in the blank.)

 

The first time I went to Phoenix

I stayed at Shertaon Wild Horse Pass in Chandler, AZ. The resort is very nice-comfortable rooms, great service and a kickin’ pool with water slide! The spa was great-request Jason for the Aji massage…he’s very good. I have already gotten an email from the resort offering me 30% off another visit at the spa if/when I come back!

It’s easy to to get to local spots – awesome Harley shop, great pizza (Nello’s), etc. The ride up to Scottsdale wasn’t bad but we were there in August. I hear it’s worse in Jan – Apr. Take some time to go see Frank Lloyd Wright’s house – Taliesin West www.franklloydwright.org. They offer tours throughout the day and a great twilight tour that features special lighting at night.

See more progress on: Phoenix

At least the airport has Free WiFi...

Just when you thought it was safe to go through security....Day 2 of a 5 day trip to Phoenix brought the news of the newest restrictions to carry-on luggage. No gels, liquids, etc. Thankfully my conference was in Phoenix not London. A quick mental check reassured me that all those items were already residing in the “big” luggage. My next area of concern was for my most precious cargo-my new Mac book and omni-present iPod. Shampoo I can toss, but a Mac book, no dice. After scouring various sites, it was evident that the heaviest restrictions were for travel within and to/from Britain. My husband, who was joining me for the weekend, was still advised to arrive 2 hours early. He had lots of quality time with himself as he waited by the gate for 115 minutes. Granted, he was traveling at 10pm at night out of Minneapolis/St Paul.

We had 3 great days in Phoenix/Sedona before departing for the Twin Cities. Not wanting to tempt fate, we arrived at PHX 2 hours early. Another 115 minutes to kill. This is why the top item on my packing list (even before the aforementioned “fruits”) is a good book. Thankfully, the PHX airport has Free WiFi. Just find a seat near an outlet and plug-in. If you’re a movie buff, check out InMotion Pictures in Terminal Four of Phoenix Airport. They will “rent” DVDs that can be returned to participating airport locations or mailed back for a fee. Have entertainment, will travel.

By the way, for all you word game “fanatics”, Pop Cap offers a Mac version of Bespelled…its called Bookworm. Check it out.

If you want to know more about traveling to Phoenix or anywhere else on the planet, email me. I’m a travel consultant from Minneapolis that loves to travel and have been helping clients plan and book fun travel for over 12 years. I'm all about the details and providing great service.

P.S An iPod is an indispensable tool for getting through the gauntlet of beggars in Beijing and Shanghai.
We went to China in March...good stories to tell....even better tips to share!