Story Teller Travels

10/24/2024

Travel Tip Thursday 10/24/2024
Brought to you by Storyteller Travel
Part 2.

Suitcase Packing

6. Use every inch of space
The key to packing like a pro is using every nook and cranny. Stuff socks and underwear into your shoes and fill any gaps between items with smaller things like belts, scarves, or chargers. You’ll be surprised how much you can fit when you think creatively.
7. Keep liquids separated and secure
No one wants shampoo, lotion, mouthwash, etc. spilled all over their clothes. Always, always, always pack your liquids in a sealed plastic bag. And while you’re at it, stick to travel-size bottles to avoid taking up too much space (and to meet carry-on regulations if you’re flying). Pro tip: Wrap a piece of plastic wrap under the caps of your liquid bottles to prevent leaks. Yes, it’s an extra step, but it’s worth it. Have you ever gone into your strategically packed suitcase and found liquid spillage? Trust me, you don’t want that experience. It’s quite messy and puts a dent in your vacation buzz. It Sucks!! (see photo below)
8. The personal item: Your secret weapon
Most airlines let you bring one carry-on and one personal item, so use that personal item wisely! A roomy tote, backpack, or duffel bag can hold essentials like your electronics, travel documents, a jacket, medications or even an extra outfit. It’s a great way to maximize your packing potential without going overboard on your suitcase weight.
9. Keep essentials accessible
If you’re checking your suitcase, remember that everything you might need during the flight (or while you’re waiting at the boarding gate) should be in your carry-on or personal item. Think phone, wallet, passport, medications and anything you might want to keep yourself entertained on a long flight (book, earbuds, charging cords, snacks).
10. Double-check weight and regulations
Before you zip up, make sure your suitcase isn’t over the weight limit. Airlines can be strict about this, and the last thing you want is to repack or pay a hefty fee at the airport. A portable luggage scale can save you the trouble and embarrassment of re-packing at check-in. If you’re flying internationally, double-check the airline’s specific luggage regulations – some have stricter size or weight limits.
11. Final touch: Tag it
Don’t forget to put a name tag on your suitcase! If you’re using a suitcase that’s a common color, tie a bright ribbon or attach a colorful luggage tag to make it easier to spot on the baggage carousel.

I travel quite a bit. I have been through the range of packing products to minimize the confusion in my suitcase. Traveling for me is always a stressful situation and I don’t want what’s going on in my luggage to be a source of tears. I’ve run the gamut of compression bags where you suck the air out with a home vacuum cleaner (but what about when you get to your destination and going home), garment packing folders (did not work for me), packing cubes and compression cubes (I absolutely love these). Everything has its home in my suitcase. If you’re traveling with family, to make things easier why not give each family member their own different colored packing cube(s). Some packing cubes come with labels so you can know what's inside. If they don't have accompanying labels, I make my own to keep confusion to a minimum in my luggage. The photo below is a good representation of how I pack my luggage.

Travel Smart and Travel Safe!

10/23/2024

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10/17/2024

TRAVEL TIP THURSDAY 10/17/2024

I'm shifting Travel Tip Tuesday to Thursday beginning this week and going forward.

I’m still on the suitcase packing rant. :-) I hope you don’t mind because packing strategically can make your travel experience easier. I love to give out great information to help people travel with a huge smile on their face.
Packing a suitcase may seem pretty simple – throw in your clothes, zip it up and go, right? But anyone who’s ever had to sit on their suitcase to get it to close or arrived at their destination with wrinkled clothes knows there’s more to it. Mastering the art of packing a suitcase will save you space, time, and stress — so let’s break it down step by step.
Part 1.

1. Start with a packing list
Your packing should include the following:
• Clothes (based on weather, activities, and length of stay)
• Toiletries (all the mini versions of your favorites)
• Electronics (phone, laptop, chargers, headphones)
• Shoes (1-2 pairs, depending on your trip)
• Documents (passport, ID, itinerary)
• Extras (books, snacks, travel pillow)
2. Pick the right suitcase
Not all suitcases are created equal. For short trips, I use a carry-on and strategically pack with packing cubes. This saves you from baggage claim delays, lost luggage and waiting for your suitcase to be delivered to you. For longer trips or when you have more than just a carry-on, a larger suitcase with sturdy wheels and handles is your best friend.
3. Rolling vs. folding
You’ve probably heard that rolling your clothes saves space, and yes, that’s true. Rolling also minimizes wrinkles. However, for bulkier items like sweaters or jeans, folding might be the better option to avoid unnecessary creases. Consider mixing it up – roll lighter items like t-shirts and fold heavier clothes.
4. Maximize space with packing cubes
Packing cubes are game changers. For me as I previously stated, I live by these gems of packing wonders. These little zippered compartments help you keep everything organized and compress your clothes, giving you more space in your suitcase. Plus, unpacking is a breeze. Instead of rifling through your entire bag to find that one pair of socks, everything has its place. You can pack tops in one cube and bottoms in another or coordinate outfits in a cube. Also, when I cruise, I live out of my packing cubes. It also makes packing to go home much easier.
5. Shoes go at the bottom (and use shoe bags!)
Shoes are one of the bulkiest things you’ll pack, so place them at the bottom of your suitcase, near the wheels. I use plastic shoe bags; it keeps clothes from getting dirty. If you don’t have shoe bags, no worries! Plastic grocery bags (if they still have them in your state) or shower caps do the job just fine.
Part 2 will be presented next Thursday.

10/08/2024

Travel tip Tuesday October 8, 2024

They’re back!!!! We must apologize to our FB friends and family for our absence as we were Mia for the last couple of weeks. Business has been flourishing as we are providing expertly curated travel itineraries for our clients. Storyteller Travel has also been on holiday doing reconnaissance for future planned cruises.

Storyteller Travel has a travel story to share.

We have returned with another iteration of packing lightly. Personal story. We were on a very short cruise (6 days) to Bermuda. So, the packing assignment was to pack so light that we could carry our own bags on and off the ship, no more than a carryon and backpack. We understood the assignment was to make this trip even more stress-less by also taking the Amtrak to NYC Moynihan station via Union station in WDC. A side note here: If you are embarking on a cruise from a local or semi local cruise port, Amtrak is the best way to get to your port if you don’t want to drive or fly. NYC, BALTIMORE, NORFOLK, BOSTON, NEW JERSEY, and PHILADELPHIA, these ports are very close in the Mid- Atlantic region and require a 6 hour or less train ride. The going to and from NYC to home was quite a peaceful journey, a breeze if you will, no TSA stress, no overweight luggage, lost luggage, can carry over 3 ounces of liquid, no removing shoes, laptops etc. Carrying our own bags (21 inch carryon) + a backpack on board the ship was exhilarating even weighing 40 lbs. with four wheels of course. Carrying my own bags during a cruise is not something that I have ever done in my over 50+ cruises and I must tell you it was absolutely freeing. The sense of freedom that I had in just living out of my packing cubes that I was able to store in the stateroom drawers was something I had never experienced before. Closet weariness was nonexistent. The cubes fit very nicely in the drawers and on the shelves. The quickness with which I was able to repack my bag when going home had me thinking about all of the trips that I’ve taken in my life and had severely over packed. A onetime payment of $300 many trips ago for an extra carryon bag, was sufficient enough to teach me a valuable lesson in packing minimally for a trip.

I strategically packed for this trip using the capsule wardrobe method and rolling items within the packing cube. My outfits were well coordinated, and I received many compliments, and I only took 3 pairs of shoes. I looked good every day. But still I took too many clothing items. Two dresses that I didn’t wear and a pair of pants and three tops. I thought I was at the bare bones of packing for this trip. This was an experiment and a test. I had packed too well, and everything was well coordinated, shoes, outfits, jewelry and headwear. I felt like I had passed the packing test. How did I feel in the outfits I was wearing? I was feeling fabulous! I dress how I feel on any given day. I do the same when I travel. I felt comfortable and moved with ease about the islands and the ship. Many years ago when I first started traveling I would take 2-3 outfits for each day of travel and a separate suitcase just for shoes (that $300 changed that). All that has changed. This past trip has definitely cured me of over packing and dragging heavy suitcases all over. :-)

If anyone is interested in booking a cruise from any of the above states/ports, Storyteller Travel can help you with that including your train transportation to and from the ports. Remember, working with a travel advisor is absolutely free. Commissions come from the supplier not the client. Please contact us for any of your travel needs.

Remember to Travel Smart and Travel Safe.

09/10/2024

Travel Tip Tuesday 9/10/24
Brought to you by STORYTELLER TRAVEL

Try local cuisine:
Food is an integral part of any culture. When traveling even in the Caribbean or to international countries, part of the experience is trying foods you’ve never eaten before. I’m not speaking of the unimaginable such as crickets (a delicacy in Oaxaca, Mexico, ughhhh) but authentic Italian food or Spanish Paella or Greek Moussaka etc. You might even take a cooking class as I’ve done while staying in Mexico. I learned to make Churros. Yum! You may even come home and try cooking these foods yourself. When I visited Asia, I got into Thai foods and enjoyed the various dishes immensely and when I got back home to the states, I signed up for a Thai cooking class. Well as luck would have it, Covid happened.

Explore off the beaten path:
Venture beyond popular destinations. I love going to visit museums, exhibitions, monuments, and churches in other countries. They are awe inspiring. I’m not talking about the usual tourist visitations but those that are inspiring to your particular interest. I once visited the Shoe Museum in Toronto, Canada. It had all the footwear from the beginning of time. And as an avid shoe lover, this was nirvana for me. Lololol. The most impressive museum to my spirit was the Music Museum in Paris, France. I had the best time experiencing visually the instruments that were played throughout the ages. I absolutely love music. I wasn’t there long enough and will be returning to visit that museum sometime in the future.

Immerse yourself in culture:
Attend local events and festivals. Since I mentioned that I love music this is a great segue into the festivals of in other countries and the Caribbean. Food festivals, Music Festivals, Themed Festivals, Cultural Festivals, etc. It is truly mind blowing how much you can experience when you immerse yourself into other cultures. I’ve experienced Trinidad’s annual Carnival Festival. It’s right before Ash Wednesday. Trinidad’s Carnival begins the December before the festival with the launching of the bands (groups that dance in their costumes along the main street on Tuesday before Lent begins). I played Masquerade (MAS) one year and it was an experience of a lifetime.
Until next week,
Travel Smart and Travel Safe

09/03/2024

TRAVEL TIP TUESDAY
Brought to you by STORYTELLER TRAVEL

Some travel mishaps can be avoided and some of them are just a part of traveling. You simply cannot plan for everything. However, keeping a few important things in mind will make your travels much easier.

Be Flexible and be Patient
As I’ve said in a previous travel tip posting flexibility and patience can make your travel experience go a long way to having a wonderful vacation. I always plan for delays and try not to get upset when things inevitably go wrong. Patience and flexibility are extremely important when traveling! I’ve experienced super delays (4+hours), canceled flights, running from gate to gate, missed transfers that I’ve pre-booked and no one showed up to pick me, lost luggage in a foreign country, etc. I take a beat to breathe, then proceed to sort out the problem if I can with a calm demeanor. Getting stressed will definitely not solve any problems and can delay your thinking rationally to solve the immediate issue. Woooosaaaahhh!

Make a List
About a week or so (myself is about a month) before each trip, I make a written list of items I don’t want to forget — which I WILL forget if I don’t write them down. I’ve learned that when I think of something, I need to write it down. Once on a trip to the DR one of my travel companions forgot her contact lens solution. She packed the night before she traveled. I wear contact lenses, and we went all over the resort where we were staying to find some solution and the small bottle of solution prices were insane. I wound up sharing mine with her. I didn’t have much but we made it work between the two of us. I typically pack a month before I travel so I don’t forget something. I once forgot my toothbrush on a 6-day cruise with my family. (How did I do that, I asked myself?) I went down to the ship’s store and the price of a toothbrush was $10. My eyes bulged, but I had to purchase said toothbrush. Lesson learned.

Learn Common Phrases of the Local Language if Traveling Internationally
I absolutely love traveling internationally. I believe when I travel to a country I should learn at least the basics of a simple introduction of my name, greeting and “Please,” “Thank you,” and “I’m sorry” in the local language and it goes a long way. It really does help. I also like to learn the word for w**e, but that’s just me. Lolol. I always learn some greeting phrases and then I may ask in the local language if they speak English. They usually smile and either speak English or no. I’ve made the language barrier work wherever I've traveled, and English wasn’t the common language. Also in my travel arsenal is Google translate and several other language translators. This came is handy when I was in Mexico applying for my residency. It was a life saver between my facilitator and me.

Remember to…. Travel Smart and Travel Safe.

08/27/2024

Travel Tip Tuesday
brought to you by Storyteller Travel

Keep a Travel Journal

When you were a kid did you keep a diary? I did but I don't know where it is now. LOLOL. Even at my age I always write down all the things I am thankful for in the many diaries that I have gone through in my life. And, occasionally as I run across those diaries when I am looking for something, I sometimes take a moment to look through them. I like to read what was on my mind--what was I thinking, experiencing as I wrote those notes. It's the same for me when I travel. I always carry a travel experience journal with me. Some may call it a diary but whatever name you give it write down Your experiences.
Even in this hyper-technological age, I think everyone needs to write more during their travels, so they have something to look back on. I never leave home without a journal. Not only do I use them for my business as a travel advisor (I’m constantly taking notes and writing down ideas) but I also use them to keep track of my personal travels.

Simple travel journals work great for journaling during your trip as well as for writing down logistical information like directions, contact information, and language tips, etc. Also, the tours you want to experience, restaurants you want to eat at, people you meet, etc.

You may want a travel journal that isn’t just blank pages but rather has space for itinerary planning, places to jot notes in the local language, inspirational quotes, and more. In 2025 as I plan and organize trips for my clients, one of my amenities that I will offer is a Storyteller Travel Journal. It will be available January 2025 for booked trips with Storyteller Travel. It is being designed specifically with travelers in mind, so you can take notes as well as write down stories and reflections during your travels. When you read back on those trips you have taken, your heart will smile (hopefully) at the memories that your journal will bring to mind.
Travel Smart and Travel Safe.

08/20/2024

Travel Tip Tuesday
brought to you by Storyteller Travel

Travel Insurance
Whether it's a medical emergency, a flight cancellation, a natural disaster, travel insurance can help you cover the costs and get assistance.
Don’t just hope your trip goes well and chaos free, ensure that it does to minimize the impact by purchasing travel insurance. Without travel insurance, you'll have to navigate every travel emergency on your own — whether that's a missing suitcase or a medical evacuation. When traveling internationally you should purchase travel insurance to give you that peace of mind. Also, if you travel frequently, you can purchase annual travel insurance. Here are a few reasons to factor in the cost of purchasing travel insurance when booking your vacation.
• Your non-refundable trip costs are much more than you can afford to lose.
• You are traveling internationally, and you need to get medical attention in your home country.
• You are traveling to a remote area with limited health care facilities.
• You are traveling to a hurricane-prone area.
• Your trip involves connecting flights or multiple destinations.
• You want to be partially reimbursed if you decide to cancel your trip or return home early for any reason.

Your credit card may provide some travel insurance but read the policy to be sure what is covered.

Other reasons to buy travel insurance include emergency medical reimbursement, cancellation due to illness, delayed or lost luggage, emergency evacuation, loss of a friend or family member, trip interruption, and damaged destinations.

I'm going to provide a link to my favorite travel guru Rick Steves on the why's and how's of purchasing travel insurance. We cannot always trust that things will always go according to plan. We cannot "fly" by the seat of our pants and things do happen. Travel Smart and Travel Safe.
https://www.ricksteves.com/travel-tips/trip-planning/travel-insurance

Do I Need Travel Insurance? When considering an insurance plan, it's good to know what it does and doesn't cover. By Rick Steves Travel insurance can minimize the considerable financial risks of traveling: accidents, illness, missed flights, canceled tours, lost baggage, theft, terrorism, travel-com...