| The trick to successful and stress-free
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| | -- I repeat do not -- keep this record in
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| travel is planning ahead. Challenging,
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| | your purse or wallet. Think about it.
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| though it might seem, your goal is to
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| | Those are the first things a thief will
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| think of every possible contingency that
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| | take -- if you keep your list with the
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| might come up, and take action before it
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| | credit cards and traveler's checks, it
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| happens. What will you do if your luggage
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| | doesn't help much when they are stolen.
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| is lost? If you get sick? If you forget
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| | You are better off sticking it in your
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| your blue pumps? Being PROACTIVE will
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| | shoe (as long as your feet don't sweat a
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| reduce the possibility of a serious
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| | lot!)Finally, be sure to have a POINT OF
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| crisis occurring during your
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| | CONTACT at home -- someone who knows
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| trip.BUDGETING FOR YOUR TRIPTravel
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| | where you are and how to reach you. Make
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| doesn't have to break the bank -- not if
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| | sure to give this person any information
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| you are willing to plan ahead for your
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| | that could be important in the event of
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| vacation spending. Decide first how much
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| | an emergency -- the phone number and
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| you can AFFORD, then make your travel
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| | address where you are staying, the code
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| plans. Start searching early for travel
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| | to your alarm system, your doctor's name,
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| deals -- talk to your travel agent, look
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| | etc. It will ease your mind to know that
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| for internet specials, and check with
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| | you can be contacted if something goes
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| travel clubs (like AAA) for discounts.
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| | wrong at home -- and that you have
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| You can find some great bargains in
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| | someone who can act on your behalf if
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| package deals that combine hotel and
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| | something goes awry on your end.KEEPING
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| airfare at a discounted rate.If vacations
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| | YOUR HOUSE SAFENothing can ruin a
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| tend to get you in trouble on your credit
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| | fabulous vacation more than worrying
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| cards, consider starting a savings
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| | about your home while you are gone. But a
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| account just for travel -- where you put
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| | few simple precautions can help ease your
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| away a small amount each month toward
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| | mind and keep your domicile safe. Before
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| your next trip. You should also plan to
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| | you leave, let the police or a very
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| use traveler's checks instead of credit
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| | trusted neighbor know you will be gone --
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| cards to stay within your budget. It's
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| | especially if you are planning a lengthy
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| amazing how easy it is to go overboard
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| | trip. Nothing says "not home" more than a
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| when start handing out the plastic! And
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| | pile of newspapers in your driveway or
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| be sure to keep track of how much you
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| | magazines pouring out of your mailbox --
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| actually spend -- as compared to your
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| | so stop your mail and newspaper delivery
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| budget -- throughout the trip. You might
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| | or have neighbor collect them. Investing
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| keep a small pad of paper with you for
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| | in timers for your lights, radios, etc,
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| recording expenses and tallying up your
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| | -- and setting them to go on and off at
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| total for each day.If you can't seem to
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| | random times during the day - will make
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| make it happen on your budget, consider
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| | your home look lived in and keep burglars
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| COMPROMISING on lower priority expenses
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| | away. And if you still aren't comfortable
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| in exchange for the higher priority ones.
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| | abandoning your home, hire a
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| When my husband and I travel, we are
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| | housesitter.INSURE YOUR TRIPOne thing
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| always willing to stay in a budget hotel
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| | that very few people remember to do
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| so we can afford to eat out and attend
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| | before leaving home is review their
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| cultural events. We decided that
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| | insurance policies. This is particularly
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| expensive hotels are wasted on us because
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| | important if you are travelling overseas.
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| we spend very little time in our room,
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| | First, make sure that you have the proper
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| and we would rather spend our money
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| | personal liability coverage. This is
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| elsewhere. Where are you willing to trade
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| | meant to insure the loss or theft of your
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| off?PACKING MADE EASYHave you ever been
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| | personal possessions, injury (to yourself
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| away from home and suddenly realized that
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| | or someone else), your legal defense
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| you forgot your toothbrush, your shoes,
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| | (other countries don't operate like the
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| or your bathing suit? Having to rush
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| | US -- remember that kid in Singapore who
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| around replacing items that you left
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| | was caned?), and the repatriation of your
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| behind not only wastes time and money, it
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| | remains should you die overseas (not a
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| also reduces your enjoyment of the trip.
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| | nice thought, but it does happen). Check
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| And sometimes, you might forget an item
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| | with your insurance carriers -- your
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| that isn't so easily replaced -- like
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| | homeowner's policy may include coverage
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| your checkbook or the report you were
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| | for your possessions while away from
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| supposed to present at tomorrow's
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| | home, and your credit card company
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| meeting. But you can save yourself a lot
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| | probably offers inexpensive life
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| of heartache by taking the guesswork out
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| | insurance.If you plan to operate a
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| of packing.Start by developing PACKING
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| | vehicle while on your trip, check to see
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| LISTS for both short-term travel (from
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| | what your automobile insurance covers. If
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| one to three days) and longer trips. You
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| | you are in an accident in a rented car,
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| can even create different lists for
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| | what is paid for? Are you covered if you
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| different kinds of travel -- camping,
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| | are in an accident overseas? Are there
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| business, foreign travel, trips to the
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| | any hidden costs that you will be
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| beach, cold-weather travel, etc. Try to
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| | expected to pay? You should also
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| include any and all generic items that
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| | familiarize yourself with your MEDICAL
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| you might need -- clothes, toiletries,
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| | insurance. What actions does your
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| alarm clock, night light, whatever you
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| | insurance company require if you become
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| like to take with you. Then use these
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| | ill or injured while out of state? Out of
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| lists as memory-joggers as you are
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| | the country?If you are taking a package
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| packing for each trip. You can also cut
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| | tour or an expensive trip, if you will be
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| down on the time you spend preparing for
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| | visiting a dangerous or unpredictable
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| travel by keeping a "pre-packed" toiletry
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| | parts of the world, or if you have a
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| bag with duplicates of the items you use
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| | personal or medical situation that might
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| in your home. Fill your kit with samples
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| | disrupt your travels, you should also
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| of shampoo, soap, lotion, cosmetics,
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| | consider trip cancellation and
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| toothpaste, and shaving cream -- even
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| | interruption insurance. This type of
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| miniature toothbrushes and razors. These
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| | coverage can protect you in case of bad
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| travel-sized items take up less room in
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| | weather (ie: a cruise cancelled because
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| your suitcase, and you will be less
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| | of a hurricane), illness, family
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| likely to leave something important
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| | emergency, and even the default or
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| behind.And don't forget your important
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| | bankruptcy of your travel suppliers. But
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| documents - especially if you are
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| | remember that certain situations -- like
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| travelling overseas. You should plan to
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| | pre-existing medical conditions,
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| bring proof of citizenship, an official
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| | terrorism, hijacking, and war -- can void
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| government photo identification (driver's
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| | your trip cancellation coverage. Make
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| license or military ID is fine), a
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| | sure that you clearly understand all of
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| state-issued birth certificate with a
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| | the terms, requirements, and EXCLUSIONS
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| raised seal, and a passport. Remember
| |
| | before you purchase your insurance. Does
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| that children and infants are also
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| | it only cover situations when someone in
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| required to have a state-issued birth
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| | your party gets sick, or if someone at
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| certificate for travel.LESS IS MOREIf you
| |
| | home gets sick as well? When does your
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| can get away with it, try not to check
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| | coverage start and end? Does "medical
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| your luggage. I purchased a very roomy
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| | evacuation" mean that you are evacuated
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| pullman carry on that will accommodate up
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| | to the nearest medical facility or back
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| to a week's worth of clothes -- that way,
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| | home? You might want to contact the
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| I never have to be concerned about losing
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| | insurance company yourself, as many
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| my bags. If you pack "mix-and-match"
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| | travel agents may not understand all the
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| outfits and plan to do some washing along
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| | terms of your policy. Don't assume that
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| the way, you don't need 15 different
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| | anything is covered until you check it
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| outfits for a one-week trip. And if you
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| | out for yourself.SCHEDULING AS A
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| have to check a piece, be sure to keep
| |
| | SCIENCESome of the biggest frustrations
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| those items you couldn't live without in
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| | people face when travelling are
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| your carry on -- toiletries, a change of
| |
| | disruptions to their SCHEDULE -- flight
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| clothes, clean underwear, medications,
| |
| | delays, traffic jams, getting lost, long
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| maps, travel confirmations, and any
| |
| | lines, you name it. But you can take a
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| materials you might need for an upcoming
| |
| | number of precautions to make sure you
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| business meeting. But try to take no more
| |
| | are able to stick to your itinerary while
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| than one medium-sized and one carry on
| |
| | travelling. Don't wait until you arrive
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| bag per person. Remember, you can always
| |
| | at your destination to learn the lay of
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| remedy underpacking, but not OVERPACKING!
| |
| | the land. Take the time to research your
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| However heavy your suitcase is when you
| |
| | trip before leaving -- develop at least a
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| start out, it will be twice as heavy when
| |
| | cursory knowledge of the routes,
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| you come home.If you plan to do any
| |
| | directions, tourist attractions,
|
| shopping while on your trip, you may
| |
| | transportation systems, and weather. Look
|
| decide to bring along an extra bag for
| |
| | at your options and pick a few major
|
| carrying your purchases home. Put your
| |
| | sights that you really want to see while
|
| filled suitcase inside a slightly larger
| |
| | on your trip -- just remember that you
|
| empty one -- or, get a collapsible tote
| |
| | can't do everything! Then make as many
|
| that will take up very little space in
| |
| | advance reservations as possible once
|
| your bag. But the easiest option
| |
| | your itinerary is set, remembering to
|
| (although perhaps not the cheapest) is to
| |
| | build the travel time from sight to sight
|
| have each store ship your treasures
| |
| | into your itinerary. Be sure to confirm
|
| directly to your home. This is an
| |
| | any appointments and reservations before
|
| especially good policy if you are
| |
| | leaving -- and then reconfirm everything
|
| bringing home anything large or bulky on
| |
| | when you arrive. There is no such thing
|
| a plane, as the airlines often charge
| |
| | as double-checking too much!We've talked
|
| extra for oversized parcels. And each bag
| |
| | a lot about physical preparations for
|
| you have to lug around limits your
| |
| | your vacation -- but preparing yourself
|
| transportation options. Heavy suitcases
| |
| | mentally is just as important. Determine
|
| mean cabs and porters and inconvenience
| |
| | ahead of time what your EXPECTATIONS are
|
| and fatigue -- while a light suitcase
| |
| | for your trip. What must happen to make
|
| equals travel freedom.PROTECT YOURSELF
| |
| | this a successful trip? Which activities
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| AND YOUR BELONGINGSWhile no one wants to
| |
| | or sights you it would disappoint you to
|
| be paranoid about their safety when
| |
| | miss? Which activities or sights you it
|
| travelling, it's a good idea to err on
| |
| | wouldn't bother you to miss? And what
|
| the side of caution when planning your
| |
| | problems that you have had on other trips
|
| trip. So let's start with your "stuff" --
| |
| | that you would like to avoid this time?
|
| list the contents of each piece of
| |
| | Try to admit to yourself that things may
|
| luggage and keep your list close at hand
| |
| | not go perfectly throughout the entire
|
| anytime your bags are out of your sight.
| |
| | trip. Be FLEXIBLE and have other options
|
| This will save you a great deal of
| |
| | ready (reading, other activities) if your
|
| frustration if your bags are lost and you
| |
| | schedule gets off track. Understand that
|
| have to file a claim or replace your
| |
| | you can not control every (or any!)
|
| belongings. And don't forget to mark your
| |
| | aspect of travel. The more willing you
|
| luggage for easy retrieval -- all those
| |
| | are to accept difficulties and delays,
|
| black pullmans are starting to look
| |
| | the less disruptive they will be if they
|
| alike, and it's easy for someone else to
| |
| | do occur. Happy travels!Ramona Creel is a
|
| pick up your bag.While you are making
| |
| | Professional Organizer and the founder of
|
| lists, create a WRITTEN RECORD of your
| |
| | -- offering "a world of organizing
|
| credit card numbers, traveler's checks,
| |
| | solutions!" Visit for organizing
|
| medical insurance, emergency phone
| |
| | products, free tips, a speakers bureau --
|
| numbers, and other important information
| |
| | and even get a referral for a
|
| to take with you when you travel. And
| |
| | Professional Organizer near you. And if
|
| always keep this information hidden away
| |
| | you are interested in becoming a
|
| someplace secure -- a hotel safe deposit
| |
| | Professional Organizer, we have all the
|
| box is a good choice -- where you can
| |
| | tools you need to succeed.
|
| easily access it if you need it. Do not
| |
| |
|
