little things that make your vacation better?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I know people who try to travel only with wifi, without purchasing any data. They have literally called me (when they were travelling and I was at home) to get me to look up directions for them and tell them over the phone when they got lost somewhere and couldn’t get wifi. This is absurd to me. I pay for data.

Who doesn't have unlimited data

International use costs extra on most plans. I pay $10 a day ATT. My SO pays $20/day Verizon because they have a scam going where they end up charging you double. T-Mobile is free but who has T-Mobile?

Verizon is $10 per everyday that you use data internationally.

With a super low data limit, and then they charge you $20/day. We will be quitting them because of this.

We use the phone all the time, including google maps. Never ever been charged the $20, is this new?

[Anonymous]

I research and make dinner reservations for as may nights as possible. We are on vacation next week and have reservations for every night. It takes the stress out of figuring out where to eat, and makes sure we aren't disappointed in finding out the good restaurants required making reservations a month ago. I even booked a lunch for next week because we learned the last time we were at this ski resort that lunch reservations were required at this place.

[Anonymous]

I would gladly be corrected, but as far as I can see the $20/day rate for Verizon international that's been floated around in this thread and others recently appears to be a rate associated with an old plan that's no longer available, specifically for service *in flight* on international flights. Not on the ground in country, which is typically either $5 or $10/day, depending on country.

I've paid $10/day Verizon international. (Or used my accrued free days because of the specific plan I'm on.)

I've had speed throttled on Verizon when I've gone over the daily data cap, but I haven't been charge more per day.

Yes, T*Mobile has much better international plans compared to Verizon, but Verizon isn't as awful as portrayed.

[Anonymous]

I like to bring fancy snacks for the plane. I'll go to the grocery store/market and get a mini baguette, hard cheese, fruit (fresh or dried), chocolate, etc. -- nonliquid stuff that doesn't need refrigeration (I put some cheeses in that category, but ymmv). So much nicer to pull out than the airline pretzels and can serve as a full meal if needed.

On car rides, I triangulate stops by looking on Google maps for parks, then finding restaurants nearby. Everyone gets to stretch their legs before/after the meal.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I like to bring fancy snacks for the plane. I'll go to the grocery store/market and get a mini baguette, hard cheese, fruit (fresh or dried), chocolate, etc. -- nonliquid stuff that doesn't need refrigeration (I put some cheeses in that category, but ymmv). So much nicer to pull out than the airline pretzels and can serve as a full meal if needed.

On car rides, I triangulate stops by looking on Google maps for parks, then finding restaurants nearby. Everyone gets to stretch their legs before/after the meal.

I do a version of this too. I always have and supply my family with favorite snacks to pack in carryons. My DH used to insist he didn’t need this, but after I got cross with him for eating my stuff when he declined to pack what I got for him (his favorites), he has embraced it too. We take enough so if the food is bad on the plane it doesn’t matter. So nice not to have to worry about food! And everyone has their own so no quarrels about whether one kid is eating more than their share of Pringles.

I have a super-nice memory foam neck pillow I love that folds small.

I take a large capacity power bank that has saved us so many times. It is small but clutch.

I also have a great under-seat soft bag that holds a ton and doesn’t cramp my feet. That was an Amazon splurge, but really nice.

My Kindle oasis is great too, no longer have to bring my books/magazines. KU has so many mags, I no longer buy them on trips like I used to.

[Anonymous]

PP, could you please link to the under seat soft bag?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm always amazed at people who do laundry on vacation. Vacation is NOT having to do laundry.

LOL. Folks are different.

(1) Of all the chores in life, laundry is one that I mind the least.
(2) I love traveling with just a small carry-on and a small day bag, which means that for a trip longer than a handful of days, at some point I'll have to do laundry. To me the joy of traveling light far outweighs any downside such as laundry, which, per (1), I really don't mind much to begin with. (On rare occasion I've paid to have laundry done while traveling.)

I agree, I would much prefer to throw in a load than deal with more luggage. I also actually like having a kitchen on vacation and I don’t mind cooking. Eating out is fun, but every meal for multiple days and I don’t feel well. So we eat out once or twice a day and have simple meals in the rental and it’s no big deal. Throw in the dishes as we go and run it before we leave.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:PP, could you please link to the under seat soft bag?

It is this one: https://biaggi.com/collections/zipsak/products/zipsak-micro-fold-expandable-underseater-zipcube

I don’t use the wheels, I slide it on my carryon so I don’t have to check bags.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I like to bring fancy snacks for the plane. I'll go to the grocery store/market and get a mini baguette, hard cheese, fruit (fresh or dried), chocolate, etc. -- nonliquid stuff that doesn't need refrigeration (I put some cheeses in that category, but ymmv). So much nicer to pull out than the airline pretzels and can serve as a full meal if needed.

On car rides, I triangulate stops by looking on Google maps for parks, then finding restaurants nearby. Everyone gets to stretch their legs before/after the meal.

I do a version of this too. I always have and supply my family with favorite snacks to pack in carryons. My DH used to insist he didn’t need this, but after I got cross with him for eating my stuff when he declined to pack what I got for him (his favorites), he has embraced it too. We take enough so if the food is bad on the plane it doesn’t matter. So nice not to have to worry about food! And everyone has their own so no quarrels about whether one kid is eating more than their share of Pringles.

I have a super-nice memory foam neck pillow I love that folds small.

I take a large capacity power bank that has saved us so many times. It is small but clutch.

I also have a great under-seat soft bag that holds a ton and doesn’t cramp my feet. That was an Amazon splurge, but really nice.

My Kindle oasis is great too, no longer have to bring my books/magazines. KU has so many mags, I no longer buy them on trips like I used to.

Can you share which bag?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I like to bring fancy snacks for the plane. I'll go to the grocery store/market and get a mini baguette, hard cheese, fruit (fresh or dried), chocolate, etc. -- nonliquid stuff that doesn't need refrigeration (I put some cheeses in that category, but ymmv). So much nicer to pull out than the airline pretzels and can serve as a full meal if needed.

On car rides, I triangulate stops by looking on Google maps for parks, then finding restaurants nearby. Everyone gets to stretch their legs before/after the meal.

I do a version of this too. I always have and supply my family with favorite snacks to pack in carryons. My DH used to insist he didn’t need this, but after I got cross with him for eating my stuff when he declined to pack what I got for him (his favorites), he has embraced it too. We take enough so if the food is bad on the plane it doesn’t matter. So nice not to have to worry about food! And everyone has their own so no quarrels about whether one kid is eating more than their share of Pringles.

I have a super-nice memory foam neck pillow I love that folds small.

I take a large capacity power bank that has saved us so many times. It is small but clutch.

I also have a great under-seat soft bag that holds a ton and doesn’t cramp my feet. That was an Amazon splurge, but really nice.

My Kindle oasis is great too, no longer have to bring my books/magazines. KU has so many mags, I no longer buy them on trips like I used to.

Can you share which bag?

Nvm. Sorry! Didn’t scroll down enough. See the link.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I always bring my own slippers.

Same, slippers for inside the room

Also slippers for the plane.

What's wrong with the slippers the airline and hotels give you ?

I don’t think I’ve ever been given slippers on a flight. Socks maybe. I have some ballet slippers that I could walk through the airport in and then onto the plane. It’s much better than keeping your shoes on or being in your socks.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I like to bring fancy snacks for the plane. I'll go to the grocery store/market and get a mini baguette, hard cheese, fruit (fresh or dried), chocolate, etc. -- nonliquid stuff that doesn't need refrigeration (I put some cheeses in that category, but ymmv). So much nicer to pull out than the airline pretzels and can serve as a full meal if needed.

On car rides, I triangulate stops by looking on Google maps for parks, then finding restaurants nearby. Everyone gets to stretch their legs before/after the meal.

I do a version of this too. I always have and supply my family with favorite snacks to pack in carryons. My DH used to insist he didn’t need this, but after I got cross with him for eating my stuff when he declined to pack what I got for him (his favorites), he has embraced it too. We take enough so if the food is bad on the plane it doesn’t matter. So nice not to have to worry about food! And everyone has their own so no quarrels about whether one kid is eating more than their share of Pringles.

I have a super-nice memory foam neck pillow I love that folds small.

I take a large capacity power bank that has saved us so many times. It is small but clutch.

I also have a great under-seat soft bag that holds a ton and doesn’t cramp my feet. That was an Amazon splurge, but really nice.

My Kindle oasis is great too, no longer have to bring my books/magazines. KU has so many mags, I no longer buy them on trips like I used to.

Mind sharing link to memory foam pillow? Wonderful ideas thank you!!!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I have a waterproof bag where I keep all of our charge cords. That way we have just one space to look instead of 100 different bags. I always pack by the day not by the person. So one of our carry-ons always has at least one outfit for every member of our family for the next day.... In my suitcase I will pack the next couple of days for every member and so on and so forth. That way for driving we only have to bring one suitcase into the hotel instead of 5. Obviously a flying it may not make that big of difference.

I have a bag for cords, too and do the same thing with a carry-on for day one. It actually gives me peace of mind when we are flying internationally in case a bag is delayed.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:red eye to Europe, most hotels don't offer check in until the afternoon. however, schedule a spa appointment the morning you arrive ("we know we need to wait until the afternoon for check-in") you either rest in the spa or often they will get a room ready for you while you're in the spa. (b/c you're now a guest, not just one of many asking for early, early check in)

This is brilliant.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm always amazed at people who do laundry on vacation. Vacation is NOT having to do laundry.

We get suites whenever possible and always ask the nanny to do the kids laundry the night before we fly back home. Easier to unpack the kids, and just put stacks of their clean clothes away.

You have a nanny! Wouldn’t she be doing the laundry at home anyway?!