I always traveled with a backpack as my personal item. For me, it was easiest to put the backpack on and RUN with my rollerboard to make a connection or something. Plus it kept both of my hands free to fumble with boarding passes and stuff. If I tried to be fashionable and travel with a large purse, I found it slowed me down.
I always traveled with a backpack as my personal item. For me, it was easiest to put the backpack on and RUN with my rollerboard to make a connection or something. Plus it kept both of my hands free to fumble with boarding passes and stuff. If I tried to be fashionable and travel with a large purse, I found it slowed me down.
I know I'm the oddball on this, but when I fly, I have a cross-body purse as my personal item, and a large-ish backpack for my carryon. It means if I'm in a hurry I can really boot it, can deal with stairs without issue, odd flooring/pavement, walker up/down escalators to move a bit faster, etc. It also leaves both hands free for whatever I might need - tickets, ID, lunch, etc.
Using a backpack as my carryon has saved my butt a few times. When we lived in NC, I kept flying on smaller regional jets, and the overheads on those were smaller than on larger planes - most normal roller-bags couldn't fit in them and had to be gate-checked.
Yes, it does mean that I end up checking a suitcase. But, generally I have to, anyways, for other reasons (typically I need to bring several items on my trips that cannot be carried on).
awkwardpenguin, what brand is your neck pillow? I have never had an inflatable one, always worried about comfort, but would love to move away from mine which is giant and therefore RARELY packed!
Mine is from Target - I believe it's their Embark brand. It's covered in fuzzy fleece so it's really comfortable. I actually have two - they haven't failed me yet. I used to have a Samsonite one that was full of fail - not comfy at all.
I was concerted to steaming after scorching a few things and struggling with hotel irons. This steamer is a little bigger than a coffee cup and always travels with me. I can steam a suit out much faster than I could iron and I can steam delicate stuff like silks too.
Post by pantsparty on Mar 26, 2014 23:39:32 GMT -5
-Melatonin -All of your chargers - and MAKE SURE to do a sweep before you leave your hotel room. My H has lost at least 3 chargers in the past year. -Ear plugs for noisy hotel rooms -Tea! Sometimes, especially in different time zones, it's hard to sleep. I pack a few different versions and heat the water with the coffee maker. -Small first aid kit with stuff like antacids, ibuprofen, band-aids, etc. -I know this is not popular, but I check my bag. I pack all my toiletries, workout gear, etc. Traveling is actually more relaxing for me once I part with my bag, instead of lugging it through the airport, multiple connections, etc. Waiting for bags isn't exciting, but it doesn't hold me up enough to change. -I have a whole separate bag with cosmetics, toiletries, small blowdryer, hair brush, small steamer, eye mask, etc. Makes traveling a bit easier when you're not constantly switching your stuff in and out of bags.
- Pack your sense of humor! Travel can be so stressful, and I have colleagues who flip out about delays, etc. That stuff is just a fact of life. I met RBP because my flight to Chicago was delayed, so there may be a silver lining. I don't mean to sound cheesy, but if you go in with a good attitude, it just makes everything better.
I remember this! And I'm still sad I missed out because I was traveling with coworkers haha.
If I could have met you TOO that would have been worth the delay! That was a long trip to Chicago, was very glad to have my Kindle too. Seems like forever ago, but I think it was December? Wow.
Preppy, I'm in a hotel right now and thought of another one!
I learned this over time, but if you always get the room with the 2 double beds, you can use one bed to sleep in...and the other bed as home base for your stuff.
Right now, other bed has my charger bag (so I remember to pick up all my chargers), my duffel and purse, my coat, and my dirty laundry bag.
Spreading all this stuff out and unpacking "throughout" the room increases the chances of leaving stuff behind which can be annoying (chargers) or devastating (hermes scarf my colleague lost on the road...which was a WEDDING PRESENT FROM HER GRANDMA so sad:'(
Preppy, I'm in a hotel right now and thought of another one!
I learned this over time, but if you always get the room with the 2 double beds, you can use one bed to sleep in...and the other bed as home base for your stuff.
Right now, other bed has my charger bag (so I remember to pick up all my chargers), my duffel and purse, my coat, and my dirty laundry bag.
Spreading all this stuff out and unpacking "throughout" the room increases the chances of leaving stuff behind which can be annoying (chargers) or devastating (hermes scarf my colleague lost on the road...which was a WEDDING PRESENT FROM HER GRANDMA so sad:'(
Oh, but the highlight of being in a hotel is having a king-sized bed... even better if I have it ALL TO MYSELF.
I learned this over time, but if you always get the room with the 2 double beds, you can use one bed to sleep in...and the other bed as home base for your stuff.
I do this too!
Also since I'm traveling today with my spinner suitcase, you people saying spinners are better for running through airports are nuts. Spinners are great for lots of things, but you want two high quality wheels for running, not four.
If you wear suits, look for a suitcase with a suiter attachment. I use a travelpro crew bag and it was very MM (less than $200). and I constantly see frequent travelers and airline crews with them. Mine is going strong after several years of heavy use.
For workouts, get thin soled workout shoes that won't take up much bag space. And if you're traveling east to west, try to stay on east coast time. I've been working out at 6am all week and it's easy because it feels like 9.
Post by LoveTrains on Mar 27, 2014 17:44:42 GMT -5
You should totally do Nexus or Global Entry. I actually went with my sister to her global entry interview in Seattle and the guy said nexus includes global entry PLUS express lanes to Canada.
You should totally do Nexus or Global Entry. I actually went with my sister to her global entry interview in Seattle and the guy said nexus includes global entry PLUS express lanes to Canada.
Do you mean if you're driving? I'm pretty sure Global Entry alone does that (that's the only use of the card you get, if I recall correctly). Not that I ever plan to drive to Canada
You should totally do Nexus or Global Entry. I actually went with my sister to her global entry interview in Seattle and the guy said nexus includes global entry PLUS express lanes to Canada.
Do you mean if you're driving? I'm pretty sure Global Entry alone does that (that's the only use of the card you get, if I recall correctly). Not that I ever plan to drive to Canada
Yes via car! Sorry I should have specified.
ETA: not sure if it also includes express lanes via driving to Mexico?
ETA: Doesn't global entry only speed entry back into the US? So with NEXUS, it also speeds entry INTO canada. it is like a two way street with Canada. Not sure that is super helpful for that many people, but Nexus is half the price of Global entry and includes global entry, so for someone that lives in a nexus processing center city (like Boston), it seems like Nexus is the MM choice.
Do you mean if you're driving? I'm pretty sure Global Entry alone does that (that's the only use of the card you get, if I recall correctly). Not that I ever plan to drive to Canada
Yes via car! Sorry I should have specified.
ETA: not sure if it also includes express lanes via driving to Mexico?
ETA: Doesn't global entry only speed entry back into the US? So with NEXUS, it also speeds entry INTO canada. it is like a two way street with Canada. Not sure that is super helpful for that many people, but Nexus is half the price of Global entry and includes global entry, so for someone that lives in a nexus processing center city (like Boston), it seems like Nexus is the MM choice.
Huh. My understanding of NEXUS is that it comes with TSA precheck, _not_ with Global Entry. (unless at an airport that doesn't distinguish between global entry and NEXUS)
NEXUS is cheap - $50, if I remember correctly. That is _easily_ worth the money, as far as I'm concerned. Of course, I'm a Canuck with US residency, so this will be useful for me for more than just TSA precheck stuff... DH and I will both probably get it, even though his ID (military) will get him into the TSA pre-check lines already. We can only use the NEXUS lanes for driving across the border if all vehicle passengers have NEXUS.
I have recommended to my parents that they get NEXUS, as well. They travel a lot, and often end up on routes thru the US because the flights work out cheaper that way. It'll make life easier for them, and $100 isn't bad for getting TSA pre-check. Hopefully it helps fix the issue Mom has had since the year DH and I got married - she kept flying between Canada and Texas, and now is almost always pegged for extra screening. We figure she was marked as a potential drug runner because of her travel patterns that year (lots and lots of trips to TX from Canada in one year to help plan the wedding...).
NEXUS and SENTRI Members May Utilize the Global Entry Kiosks All NEXUS members can enjoy the benefits of Global Entry at no additional cost through using the automated kiosks for entry at participating airports. NEXUS members will need to check their status in their Global Online Enrollment System account, as they may need to submit their 10-fingerprints or any other necessary documentation in order to receive Global Entry benefits. (GOES)
Preppy, I'm in a hotel right now and thought of another one!
I learned this over time, but if you always get the room with the 2 double beds, you can use one bed to sleep in...and the other bed as home base for your stuff.
Right now, other bed has my charger bag (so I remember to pick up all my chargers), my duffel and purse, my coat, and my dirty laundry bag.
Spreading all this stuff out and unpacking "throughout" the room increases the chances of leaving stuff behind which can be annoying (chargers) or devastating (hermes scarf my colleague lost on the road...which was a WEDDING PRESENT FROM HER GRANDMA so sad:'(
That is so sad that she lost an hermes scarf!!! I recently forgot a $300 Shoshanna skirt in a hotel somewhere in NJ never to be seen again. I was so upset it was my favorite skirt. Good advice though I do love a King to myself:)
NEXUS and SENTRI Members May Utilize the Global Entry Kiosks All NEXUS members can enjoy the benefits of Global Entry at no additional cost through using the automated kiosks for entry at participating airports. NEXUS members will need to check their status in their Global Online Enrollment System account, as they may need to submit their 10-fingerprints or any other necessary documentation in order to receive Global Entry benefits. (GOES)
And yes, Global Entry is $100 and Nexus is $50.
But don't you have to go to a border crossing (or to Canada) to interview for NEXUS? For the vast majority of us, that'd knock out the $50 savings quickly.
NEXUS and SENTRI Members May Utilize the Global Entry Kiosks All NEXUS members can enjoy the benefits of Global Entry at no additional cost through using the automated kiosks for entry at participating airports. NEXUS members will need to check their status in their Global Online Enrollment System account, as they may need to submit their 10-fingerprints or any other necessary documentation in order to receive Global Entry benefits. (GOES)
And yes, Global Entry is $100 and Nexus is $50.
But don't you have to go to a border crossing (or to Canada) to interview for NEXUS? For the vast majority of us, that'd knock out the $50 savings quickly.
This is my understanding.
My problem has always been getting back into the US (going into Canada is easy). So Global Entry helps with the half that is the bigger issue, and doesn't require a trip to Canada to get. TSA Precheck is a lovely side benefit that you should only take advantage of if you are the type of person who has your boarding pass and ID out and ready when you get into a security line (please, for my sake).
NEXUS and SENTRI Members May Utilize the Global Entry Kiosks All NEXUS members can enjoy the benefits of Global Entry at no additional cost through using the automated kiosks for entry at participating airports. NEXUS members will need to check their status in their Global Online Enrollment System account, as they may need to submit their 10-fingerprints or any other necessary documentation in order to receive Global Entry benefits. (GOES)
And yes, Global Entry is $100 and Nexus is $50.
But don't you have to go to a border crossing (or to Canada) to interview for NEXUS? For the vast majority of us, that'd knock out the $50 savings quickly.
Yes there are limited interview sites, but OP is in Boston and there are a couple in New England. I actually think H and I are going to do a fun road trip to the one in Maine this summer.
But for most people if the interview centers are not close to them or they do not travel through them often, global entry is obviously the winner. But Nexus is a great alternative for those that it makes sense for.
But don't you have to go to a border crossing (or to Canada) to interview for NEXUS? For the vast majority of us, that'd knock out the $50 savings quickly.
Yes there are limited interview sites, but OP is in Boston and there are a couple in New England. I actually think H and I are going to do a fun road trip to the one in Maine this summer.
But for most people if the interview centers are not close to them or they do not travel through them often, global entry is obviously the winner. But Nexus is a great alternative for those that it makes sense for.
Not sure how the Maine centers are, but I'd do research on that before getting your hopes up that you could build a road trip around it. Sometimes centers get booked up months in advance, in which case the chances of you and your husband getting interviews within a few days of each other would likely be nil.
But don't you have to go to a border crossing (or to Canada) to interview for NEXUS? For the vast majority of us, that'd knock out the $50 savings quickly.
Yes there are limited interview sites, but OP is in Boston and there are a couple in New England. I actually think H and I are going to do a fun road trip to the one in Maine this summer.
But for most people if the interview centers are not close to them or they do not travel through them often, global entry is obviously the winner. But Nexus is a great alternative for those that it makes sense for.
Thanks for the info I will look into global entry and Nexus:)
Yes there are limited interview sites, but OP is in Boston and there are a couple in New England. I actually think H and I are going to do a fun road trip to the one in Maine this summer.
But for most people if the interview centers are not close to them or they do not travel through them often, global entry is obviously the winner. But Nexus is a great alternative for those that it makes sense for.
Not sure how the Maine centers are, but I'd do research on that before getting your hopes up that you could build a road trip around it. Sometimes centers get booked up months in advance, in which case the chances of you and your husband getting interviews within a few days of each other would likely be nil.
v you have been very critical if my posts lately. I will say that my sister just brought her H to her global entry interview (his was at a different time) and it was no problem.
Also the sites are booking four months out so if we apply now I assume we can do a summer road trip.
But thanks for assuming that I've done no research and that I have no idea what I'm talking about.