Still, is this what selling out feels like? They suggested I could make a mood board or something. I think I know what a mood board is, but I don’t have the first idea how to make one. Does it involve construction paper and scissors? Because my mood is now perplexed and I feel like that would involve a lot of purple construction paper.
Then I thought a little more about it and realized that I do
have something to offer the world. I have some world-class travel tips that you
might not read anywhere else. And by world class, I mean I travel through
western Canada a lot. Name a city between here and Victoria and I’ve probably
used the bathroom in their Tim Hortons. I like to think I know a
thing or two.
Bring a water bottle.
Whether you’re driving or flying, you need water. Less when you’re driving
because of the whole pulling over to pee thing, and more when you’re flying
because of the whole endless waits, inflated airport prices, and dry cabin air.
Now, I love me a water bottle with a sippy
straw. The odds of me spilling all over myself are greatly reduced and
even though I look like an oversized toddler it’s so much easier to drink,
walk, and talk simultaneously.
There are two things you need to remember about
those water bottles, though, when flying. First, dump it out before going
through security. Try to bring a water bottle full of water through security at
an airport and they’ll treat you like a terrorist. And by that I mean they’re
going to confiscate your water bottle. Second, and most important, unhook the
straw from the sippy part of the bottle. Why? Well, airplanes are pressurized
and that translates into your water bottle become the Trevi Fountain when you
open it. The Trevi Fountain all over you and potentially the people sitting
behind you. FYI, the same thing goes for when you’re driving through the
mountains. Take that straw out.
Push the limits with
your carry-on luggage. When I travel it’s not to go on crazy mountain
climbing adventures. It’s typically to visit family, friends, or Disneyland. Packing
light is not a necessity. When we’re driving, Karl and I always bring our
pillows. Because we’re better than everyone else’s pillows. Just kidding, ours
are from Costco but they’re nicely conformed to the shapes of our heads. When
flying, though, pillows get cut.
I bought a rolling suitcase this summer for my trip to
Disneyland. I went to the store with tape measure in hand and the official
allowances for what you’re allowed to carry on and you know what? It’s way more
than you think. Those suitcases that get advertised as carry-on size are
significantly smaller than they have to be. Is your mind being blown right now?
Because mine was, that fateful day in Winners when I realized that. I left the
store that day with a suitcase that is technically half an inch too big for
carry-on but fits just fine in the Alaska Airlines carry-on police’s measuring
device. Coincidentally, it didn’t fit as well in the Air Canada one four months
later, but I think that’s because I over-stuffed it.
Another thing I’m not sure everyone knows is that you’re
allowed to bring a carry-on piece of luggage and a personal item on the plane
with you. A personal item is typically a purse or backpack sized item. I like
to push that limit too, by using the biggest purse I have. You can’t tell me it’s
too big because that lady has her dog and this is a purse. Oh, it’ll fit under
the seat no problem. And if not, I hear they have extra room on the wing.
Check-in 24 hours
early. I’ve mentioned this
before, but I think it’s too good not to share. Airlines can be real jerks and
tend to overbook planes. Because when you buy a ticket for an flight you’re not
actually buying a seat, you’re just getting the honour of fighting someone for
a seat. Thank God this isn’t Ryan Air, because someone might be on someone else’s
lap if it were. No, you’ll just run the risk of getting bumped off your flight.
But, and this is a big important but, if you are flexible and maybe didn’t
really want to fly home that day anyway, by all means don’t check-in 24 hours
in advance. You might get bumped. And if you’re flying with your spouse they
can have the opportunity to get bumped if they don’t want to travel without you
(which they don’t, obviously). And that can mean an impressive amount of travel
vouchers coming your way. Hello, Hawaii. But, and this is another big one,
there are no guarantees here. You might just end up sitting beside a stranger
or possibly end up in some sort of airport purgatory. If you have any sense of
adventure, though, I dare you to not check-in 24 hours in advance just to see
what’ll happen.
Bring snacks.
Airport food can be very hit or miss. I’ve been spending most of my time in the
Regina, Victoria, Calgary, and Vancouver airports lately. Small airports like
Regina and Victoria don’t have much to offer. Regina just has a pseudo-Tim
Hortons, a convenience store, and a couple vending machines. Victoria has a bit
more to offer, and Vancouver and Calgary both have the requisite Tim Hortons’
and a couple other options. I really appreciate the Booster Juice they have in
the Calgary airport. It helps balance out all the Tim Hortons bagels.
If you have any kind of dietary restrictions (like me!) I
recommend bringing your own food. Actually, unless you live and breathe Tim
Hortons, I recommend bringing your own food. When travelling domestically,
bring an apple or something along with banana chocolate chip muffins and Skittles
for good measure. It’s going to be a long day.
When we flew down to Disneyland this summer it was an early
early flight. We had about an hour to kill in the Seattle airport and I figured
Seattle is full of hippies so surely I would be able to find something without
dairy in it for breakfast. It turns out Americans love their dairy-filled baked
goods and I ended up settling for a $4 fruit cup. Note to self, always bring a
homemade muffin.
When road tripping, the same snacking rules apply. Maybe
bring some sandwiches, too, along with some sliced up oranges. While I would
never bring tuna or egg salad (or PB&anything for that matter) sandwiches onto
an airplane, it is perfectly acceptable to eat them in your own car.
Have a game plan.
When travelling with someone else it’s always good to lay out your
expectations. For me, this means that if the cut off to drop off your checked
bags is 45 minutes before flying time, I want to aim to be at the airport no
later than 60 minutes beforehand. My underwear’s in there and I’m going to need
it wherever I’m going. The thought of being too late to check my luggage gives
me indigestion.
When road tripping with someone it’s good to have scheduled
stops. When Karl and I drive from Victoria to Calgary, as soon as we hit the
mainland we stop in Kamloops, Golden, and at our destination. One or two extra
potty breaks are allowed but they are not for dilly dallying. We do not detour.
We have purpose.
It’s good to know if the person you’re road tripping with
has the same sense of purpose as you. If you’re a get-there kind of person and
they’re a stop-at-every-photo-op type, one of you will probably get left on the
side of the road. It’s good to have that conversation before confining yourself
to a motor vehicle with them for untold hours. Wars have been started for less.
Dress appropriately. Airplanes
are warm. And then they’re cold. And then all the air stops moving and you
wonder if that’s what it feels like to be buried alive. No, I’m not
claustrophobic, but I imagine people that are don’t fly very well. Wear layers,
but not too many layers. You don’t want to irritate the person beside you by
stripping off your sweater and then elbowing them in the face when you put it
back on. Wear comfortable clothes that you can wear in both desert and artic
conditions. TOMs are very comfortable on an airplane because they help your
feet breathe when you’re overheating, but they aren’t great for security. Security
is going to have to scan your TOMs to see if you’re hiding a rocket launcher in
there and then you’re going to be walking barefoot where millions of strangers
have gone before.
I highly recommend wearing shoes without laces whenever and
however you travel. Security at the airport will make you take them off, and if
you’re a passenger in a car you might want to take your shoes off, too. If you
don’t, I think you’re weird.
Road trip clothing should be even more comfortable than when
flying. You’re going to be in a car for ten hours so you might as well wear
leggings all day. And layers. Because even in -40 the sun can get hot coming
through that window.
I hope you don’t feel too spoiled, getting two posts in a
week. Happy birthday to you.
YES to all of these, I am flying on Monday (it's only a one way flight) but I already have my list ready haha.
ReplyDeleteGREAT post!!! I love all these tips. I definitely agree with the snack thing - good luck finding snacks that are soy-free. Even the little bags of pretzels and nuts or whatever they give you on the plane usually has soy in it. Also, I've thought about doing the water bottle thing, but where do you fill it up? Drinking fountains gross me out and heck if I'm going to fill it up in a nasty public bathroom sink...
ReplyDeleteI'm looking forward to a new list once baby arrives. New curve balls!
ReplyDeleteDerek forgot a sippy cup full of milk in the bottom of the stroller the last time we flew. It trevi fountained all over the place. Thankfully it was so cold in storage that it didn't smell. But still not the first thing i wanted to do after getting to Hawaii
ReplyDelete