Hotel Rooms' Nasty Little Secrets

What nasty little germ is awaiting you in your hotel room and what you should do to get rid of it before it harms you. Use disinfecting wipes abundantly.

A sparkling clean room is deceptive. Lots of hidden germs are lurking on "clean surfaces."

Telephones, toilets, shower floors, travel guides, light switches, faucets, door handles, remote controls and clock radios breed germs. Forget the bath. Drink from sealed cups only. Clean the ice bucket. Remove the bedspread. Take care around upholstered chairs and curtains.

And don't be shy about asking for another room should yours be unsanitary.

Save on Travel

Here are a few ways to save on travel (I've picked them up from various sources):

Buy your flight at 12:01 a.m. Wednesday morning in the time zone the airline is based.

Fly during off-peak times and days (Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday at midday).

Consider alternate airports.

Rent cars other than at the airport where additional taxes are charged. Watch for last-minute specials, weekly rates, and pre-payment plans.

Don't assume you are saving money by using an airport shuttle--a cab may be cheaper, particularly if you are not traveling alone.

Ask the hotel manager for discounts or upgrades at the check-in desk.

Consider the concierge floor--it may cost more upfront but be worth it if you get breakfast and appetizers thrown in (the snacks are enough to fill us up!).

Stay with locals or exchange your home with one in a foreign country you'd like to visit.

Check out colleges and universities for dorm rooms.

You might enjoy camping or hostels.

Book an all-inclusive vacation package.

Go to a destination that recently hosted a major world event--like Vancouver or Beijing.

For more on travel, visit 50somethinginfo.com

How to Pack It In: Travel Essentials

It's that time of year again--when many of us take our vacations. I just returned from San Antonio for a wedding.

This is my list of travel essentials:

Swim suit

Umbrella

Book --read a couple of chapters prior to your trip

Medication--always in your carryon

Jacket/sweater

Sandals (summer)

Boots (winter)

Shoes (preferably waterproof)

Jeans

Light sweatpants

Sunscreen

Money

Cosmetics

Credit cards

AAA card

Tickets

Discount coupons

Itinerary

ID inside luggage pieces

Phone numbers

Extra flat carryon--for trip purchases

Clear plastic bags

Pen and paper

Camera and charger

Alarm clock (or alarm on cell phone)

Cell phone recharger

To this list, I add Vibrant Nation's 13 travel essentials:

1. A large scarf to serve as a shawl, blanket or pillow.

2. Duct tape for simple, easy repairs.

3. Travel yoga mat for exercise or luggage padding.

4. Cozy socks for relaxing on the airplane.

5. A small headlamp to use as a lamp or flashlight.

6. Multi-plug electrical adaptor.

7. Comfy running shoes.

8. Your own face soap and moisturizer.

9. Saline nasal spray for dry airline cabins.

10. Tums for stomach upsets.

For more on traveling, visit 50somethinginfo.com.

Have a great time!!

Renting a Room Out of Your House

If you have a spare room that you can rent to travelers and would like to pay only $10-20 per night when you go on vacation, consider joining a bed and breakfast club.

The Evergreen Club is a "practical resource for travelers over 50 who enjoy people-to-people contacts."

There are over 2,500 guest rooms in the United States and Canada that are part of the club. Members retrieve accommodation information online and may contact the hosts by email.

Breakfast and an hour or so of the host's time helps travelers learn about unique sites in the area.

Dues are fully refunded if you aren't entirely satisfied.

Motion Sickness Can Impact Your Cruise

Some people think that the most grueling part of a cruise is making the reservations. Others know that motion sickness onboard is the biggest hurdle.

Over-the-counter antihistamines taken 1/2 to 1 hour before travel can help prevent or treat mild cases.

The prescriptive transdermal patch placed behind the ear 6 - 8 hours before travel often provides more comfort.

P6 acupuncture point wrist bands are often being replaced by the more effective P6 Relief Band utilizing electrostimulation.

Here's what you can do:

1. Avoid heavy meals and alcohol before and during travel.

2. Distance yourself from strong odors such as cigarettes and perfume.

3. Choose cabins higher up and mid-ship.

4. Look at the horizon or some other fixed distant point.

5. Get fresh air.

6. Try slow, regular breathing.

7. Lie down

Home Swapping Vacations

Whether or not you have the money for a vacation, you can still take one!

There are a host of websites such as HomeExchange.com and HomeForExchange.com that provide members with a means to swap their own home or condo for another one in a desired location.

This is how it works:

You'd purchase a membership and upload a description with photos of your home and neighborhood.

Then you indicate the places you'd like to visit.

Finally, you wait to be contacted by other interested members.

You can discuss the swap by phone or by mail.

So clean your house, stow your valuables, prepare guides to your area, share house rules and take off for a dream vacation!

Go with peace of mind. Swappers have found that co-members are much more likely to treat the home as if it were their own--than outside agencies.

For more on travel, check out 50somethinginfo.com.

Rental Cars For Less $$$

1. Because higher fees and taxes are charged at airports, it is often cheaper to take a shuttle into a city and rent your car there. 2.Call the local rental agency directly.  You can negotiate the cost better with people who know their car inventory. 3. Use your digital camera or phone (with date and time activated, if possible) to show the dings and dents to the rental agent prior to your use (get his/her full name). 4. Know the refuel policy so you can decide which is cheaper--paying upfront or refueling it yourself. 5. Saturday is generally the cheapest day to rent for one day. 6. Watch rental prices (they can fluctuate many times during the same day!!).  Even though you may have a reservation, you may be able to get an even lower price. Check prices online and if they are lower, speak to the local rental agent.   Find out if you are too old to rent a car and how to prepare for car trips at this website.

Summer Vacations on a Budget

Spring has sprung and summer is close behind.  I used to look at this period as the "final stretch" before "glorious summer."  

Now seasons seem to run into each other (okay, so I don't live in cold weather) and time has a different meaning.

So does money.  Like the rest of you, Car-man and I feel the economic vise squeezing our pocketbook.  

So what does a family do for vacation on meager funds?  One suggestion is to pick a vacation destination midway between all family members.  Plan a reunion at a campground around games, picnics and potlucks.

And should even that pose a financial hardship, consider purchasing an inexpensive web cam that can be enjoyed throughout the year.  

Real Heroes

It was a sight to see. We stood in our cousins' window and watched their neighbors angle their 2 small cars to fit into a garage built to handle 1 1/2 cars. Carman said it couldn't be done except maybe by some experts. But he didn't know Sue and Bob well enough to know that they weren't your usual people.

Twenty-four years ago I met Bob, a healthy, upright, hard-working, vigorous schoolteacher who embraced life.

On a winter break in New Hampshire, his life as he knew it shattered. Not only did it look like he'd never ski again, it appeared that he wouldn't be doing much of anything physically for the rest of his life. Little did we know that this person couldn't be stopped.

We'd watch him hobble down the street, struggling to take each step and maintain his balance. It was painful to watch--it had to be excruciating to maneuver. With his loving, amazing, steadfast, and capable teacher wife by his side, he continued teaching, took vacations, and earned the admiration of anyone they came into contact with.

Last May I heard that Bob took the wheelchair to new heights. With pounds off, he tackled new sports such as basketball, tennis, and skiing.

What will he do next? Who knows? But whatever it is I am certain it will be performed with zest, determination, and courage.

Kudos to my heroes, Bob and Sue R.

How to Prepare For Travel

We're going to a wedding in Huntsville, Alabama, and I haven't packed.  "Car-man" showed me the itinerary last night reminding me about essential things like in which airport are we going to eat. 

Then I got to work:

1. Hold mail and stop the newspaper.

2. Prepare our medicines for travel.

3. Pack but don't overpack. 

4. Wear airport safe shoes.

5. Deal with jet lag.

6. Track our flights.

7. Brush up on our wedding etiquette.

8. Put on our dancing shoes and have a great time!

See you when we get back.