photo credit: srgb

A Guide to Cruise Vacations – How to Deal With Sea Sickness

Cruise vacations are a great way to get away from reality and to experience something that you wouldn’t experience on a regular land vacation. A common question that is asked when planning a cruise is “will I get seasick”? Many people can go a whole trip without experiencing motion or “sea sickness”. However, about 3 percent of people who take cruises do experience this and are crippled by it for the entire trip.

Most ships today have underwater stabilizers on each side of the hull which counteracts against the rolling motion that causes sea sickness. Also, the majority of cruises travel through warm and calm waters which dramatically reduce the amount of “up-and-down” motion that you typically experience in harsh conditions. Here are some ways to deal with this annoying problem when you start to develop symptoms (usually nausea and vomiting).

When you notice that the ship is starting to roll, take a walk on the ship’s deck. Your knees are a form of stabilizers and your muscle memory will start to battle and counterbalance against the ship’s motion. People refer to this as developing your “sea legs”.

A breath of fresh air is always a good treatment to counteract motion sickness. When you start to feel nauseous, go outside and let the cool breeze hit your face. If this doesn’t work, try and ingest some citrus fruits like oranges and lemons.

Take only small meals so that your stomach is not extremely full. Many people make the mistake of eating too much in hopes that a full stomach will balance their nausea. However, the opposite is true. When walking on the deck, focus on looking up and maintaining balance by keeping a focus point.

Lastly, if none of these tips help, you can always take a little dramamine. Dramamine is a sedative that helps relieve motion sickness. Some side effects are dry mouth, blurred vision and drowsiness.

Kim Chi is an avid cruiser and would like to share free information about cruise vacations. He has a beginner’s guide on everything you need to know to start planning your own Cruise Vacation .

I would like to add that to stay outdoor and to keep your eyes fixed on the horizon has often helped me to stay free of sea sickness. To take a nap during a shorter period of potential sea sickness can also help to get over the problem for some time.

On the other hand if your ship is going into tough weather for longer time take some medicine as prevention of sea sickness. The doctor on board the cruise ship should be the best professional to handle sea sickness for the passengers on board.

More about cruise vacation here.

Naturalism is a way to appreciate the beauty of nature by slipping into the naturalist attire. This lifestyle has gained huge popularity among adults. Hence, people head towards the nude cruises to taste the spice of the naturalist lifestyle. These cruises are famous hot spots for couples and lovebirds. The place gives you the opportunity to make several friends and indulge into various relaxing and adventurous activities.

Hence, if you are a newly married couple, then the nude cruises will be an ideal place for your honeymoon. Every couple wishes to visit a place that gives them liberty to enjoy and explore new things about each other. Hence, you can learn about the mental and physical aspects of your sweethearts.

You can take a long walk on the deck and share your life experiences with your friends and spouse. However, if you are really romantic at heart, then you can arrange a romantic dinner on the deck and follow up with some intimate moments in your private cabin.

Moreover, you’ll be provided with excellent facilities that will spice up your vacation at the nude cruise. You’ll be provided with well equipped rooms with seaside view, king-size beds, Jacuzzis, spas etc.

You can also enjoy a fun-filled swimming session with your sweethearts or you can indulge into an erotic body massage at the massage center located on the nude cruise. Hence, I can assure you that this will be the most romantic vacation of your life.

Nowadays, you don’t need to search for a travel agent to book your tickets. Just log on to an online travel portal and browse through various travel destinations to select the most appropriate nude cruises for yourself.  So, what are you waiting for? Pack your bags and treat your sweethearts with a highly romantic naturalist vacation.

Author: Max William is a connoisseur of traveling and entertainment. He loves journeying far and wide in the quest of experiencing different lifestyles and gathering information about the best places to eat, drink and stay in different nude cruises, naked cruises and lands.

Video about conservation in Hawaii compared to Australia and North America

The keynote presentation at the 2007 Hawaii Conservation Conservation
by Michael Soulé (Environmental Studies, University of California at Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz, CA) on

“Is Island Conservation Fundamentally Different from Continental Conservation?”

photo credit: RKHawaii

Professor Michael Soulé says about his presentation in Hawaii:

Conservationists don’t need reminding that context must be considered and somehow dealt with in doing conservation work in real places.

There are several kinds of context: geographic context (e.g., climate, topography, biogeography), economic context (e.g., poverty levels, income disparities, investment in women’s education), political context (e.g., civil rights, political access, freedom of the press, fair elections, rights and sovereignty of indigenous peoples), and culture context (e.g., religion, literacy, corruption, diversity, history).

As biologists, we are best able to consider the biogeographic and scale issues. For example, it may be informative to compare the conservation visions and challenges of large continents versus small ones, or compare continents to islands. I will compare the conservation challenges in three places that span such a range.

These are
(1) mainland North America;

(2) the island-continent of Australia; and

(3) the archipelago of Hawai‘i.

I will discuss how these three places differ with respect to

• (a) threats such as exotics/ferals and future “invasibility,”
• (b) history such as extinction episodes in pre-history and in recent history,
• (c) sensitivity to climate change,
• (d) the kinds, scales, and relevance of dispersal behaviors and adaptive evolutionary potential for different taxa, and
• (e) the role of large, highly interactive species in maintaining biological diversity.

photo credit: lemoncat1

Before Cruise Travel Checklist

A cruise?  What an exciting idea! But in the excitement of getting ready to embark on this wonderful adventure, you may forget a thing or two. Here’s a quick “before-you-cruise” checklist to help make sure you have done everything necessary to ensure smooth sailing.

1.

Pack a credit card; maybe even two. Cruise ships operate under their own “credit card” system; an identity card backed up by your personal credit card. You will be expected to register a credit card with the purser’s (reception) desk once onboard the ship. All your onboard purchases like your liquor drinks and store purchases will be filed onto your shipboard account. You may opt to pay for these purchases at the end of your cruise with cash, but the ship wants your credit card as a guarantee.

2.

Seasickness medication. A must-have item. Wristbands or anti-seasickness drugs can be purchased over the counter at your local drugstore. I haven’t seen a cruise yet where rough seas didn’t lead some passengers to terrible bouts of seasickness.

3.

Remember your own personal medications. Keep all medications in their ORIGINAL bottles with your name on the labels. Put these bottles into small Ziploc bags and you will be able to clear airport security just fine. But the labels MUST match the name on your passport.

4.

Ah yes, your passport, your lifeline back to your home country. It is nearly impossible to move on or off a cruise ship without a passport. Even with a ship’s identity card, each passenger must carry his or her passport. You will not even be allowed to check in on the first day, without your passport.

5.

Photocopy your passport, your cruise ship itinerary and any other valuable documents like your credit cards, before you leave home. Leave these copies with a trusted friend or family member. Should you ever get into trouble and lose your documents while cruising, having these copies back home could be a god-send.

6.

Travel insurance. It is essential that all travelers purchase travel insurance. A broken eardrum during a scuba diving adventure will set a traveler back several hundred dollars, in doctor’s visits and medications.

7.

Your cruise tickets. Don’t forget your tickets. Keep them in an easy-to-reach pocket of your carry-on bag.

8.

Bring your laptop computer. You are very welcome to bring a laptop onboard. In the ship’s Internet caf, you will be able to log onto the Web and keep in touch with loved ones, or (perish the thought) your boss. This is a costly luxury, however; be prepared.

9.

Are you planning to take digital photos? One of the most forgotten items is an extra memory card. Because I travel with my laptop and CDs, I have been begged by fellow passengers to download their camera’s full media cards to a CD. If you forget extra memory cards, your vacation pictures will be limited to the capacity of a single digital card. And won’t that be disappointing?

10.

Batteries for electronics? Make sure to pack the extra power you’ll need for those iPods, MP3 players and digital cameras. And, if you are traveling to a European destination, bring along a voltage power converter and plug adaptor. My husband found out the hard way (when he blew out his palm pilot charger) that not all the outlets in a cruise ship cabin are American voltages.

11.

What of your house? Cruise durations can be at least a week and many much longer. Have you made arrangements for your pets? Your houseplants? Have you turned down the water heater temperature? Have you alerted your neighbors nearby that you will be away for awhile? Have you left a key with a trusted neighbor? Have you canceled your newspaper? Remembering to settle things at your house before you leave, will make for a much more relaxing vacation.

12.

You will burn on the open sea under the bright sunshine. Even in cooler weather. So, whether you are bound for Alaska or the Caribbean, be sure to pack your favorite sun block product.

13.

Formal clothing is a must onboard cruise ships. That is, if you plan to attend a formal dinner in the ship’s dining room. If not, don’t worry about it. But do pack more than just casual clothes; even in the less formal dining areas, cruisers are expected to dress neatly.

14.

A second swimsuit is a good idea if you don’t relish the thought of struggling into a wet clammy one every day.

15.

If you love to shop, then bring along an extra suitcase. I always pack a collapsible bag into both my husband’s and my suitcases. They’re great for bringing back souvenirs, like that Jamaican beach painting and that African giraffe statue, you just had to have.

A cruise ship vacation is a wonderful way to relax; ensure that relaxation by taking care of the details before you cruise.

A cruise can be one of the most stress-free vacations; when the ship leaves the port you can leave your worries behind and enjoy being pampered and entertained. Getting ready for a cruise can be complicated. Prepare a checklist before cruising to ensure smooth sailing.

Step 1

Check and, if necessary, renew your passport six months in advance. Is the expiration date on your passport less than six months away? Some countries require a six-month expiration period for all passports.

Step 2

Book your flights three months in advance. Start early to get the best possible rates. Try to arrive at your port city the day before the cruise leaves, since a cancelled flight can cause you to miss your cruise departure.

Step 3

Make your final payment on the cruise on or before the due date. When the tickets arrive, double-check your assigned cabin, dinner seating, luggage tags and other materials. If the travel agent has booked your flights or pre- or post-cruise hotels, check them carefully too.

Step 4

Choose your excursions or research your own day trips at your ports of call. You can book excursions that are run by the cruise line on their websites. These excursions can fill up early, so book them two or three months before you cruise.

Step 5

Go shopping. Make sure you have swimsuits, shorts, T-shirts, sandals, formal wear and anything else you might need. You can get specific details about what you will need for your cruise from your travel agent or on the cruise line website.

Step 6

Make arrangements for home care. Do you have pets that need to be taken care of? What about houseplants? If your children are staying home, make childcare arrangements early. Arrange for your mail and newspaper to be collected or for delivery to be stopped while you are gone.

Step 7

Fill out the pre-boarding forms that the cruise line requires. You can do this online or fill out hard copies.

If you are bringing credits cards with you, write down the numbers, expiration dates and credit card contact information and leave it at home in case the cards are lost or stolen.

Ask your travel agent or cruise line about any vaccinations you might need.

Author www.KomailNoori.com
Get Discount Cruise Deals on Vacation Packages from Traveloni.

Soren add: See also

Island Vacation Tips: Your First Travel Abroad Packing Checklist

photo credit: The Cryoborg

With a selection of dining, everyone has been catered for; ensuring traditional and flexible options are available, giving people a choice, and a chance to experience new and exciting flavours. The ships three main restaurants offer a selection of a la carte dining, with five course menus they are giving a traditional approach to the fine dining onboard: Bay Tree and Saffron Restaurants The Bay Tree and Saffron Restaurants are situated on F Deck offering a wide selection of breakfast and lunch menus.

Club Dining is offered in the evening, operating on a fixed seating basis this gives the option for passengers to sit with the same companions each night, dining at the same table and a specified time. There are two options of sittings, with the first at 6.30pm and the second sitting at 8.30pm. The menus are inspired by the destinations, incorporating Marco Pierre Whites signature dishes; the traditional ambience is designed to add an amazing dining experience to your cruise.

Cinnamon Restaurant Providing evening Freedom dining, Cinnamon Restaurant works on the same menu choices as the Bay Tree and Saffron Restaurants, in that you experience an exquisite five course meal, you do however have the option of freedom dining, allowing you to dine at any time you wish, with whoever you would like. This gives you flexibility at the time in which you go to dinner between the hours of 6.00pm and 10.00pm.

For daytime and casual dining there are a number of places to eat, offering a relaxed and casual approach for the modern day cruiser: Beach house family restaurant With its family friendly meals and its beach themed decor, including stripy deckchairs, The Beach House restaurant is a casual option for families. Designed by Marco Pierre White, The Beach House will serve breakfast, lunch, dinner and midnight snacks during 24-hour buffet dining. In order to provide a relaxed family atmosphere there are high chairs available in the restaurant as well as children’s cutlery, bibs and beakers. The menu is fun and creative and has been designed to be a success with people of all ages, with children’s favourites such as spaghetti and meatballs, designed to appeal to adults and children.

Tazzine The Tazzine café, offers amazing specialty coffee and teas, alongside a mid morning or afternoon snack such as cookies, pastries and savory snacks. The Tazzine is the place to go to relax, soak up the stylish interiors and indulge in good conversation. Frankies Pizzeria, Grill and ice cream parlour, Situated on the Lido deck, you can indulge in a selection of gourmet pizza options created by Marco Pierre White.

Based loosely on the Frankie’s chain of restaurants created by Marco Pierre White and Frankie Detorri, you have the choice of hotdogs, burgers and pizzas. After these snacks you have the option of ice cream flavours, such as indulgent chocolate truffle, exotic prune and Armagnac. Waterside The Waterside is the ships largest self service buffet situated on the Lido Deck, you can get breakfast, lunch and afternoon tea. The informal setting is relaxing, yet the interiors are chic and stylish. You may enjoy a selection of breakfasts, including cereal, fruit and hot dishes. With lunches of salads, pasta and quiches to name a small selection of what is to offer.

Select Dining onboard gives the passengers a chance to dine at the speciality restaurants, experiencing different menu influences and options for the diners, these restaurants offer an ambience of exclusivity and stylish dining for special occasions or simply to taste and try new foods: The White Room Marco Pierre White’s stylish Italian restaurant offers fine dining onboard the Ventura.

The three coveted Michelin star chef has created a restaurant and menu to create a unique experience onboard. With an al fresco option for diners to sit under the stars, the Italian influenced food is the Ventura’s signature restaurant. The White Room has a select Dining cover charge, which can depend on the length of the cruise, on longer sailings it is currently £20 per person per cover charge, on days at sea The White Room offer a lunch menu. Ramblas Tapas and wine bar Based on Las Ramblas in Barcelona, The Ramblas Tapas bar offers an authentic Spanish tapas food selection, including dishes such as shellfish paella and gazpacho.

With the sound of a Spanish guitar playing and the traditional Spanish décor including a fake olive tree, this is an authentic and lively setting. There is a chance to dine in the more formal dining area which offers more substantial tapas, paella and seafood, or to have snacks in the bar area. The tapas and snacks are without a charge during the day. A small charge of £5 Per Person per Cover Charge for a 3 course meal or a select 3 small Tapas snacks from the menu for just £2.50 is charged in the evenings.

East The Asian infused restaurant, offers a selection of contemporary foods inspired by the foods of the east, East offers an amazing ambience, giving an almost romantic setting. An example of the amazing cuisine is spicy tamarind duck and a fantastic selection of Dim Sum. You can even watch the chef prepare your food in the open kitchen area.

There is a surcharge for the East restaurant, which is around £15 per person. Balcony Dining, Ventura is offering you a chance to indulge in the chefs finest foods whilst relaxing in your own cabin; you can enjoy a champagne breakfast or enjoy a romantic sunset dinner. The food is delivered direct to your cabin door. You will pay extra for this service, but it is an opportunity to be in your own surroundings and dine under the stars.

With such a variety in dining options onboard The Ventura available 24 hours a day, passengers are able to experience a flexible yet traditional approach to their time onboard. Experiencing true authenticity in the specialist restaurants, and world class menus, with food designed by the Michelin starred Chef Marco Pierre White.

With exceptional service on offer you can experience unique and specialist food in the Ramblas Tapas bar, White Room, and East restaurants. Whether you like the casual or formal approach within The Bay Tree, Saffron and Cinnamon restaurants, or the relaxed yet intriguing style of the The Beach House, all followed by an ice cream from Frankie’s Ice Cream Parlour. The choice is part of the cruise experience and one that can make each day onboard a delightful and mouth-watering experience.

Author: Laura Scott. Website editor and experienced cruiser, who writes articles for www.insidecruise.co.uk and on occasions for www.idealcruising.co.uk magazine.

Ocho Rios, which is located on the northern coast of Jamaica, has become an incredibly popular destination for cruise ship passengers. Once a small fishing and banana port, the cruise ship capital of Jamaica is frequented daily by visitors looking to explore the island, soak up some Jamaican style relaxation and enjoy the port which has now transformed into a world class holiday destination.

There is so much to see when you visit Ocho Rios, if you decide to take part in a shore excursion, or a pre-planned tour, you will find an array of places to visit. There are currently over fifty shore excursions on offer by Royal Caribbean, an example of these are The Chukka Jamaican Dogsled encounter, Deep Sea Fishing or rafting on The Martha Brae. Carnival Cruises offer a huge variety of trips including The Bob Marley Bus Adventure and The 18th century Estate and Ultimate Beach Experience. The cruise lines offer an amazing selection of shore excursions, and you will find your perfect one onboard.

If you prefer to see Ocho Rios on your own, the most popular way of getting around the island is by taxi. There are licensed taxis at the port, they are unmetered, and it is always recommended to arrange all fares before leaving. You should however always make sure the taxi is officiated by JUTA (Jamaican Union of Taxi Associations). The nearby town is accessible by walking, and some cruise lines offer shuttle buses to some of the more popular attractions. If you have already arranged a shore excursion, there will be sufficient travel arrangements made in order to get you to your destination.

If it is adventure you are looking for in Ocho Rios, the most popular tourist attraction is Dunns River Falls. Located to the west of Ocho Rios, a 15 minute drive away, you will find the 600 foot cascading waterfalls. In a chain like manner, you can work you way up taking in the breathtaking sights around you. Whether you take a shore excursion or get a taxi from the port, you will find tour guides ready to show you the way, as you climb the falls, and watch the water flow into the pools below you. There is a small fee to go to Dunns River Falls Park; this is currently $15 for adults and $12 for children. After climbing the falls, you can relax on the beach, explore the tropical foliage and spend time in the picnic areas.

For a true once in a lifetime experience, Dolphin Cove can be found next to Dunn’s River Falls in Ocho Rios. You can swim with a family of Bottle Nose dolphins. The cove itself is surrounded by four acres of tropical rain forest. Alongside the dolphins the cove is also home to other marine species such as rays, eels and sharks as well as tropical birds, like the macaw.

If the beach is more your idea of fun, within walking distance of the port you will find Turtle Beach, a busy seaside with lots of people and water sports. The beach has bars, restaurants and shops nearby and you will find plenty to keep yourself busy. If you prefer a more relaxing time at the beach then visit the small and peaceful resort of Laughing Waters. Mallard Beach, located in the centre of Ocho Rios, is a great family beach, and one that is often chosen to avoid the crowds. Mahogany Beach is a smaller and more intimate alternative to Turtle Beach, situated on Main Street, there is a bar and restaurant on the beach and a roped off area in the sea, which you can swim and where boats can not enter. You may find you are charged a small fee to enter some beaches; this is not a charge for using the beach, but to keep hustlers away, and let you relax without having to worry about those around you.

One of the most popular things to do in Ocho Rios is to visit the shopping plazas, the Main port itself is within easy walking distance to the nearby craft market and shopping centres. The Taj Mahal Shopping Centre which is located directly opposite the port along, with Sonis is the place to find the luxury items and great duty free goods. If it is more traditional Jamaican goods you are interested in The Island Village Shopping Centre can be found within 10 minutes walk from the port, it has lots to offer, and you will find great name brand stuff, jewellery, hand made cigars, and the famous Jamaican Blue Mountain coffee which is a must to try whilst in Ocho Rios.

There are many more attractions in Ocho Rios that you may choose to visit and explore; if you are interested in Jamaica’s historical sights then look no further than Prospect Plantation, a working plantation which grows a variety of different foods such as sugar cane, banana, cassava, avocado, and pimento. There are spectacular views over the White River, amazing grounds, a bar, miniature golf and horseback riding available.

Once you have finished exploring the island, you can indulge in some traditional Jamaican food, there are loads of places to eat and one thing you can guarantee is that jerk chicken will be on the menu. One of the most well known and talked about places to eat is Dave’s Lobster Shack. Dave will cook what is caught that day meaning everything is very fresh, a true Jamaican experience.

Whatever you choose to do in Ochos Rios, you will find plenty to see, whilst experiencing the true Jamaican culture, visiting new and exciting places. One thing is for sure, you will not be bored!

Author: Laura Scott. Experienced cruiser, who writes for www.insidecruise.co.uk and on occasion for www.idealcruising.co.uk magazine

Many college spring break students have never been on a spring break cruise. They have jumped in their cars and headed for Florida or one of the many beach areas on the east and west coast of the United States, but never thought of cruising. So how does the first timer go about finding the best Bahama cruise for spring break 2009?

First lets talk about the length of time you want to be on vacation. Do you want a spring break trip that will last the entire week or just the weekend? This will drop a few cruise lines off the list. Several cruise lines only have weekend cruises to the Bahamas, others only have seven-day cruises to the Bahamas.

Second, you need to decide if you want an all inclusive spring break package or a pay as you go spring break trip. Naturally, all inclusive spring break trips will be more expensive, but you may end up paying more if you purchase your own food, drinks, and activities on the ship. Now we have knocked a few more Bahama cruise packages off the list.

Third, try to decide on a cruise only, cruise and stay, or island tour package. Some Bahama packages involve nights at a hotel once you arrive at your spring break destination, others keep you on the cruise ship the entire time. Island tour packages may stay at one port the first day and move on to other islands over the next few days.

You will be surprised at how quickly you will narrow down your choices if you make a decision on a few key elements.

Francis Copa is the author of this article. http://www.BahamaSun.com is a great source for the best Bahama cruises

The chore of packing is a necessary evil of cruise travel. But paying attention to the details can prevent disappointment and can even give a certain edge to a trip to make it more enjoyable. Why not resolve this year to take your cruise vacation packing to a new level?

What to pack

Standing before a drawer and closet full of clothes figuring out what to wear for a cruise can seem daunting. Here are some ideas on what to pack.

Day wear

For warm-weather cruises, bring quality swimwear, as you’re likely to spend a lot of time in or around the pool. For women, sarongs, cover-ups and sundresses are necessary, since most cruise lines require that you wear more than a swimsuit in the dining rooms.

If the ship holds an event requiring “smart casual” wear, you’ll be fine in dress shorts, a skirt, or trousers along with a short-sleeved shirt or polo shirt. The rest of the time you can dress pretty much as you like. Useful accessories include flat shoes with a good grip for wet decks, sunglasses and a sun hat.

If you are going on an Alaska cruise or other outdoor adventure, bring hiking shoes and rugged clothes for the shore excursions. The key to an Alaska cruise is to dress in layers since the conditions can go from cold to hot to wet very quickly.

Evening wear

Most cruises will have one or two formal evenings a week. Men are expected to wear a dark suit or tuxedo; women should wear an evening dress (long or short) or a dressy pantsuit. Men can often rent tuxedos on board. For evenings that are less dressy, women can get away with silky tops and trousers.

Be sure to pack a dressy sweater or jacket, especially for the newer cruise ships, whose air conditioning can be quite powerful. A pashmina wrap is versatile and provides an extra layer in the evening, and it does double duty as an airplane blanket.

Mix and match

Consider wearing outfits more than once. If it looks good and is appropriate, who cares how many times you wear it? Keep it simple and change your look from the waist up while wearing the same bottoms — slacks, skirts or shorts — throughout the trip. A scarf or bold jewelry pieces can change the look of a basic outfit.

Other options include reversible clothes, which give many different looks for minimum packing. If you’re concerned about running out of clean clothes, don’t worry. Most vessels have self-service laundries along with valet laundry service for a fee.

And remember, if you forget to pack something or don’t want to do laundry, most ships offer a good selection of clothing, swimwear and accessories in their onboard shops. What you can’t get on board, you can easily find in any port of call.

10 packing tips

If you follow these basic, common-sense tips, you can pack only what you need, safeguard expensive items and keep track of important paperwork.

• Also put a swimsuit and a change of clothes in your carry-on bag. It sometimes takes hours for your luggage to be delivered to your stateroom, and you don’t want to miss any ship time stuck in your traveling clothes.
• Pack your toiletry kit with small travel-sized items. Better yet, get small refillable bottles and bring your favorite grooming products.
• Pack heavy items like shoes and toiletry kit before packing the more delicate ones. Also, use shoe covers to pack shoes, and stuff socks, belts and other little items inside shoes to save space.
• Turn jackets inside out and fold them in half, then put them in dry cleaning bags. The plastic bags minimize wrinkles (which is why dry cleaners use them).
• Pack the bottom of your suitcase with trousers, letting the legs hang over the edge of the bag. Then pack the rest of your clothes, with lighter materials on top. In the end, drape the trouser legs back over the pile; they’ll keep their crease and won’t get a fold line.
• Bring an empty soft bag for souvenirs. Also, toss a few empty plastic bags into your luggage; you’ll need them later to stash dirty or damp clothes.
• If you’re traveling with your family, mix their clothes throughout each suitcase, just in case a bag is lost.
• Mark your luggage with bright-colored yarn or tags to make them easy to spot and less likely to be picked up by someone else by mistake. Also, place a copy of your itinerary inside each piece of luggage. This way, if your bags are misrouted, the airline will be able to find you quickly.
• Watch the weight of your luggage. Most airlines have a 50-pound limit; if you go over, be prepared to pay a hefty surcharge. If you are traveling to overseas, know that many foreign airlines will assess fees according to number of pieces and baggage weight. Baggage rules change all the time, so always check with your airline before you start hauling out the suitcases. Packing is a chore, but if you pay attention to the details, you can pack some of your cares away.

Bon voyage!