Don't Leave Home Without it!

RHYS BOWEN: I've just spent the last two days doing thrilling things like unpacking, sorting mail and laundry. Now I'm wishing I was back on the ship where someone changed my towels every time I used them, I could order food and it appeared and I sent off a bag of laundry and it came back on hangers! Brilliant.
However this time I have to say that I packed pretty well. There were only a couple of items that I didn't use. I used the down jacket when I was freezing in England and I used the light summer dresses. I kept to a simple color scheme: navy and white. Navy sweater. White sweater. Layered a microfiber shirt over a tank top on not so warm days. And I washed things out in hotel sinks. The new Hanes underwear with the little holes in it is brilliant for drying overnight!

And while I was on the trip I found myself thinking :what is the one thing that I would never travel without? If I could choose just one thing? That's hard. Maybe the pashmina because it dresses up pants for evening, it keeps me warm on planes and when restaurants are too air conditioned (something that doesn't happen much in England). Ziplock bags hold all my cosmetics and toiletries. Very useful. Large ziplocks hold dirty laundry. But if I had to pick one item it would be my tiny flashlight. Only as big as my little finger but you never know when power will go out in a strange hotel room or you try to read a menu by candlelight. So yay for the flashlight.

How about you, Reds. What is your one item?

INGRID THOFT: Ear plugs.  A good night’s sleep is essential, and there are plenty of noises that threaten to disrupt it.  I’m not talking about ambulances or trucks rolling by; I hear that all the time at home.  I’m thinking of the man in the hallway of a London hotel who was wearing two pairs of boxers—one of his torso and one on his head—when I opened my door and requested he pipe down.  Or the person who watches the all-night Law & Order: SVU marathon at top volume.  One of my biggest pet peeves is when hotel staff stand right outside your door, the same door on which hangs the “Do Not Disturb” sign, and chat at length in loud voices.  Ear plugs guarantee that I’ll slumber like Sleeping Beauty.

Jenn: Ingrid, ear plugs are the best. When the hooligans were young and prone to wailing, I used to buy ear plugs and pass them out like lollipops to all of the unfortunate souls sitting around us on the plane. Rhys, ziplock bags were also used to dispose of soiled diapers. The flight attendants loved me for that!

HANK PHILLIPPI RYAN:  Almonds. There's always a need for food. Almonds work with coffee, with diet coke, with wine. And it's so distressing and destructive to be hungry--especially when you need every bit of your adrenaline for every event. Also: yes, most definitely, black pashmina. Dove soap. Flat shoes. Seriously, I always have them.  And! A phone charger. Definitely a phone charger!

HALLIE EPHRON: Cotton socks! You need them on the plane along with the pashmina. Also a seriously comfy pair of walking shoes -- I have a 10-year-old pair of ECCO sneakers I hope never die.

Ingrid, so funny about the guy wearing his skivvies on his head. Not fun to experience. We once stayed next to a room that was being rented to team of telemarketers, making calls all night in Chinese. Even earplugs didn't help. Then there's the time we were in room 2126 at the Hyatt in NY and the phone kept ringing all night Ring. Hang up. Ring. Hang up. We finally realized it was guests trying to make area 212 calls direct without dialing 9 first.

JENN MCKINLAY: Laptop. I'm a workaholic so I need to have my laptop with me at all times, which is fine because the Hub needs his guitar. My other must have item is my enormous black Aerosmith hoodie. I bought it years ago at a Motley Crue/Aerosmith show that Hub was reviewing for the newspaper when it was outside and unexpectedly freezing. XXL was the only size they had. It has since become my travel cocoon - I pull the hood over my ears and eyes and burrow into the body of it to sleep on red eye flights or at airport gates or wherever. Very handy!

DEBORAH CROMBIE: : This is tough! But I think I have to go with my Coolmax travel blanket. I never go anywhere without it. It folds up to practically nothing, but will cover me from the top of my head to the tips of my toes on the plane. I use it to nap under in hotel rooms or flats, or for a pillow if I get stuck with a lousy one. You can also fold it up and wear it like a shawl.

Ingrid, still snickering about the guy with the boxers on his head. You must stay in much more exciting London hotels than I do!
RHYS: By an amazing coincidence I had just written this post when I saw that USA Today had asked seasoned professional travelers the same question. And only one of them agreed with us: plastic bags. The others were not what I'd choose at all. One woman said lipbalm. Lipbalm? Come on. I have lipstick in my carryon. Another said toilet water spray to make her feel fresh. Uh, not essential to my way of thinking. Nor were the noise-canceling headphones. I know they are good but they also take up tons of space. I did agree with the hand sanitiser wipes for that airline tray and bathroom.

So dear readers, what is your one indispensable item when you travel?

Our Travel Nightmares

RHYS BOWEN: Today we were going to chat about becoming an accidental expert as we write, but real life intervened. There was an awful shooting at LAX, taking the life of a TSA agent.  Red Hallie got stuck on the tarmac for hours at LAX on the day of the shooting and the Red Lucy found bedbugs in her hotel bed. So I thought we'd better chat instead about what we hate most about traveling and any survival tips we'd like to share.
I used to love to travel. My husband worked for an airline and we'd stroll down to the airport and hop on a plane going to Hawaii. The kid would be invited into the cockpit. We'd stand by the gate waiting excitedly for relatives to emerge from the jetway. And now: stand in one line to check in. Another line to check bags. Pay to check bags. Another line to take off shoes, belt, jacket, take out laptop and toiletries. Be xrayed patted groped. Put on shoes etc. Stand around while flight is delayed. Get no food or pay for food that is so refrigerated it's like eating sawdust. Ah, the joys of travel.

We Reds travel a lot. We have each developed strategies to survive all the little annoyances and to STAY SAFE. Mine are:
1.food. I always stick a couple of those little gouda cheeses in my purse, plus a nut bar, some dried mango. That way I can avoid airline food.
2.Kindle. Have Kindle loaded with several books from my TBR pile. If flight is delayed whip out Kindle and read happily.
3.Pashmina. I always have my pashmina ready because planes can be horribly cold. (So can convention centers/rooms where I'm going to speak)
4. Shoes. I wear shoes that slip on OR undo with Velcro.
5.Survival gear. Have spare white top in carry on because there will be turbulence as soon as I sip coffee/orange juice.
6.Taxi/shuttle. I always go online ahead of time to book a shuttle or know how much a taxi should cost.
7.Hotels. Check room. Lift up bedding to see signs of bedbugs. Never put suitcase on the floor. Never make coffee without rinsing coffee maker jug really, reeeely well. (I've seen the video where the maid cleans them with same cloth she cleans toilet) Never sit on the comforter unless it has a new duvet cover.
8.If you don't like your room--noisy airconditioner, too near elevators, noisy neighbors etc never be afraid to go back to the desk and say "This room is unacceptable. Please find me another one."
If you make it clear you are not going to accept the first room, they have to find you another one.
9: Restaurants. As a single woman you tend to get shoved in the corner near the toilets. If you are taken that way veer off and say "I prefer this table, thank you." and select a table in the window for yourself. Then ask for a complicated wine. Tell them to as the kitchen to hurry up as you have to make a speech in an hour's time. This makes them realize you are not going to be easy.
10: Strange cities. Never stand on a street corner with a map, looking like a tourist. I always study the route ahead of then walk with purpose to my destination. If in doubt have route on Google Maps on phone. It's quite acceptable to pull out a phone for a second. And having been in situations where we've had a bag stolen or someone has attempted to steal my purse, the one most important thing I can pass along:
IF SOMEONE IS MAKING YOU FEEL UNCOMFORTABLE, BEHAVING STRANGLY, YELLING, PUT YOUR HAND STRAIGHT TO YOUR PURSE/WALLET.
So Reds, do share your tips and warnings.

HALLIE EPHRON: My trip to LA started off so auspiciously! I zipped through TSA in 10 seconds, literally -- I guess I've flown SO often they whisked me through the line where you don't have to remove anything, just walk through. Wowza! Arrived early in Denver. We'd heard about the shootings at LAX but our connecting flight took off for LA on time. Landed at LAX early. SIX black choppers circling ominously.
And then... tick tick tick. At first the pilot announced a half hour and we'd get a gate assigned. Three hours later... we finally got a gate and were free... to deal with a zooish airport, of course. What amazes me is how much we all take these kinds of situation in stride, we are so well behaved. And I made new friends because you talk to people so much more when you're in pain.
My survival kit: 1 apple, almonds, at least 2 books, my fleece coat which doubles as an air mattress when pressed up against the window. And a RIGHT side window seat near the back of the plane. For sleeping, and they board you early enough to score overhead space for the wheelie bag without having to gate check it.

RHYS: I always have to be at the front of the plane. I even pay for economy plus to get those extra inches and to get off first. I hate waiting forever while everyone gets off ahead of me.

LUCY BURDETTE: Hallie likes to tease me about this, but I always, always check for bedbugs first thing when I get into a hotel room. Here's what you do: Strip back the sheets and mattress pad in the corners at the top of the bed. This is where the little rascals show themselves. Inspect the seams of the mattress along tops and sides. If you see any signs of bugs or the little rusty spots that are their droppings, high tail it out of there. Last week was the first time I ever actually saw the red spots in the mattress seam. We had just unloaded the dog, the cat, the litter box, and all the luggage. Sigh. It would have been so much easier to stay--but they're very hard to get rid of, and would love to transfer to YOUR home, so don't take the chance! I informed the hotel and they quickly moved us to another room. After inspecting that bed, we moved. But none of us slept very well that night....

HANK PHILLIPPI RYAN: Oh. Listen to this. I arrived at my hotel room in (city deleted)  and there was a note, xeroxed, on the nightstand, from the hotel management. It had a photo of this bug, (!!)

and it said something like--you may see this little guy in your room but if you do, don't worry, it is just looking for a warm place, and it is friendly. It then said--if you have any questions, please call the desk.  I will tell you Reds, if I saw this baby in my room, you would not need a PHONE to hear about it. Can you believe it?
My travel secrets? A black pashmina, (useful as a blanket or a coat, pillow, or a bathrobe. And almonds and apples, readily available, non perishable and suitable for breakfast, lunch, dinner, and drinks
And , sidebar. Let's hear a big cheer for TSAPreCheck. However I got on it, I am thrilled. NO shoes off, no cosmetics out, no coats off. I am infinitely grateful.

DEBORAH CROMBIE: Great tips, all. I ALWAYS carry bottled water.  And some kind of high-energy snack like dried fruit and nuts. Tablet loaded with books, check. A paperback, check. Scarf/shawl/pashmina, check. Warm socks, check. I also have a fabulous travel blanket made by Coolmax.  Here's the link. I can't recommend this highly enough: http://www.travelsmith.com/coolmax-travel-blanket/12572?redirect=y You can cover up, head-to-toe. It's warm, it's amazingly light, packs to nothing, and can double as a shawl or wrap.  Nice for naps in hotel rooms, too.
I didn't know to check for bedbugs!!!  Ack!!! Never sleeping in a hotel room again without lifting the mattress!  Lucy, thanks so much!
And Hank, how do you get TSAPreCheck?  I WANT IT!

RHYS: I WANT IT TOO! I'll do anything.... anything.....
John is over 75 so doesn't have to take off jacket or shoes BUT last time they patted him down all over, just in case. Ugghh.  I know that Red Julia is traveling at this moment, on book tour for THROUGH THE EVIL DAYS. We wish her safe travels and no bed bugs!

So do share your own travel nightmares and tips.  And the copy of The Twelve Clues of Christmas goes to Joan Emerson. I loved her comment that the holiday was all about family and that they'd kept up the decorations while her nephew was deployed with the navy. So true, Joan. Email me at authorrhysbowen@gmail.com to get your mailing address.

Don't Leave Home Without It!

RHYS BOWEN:Several Reds, including me, have been on trips to exotic places recently, so I thought we might assemble words of wisdom on some of the essentials we always take with us on trips. I am a good packer. I travel as light as possible and base my wardrobe around a neutral color. But there are certain things I can't do without:
A pashmina in my carry on as I always freeze on aircraft. Also makes plain outfits look fashionable.
A flashlight which I place beside my pillow every night. Having been on the 75th floor of a hotel when the power went out, I've decided never to be without it.
I also take one of those super absorbent towels that divers use. It's only about a foot square but it can dry me off if I want an impromptu swim, or get rained on, or even spill water over myself.
Zip lock bags. I keep all my toiletries in several zip locks. Ditto dirty laundry, camera batteries, anything that might get ruined by being left on the tarmac in the rain. They weigh nothing and I can see instantly what's in them. And if anything leaks at 35,000 feet, I'm safe.
Garbage ties to secure my suitcase when I can't use locks. A few teabags for my English cuppa in case the hotel has none. And my Kindle, loaded with books I've been dying to read.
So Reds, which items can you not do without?

LUCY BURDETTE: Rhys, you are an expert--you should teach a class on the Jungle Red method! I thought I was a good packer, but I stumbled over this last trip--twelve days involving family occasions, two days visiting old haunts, and a book tour. I took too much stuff. And picked up extra books along the way, a fatal weakness. By the flight home, I'd broken my own rule: Don't pack more than you can lift into the overhead bin. Because not everyone feels sorry for you if your suitcase is a little oversize and too darn heavy. So now I'm in the market for a smaller bag that I can't possibly overstuff:).

Must haves: tiny purse that I can sling over my chest, books, phone charger, sandwich for the plane...

HALLIE EPHRON: I'm a carry-on only traveler, no matter how long the trip, and I admit I have never packed a towel. I always bring a long colorful scarf to dress up my black sleeveless jersey dress or black jersey pants and cardigan. And lately I've had to carry bungee cords just in case my suitcase dies. I do NOT recommend Ricardo brand luggage, unless you're into harvesting broken zippers and busted handles. Hoping my new TravelPro proves to be sturdier.

HANK PHILLIPPI RYAN: Almonds. I am always between food and starving, and almonds are good and healthy any time of day. I've had 'em for breakfast, I've had 'em for dinner.

A pashmina, me, too A black, cozy pashmina. Can be used at night as a wrap, on on the plane as a blanket.
Definitely tea bags. Phone charger--must have. Internet hotspot. Lucy, a sandwich for the plane--me, too! Just in cases. Rhys, yup, ziplocks.
And I only take a carryon suitcase, no matter for how long. AND, shhhh..I put my Longchamps purse inside a tote bag, so I can have two items in one place.

ROSEMARY HARRIS: I do the purse in tote thing too...so that I can really have 3 carryons. Rhys has got most of my basic items covered. Ziplock baggies, scarf, check. I'd add flipflops. Lord knows when they last cleaned the rugs in your hotel.

RHYS: I'm currently writing about a sea voyage in the 1930s when everyone took several trunks with them as there were porters everywhere. When I was a child there were porters at every local station. And a maid to press the clothes, of course.
And I've just remembered another thing I can't travel without: a tiny international hair dryer. Having been caught twice with a hair dryer that died in my hotel room right before I had an important speaking engagement I'm now covered.

Does anyone else have a brilliant suggestion to share?