Travel Attire

I recently read an article on a travel website called: 7 Things You Should Always Wear On The Plane. Intrigued I clicked on the article to see what the writer has to say, knowing that it would probably be completely out of touch with the casual, on a budget traveler and I was correct. I don't know about you, but when I travel the less I have to carry, the happier I am. I always think about how I'm going to go to the restroom carrying that much stuff. How easy can I navigate a store to purchase a bottle of water and a magazine. How I can walk down the airplane isle without bumping into every person sitting in an isle seat.

Most likely you have good travel clothes in your closet and don't need to purchase ridiculous, expensive items just to make traveling easier.

Wear slip-on shoes. This helps with getting through security and if your feet need to stretch a little mid-flight, you can easily slip off your shoes and stretch your toes. Sometimes I keep a pair of socks that are accessible incase my feet get cold.
Wear comfortable pants and shirts. Something not too tight, but comfortable to sit in for an extended period of time. Try to dress nice. If there are first class seats available and you look like first a first class passenger, you could be upgraded. First class does have a dress code, if you want to sit in it, look like it.
Wear a lightweight jacket. My favorite jacket is one I purchased at The Gap. It's lightweight, comfortable and the sleeves can be rolled up and buttoned into place. Or I can roll it up and use it as a pillow. Plus it's not bulky and annoying to deal with.

Bottom line is to dress comfortable and appropriate. No one needs to see your butt crack, boobs or stomach.

Liquids, Shoes, Laptops and Metal Detectors

I think getting through security at the airport is the least fun part of traveling. No matter how many different airports I have been to the frustration level amongst travelers is the same. No body likes the TSA. After a lot of studying of people on how to effortlessly make it through airport security without infuriating the people behind you, I've come up with some simple techniques to make your next airport trip less frustrating.

• Have I.D. and boarding pass ready. Fumbling through a purse, pockets or carryon backs up the line and annoys the other travelers. You have a long walk from the ticket counter to security, there's no reason not to have your I.D. and boarding pass ready.
• Be courteous to TSA. It goes back to what you learned in kindergarten. Treat people how you would like to be treated. Say "Thank you" and smile. TSA are probably the most hated people at the airport, that doesn't mean they should be treated poorly. Remember the Golden Rule.
• Get out liquids. I always have my liquids in a see-through bag in the front pocket of my suitcase. That way I can pull them out quickly and not fumble and back up the line. 
• Empty pockets. I completely empty my pockets. I hate going through the metal detector/body scanner and don't want to go through it more than I have to. It's just easier to take everything out of my pockets and go through only one time.
• Electronics ride in their own bin. ALL electronics ride in their own bin, except phones and cameras. If it's larger than your palm, it needs to go in its own bin, by itself. Don't be the person who has their bag flagged because you forgot to take out your electronics.
• Slip on shoes. Wear slip on shoes or shoes that can easily and quickly be taken off and put on. 

Once your through security, grab your bins, carry-ons and shoes and step aside to a bench or table to get situated. This is a pet peeve of mine. People who just stand at the end of the conveyor belt and fumble and block the security exit. There are usually benches, chairs or tables within 3 feet of the conveyor belt, grab your stuff and get out of the way.

I know this isn't new, more of a refresher. The biggest thing is to be aware of other travelers and be courteous. Traveling can be stressful. Let's help our fellow travelers make it a little more bearable.

Introduction

I'm a travel addict. I'm always looking for a good deal and a new place to explore. Whether it's in my home state or a new country I always have to go somewhere. 

Travel can be expensive and to get the most bang for your buck it takes a lot of research. I'm constantly asking friends who have visited places I would love to go about the destination and where to visit, stay and what to do. Friends are the best source of travel secrets. Well, that and a lot of reading and scouring the Internet. 

I should probably let you in on one of my travel secrets; my mom works for an airline so most of my travel is flying standby, which makes travel even more adventurous. I've become a pro at surviving many hours in airports.