6 Tips for Travelling Lite

How-to Pack and Travel Lite

In this day and age of traveling cephalalgia, there are a few packing tactics to employ. To cut out an extra thirty to forty minutes at the arriving airport, start with packing small luggage. Since carry-ons can not exceed a linear dimension of 45 inches, you can escape the fiasco of the baggage terminal by simply packing and traveling light. To learn how to pack all your needs into one suitcase, read more.

Use the following pithy packing tips to make your travel light:

Make a list. Compose a pack list. Be sure to coordinate shirts and blouses with bottoms. To maximize your traveling wardrobe fashion savoir faire, stick with solids and versatile basics. Rule-out any clothes that do not match other items.

Roll ‘em up please. The best way to fit all your clothes is by rolling pants and shirts. First fold each item in half. Then simply roll. To try to maintain any creases, start on the bulkiest end of the article of clothing.

Gear up. How to make an awe-inspiring impression out of a basic or mundane outfit? For the most glam appeal, accessorize with a vibrant tie (for him) or a florid scarf (for her). Multihued accessories can liven up just about any attire.

Minimize bulk. After you check for space, edit outfits – ruthlessly. Try to pack microfibers with wrinkle and stain free comfort. With most of your attire, stay in the same color scheme – in case you have to layer up for warmth.

Employ shoe smarts. For men, any leather rubber-soled shoes can make the day and night transition, easy. For woman, a pair of flip-flops, strappy sandals and comfy wedges can serve all casual – chic dressing needs.

Put under garments on the top. To reduce the embarrassment of under garments becoming the side show attraction of the open luggage scan, place all panties in a plastic bag free of any clippers, lighters or other questionable paraphernalia. For expedient security review, place the transparent bag on top of your other items so security can access the bag without ruining your efficient packing method.

Lose Extra Baggage. Leave the heavy travel guide at home. Duplicate important resources to keep your luggage free of extra pounds. Since most hotels and resorts provide irons and blow-dryers --leave yours at home for light travel.

Leave restricted items at home. If you want to make it through security extra fast, avoid any firearms, weapons, box-cutters, scissors, razors, lighters and any other item that may be used in a terrorist situation.



About the Author

Freelance writer, Holly Bentz is the owner of a media boutique, www.fruitionMedia.net. From subliminal e-sales letters, informative articles to powerfully persuasive web content, Bentz takes pride in providing awe-inspiring copy.

Written by: Holly Bentz

5 Romantic Travel Tips

A new year always means a chance for a new start. You and yours can begin this new year by making some travel resolutions together, regardless of your time and budget restraints. Put aside those old travel habits and make some new ones! Let this be the year that your travel plans focus on fun, fantasy, and festivities!



(1) We're going to plan a real vacation. No, it doesn't have to be an around the world cruise or first class getaway (but if you can afford it, what are you waiting for?) It does have to be an honest-to-goodness vacation, though. No cell phones, no laptops. Mark the dates on the calendar and keep it just like you'd keep any business appointment. The business of romantic travel, though, is a fun one and an activity that the two of you can plan for months.



(2) We're going to involve each other in the trip planning. All too often, one partner gets the job for planning a trip...and that task quickly becomes a bore. Plan your trips together! Anticipation is half the fun. Visit a travel agent. Collect brochures. Buy a guidebook. Rent a video about your destination. Search the internet for information.



(3) We're going to do something we've never done. Here you can be as mild -- or as wild -- as you dare. Go whitewater rafting. Rent a houseboat. Take a hot air balloon ride. Spend the night in a local bed and breakfast. Learn to scuba dive. Dance the whole night away under the stars. The choice is yours.



(4) We're going to take one mini-vacation every month. Whether it's for the night or just for the night out, plan one tiny slice of a vacation every single month. The only rule: you must pretend you're on vacation. Book a night at a local bed and breakfast. Call your local hotel and find out their non-peak nights (in business-oriented cities, it's usually Friday and Saturday) then plan a short romantic getaway.



(5) We're going to go to at least one festival. Special events take place at just about every community around the world. Whatever your interests -- from square dancing to sandcastle building -- you'll find a festival celebrating with a day or two of fun and food. If you don't have the time or budget to go far, contact area chamber of commerce or tourism offices within a day's drive of your home for their calendar of events. If you can, extend your trip into a long weekend. If you've got the time and resources, check out some of the major fun festivals: Carnival, Mardi Gras, Rio's Carnivale. Don't forget your costume!







Husband and wife team Paris Permenter and John Bigley edit the award-winning Lovetripper.com (www.lovetripper.com), a romantic travel magazine and resource featuring honeymoons, destination weddings, and romantic getaways worldwide.


editors@lovetripper.com






Written by: Paris Permenter & John Big

Joan's Birthday at Chow Time

It was my best friend, Joan's birthday on Wednesday . She and her kids, Amanda,John and my youngest son ,had came to Panama City for a vacation. After having fun at the beach, sunbathing,swimming, beach walk , shopping at Pier Park's Mall and eating lunch at Jimmy Buffett's Margaritaville, they are leaving in the morning.

So I decided to take them out for lunch at Chow Time Buffet and Grill. This is actually a Chinese restaurant serving super buffet with Chinese, American,Mexican and Japanese food. Almost 250 items,and lunch is only $6.99.

We love the sushi, the grilled Salmon and the best is their Beef Ribs. A giant piece of Beef ribs with tangelizing sauce. Not a lot of meat but delicious. Other items include a great variety of shrimps,chicken, and stir fried. Also A desert bar, Fruit bar, salad bar and ice cream bar.

After the meal , I told the waiter, it was my friend's birthday and he went in to prepare us a birthday cake. All the waiters came around to sing Joan a Happy Birthday song. She was really happy.

We had great lunch and happy moments. The ticket came up to $46.65.Very reasonable for a great lunch

2006-Ford Expedition- A Whole New Way to Travel

The 2006 Ford Expedition is a full-size SUV segment with a combination of interior versatility and adaptability, driving control, and, of course, safety. In two years in a row, it has continuously won the Polk Automotive Loyalty Award in its own segment.

Ford Motor Company first introduced the Ford Expedition in the year 1996. It was introduced as a rival to the Chevrolet Tahoe and GMC Yukon, which were full-size SUVs. The Ford Expedition surely has evolved through the years and it was in the year 2003 when it received a major redesign that integrated an independent rear suspension that even the 2006 Tahoe and Yukon avoided. The 2006 Ford Expedition is a capable truck, with decent power, plenty of room, and includes lots of safety features.

Its features are leaders and milestone breakers in its class. And these features include fold-flat-to-the-floor second- and third-row seating, class-exclusive PowerFold™ third-row seat, second-row CenterSlide™ section, heated and cooled front seats, keyless entry pad, AdvanceTrac® with Roll Stability Control™, Safety Canopy™ system, reverse sensing system and power-adjustable pedals. The 2006 Ford Expedition also has 110.5 cubic feet of cargo volume, which is the most hip room in all three rows and most third-row legroom, making it the best offer for the best-in-class interior space. Another highlight of this vehicle is that it also offers independent rear suspension for improved ride and handling which is the first for an SUV in its class. For this vehicle, two new exterior colors are offered: pewter clearcoat metallic, and dark copper clearcoat metallic. A medium flint grey interior has also been added to this series.

Auto Parts Corner gives owners a great collection of 2006 Ford Expedition replacement parts like bumpers, spoilers, wheels, header panels, headlights, hoods, and radiator support. Unlike other online stores, Auto Parts corner gives each and every client excellent customer service and the finest quality 2006 Ford Expedition parts that only a Ford deserves.

About the author:

Tracy is a 29 year old researcher and writer from Dallas, Texas with extensive experience in writing auto-related articles and covering automotive related events. She is currently a contributing writer for a leading automotive e-zine.

11 Essentials Tips for the Business Travel

As they say, getting there stopped being half the fun when airplanes were invented. If you travel a lot, here are some tips to make it more palatable.

1.Go ahead and pay to join something like AA's Admirals Club.

With it you’ll get assistance with reservations, seat selection and boarding pass issuance; a quite place to wait and work; complimentary snacks and beverages; private bar at most locations, and showers at some. At around $450/yr. for one person, it could be well worth it.

2.Use airport Conference Rooms and Executive Centers.

Saves everything from nerves to time to money. No membership required. Eliminates need for overnight stay, hotel or car rentals.

There are 22 available at O’Hare, for instance.

Executive Centers come equipped with everything you need to conduct business. Call 1-800-237-7971, option 3.

3.Keep all your luggage on wheels, use one carryon, invest in good luggage.

According to the US Transportation Dept., about 1 in 200 bags are lost, misdirected or stolen, which is about one person per flight. 87% of this happens at the curbside check-in station.

Advantages: don’t have to tip porter; don’t have to arrive as early; if you miss your connection, you can easily rebook yourself; you can easily volunteer to be bumped on a full flight; no wait once you land.

4. Take a book with you.

Better than TV in most hotel rooms, good for waits, also good to hide behind if you get next to someone in the plane who annoys you. Leave it behind for another traveler or tear off chapters as you go along and lighten you load.

5. The travel wardrobe.

Coordinate to one color, like black. Many women, myself included, swear by Tencel®. Indestructible, always looks nice. Choose the right print blouses and it won’t show stains. Gentlemen, consider microfiber fabrics. Choose something with inner pockets (that zip!) for important papers and cash.

6.Don’t appear wealthy.

Especially important in 3rd world countries. Wear cheap-looking watch and jewelry and leave the diamonds at home. Makes you less of a target for pick pocketers and luggage theft. If you must take a camera, guard the lens; popular with pick pockets as well.

Remove luggage tags from other trips. It’s a tip-off for thieves looking for the “rich frequent traveler”.

7.Cash.

Hide cash in different parts of your body. If traveling internationally, get new bills, as some countries won’t take “dirty” money. In Africa, for instance take new $100 bills. The exchange rate on anything lower is not good. Check with someone else who’s been where you’re going. i.e., in Russia, they aren’t supposed to take US dollars, but they sure do.

8.If you get a rental car, write down all the information about it. Just in case you forget what you’re driving.

9.Stay alert. Take a water bottle with you for dehydration and drink 2 glasses of water before you board. While on the plane, splash water on your face; when you get to the hotel, take a warm bath. Dry membranes are more vulnerable to infection.

Go rested.

Try the Argonne Anti-Jet-Lag Diet: http://performance.netlib.org/misc/jet-lag-diet .

10.Take measures to avoid developing deep vein thrombosis.

Drink lots of water, avoid beverages that dehydrate, avoid salty food, wear support socks, get up and move around whenever you can, exercise your feet and legs 4-5 mins. every hour.

11. Check out some of the travel products at sites such as www.magellan.com .

You'll find No-Jet Lag tablets, head and foot rests, packing aids, micro fiber wear, all sorts of helpful things.



About the Author

©Susan Dunn, MA, The EQ Coach™, http://www.susandunn.cc . Bringing the power of Emotional Intelligence to YOUR life through coaching, distance learning, The EQ Learning Lab™, business EQ programs, and eBooks, http://www.webstrategies.cc/ebooklibrary.html . Mailto:sdunn@susandunn.cc for FREE eZine. Want to be a certified EQ coach? Go here: http://www.eqcoach.net .


Written by: Susan Dunn, MA, The EQ Coach(tm)

10 Tips for Hassle-Free Business Travel

If you're a road warrior, these travel tips will help reduce the stress of
your journeys.

1. Choose your Travel Modality Wisely
Planes, trains or automobiles: what's the choice to be? While air
travel is clearly the only way to go for long journeys, shorter trips of
a couple of hundred miles might be faster via train, bus or auto.
When making your decision, consider time spent traveling to and
from airports, plus time spent lining up for check in, security and
departure. Also consider the effects inclement weather can have on
your travel choice. It's no fun hearing the announcement that your
plane can't land due to poor visibility and you'll be returning to your
departure airport.

2. Consider Alternative Airports
If you're flying, consider alternative airports that are outside the city
you're going to visit. As a rule, these airports have fewer flights, less
overbooking and less delays than their larger counterparts.

3. Obtain an International Drivers License
If traveling outside your own country, an international driver's
license will be more readily recognized than your locally issued
driver's license. The cost is not prohibitive and in most regions, the
licenses are easily obtained by showing your local driver's license.
Inquire at your local Automobile Association.

4. Get Your Maps Before You Leave Home
Travel is less stressful if you know how to get around. Before
leaving home, obtain maps of your destination city. One approach is
to visit web sites such as City Search (http://www.citysearch.com/)
and print out maps. Place your printed maps in plastic folders for
protection against the elements. Trying to read a road map while
standing on a rainy street corner has its obvious disadvantages.

5. Carry Electronic Documents Rather than Hard Copy
Rather than carry heavy stacks of brochures or sales letters, take
electronic documents on diskettes and have them printed at a local
printing service. Similarly, if you are working a booth in a trade
show, it's a good idea to carry electronic documents in case you run
out of the stack you shipped from the office.

6. Find Hotels that Cater to Business Travelers
Hotels that cater to business travelers will have Internet capabilities
and offer access to business machines such as faxes and
photocopiers.

7. Remember Adaptors and Converters
If you're traveling to a foreign country, remember that you might
need special voltage adaptors for electricity. You might also need
plug adapters to accommodate both electrical plugs and telephone
jacks. A good travel store will be able to help you decide what's
needed.

8. Use Calling Cards
When you're staying at a hotel, the phone bill can be a major
expense. The cost of calling your family, checking your voice mail
and checking your email is best handled by using a telephone calling
card or a corporate credit card.

9. Check your Cellular Service
Cellular phone companies regularly offer new rates. Check to be sure
you're getting the best deal -- some now include long distance
charges in the monthly fee. If your business travel will take you to
small, out-of-the way towns, your digital phone might not work. You
will need an analog or dual digital/anlog phone for such trips.

10. Protect Yourself Against Theft
Before leaving home, make copies of your travel documents
(passport, airline tickets, travel insurance, credit cards and itinerary).

Take copies with you and leave a copy with a contact at home. Take
special precautions for your electronics. See what your local travel
store has to offer in terms of protective luggage. You can purchase
laptop cases that disguise the fact that they're used for laptops, or
laptop cases that look old and battered. And of course, you already
know how fast and savvy a pickpocket can be. Avoid carrying
important documents in your purse or hip pocket.




About the Author

June Campbell
How to Write Business Plans, Business Proposals,
JV Contracts,Human Resource Package, More!
No-cost ebook "Beginners Guide to Ecommerce".
Business Writing by Nightcats Multimedia Productions
http://www.nightcats.com

Written by: June Campbell

Dinner At Chow Time -Grill and Buffet

We were down at Panama City doing a project ,and one evening we decided to go for Chinese Buffet dinner. Our friends told there was one newly opened restaurant that have a great buffet.

We went to Chow Time. If one does not know, he will not realized that he is going to an Oriental restaurant . Located at the corner of Highway 77 and 23rd Street, this restaurant has a big sign saying Chow Time -Grill and Buffet. As you entered, you are supposed to get a ticket and wait for your hostess to find you a table. They are so packed.The restaurant is beautifully decorated , light and cozy color. In the middle ,sits about 6-8 Hot and Cold Buffet Bar.

They claimed to have more than 250 items, ranging from Chinese, American,Mexican and
Japanese food.On the Sushi bar is a variety of Sushi's,California Roll, Eel Roll,Tuna and Salmon. But the sushi is tiny, the size of a nickel. They need to roll the sushi bigger.

On the hot bar are popular items like Broccoli Chicken, Beef,Lomein, Rice noodles,sweet and sour chicken, Terriyaki Chicken,Pepper Steak, Mongolian Beef and a lot of different kind of Shrimp, Fried, Grilled and Spicy.

On the Grill items are Grilled Salmon, Pork Chop and Chicken. The best if the Bar b q
Beef Ribs. These are big Beef Ribs with a tangy fruity flavor. The Salmon pieces are
slowly grilled with some spices.

There is also a Salad Bar ,A Fruit Bar and a Dessert Bar . There are a few kinds of cakes there is really good, Chocolate Cake and Angel's Food Cake.Also Banana Pudding and Rice Pudding. Fruits comes with Honey Dew Melon,Cantaloupe, Oranges, Apples , Lychees,Grapes and Water Melons.

Different kinds of soup are Egg Drop Soup, Hot and Sour Soup and Wonton soup.
Service is okay, not perfect. I think because they were so busy.

The price is very reasonable - only $6.99 per person with tax, drinks were extra $1.25. The ticket for 5 of us was $40.00 plus $5.00 tips.
Very satisfying and full lunch. I do recommend you to Chow Time if you do visit Panama City's Beach.