Here is a list of our best tips for airline travel:
When booking your flight, allow enough time between connecting flights. We usually strive for 1 ½ hours. Generally this allows for minor delays. If we are traveling internationally, these layovers may involve clearing customs and security. In this case we allow between 2-2 1/2 hours layover because we must claim our bags and go through the security check all over again. In either case, we look to see how many more “chances” there will be to catch another flight, if for some reason our connecting flight gets cancelled or delayed.
Choose your seat. I prefer knowing where I am going to sit. I want to be with my family if possible. My husband has very long legs, so he must always have an aisle seat. If we can upgrade to gain a for a few more inches of legspace, we often do so. Websites such as seat guru can often tell you the advantages and disadvantages to choosing certain seats. Surprises such as finding you are sitting next to a bathroom, or that the seats don’t recline, can make travelling a very unpleasant experience.
Download airline/airport apps. These can help you see gate changes and flight delays. The airport apps often offer layouts for each terminal. Knowing where you are going if you are rushing can save precious minutes.
Purchase or borrow luggage which can be pulled or pushed. Carrying heavy bags when you are also having to run for a flight is never easy. A backpack is also a good option.
Check size and weight restrictions of luggage before flying. Realizing you are 1 lb over the limit and getting charged an extra $50-$100 because of it is a sure fire way to start off on the wrong foot. The same is true for oversize luggage. Many airlines have overall dimensions of luggage. This is the length x width x depth.
Know how many pieces and what constitutes a personal item. Carry on luggage may be subjected size and weight restrictions. Again, this helps to avoid those extra charges. Some international flights are very specific about what constitutes a personal item. Small commuter planes often don’t have the ability to store even regular size carry ons (see gate checking luggage).
Place a contact sheet and itinerary page inside each suitcase and carry on. This is usually the last thing I pack so that if the case is opened, it will be the first thing someone sees. If my luggage is lost, this simple piece of paper will help reconnect me with my bags.
Label all luggage on the outside. Use a luggage tag, or one of the tie on pieces located at the check in desk. For safety, your personal information should be covered (the tie on tags fold and tuck). If you are shopping for luggage tags, look for the kind with a security flap.
Pack all prescriptions in original containers. Always carry your prescription medication in your carry on. If this is not possible, make sure to have a few extra days of the medication in the carry on.
Pack your carry on as if you might need to gate check your case. Full flights often run out of overhead storage. When this happens, the remaining passengers will be asked to gate check their luggage. Always remove your id & passports and anything else of importance if you are asked to gate check. Gate checked luggage is different than normal checked baggage. The carry on items will be tagged and stored in a special location on the plane. Ground crew will deliver the luggage to the walkway once the plane lands. Unfortunately gate checked luggage is not tagged to move on to your next destination, so if there are challenges with the machines/people who are unloading it, it can make you late to catch your next flight since you must wait for this luggage. This is what happened to about half the plane on our last flight, after the hydraulics broke on the lift which bring the bags up. I have never seen so many angry people.
Having a foldable shopping bag packed on top of your luggage or in a side pocket is helpful. This can be a store bought pouch or a paper shopping bag. If you are forced to gate check your carry on, this bag allows you to transfer your most needed items quickly, just remember this is going to go under the seat in front of you, so take only your essentials. *Always keep cash, ID, passports and prescriptions with you.
Before leaving for the airport, think about how you will dress. Dress for speed. No underwire bras (they set off the alarm and almost guarantee a pat down). Easy to remove jackets or cardigans are easier than those which need pulling over your head. Slip off shoes ae easier than lace ups (remember to wear footies if you are not wearing socks, you don’t want to stand in that line barefoot…yuck). *Always wear shoes you can run in…you never know when those gate changes are going to happen or when your flights make a connection very close. If you want high heels or flip flops, carry them in the carry on and change once you reach your gate.
Dress in layers. Planes can be too hot and too cold. Extra clothing can always double as a pillow.
Speaking of pillows, they do not count as luggage. If you find you don’t have enough space in your carry on, you can put a coat, clothing or other soft items in a zippered pillow case. This will serve multiple functions as you travel.
Arrive 2-3 hours before your flight is scheduled to depart. In large international airports, you may need every minute of this time to clear security. Smaller airports may only need 1-1 1/2 hours. If you find yourself with extra time, go shopping, get a bite to eat, look at art or hang out in a lounge but don’t stress yourself by arriving at the airport late.
If you are parking a car, write down your parking space number and/or take a photo with your cell phone. You will thank me when you return.
Always carry some cash. If you become stranded at an airport or while en-route, there is never a guarantee that ATM’s and/or online credit card systems will be functioning. Depending on how far I am traveling, how many overlays I have and where I am going, I usually carry enough to pay for a meal, a car rental and a hotel room. (Generally about $50-$250). There is a limit to how much cash can be carried (usually $10,000) , so make sure to declare it, especially if you are transiting between countries. When declaring your cash, be sure to include travelers checks and cashiers checks.
Carry some food and snacks. If a flight is cancelled, you may find yourself overnighting in an airport. Stores may be closed. If a flight is delayed and sitting at a gate or on the tarmac, there will be no food/drink service.
Pack a USB charger. Our phones carry the equivalent of a computer these days. They replace cameras, MP3 players and books. They carry our calendars, address books, maps and more. Having them functioning at all times can prevent a lot of stress. There are many ways to use up your battery on a cell phone…photos, reading, listening to music and/or watching movies. Having a USB charger allows you to recharge while waiting for a flight and/or if your flight is delayed. The charger can often be used on the plane too. Just toss one in the carry on, you will be happy you did!
Check in online when possible. This helps to prevent standing in line.
Pack liquids and gels in a see through quart sized zip lock bag. Place the bag towards the top of your carry on case or in an outside pocket for easy removal. You will be asked to remove these if you do not have Global Entry.
Pack electronics toward the top of your carry on. You will be asked to remove these if you don’t have Global Entry.
Choose the furthest left queue in the security line, it is generally less busy.
Remove jewelry, belts and jackets before you get in line, or while standing in line. Don’t be “that” person who slows the process by not being ready to move through security. All of these items can be placed inside luggage if you have room. Otherwise follow the steps below:
Remove your passport and boarding pass (these are carried through the scanner).
Place jackets and coats in the first bin.
Place electronics (laptop, Ipads, Kindles etc) in a separate bin.
Place shoes and wallet/purse and jewelry together in the last bin, that way you will never forget to pick up your wallet and valuables.
Send your luggage through the scanner.
Once past security, purchase or fill a water bottle. Hydration is the best way to combat jet lag and helps to prevent airborne illnesses.
Consider purchasing coffee or tea before boarding the plane. The water on the plane has been stored in large containers which are never cleaned. This is the wate tea and coffee are made with.
Listen for announcements. It is easy to pass the time by plugging into headphones but miss the announcement of a gate change and you can be left running.
Watch for changes around the waiting area. Did everyone suddenly leave? You better check the departure board.
When you have done all that you can to prepare, you can sit back knowing that you are ready for “almost” anything. Enjoy your stress free vacation
Don’ t waste your weight limits by owning heavy suitcases! On a recent trip, I weighed our cases before I even began packing. They weighed over 13 pounds and this was before I had even added one pair of socks!
With average weight restrictions on most flights being only 50 pounds, I was frustrated with giving up over 20% of the maximum allowance to the suitcase. But where to begin looking for a new case?
There are so many options when it comes to luggage. Since we would be making a substantial financial investment in them, I wanted to give some thought to what we needed.
My body is aging and lifting cases has become more difficult over the years. I want to be able to move the cases easily. I was looking for a case which could be pushed or pulled. My last wish was for adjustable handles, since there is a significant height difference between my husband and I.
We knew we would be taking these cases around the world. I needed them to be sturdy but as light as possible since we might be away for long trips, which might require a lot of clothing.
There were many things which distracted me while I was shopping, such as built in power banks, but sticking to my original wishes, I realized these would just weigh the bag down.
A little research and a shopping trip later, we ended up with these great bags from Travel Pro. With over 8,000 reviews, customers consistently expressed how happy they were with the cases. Many had completed hundreds of trips and still saw the bags outperforming others. I was sold.
The Travelpro Maxlight 5 is regularly featured on many travel blogs (which is how I had found it).There are 4 different size options ranging from carry on to 29″. There is also an underseat tote.
We chose the 26″ for our needs. This large suitcase weighs just 7.5 pounds! This gave me an additional 5+ pounds of wiggle room, compared to our older luggage.
With 10 choices of colors, the most difficult decision was which one to choose. In the end, we defaulted to our trustworthy black. Although we loved many of the color choices, we worried that some of the lighter ones might show the dirt (even though they are stain restistant), we just wanted low maintenance. We also knew that we would eventually tire of the colored cases, or they would become obsolete in time. Since we expect to keep these for a while, we stuck with the tried and true.
There were additional features which attracted us to this luggage such as:
spinner wheels- so we don’t have to pull the case.
multiple locking positions on the handle-adjusts for tall/short people.
a water and stain resistant exterior- which is handy if the case sits outside in inclement weather (as ours did on our 2021 trip to England).
side handles AND top handles-for easy grabbing in every direction off of those overfull baggage carousels.
an expanding zipper- which adds an additional 2 inches of depth to the case. Great when you buy too many souvenirs.
many zippered sections-to tuck in those odd items.
a separate lid pocket-great for separating and organizing.
patterned interior-this was especially helpful with the small tote. No more caverns of dark fabric when reaching into a deep bag.
There are many things about airline travel which can make your journey just a little easier. We have organized these tips and tricks alphabetically. If it is highlighted it will link to a supporting story. Check back often as we add to our growing list of tips & tricks.
Because the ABC game is part Scavenger Hunt, we make up our own rules as we go along. On our ABC Adventure to Grayling, Gaylord and Petoskey, we were nearing the completion of our alphabet. As usual, we didn’t have an X. We racked our brains for the X words we knew. Often we resort to using the X in words like eXcite or eXcellent. Today, in the pouring rain, we saw a sign, which matched our letter.
An ABC Adventure doesn’t have to be difficult, our only rules (for ourselves) are to have fun, to discover and to explore the world purposefully.
As I watched my husband get drenched to get this photo, I was having fun. It makes me laugh to think of the antics we get up to.
I “discovered” we were under surveillance because there was a security camera on the caboose parked alongside this railroad crossing. I wonder if it left them scratching their heads to observe us.
I had found the caboose, now turned restaurant, in my online study of the area. We were trying to purposefully explore, but sadly the restaurant had been closed.
All was not lost though, we decided to eXclaim that we were declaring this our “X”. Thus Xing it off our list!
Have you ever dreamed of walking through Hobbiton featured in the Lord of the Rings?
Believe it or not, you don’t need to travel to New Zealand to find Hobbit houses, the USA has our own charming town which attracts tourists from around the world.
Charlevoix is a tiny Northern Michigan town located just 4 hours north of Detroit.
Self taught builder, Earl Young built the eleven homes during the depression era, these buildings are creatively known as Gnome Homes, Mushroom Houses, or Hobbit Houses and they stand ready to transport you to middle earth.
Earl Young’s houses feature his signature designs which include wide, wavy eaves, exposed rafter tails; cedar-shake roofs; and a horizontal emphasis in design.
As an architect, Young fashioned his structures, using indigenous materials. His works are made mostly of stone, using limestone, fieldstone, and boulders that he found throughout Northern Michigan.
In all, Earl Young designed 30 unique homes over a 54 year period, 28 buildings are still standing in Charlevoix and in recent years, visitors have been drawn to the area to take a tour of the unique structures.
The self guided tour allows for easy viewing of the homes and parking is readily available on the street.
It was in this way that we set off on our own Hobbit inspired adventure.
One of the first “mushroom houses” we came upon is called the Thatch House – Formerly called Sunset Villa (pictured above). With its distinctive oversized thatched roof and lovely stonework, you can’t miss the impressive structure, located at 304 Park Avenue.
Thatched cottages are not common in the USA but with our roots in England, they are very familiar to us. There is a certain comfort which comes with seeing this particular home, which reminds me so much of the English cottages, on a grander scale.
The home was significantly remodeled in 2015, to reflect a more “mushroom” like character but it was originally built by Mr. Young in 1918. The new rendering was first drawn on a napkin. When a passerby exclaimed, “wow that looks like a mushroom”, the new owner realized the mission had been achieved. The massive home now boasts 6 bedrooms, 5 1/2 baths as well as a media room. It is used as a vacation rental and is often the setting for weddings.
Located next to the the Thatch House is the Half House.
Half House-Charlevoix, Michigan
This lovely little home appears to have been cut in half. It is said that this home was built by the imaginative Earl Young as a wedding gift for his daughter. Can you imagine receiving such a charming gift? Built in 1947, the half house remains the same as it was in its original design.
Earl Young’s Original Home
Although this house isn’t as impressive as the remodeled mushroom, it is a very large home. Viewing the house from the back reveals terraced steps which lead down from the hill above. The layers of stone have been carefully set to blend seamlessly with the landscape. This house is located at 306 Park Avenue.
The eleven mushroom houses can be found along a triangular block in the Park Avenue area consisting of Grant Street, Clinton Street and Park Avenue. This is a self guided walking tour. Parking is available along any street. The homes are now private residences, so care should be taken to respect the privacy of the owners but it is a great way to pass an hour or so.
I will leave the remaining homes for you to discover, but I’m guessing it will be easy to see why we chose “Q” as our letter to represent these “Quirky” homes.
On an ABC Adventure, it can be hard to represent each letter. Such was the case with our letter “O”.
As we traveled through Northern Michigan, on our 2 day adventure, we realized that we were passing through the county of Ostego. Like with many of our challenging letter, we had left the “opportunity” to discover something new “open”. It meant we just needed to be “observant” as we traveled, always looking for words which we could add to our list.
This is how we came upon the county of Ostego, which is where the town of Gaylord lies. Gaylord had been one of our destinations. With much Native American influence in this area, I researched the word Ostego. There are actually a great many interpretations of origin. One shows it meaning a “place of the rock”another means, “clear waters”. The county is nestled in a glacial valley, filled with over 300 lakes, making both descriptions seem accurate.
Either way, we knew it would be worth a moment of our time as we pulled into the Otsego State Park and just enjoyed a few minutes of exploration around the pristine beach along Ostego Lake. It was the perfect excuse to get “outside” and breath. It had been another “outstanding” moment along our path of discovery.
Never mind that nature and north both begin with the letter N, it seems our brains were not allowing us to play with words on our Northern Michigan road trip. Except for the letter N, we had completed the entire alphabet as we had traveled along on our two day adventure. There was a sense of pressure to find our final letter before arriving home. I can’t imagine how many opportunities we had already missed.
Then we saw it! The “nature” preserve was tucked off to the side. It was pouring with rain. We could have easily talked ourselves into bypassing the opportunity. Instead we turned down a miles long, dead straight dirt road. The tunnel of trees created a canopy over the car as we ventured toward our unknown destination. Along the way the magic of Michigan was present everywhere.
The greens of the forest were almost ethereal from the rain. A magical mist floated among the branches. As the woods wrapped us in their embrace, this peaceful location seemed untouched and unspoiled by man. Deer quietly stepped in front of the car, unafraid as if they had never known the fear of encroachment. We continued driving. The deeper we went, the more isolated it became. Suddenly the road ended and we were left to explore the most amazing beach, free of everything except beauty. We had been nourished.
While on a whirlwind tour of Northern Michigan, we stopped at the Hartwick Pines State Park in Grayling, Michigan. The White Pines, which once covered all of the state, have been protected within the 49 acres of the park. It is one of the last stands of old growth trees in the USA. Walking along the 1.5 miles of paths which meander among the towering trees it is easy to understand how logging became such an important part of Michigan history.
Nestled in the center of the forest is a replicated logging camp, now turned museum. Built in the 1930’s the replicated logging camp represents life from the 1890’s. Here we were able to view the equipment, tools, a bunkhouse, food preparation area and an old sawmill.
The State Park is open year round. The logging museum is open
April 30 – May 27: 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
May 28 – September 4: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
September 5 – October 30: 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Hartwick Pines State Park 4175 Hartwick Road Grayling, MI 49738
