Click the picture to read the recent blog article written by EF Tours about building my travel program. I think it's kind of cool and I appreciate the time put into writing such a kind article about me and my passion in traveling.
My first trip was a true learning experience. I packed two suitcases and a backpack full of clothes & accessories. I packed a pair of socks and underwear for every day (because I refused to "re-wear" a pair of underwear. What I ended up with was a ton of dirty laundry to lug around Europe. I also quickly learned what a pain it was to lug all that baggage around. So...I started my research on how to travel light. Part of the transition was learning how to minimize the amount of clothing I take...I now only carry one backpack and it doesn't matter how long my travels will last. With limited clothing, I had to learn how to wash those clothes on the road. I know washing clothes sucks! BUT...here is how I do it.
- I keep my dirty clothes in a dry bag (see my "What to pack in" page) - I fill the bag with hot water when I take my shower - I drop in a WashEZE laundry sheet - I step on the bag, agitating the bag, let the clothes soak, and then I step on it some more - I empty the soapy/dirty water & add clean rinse water - I step on it some more to help the clothes rinse (sometimes I rinse a 2nd time) - when I'm done getting myself & my clothes clean, I ring out the excess water - I roll each piece of clothing in my travel towel to remove even more water - I hang clothes on my rubber travel clothesline to dry - All of my clothing is quick dry and they always dry by the next morning Using this method works for me! I get clean...my clothes get clean...and I can survive for months on 2 pairs of underwear, 2 pairs of socks, 2 pairs of pants, 2 pairs of shorts, & a few shirts, and I have plenty of room in my backpack. WashEZE 3-in-1 laundry sheets make my process very easy. They smell good, but if you prefer unscented they offer that too. The sheets do what they say...make washing easy. Added bonuses are no liquids to worry about while traveling internationally, you can cut the sheets if a whole sheet is too much for your amount of laundry, requires very little space & doesn't weigh anything. I have tried/experimented with a lot of different laundry soaps since I started traveling this way and I prefer using WashEZE 3-in-1 better than all the other brands/types. I highly recommend you try the product. I had to do a review of my newest favorite obsession....Darn Tough Socks. A sock made from Merino wool that is touted as being comfortable in any environment and just as good-looking at work or on the mountain. Merino wool is a durable, natural fiber that keeps you cool in the summer and warm in the winter. Merino wool wicks moisture away from your skin and it dries very quickly. Merino wool is naturally anti-microbial which means you can wear merino wool socks for days on end without them getting that funky workout smell. I was skeptical. I am willing to try anything to find my perfect travel gear. So, I took the plunge and bought two pairs to test and review. Darn Tough makes men's/women's/kid's socks for hiking, running, biking, skiing/riding, hunting, and everyday use. THE DETAILS
WHAT I LIKE THE COMFORT... Imagine the best feeling ever... They are truly comfortable socks and whether you’re hiking in heat or rain or wearing them at work in the winter or summer, your feet stay happy. THE GUARANTEE... Darn Tough Socks come with a “lifetime guarantee”. Simply wash and mail in your defeated socks with a warranty form printed from the Darn Tough website and await your fresh new pair of socks. Darn Tough Warranty Form. THE COLORS... I love the colors available. It's weird, but I have received compliments on my socks...and that has never happened...until I started wearing Darn Tough Socks. I have become a fan and it is interesting that people have noticed my socks. Plus, I am getting a great quality product. WHAT I DON'T LIKE THE PRICE... “Seventeen dollars for a pair of socks!?” A typical reaction I get when I tell people the price of Darn Toughs. But they are worth it. The socks are manufactured domestically in Vermont and I always support (when I can) companies that make their products in the good old US of A. WHAT I HAVE FOUND Darn Tough socks are amazing. I have now purchased five pairs of these amazing socks. Comfort is great, no odor, durability, and a lifetime warranty...I never have to buy socks again. I highly recommend Darn Tough Socks for travel (multiple wears with no wash), for hiking, for work, for anything...do yourself a favor and get a pair...you won’t regret it.
I am always looking to expand my travel wardrobe and I was on the search for the perfect travel pants....I found them! The Eddie Bauer Horizon Guide Chino Pants are Lightweight and easy to pack. These chino pants deliver on comfort and performance. The two-way stretch nylon/spandex has a StormRepel® durable water-repellent (DWR) finish, and features FreeShade® UPF 50+ sun protection.
The eBags TLS Mother Lode Weekender Convertible is hands down the best bag that I have traveled with. I recently completed a 15 day trip to the Netherlands, Germany, Austria, Italy, Switzerland, France, and England and the eBag Mother Lode carried everything I needed for the journey.
The bag is 22 x 14 x 9. With shoulder strap and waist belt, it weighs just over 4 lbs. The bag is 3300 cu in and expandable. It’s made of 840 denier twisted polyester. There are so many great features designed into this bag that I can not list them all here. Here are some of the features that I liked.
Now for the negatives. I have found none. The bag was easy to use, functional, spacious, durable, and all my fellow travelers had statements and questions (where can I get one? It looks so cool. Wish I wasn't dragging my suitcase up the stairs. Can you really fit 15 days worth of stuff in that? The color is so cool.) All in all, for the money, you can’t beat this bag. It retails for $100 but I’ve seen it on sale for as low as $65.00 on the eBags website. If you’re looking for an inexpensive but feature full bag, you can’t beat this one. I highly recommend this bag for a weekend trip or an extended journey for all that like to travel light.
Able Planet makes a number of noise-canceling headphones. I used eBay for my first noise-cancelling headphone purchase for the following reasons...1) I am on a teacher’s budget and cannot afford the $250 to $400 price tag for new headphones and 2) I wasn't sure the benefits of noise-cancelling headphones warranted spending that much money.
Let's start with what's good about the headphones. They are very comfortable and appear to have a sturdy design and a nice finish. The ear-cups thick and firm and didn’t cause any discomfort for me at all. The headphones have an over-the-ear design and the ear-cups swivel and fold flat to fit in a simple black case. The case is slightly bigger than a CD wallet, which makes it easy to pack and carry, but it's not what I would consider compact. The set comes with the black zip-up hard case, an airline jack adapter, a ¼-inch adapter for larger headphone jacks, a detachable audio cable, and two AAA batteries. The ear-cups' cushions effectively sealed off my ears from the noisy environment on the Amtrak Train on my Washington, DC Trip and turning on the noise cancellation quieted the noise even further. I think the headband and ear-cups are nicely cushioned and quite comfortable. The right ear-cup houses the AAA battery compartment and the power control switch. This is also where the detachable audio cable connects to the headphones. The cable has an in-line volume control pod that makes changing the volume very easy. The noise cancellation works quite well and the sound quality was rich and full. I highly recommend noise-cancelling headphones if you travel regularly. I cannot sleep on public transportation (especially planes & trains) so I rely on relaxing by listening to music or watching movies to pass the time. I will sacrifice the space required to pack and carry the headphones to have a more enjoyable experience on the front and back end of the journey. If you cannot afford a new pair, I recommend checking eBay for a gently used set. I paid $50 for mine and I think it was an excellent investment. I had to take the time to give a review & recommendation of the Phoenix Park Hotel in Washington D.C. I have stayed at this hotel on my AP Government trips visiting our nation's Capitol. Reasons that I think it's the best hotel in Washington...1) it sits one block from Union Station, which is convenient on two fronts. We travel by Amtrak from NC to DC & it's nice to get off the train & walk only a block with your luggage to your hotel & we also use the DC Metro system to get around the city & Union Station is a major hub for the metro system. 2) The hotel sits two blocks from the Capitol Building & the beginning of the Washington Mall. It makes sightseeing easy when you can walk outside & start your day a couple of blocks from everything in D.C., plus, after a long day of sightseeing it's pretty easy to get back to the hotel for a good night's rest. 3) The staff at the Phoenix Park Hotel is exceptional! I can't say enough about their customer service. 4) Breakfast, lunch, & Dinner is all easily found at or near this hotel. There is a cool little breakfast restaurant right beside the hotel, there is room service, there is a restaurant & pub, The Dubliner, attached to the hotel as well (I will review below). There are tons of restaurants close by to fit anyone"s tastes. 5) The hotel gives adult guests a complimentary bottle of Baileys Irish Cream every day, a small thing, but a classy touch that no other hotel I've stayed in does. 6) The rooms are awesome! Old school decor, comfortable beds, hot showers with great water pressure, thick robes to wear, all the extras.....I highly recommend the Phoenix Park Hotel if you are visiting Washington D.C. The Dubliner is attached to the Phoenix Park Hotel & is a restaurant & Pub. My groups have dined at The Dubliner every time we go to Washington D.C. The Dubliner offers traditional Irish food (which gives my students a new food experience). The prices are a little high, but your in D.C. & that is to be expected. If you are an adult, you will enjoy the pub...get a pint of Guinness! The restaurant & pub features live Irish music (which also provides a new experience for my students) that gives you a true Irish experience while enjoying dinner. It's a great place to enjoy your Irish roots or if you're not Irish, enjoy the food & sounds from another culture. I highly recommend a dinner at The Dubliner while staying at the Phoenix Park Hotel.
My newest review will be on men's AIRism underwear sold by UNIQLO. I purchased the underwear for my upcoming trip to Washington DC and 15 day summer trip to Europe. I am constantly searching for comfortable, functional, easy to wash, fast to dry clothing for my trips. I have worn and tested the AIRism underwear and they have passed all of my travel requirements. UNIQLO says "These AIRism boxer briefs are as light as air, thanks to ultra-fine fibers. Their smooth, refreshing feel is enhanced by quick-drying, anti-microbial, and anti-odor features to keep you comfortable year-round". I must admit that when I wear them I don't even notice that I have anything on...they are light, comfortable, and easy to wear. They wash easily & dry fast (which is perfect when you only travel with 4 pairs of underwear) & they don't smell after a day of wear...even after a solid workout. UNIQLO offers clothing for men, women, & children and I look forward to trying more of their products. The one complaint that I have is that not all "styles" are available in all sizes on the website. I don't understand why the company runs out of product...On past trips I have used "athletic underwear" to stay within budget & they worked fine, but the $12.90 price tag for travel friendly underwear & t-shirts is hard to not take advantage of. AIRism by UNIQLO may be the best budget travel underwear around. One essential item that every traveler has to pack is the plug adapter for the country they are visiting. For years, I have traveled with a simple European plug adapter and it's been fine. But, this year I upgraded to the Newdigi® Universal World Wide Travel Charger Adapter Plug with Built-in Dual USB and I have loved the upgrade. One obvious advantage is that I only need one adapter and it covers every type of outlet that I will encounter in my travels. I love the fact that it has USB slots to charge my cell phone, my camera, and any other device that charges through USB. I have made it a habit to always travel with at least two plug adapters...just in case. One of the things that makes traveling so much fun is the fact that things will happen, something will break, and adapting to those changes and being prepared for those events make traveling exciting. I highly recommend the Newdigi® Universal World Wide Travel Charger Adapter Plug with Built-in Dual USB and plan on using both of mine on my trip to the Netherlands, Germany, Austria, Italy, France, Switzerland, and England this Summer. |
Wanderlust CoachWherever you go, go with all your heart Archives
October 2016
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