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Keeping Valuables Safe in Hotel Rooms

I've stayed in some crazy and different accommodations in my day. Hostels, cheap hotels that rent by the hour, budget rural inns, all the way up to the Four Seasons and Ritz-Carltons (the latter of which, mind you, are pretty rare for me). Fortunately, staying in the Four Seasons or Ritz-Carltons usually gives you the option of the in-room safe, or even the reception vault. But when you're staying in accommodations that don't have these options- which is usually the case for me- how do you keep your valuables safe?

I always keep at least 2 small padlocks in my travel suitcases. They're inexpensive, and usually use a 3- or 4-digit code. An easy code you can plug in for 3-digit padlocks that you won't forget is your telephone's area code. The easiest code you can plug in for 4-digit codes are the last 4 digits of your telephone number or your birth year. I always use these codes, and despite the plethora of 20-some mini-padlocks I have floating around between my suitcases, I can usually get the padlock code within 1 or 2 attempts. When I'm leaving my hotel room for the day, and I have some valuables--e.g. my  jewelry or extra cash--I secret them away in some pocket or item of clothing, then lock my suitcase zippers shut with the padlock. It's not foolproof, but it keeps your valuables under some lock and key.

That said, some common sense rules apply. Don't leave valuables, cash, or other things you wouldn't want to lose out in plain sight.Tuck it away, lock it up, or else bring it with you. I also check the windows--if I'm on the ground or second floor, I'll shut and lock the window. If you have to leave money behind, you can always section it off according to bill denominations: e.g. fold some paper around all your twenties, writing the number of bills you have on the paper; do the same for all other denominations before you secrete it away in a preferably padlocked place. It will at least help you keep track of how much money you have stored, rather than guessing, "I THOUGHT I had $200 here but maybe I didn't..." Sometimes the front desk has a vault as I mention above- but keep in mind the convenience factor and how often you need to retrieve your valuables. Finally, always make sure the room door shuts completely behind you and locks when you leave. Then hit the streets and let your mind rest easy knowing you've taken what precautions you can.

Fifteen Things I Bring with Me on Airplanes

I've honed my carry-on inventory over the years, knowing that limited overhead space, liquids restrictions, and my comfort levels are key. Here's the 15 things I bring with me on long flights:

A sampling of some of the things I bring with me on airplanes.

1. Pashmina. It's my portable blankey. I usually bring a lightweight wool one with me, which I can easily drape over myself if I get cold--comes in handy when the airline charges you for blankets. In a pinch, I've even used it as a giant eyemask when I want to sleep. Before I leave for trips, I spritz my pashmina with perfume so if I happen to sit next to the guy who doesn't smell so hot, I can always cover my nose--yes, this actually has come in handy. Plus, it doubles as a fashion accessory once you're on the ground and land. If I don't feel like wearing it or hauling it around, I simply tie it around my handbag strap and forget about it. 
2. Toothbrush and toothpaste. You won't be sorry when you wake up on a long flight. And neither will your neighbor.
3. Earplugs or headphones. It's amazing what earplugs or headphones can do when you're trying to sleep or tune out the babies in the back. Surprisingly, what I've found is earplugs also help calm my nerves about flying since it tunes out all the extra noises that go bump on the flight. Extra tip: I usually take a set of the free headphones I get on flights and stash them in my purse for the next trip. It saves me money when airlines do charge for them.
4. Socks. If your feet are bare, it gets cold in those planes and sleeping only drops your body temperature. Stash a small pair in your handbag to keep your toes warm. Cold extremities have kept me up and uncomfortable more than once so I always bring a pair for comfort's sake.
5. Reading. You can only read "Skymall" so many times. I used to pack a good paperback, but now I've got it all on my kindle, which travels with me everywhere. Keep in mind that you're supposed to turn off electronic devices--including kindles--during takeoff and landing. That's where magazines come in handy because you can read them anytime AND ditch them (and the extra weight they bring) when you finish. Alternatively, crosswords or sudoku are another great option. 
6. Facial moisturizer, lip balm, and hand lotion. We all know how dry the air is on planes, and I feel like a reptile even after just a couple hours. I also stash a small sample size container of moisturizer for my face in my purse--the samples you get with makeup bonuses are perfect for this. Hand lotion is always a plus to have on hand. Hotel lotion bottles are a great size to squirrel away in your purse then throw when you're out- which I usually find I am by the end of my trip.
7. Jewelry and other meaningful items. I used to never bring additional jewelry with me aside from what I wore on the plane. Then I thought, screw it! I bring multiple outfits, why not bring the jewelry I love that goes with it? But my jewelry is meaningful to me, and some of it even cost me some bucks. So now I pack a small jewelry roll that I pack into my carry-on I can keep it on my person during travel.
8. (Facial mist. Okay so this is for those of you who have a little diva in you, like a little refresher, and have the extra space for it. Lavender mists, for the restful qualities, are always nice. I'm also partial to Julie Hewett's rose facial moisturizer and Burt's Bees Complexion Mist. But if you don't want to use up precious cargo space in that quart-sized liquid baggy, leave it at home). 
9. Kleenix. Nothing's more annoying than a runny nose and stuck in the middle seat. Do you really want to ask your aisle-seat companion to get up every time you need to blow your nose? Stash a small pack and let your nose rest easy. 
10. Sleeping aids. I'm not one to advocate or tell someone to take sleeping aids, but for long flights, I like them. I talked to my doctor about my options, use a prescription-strength sleeping pill, and conk myself out for about 4-6 hours of any flight. Pop in those earplugs, and you're golden. 
11. Water bottle. I empty a water bottle before I leave home and refill it after security. Then I've got a full bottle of water with me for the flight, which keeps me hydrated. I've even brought it back to the galley and asked the flight attendants to refill it for me. It's especially convenient for taking medications. 
12. One spare change of clothes. You never know when the airlines might lose your luggage. That happened to my coworker once--the airlines lost her luggage and didn't find them for five days--FIVE DAYS--into her trip. She was forced to wash her one pair of panties every day while waiting in  for the luggage that took days to arrive. Bring a spare pair. It'll save you hassle if it comes to it.
13. Hand sanitizer. Sitting on airplanes makes me feel like I'm on a flying petri dish. It's always good to have some sanitizer gel on board, plus you probably can use it during your trip when you're out-and-about. Also, hand or baby wipes are another good option if you expect you'll be wiping off physical grime or dirt (think traveling with small children), since they capture and wipe away a lot. Plus, keeping your hands clean goes a long way to staying healthy and warding off colds during travel (see #15 below). 
14. Battery charger pack. If you're working on your laptop or listening to music, we all know how fast the batteries can go. Not all planes have charging options, so that's where battery packs for charging come in as convenience-savers. When they come with different charging cables, they can do multi-duty on all your electronics in one trip. If you'd prefer not to have the extra battery pack to lug around, then invest in a new battery for your device. I bought a new $20 battery for my netbook and found it gives me about 8 hours of juice--pretty much enough to last me most flights. 
15. Vitamins, Emergen-C, Airborne, zinc, and Vitamin C. Changing time zones, breathing in recirculated air, and germs on planes always meant that I would catch a cold every time I went somewhere. Now, I stockpile vitamins and supplements in a plastic baggy that I bring with me on the flights. I take a daily vitamin, zinc, and Vitamin C each once during the flight, and down some Emergen-C or Airborne at least twice during the ride. That's where your bottled water comes in handy, so you're not at the mercy of the airlines' beverage service. 

My Secret Airlines Weapon - The IKEA Bag

How do I get around the airlines' weight limit for checked baggage?

My sister gave me a tip--and a bag--that has stood me well many times when I'm standing at the airlines counter. My IKEA bag. Big, made of crunchy-loud plastic, and emblazoned with colorful stripes. It's a useful thing to have when you go to the airport and aren't sure whether your bag is within the weight limit.

The great thing about this bag is, it's compact, flattens easily to slip into the front pocket of my suitcase, and when expanded to its capacity limit, is about 15" x 8.5" x 18". It's come in handy many times when I've checked my baggage, only to find it's a few pounds overweight. Normally, this would have sent me into a frenzy where I tear open my suitcase to see what will fit into my purse. Now, my response is a calm, cool "Really?" No sweat--I just unzip my suitcase, dive right in, and pull out a few more things to fill my IKEA bag. I've fit books, camera equipment, fluffy fat sweaters, shoes, and of course, my purse, into my IKEA bag.

It's not a fashion statement piece, and you will look like you're carrying a loud, $2 plastic bag from IKEA as a purse. There's no disguising it, so just embrace it. I once got upgraded to first class but was using my IKEA bag as my "handbag." Sexy. But it saves me a lot of hassle and money when I need it. My IKEA bag now lives permanently in my suitcase and goes every trip with me. Find a similar one for yourself here. 

The other great thing? It only costs a few bucks at IKEA. How's that for savings?