The Perpetual Tourist

www.keenfootwear.com

With luggage restrictions and fees getting a little out of control, we’re all looking for ways to lighten our loads. Shoes have always been a big space hog in my bags, but I’ve had to break my habit of packing a shoe for every occasion.

The search was on for the one pair of shoes that would suit all my traveling needs. I guess most folks would just wear their favorite sneakers, and I could’ve done that, too, but sneakers are a pain when going through airport security, and they’re not exactly great for a beach trip or wading in a river.

For a while now, I’ve been coveting a pair of Keens. They’re those funky new shoes that you’ve been seeing on all your hippie friends’ feet lately. Maybe it’s just the granola talking, but I think these are some sexy shoes. So as a present to myself back in June, I finally bought a pair of my very own.

I’m not going to lie; it took a long time to break these babies in. I had to wear bandaids on the backs of my heels for a few weeks. But it was worth it. These shoes are fantastic.

They were originally produced as water shoes, so they’re great for playing around in rivers and mud. But then people started wearing them on hikes and realized they were great for just about any outdoorsy activity. (That’s also when the price went up from $50 to about $100 a pair. Dang.)

I wear my Keens every day, and when I travel, they’re the only shoe I pack. They slip right on and off, so they’re no trouble in a security line, and you can tighten them on your foot with one tug at the elastic. They’ve been swimming with me in the James River, they’ve been hiking, they’ve been to a wedding (okay, they don’t make great formal shoes, but I like to think I pulled it off), and last week I took them for a run. I’ve tested their limits in every way I can think of, and they’ve held up amazingly well. I love them so much, I’d buy more pairs, but I don’t need to. My first ones are still good as new, only without the blisters.

www.keenfootwear.com

You can find a list of online retailers here, but I’d recommend trying on a pair first. They run pretty small, and I had to go up an entire size when I bought mine. They come in men’s, women’s, and children’s sizes, and Keen keeps adding more styles to their brand. I still like the original designs best, and you can get them in all kinds of funky colors (mine are fuschia).

Do you have a favorite travel shoe? Tell me about it in the comments.

I used to be a very lucky traveler. In all my frequent flying, I was rarely delayed by more than a few minutes and hardly ever ran into any major hassles at any airports. Then the economy shat the bed — and in this analogy, the airline industry might as well be the bed.

Having cut personnel tremendously to deal with rising operational costs, the airlines are ill prepared to deal with the problems that once only created minor delays, but now cause flight cancellations and much longer delays, leaving more and more passengers stranded in airports.

In most cases, if an airline cancels your flight, they’ll put you in a hotel room near the airport for the night — assuming the rooms aren’t all taken by other disgruntled passengers. All too often, you’re going to find yourself forced to camp out in an airport overnight — maybe it’s because your next flight will take off at 5:30am, or because there just isn’t anywhere else to go. In any case, when you fly, you should be prepared to sleep in an airport.

If you end up stranded and can’t get a hotel room, the first thing you should do is ask the airline staff about lounges. Those swanky private rooms that usually require special memberships often have comfy furniture that’s perfect for someone looking to catch a little shuteye. If you don’t have a membership, a little politeness goes a long way — the airline knows they’re the reason you’re stuck, so as long as you don’t scream at the person who can help you, they’ll usually bend the rules to keep you as satisfied as possible.

When that doesn’t work, your next step is to just find the most comfortable space you can. Don’t just go to the gate and wait there — chances are, you can find a better place to plant. Try the arrivals lounge, which tends to have better furniture than the departure area. If that fails, simply look for a quiet corner without as much foot traffic. Pull some chairs together to make an almost-comfortable bed for yourself, or curl up on the floor if you must.

Our travel itinerary may not include an overnight layover, but anyone who flies should be prepared. There are a few small items you can pack in your carry-on luggage that will make airport snoozing much more comfortable for you:

• disinfectant wipes — it’s always a good idea to wipe down any furniture that gets used by dozens of people every day before you collect all their germs, whether you’re spending the night or just a few minutes.
• inflatable pool float — when deflated, these don’t take up much space in your bag, and can be easily inflated for a much nicer “bed” than the floor or airport chairs, and they provide a buffer between you and the germ-infested floor.
• earplugs or headphones — there are constant announcements in airports, and inevitably a screaming child or two. If you don’t want to wake up every two minutes, make sure you have a way to block out the noise.
• wear layers — you never know what the temperature will be like inside the airport. If it’s too cold, you’ll never get comfy enough to sleep without something to keep you warm. If it’s too hot, you can always take your sweater off and use it as a pillow.
• entertainment — in the event that you simply cannot get comfortable enough for sleep, you’ll need something to keep you from dying of boredom while you wait through the night. Books, puzzles, a portable DVD player — don’t neglect to pack these things just because you thought you were only going to be flying for three hours or so. You never know…

www.sleepinginairports.net

No one wants to sleep in an airport, but it only takes a little extra space in your luggage to prepare for an unexpected campout, and packing a few cautionary items can be the difference between a decent night’s sleep and the most boring, uncomfortable night of your life.

For extensive reading on airport sleeping, visit The Guide To Sleeping In Airports.

The following is a true story about how airport security is making the skies safer for all travelers. Shortly after Sept. 11, 2001, I took a flight to New York City to visit my brother for a week. This was at the absolute height of all the security crackdowns and paranoia, and getting through the security checkpoint was a nightmare. For my 45-minute flight, I was advised to arrive three hours early to the airport, and I needed every minute of that time, as the security lines were endless.

I had my laptop in my carry-on backpack, but all the cords were in my checked luggage, and the battery was broken, so I couldn’t turn it on without the plugs. When I got to the front of the line and realized that they were making everyone turn on their laptops for inspection, I realized I might have a problem. I started sweating about having my computer confiscated, or being detained for failing to comply with a law I didn’t even know about. I was so nervous that by the time I got to go through the metal detector, I probably really looked like I was up to something. I took off my shoes, assumed the position for my complimentary pat-down, and then approached the last TSA agent in a long line of uniforms that each traveler was required to visit.

He asked me to turn on my laptop. It was open on a table in front of us, and I started to explain. “I can’t. The battery won’t work.” I held my breath and prepared for the worst. Then he waved me through, without even touching my computer. Maybe you think I should have been relieved at the relative ease with which I made it through security, and I was, of course, but more than that I was outraged. I had just stood in line for an eighth of my whole day because heightened security was allegedly of the utmost importance, and those agents didn’t even give a crap! I’m sure if I had darker skin, or perhaps a penis, this would have been much more problematic for me, but really — if passengers have to turn on computers to guarantee they’re not actually bombs, then shouldn’t they at least PRETEND to inspect my laptop when I say I can’t turn it on?

It was then that I realized that airport security is a hoax. No one is looking for threats, or trying to protect anyone else. They’re just going through the motions as the paranoia laws dictate, because that’s what they have to do to collect a paycheck. I feel no safer for having to walk through metal detectors and put my personal items through an x-ray machine so some guy behind a screen can know my preferred toiletry brands and that I enjoy kakuro puzzles. But this revelation achieved nothing, except making me a bit more hostile toward airports, because realizing the security is BS doesn’t mean I can skip it.

Mercifully, security checkpoints aren’t as bad as they were immediately following the 2001 terrorist attacks, but it’s still a giant hassle. I’ve flown dozens of times already this year, and I’ve got some insights about getting through security that could speed it up for you and others.

The federal airport security guidelines are listed here, and it’s important to be familiar with these rules to make sure you pack accordingly. But you should also realize that just because something is permitted, that doesn’t mean it will be easy to get through security with it. The biggest change recently is the ban on liquids. It’s eased up a little bit, but you still have to follow specific instructions to get your liquids through the checkpoints. This is not worth it, as it will cause a holdup while the inspectors check to be sure you followed the guidelines properly. You can buy food and drink at inflated prices in the terminal. Unless you have something that you absolutely must bring with you, don’t even bother. Any items that have restrictions will cause delays for you and the people behind you, even if you are following the proper guidelines.

Always err on the side of caution. It’s not actually legally required for travelers to remove their shoes (if the soles are under 1″ thick) at the checkpoint now, but just try going through without taking them off. I tried walking through in a pair of no-soled flip-flops last month and got a stern reprimand from a power-tripping TSA-hole who made me remove them, even at the very moment that the security recording that plays on a loop got to the part about not having to take off shoes. It’s just not worth trying to get away with anything, even if what you’re trying to “get away with” is perfectly legal. Put any liquids, cosmetics, and things with sharp edges in your checked luggage, and remember that the airport is no place for your lace-up knee-high boots.

In addition to checking the security guidelines before you pack, you should check with any airlines you’ll be traveling with for their luggage guidelines. Different airlines have different requirements, and unprepared travelers are often stuck with fines or left scrambling to rearrange their bags at the check-in desk. Most airlines allow two pieces of checked luggage per person, weighing up to fifty pounds each, but some airlines are cutting down to allow only one free checked bag, and charging hefty fines for additional luggage.

Most airlines also allow one carry-on bag and one “personal item.” The spirit of the term “personal item” is meant to indicate a small briefcase or purse, but many travelers try to get away with just bringing two giant carry-on bags and calling the second their “personal item.” You can often get away with this, as airlines aren’t terribly strict about enforcing their carry-on rules, unless the flight is full. Then there’s simply not enough room in the overhead bins, and passengers are forced to check more luggage — this can be a problem if you’ve packed fragile things in your carry-on, expecting to be able to hang onto them during your travels. It’s best to prepare for the possibility of having to check your carry-ons, just to be safe. Better yet, pack lightly so you won’t have any problem storing your carry-on under the seat in front of you if the overhead bins fill up.

Airport security and airline regulations are constantly changing, so it’s very important to familiarize yourself with the guidelines before you fly. Proper preparations before you arrive at the airport will save you lots of time and hassle. But just in case the jerk in front of you in the security line isn’t as prepared, it’s always a good idea to bring a good book.

I’ve never understood people who take days to pack for a trip. I hate it when I call a friend to propose an evening out and they say “I can’t, I have to pack for my trip this weekend.” And it’s only Tuesday. Wtf? (After Thanksgiving, I told my mom what I really wanted for Christmas was for her to help me make a new dress, something that I’ve seen her do from start to finish in under an hour in the past. She said no, she’d be too busy getting things in order for her 5-day trip to Florida after New Year’s. I’m beginning to think that “packing” has become the go-to excuse for blowing me off.)

Packing has never taken more than two hours for me, and that was only because I absolutely had to do laundry in order to have something clean to wear on my trip. I don’t keep a particularly organized house, though I’m not a complete slob (anymore), and yet I can still find everything I need for even a long trip and pack it in a suitcase or two within about five minutes. My suitcase for a trip of a week or more usually includes the following:

• One outfit per day for up to a week (jeans are recyclable, and it is assumed that laundry facilities will be available after a week) plus a few extra shirts in case my mood changes, and at least one dressy outfit.
• Shoes for working out and shoes to match whatever dressy thing I packed (I will wear my comfy shoes on my travel day, so I’m taking 3 pairs in all)
• A swimsuit and some sweats for the hotel pool, jacuzzi, and gym
• Hairbrush, toothbrush, deodorant, razor
• All of my underwear (you don’t want to take any chances)
• Enough feminine supplies to plug up the Mississippi (like underwear, it’s good to overpack these things)
• My multivitamin
• My laptop and its various cables
• A camera and extra batteries
• Chargers for everything that will need charging (phone, iPod, laptop)
• A towel (I wouldn’t really call this a necessity, but I do what Douglas Adams tells me to)
• The Happy Fun Bag (more on this shortly)

How hard is that? What part of this takes so long to put together? What am I leaving out that is eating up all this trip preparation time for everyone else, and what am I missing out on as a result of my negligence? As far as I can tell, nothing.

The one part of my packing that does require actual thought and maybe a little bit of time is the Happy Fun Bag. I think everyone has one of these for trips; I got the name from my friends who travel a lot with a young daughter. You definitely need a Happy Fun Bag when you’re traveling with kids, but I recommend them for adults, too. It’s full of all that stuff that will keep you from getting bored out of your wits on a long car ride, a layover, or during your down time in a hotel room somewhere.

When packing my Happy Fun Bag, I like to give myself plenty of options. Sure, that mystery novel may be appealing right now, but who knows what I’ll be in the mood for on the plane? Or what if it sucks? I always pack three books: two I haven’t read before and one I have read and loved in the past, just in case the other two are duds. I also put my iPod in there, a deck of cards, a pad of paper and a pen, something to snack on, my crocheting (check with airlines to see if they allow knitting and crochet needles in your carry on bags — some do and some don’t), and a few puzzle books. Lately I’ve been on a real Kakuro kick, but I also pack variety puzzles just in case I get bored of that, too. I tend to bore easily while in transit, so it’s good to have a lot of options in the Happy Fun Bag.

In truth, I won’t really touch most of what’s in there during my trip. It’s all about the options. I can’t just pack one book and expect to be satisfied with it, because if I do that, you can bet I’ll wish I had my crafts instead. So I just pack all of my easily portable diversions for every trip, and I’m rarely bored while traveling. It would be easier if I could just sleep in a car or a plane, but I pretty much have to be lying down in a bed at night to get any sleep. However, we don’t call it a Happy Fun Bag for nothing — it’s a great thing to have on a trip.

So that’s how I pack for a trip in under 20 minutes. 5 minutes for the suitcase and 15 for the Happy Fun Bag. Seriously, did I leave anything out?