15 Travel Essentials That Have Made Flying SOOO Much Easier

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As a frequent traveler, I am often asked about my favorite travel essentials. While what we pack will vary from one woman to the next, there are some items that I believe are travel essentials for all women. After giving it some thought, I have identified the 15 different items that have made flying so much easier!

A Fantastic Carry-On

Go ahead and invest in a fantastic carry-on! The best carry-ons will last for years, so they are worth every penny. Choose a carry-on that will fit all airport regulations because the whole point of using a carry-on nowadays is to avoid the additional luggage fee. Along those same lines, make sure you choose a carry-on that can fit everything you need for a short getaway.

Packing Dividers

If you always struggle with fitting everything in your suitcase, then you need to buy some packing dividers. You may think this will make it harder to pack or take up more space, but you’d be wrong. They help you fit more of what you actually need and help keep your luggage organized.

A Power Bank

While airports are getting better with providing outlets for charging, you never know when you will be stuck somewhere without the ability to charge your devices. Hence always traveling with a small power bank in my purse. It has saved me numerous times!

A Contoured Eye Mask

If you want to sleep (or just want to be left alone), then you need to pack a contoured eye mask. Unlike regular eye masks, a contoured eye mask is designed with deep spaces around the eyes and nose, so you don’t have a mask pressed uncomfortably against your eyes.

Noise-Canceling Earphones

You never know who you will be sitting by on a plan, so taking your noise-canceling earphones is a wise decision. In addition to blocking out talkative passengers, they also block the plane noises that bother people. For sleeping, these are an absolute must.

A Durable Toiletry Bag

Purchase a quality toiletry bag. Your toiletry bag will be opened and used more than anything else in your luggage, so it is a good idea to get one that will hold up against a lot of use. I always feel safer when my toiletry bag provides additional plastic separators, so even if one of my toiletries opens, everything else in my luggage is still safe.

Reusable Travel Bottles

If you find yourself always second-guessing if your travel shampoos are the right size for your carry-on, go ahead and invest in your own reusable travel bottles. Not only will this alleviate that worry, but you will also get to continue using the products you use at home rather than hotel soaps and shampoos.

My Favorite Facial Moisturizer

The air in planes can really dry out your skin. That’s why I always make sure to pack my favorite moisturizer to use before and during the flight.

Vaseline

Likewise, I’ve found traveling with a min-tub of Vaseline works wonders for dry, chapped lips that result from the air in the plane.

Shout Wipes

Accidents happen – even when you are trying to look your best for your travel destination. I like carrying a few Shout Wipes with me in case there is a spill. They work quickly and effectively to remove stains.

A Portable Hotspot Device

Where would we be without the internet? Just in case I am traveling somewhere that Wi-Fi may not be readily available, I like to travel with my personal portable hotspot device. That way, I can always have internet access when I need it.

My Favorite Reusable Water Bottle

It’s important to stay hydrated when you are flying. However, with the liquid rules, you can’t just take bottled water with you. But you can take an empty reusable water bottle with you and fill it once you get past security!

A Foldable Bag

If you are like me, you always come back from a trip with more than you took. It took me a few times, but I now know to pack a foldable bag and place it in my luggage just for the extras I pick up along the way.

A Laundry Bag

Keeping my dirty clothes separate from my clean clothes in my luggage is important to me. But with a carry-on, that is not always easy. That’s why I pack a small laundry bag. On my trip, as I wear clothing, it goes into the laundry bag. Then, at the end of the trip, I place the entire laundry bag in my carry-on, and it is ready to be washed as soon as I get home.

Wet Wipes

Finally, I like to travel with wet Wipes that have antibacterial on them. There are so many germs on airplanes, so I like to wipe down the lap tray and the armrests. I also find these easy to use to clean and sanitize my hands when needed.

Did I leave out your favorite travel essential? Let me know what it is in the comments!

Forget Cyber Monday. I’m All About Travel Tuesday.

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While many of you may be reading this while you are trying to decide if you are going to go out in the shopping rush today. I have news for you. There is another big savings day right around the corner that you may want to save your money for.

Travel Tuesday is the Tuesday following Black Friday. It occurs on December 3, 2019, this year. Travel Tuesday is one day of the year when you can find huge discounts on travel – flights, hotels, cruises, and more. Since Travel Tuesday is a newer sales day, fewer people know about it, which means you will have an easier time scoring deals.

As someone who absolutely loves to travel both with my kids and kid-free, I’m telling you to save some of your money today so you can treat yourself on Tuesday. I’m here to help you get ready for the newest most exciting shopping day of the year.

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Prepare Your Travel Bucket List

If you suffer from wanderlust, Travel Tuesday is your jam. However, you do want to have some places in mind that you’d like to visit rather than purchasing flights for an unknown destination at the spur of the moment. Instead, make a travel bucket list and start crossing your fingers that Travel Tuesday offers deals for these destinations.

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Research Ahead of Time

While there are sure to be great deals on Travel Tuesday, you don’t want to get suckered. Take some time today to do a bit of light research on the destinations you have in mind, so you’ll know a good deal when you see one.

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What to Expect

You should expect big discounts on travel – 70% off domestic and international bucket list destinations. Plus, Hopper found “more flights discounted on Travel Deal Tuesday than Black Friday and Cyber Monday combined.”

Good Morning America’s Think Travel Tuesday for the year's best vacation deals is already listing some of 2019’s Travel Tuesday deals such as luxury resorts at 50% to 70% off in destinations like the Grand Cayman, Mexico, Negril, and more.

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Where to Check for Deals

In addition to following news sites like Good Morning America, you should also plan to check individual airlines, cruise lines, hotel chains, and travel company web pages (such as Cheap Caribbean) and social media sites for Travel Tuesday deals.  

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Don’t Forget to Read the Fine Print

Finally, it is super (super) important to read the fine print when it comes to travel deals. While you can get an incredibly awesome deal, there may be some reasons for you to hesitate hitting the “Book It” button. For example, many Travel Tuesday deals are non-refundable. Also, many Travel Tuesday deals may wind up costing you significantly more than the sticker price due to baggage fees, resort fees, and parking charges.

After you book your trip on Travel Tuesday, be sure to comment to let me know where you are going and what kind of deal you received!

Osaka – Where to Go, Eat, and Drink

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While in Japan, we made a visit to the island of Honshu to spend time in Osaka. Our visit there was full of sight-seeing and eating (of course). Osaka is known for its happening nightlife and fantastic street food, and I am happy to report that it lived up to its hyped reputation! Think of this as an introduction to all things Osaka.

Osaka Sights to See

A visit to Osaka should be composed of shopping and sightseeing. Luckily, we did both!

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Shinsaibashi – A trip to Osaka is not complete without a visit to Shinsaibashi, which is entertainment central. It is a popular shopping destination known for its many high-end retailers. Additionally, it is home to several restaurants and nightclubs. Now that I’ve visited, it’s easy to see why visitors to this street number about 60,000 on weekdays and about 120,000 on weekends and holidays.

Dotonbori – Another popular entertainment of Osaka, Dotonbori is a colorful area that borders the Dotonbori Canal and is known for its many bright neon lights. It has several restaurants and bars, as well as many street food stalls.

Osaka Castle Park – The main landmark of Osaka is Osaka Castle Park. The centuries-old castle has been rebuilt and renovated many times over. When you tour the castle, you may be surprised by how modern it is inside, but they have retained the history within the castle museum. In addition to the castle, the park is beautiful with an amazing garden and 600 cherry trees.

Osaka Foods to Try

If you have been following along with my Asia travel blog series, then you know the biggest part of all our visits was the food. We love to try new foods, and Osaka is known for serving usual and delicious dishes.

Takoyaki – This is a ball-shaped wheat-based snack you can find at street food stalls that are filled with octopus. Takoyaki is also fondly known as “octopus balls.”

Okonomiyaki – Another popular dish in Osaka is okonomiyaki, which is a pancake made of batter and cabbage that is filled and topped with a variety of ingredients.

Fugu – While we didn’t try it, Osaka does have restaurants that serve Fugu – toxic puffer fish. This is a Japanese delicacy where even the smallest mistake by a chef can prove fatal to the person eating it.

Akari Soba – We enjoyed dining at Akari Soba, which serves delicious soba and tempura. This restaurant is located in the busy area of Dotonbori and made our visit here even better.

Kyoto Tsuruya Sabou – Located in the Hilton Plaza, this dessert café was wonderful! We enjoyed matcha desserts.

Why a Visit to Osaka Must Include an Izakaya

An izakaya is a Japanese bar, and Osaka is covered with them. When in Osaka, you must visit an izakaya to enjoy a sake or a drink. After spending the day shopping in Shinsaibashi, an evening spent in an izakaya is the perfect way to finish out a day filled with fun and food.

How to Fly Singapore Suites for Free and My Time in Singapore Suites

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My recent trip to Asia became a dream come true as soon as I arrived at JFK because I knew I was about to embark on the most luxurious plan trip of my life. My husband and I had booked Singapore Suites through Singapore Airlines. If you have not heard of Singapore Suites before, prepare to be amazed. If you have heard of Singapore Suites and desperately want to enjoy them yourself, I can tell you how you can make it happen.

Why Singapore Suites Should Be On Everyone’s Bucket List

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When you are traveling across the world in a plane for several hours, the last thing you want is to be in a small cramped airplane seat. Even the standard first-class seats just aren’t enough to make a long journey enjoyable. That’s just the start of the beauty of Singapore Suites.

Singapore Suites are luxury suites in the sky – complete with privacy walls and double beds for couples. Think of the most extravagant way to fly – and that’s Singapore Suites. Each spacious suite has a comfortable, plush chair that converts into a bed. Since I traveled with my husband, we booked two suites that allowed us to form a double bed between the two suites.

In addition to the amazing sleep options, the suite is also designed for you to have everything you need to have an amazing flight. Think of the amenity kits you may have received from a different first-class trip – now up them about a hundred. Each suite has a tv with plenty of options, and you have a pair of Bose noise-canceling headphones to enjoy it. Plus, the cabin crew will make you feel like an esteemed guest. We felt like royalty as they served us Dom Perignon champagne and hot towels.

The Finest Dining Experience in the Sky

My readers already know how much I love food, so it should be no surprise that one of the main reasons I believe you should fly Singapore Suites at least once in your life is because it will allow you to eat luxuriously in the sky. A dinner table forms from the center console, which allowed us to enjoy this fine dining in the sky together. And, when I say, “fine dining,” I mean it. Caviar, lobster, and an in-flight wine-sommelier who will suggest wines that work best with your meals and the altitude. Amazing!

Yes – You Can Fly Singapore Suites for FREE

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Now I am sure some of you are reading this have already started to think this is impossible for most people. You’re wrong! You can fly Singapore Suites for free – no lie! By saving up points and miles, you can also enjoy this luxurious flight. Here are some things you need to know if you hope to one day use your points to fly Singapore Suites for free:

  • Singapore Suites are only on the Airbus A380s. In the US, JFK is the only place in the US that operates an A380. (We flew from JFK to Frankfurt to Singapore – a Singapore airline suite route.)

  • You can only use points through Singapore Airlines’ KrisFlyer Program. This means you cannot use Mileage Plus or Aeroplan miles to book this trip.

  • However, you CAN transfer points from the following reward programs: American Express Membership Rewards, Chase Ultimate Rewards, Citi ThankYou Rewards, and Starwood Preferred Guest (SPG).

  • These reward points transfer 1:1, with the chance to earn a 5000-mile bonus for transfers over 20,000.

  • Current miles needed range from 76,000 miles to 135,000 miles depending on your route.

  • Because JFK is the only place operating a flight with a Singapore Suites A380, you MUST book your trip as far in advance as possible – especially if you plan to travel with someone else and want to book the suites like ours that can be turned into a double bed.

One final note about this dream flight – We were in the “old” Singapore Suites, which as you can see were incredibly, but there are “new” ones that are even more amazing if you can believe it.

Exploring and Eating Your Way Around Singapore

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Recently, my husband and I went on the trip of a lifetime. We visited several countries in Asia over a few weeks (kid-free!), and it was an experience I will never forget. Because I know traveling abroad can seem overwhelming to some of my readers, I want to share my experience with you. Over the next few blogs, I will be telling you all about my great adventure. I’m hoping my trip will inspire you to take your own!

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We are starting with our visit to Singapore where we did the touristy things but where we mostly ate, ate, ate.

Must See Places to Visit

Singapore is an amazing place with a mesh of cultures and is a beautifully planned city with tropical temperatures year-round. While there is plenty to see and do in Singapore, I want to highlight two of the places we visited in Singapore on our trip that I believe are must-sees for other travelers.

Flower Dome and Cloud Forest

A major tourist attraction and a part of the city’s initiative to turn Singapore into “City in a Garden,” Gardens by the Bay is home to the amazing Flower Dome and the Cloud Forest. The Flower Dome is the world’s largest glass greenhouse offering visitors the opportunity to view several different gardens, including an olive grove and a beautiful floral display that changes periodically. It also has a bistro where guests can sit and enjoy the beauty surrounding them. The Cloud Forest is a higher elevation offering mountain views and gardens that will traditionally be found in tropical temperatures. It also features the world’s tallest indoor waterfall. Guests get to walk through the mist-filled Cloud Walk on their journey.

The New Jewel Changi Airport Expansion

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We also visited the newly opened expansion at the Changi Airport called the Jewel. It is a major lifestyle hub with outstanding shopping and dining options. On top of the shopping and dining fun, the Jewel also follows Singapore garden concepts by including a lush forest valley and a waterfall. Get your camera ready when you visit because experts are predicting this will be one of the most Instagrammed spots in the world.

Eat and Eat Some More at Singapore Hawker Centres

One of the main reasons to visit Singapore is to eat. Singapore is foodie heaven. As a tourist, you absolutely must visit the Singapore Hawker Centres, such as the popular Maxwell Food Hawker Centre Market, which are basically like food courts offering guests tons of food options at decent prices. My husband and I pretty much spent our entire time in Singapore eating and talking about food. It was wonderful!

When you visit, be sure to try:

Tian Tian Hainanese Chicken - Be prepared to wait to eat here as it is Michelin star-rated. Worth the wait!

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Rojak, Popiah & Cockle – A popular stall offering popiah (fresh spring rolls) and rojak (a crazy delicious tropical fruit and vegetable salad)

Authentic Mun Chee Kee King of Pig's Organ Soup – If you choose to try one of the most popular dishes in Singapore (pig organ soup), you must get it from here!

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Nan Hwa Chang Fish Head Steamboat – One of the oldest fish head steamboat shops in Singapore is another must-visit on your eat-your-way-around-Singapore adventure.

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Kams Roast Goose – When we visited the Jewel at the Changi Airport, we tried the roast goose, and it was amazing! It is a Michelin Star restaurant for a reason!

Ah Chew Dessert – No trip to Singapore is complete without a visit to Ah Chew Dessert. Yum!

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The Must-Have Dish While Visiting Singapore

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While we ate and ate and ate, I have to say the best Singapore dish we had was the classic chili crab at Long Beach Seafood. This seafood dish is stir-fried crab coated in a delicious and savory chili sauce. I’m still thinking about it.

Have I made you hungry? Sorry! Now, I’m off to start finding NYC spots where I can find similar tasting dishes. Wish me luck!

Stay Tuned for Even More Details About My Visit to Singapore!

How I Make Kid-Free Travel Easier for Everyone

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It’s no secret that I love to travel or that I love my girls. It is also not a secret that I strongly believe parents should take kid-free vacations. You can read all my reasons why I am so pro kid-free vacations here. However, I realized that while I have told my readers the importance of heading away with their spouse and leaving the kids behind that I haven’t explained what I do to make it easier.

Mom friends, I am here today to make it easier for you to leave the kids at home. Whether you are worried about the logistics or the guilt, there are a few things you can do that will instantly make you and your kids feel better about your upcoming kid-free vacay.

I Leave Them with People I Trust

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First things first – I always leave my girls with people that I trust. Who these people are is going to be different for everyone, but here are some things that I think make it easier.

  1. Choose people your kids know. It is even better if you choose people your kids love.

  2. These people should know your kids. They should know your kids’ routine and their quirks.

  3. Pick people who will keep them safe but will also help them cope with you being away by filling their days with fun and happiness.

I Prepare Them in Advance

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My girls are old enough now that I can prepare them in advance for an upcoming trip. For example, I put it on the family calendar so they can countdown. I tell them where they will be staying and who they will be staying with. I also tell them the basics of where I am going and how they can reach me if they need me.

I Keep in Touch

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Today’s technology makes it so easy to stay in touch while you are away. You can even keep in touch while you are in the middle of the sea on a cruise! I know some parents worry that if their kids talk to them while they are away, then they will get more upset. This hasn’t been the case for our family. We call them and use video chat to stay in touch. We also send and receive pictures from their caregivers the entire time we are gone.

PS. A good cell phone call makes all the difference –, especially for international travel!

I Leave Them Notes

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I also like to leave my daughters little notes in their luggage for the days while I am away. Just like how I will leave a note in their lunchboxes, these little notes are sweet reminders that mommy is thinking of them even while I am away.

I Buy Them Souvenirs

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Like most moms, when I am away from my girls, I spend countless minutes of my time away thinking of them, looking at pictures on my phone of them, and shopping for them! How can I not, right?! It makes my heart happy to find gifts I know my girls will love while I am away and helps me when I am missing them.

What tricks do you have making travel without kids easier? Let me know in the comments!

Why You Should Take a Vacation Without Your Kids At Least Once a Year

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I’m here today to give you permission to do something that might feel a little crazy. Moms, you need to take a vacation. And not just any vacation. You need to take a kid-free vacation at least once a year.

I’ve heard the excuses. You are too busy. It just isn’t possible to find childcare. You would feel guilty. Enough with the excuses! I’m not saying you have to go somewhere for an entire week or spend a ton of money. But hey, if you can pull that off, go right ahead and don’t feel guilty.

Your kids will survive without you for a couple of days. Plus, you will come back refreshed and rejuvenated and ready to do all the mom stuff without complaint. Think about it. Don’t you always feel a little bit better when you get some downtime? Now just imagine if that downtime was more than fifteen minutes of privacy in your bathroom. You’d be the best mom ever!

Now that we’ve got the whole guilt issue out of the way, let’s talk about all the reasons you should take a vacation without your kids.

To Remember Who You Are

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Being a mom is the best job in the world. But, once upon a time, you were more than “just mom.” Do you remember that lady? While being a mom is going to be your main priority when you are with your kids, something magical happens when you step out of that role for a couple of days. The women you were slowly starts to reemerge!

To Reconnect with Others

For those of you who are married with kids, you no doubt understand the importance of having alone time with your spouse. It is so important to spend time with your spouse without kids to reconnect. While date nights are wonderful, you should also try to sneak away together for a weekend. After 14 years together, I appreciate time away with my man even more.

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Along these same lines, if there is any way possible you can pull off taking a girls trip each year – do it! Getting away with your girlfriends kid-free is good for the soul – and even better for your sanity. Like they say, sometimes talking with our girlfriends is all the therapy we need.

To Have Some Real Rest

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Even though my girls are well past the stage of waking up throughout the night, I still feel like I don’t get as much sleep as I would like. It’s probably because like most moms, my senses are always on alert when my girls are nearby. But, when I travel without my kids, my brain gets a little break, and I can rest easy.

To Have Someone Take Care of You for a Change

Moms are always taking care of others and putting someone else’s needs above their own. I cook, I clean, I work, I tuck my babies in each night, and on and on. It is so nice to stay at a luxury hotel where I don’t have to lift a finger unless I want to. Room service? Maid service? Turn down service? Yes, please!

You Deserve It!

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Being a mom is a tiring, demanding job. You deserve a break! While working moms get vacation days and sick days, your mom job does not come with those off days. That’s why it is so important for you to create those days yourself without feeling guilty about it. We all need time to ourselves to refresh. Without a vacation, employees know their workers will burn out and lose productivity. The same thing goes for parents. Invest in yourself and avoid mom burn out.

Remember, Absence Makes the Heart Grow Fonder

Your kids are not going to forget about you while you are away. Instead, it is likely they will miss you and be overjoyed when you are reunited. And, you know what? You will appreciate all their little idiosyncrasies even more.