On March 10th, I checked out of my London apartment to head for King's Cross station to see the infamous Harry Potter 9-3/4 platform. (I have to say that London's train system is pretty easy to follow and I felt very safe on it...no issues at all.) I arrived at the St Pancras International / King's Cross Underground station, then proceeded over to King's Cross (it's weird, it's the same underground/tube station, but separate train stations). Someone from the US was kind enough to take my picture with a Gryffindor scarf. If you know me, you know I'm a big kid at heart and love all the Harry Potter movies. I even went to Universal Studios Orlando--by myself--when they first opened the Wizarding World of Harry Potter in 2010. Full transparency, I was also out there for the Disney World International wine and food festival. I then headed over to st. Pancras International to figure out how to find my train to Paris. St. Pancras is a bit intimida...

On Thursday, March 8, I had originally planned to do an all day tour of Windsor, Stonehenge, Bath and Lacock (pronounced 'lay-cock,' there's a joke in there somewhere), but due to low demand, it was moved to Friday. So I swapped my Thurs and Fri plans and did the hop on hop off bus tour in London on Thurs. I took two different lines and got in all the major highlights, including taking my first official pic with my Seahawks 12 flag in front of Buckingham Palace (**Tip: find legit tourists and ask to take their pics in exchange for taking yours). It was partly cloudy and a bit chilly and windy, but I opted to sit on the top open part of the busses anyway, which was great for pictures, but I'm now fighting a cold (yes, I know the cold is a virus, but I'm sure it didn't help.) Had a nice fish and chips lunch across from the Tower of London and actually drank beer! (If you know me, you know I never drink beer, so this is a rareity). I figured....

I travel a lot for work, and know how to travel light and get through security pretty efficiently, especially since I have TSA precheck. However, on my trip to London yesterday, I learned something new and also a hard lesson on keeping an eye on my belongings more closely as I go through security (unless the line is completely backed up due to TSA's sheer stupidity).  Apparently, those RFID sleeves you put your credit cards into contain some sort of metal that sets off security alarms--I thought they were just some type of plastic! I had my money belt on, which contained several of these and we couldn't figure out why i kept setting off the alarm! I kept taking things off....shoes, belt, etc.--felt like I was undressing in front of strangers--and must have gone through the screener 4 times. So effing annoying! Once I got through and headed toward my gate, I realized my house keys were missing. Of course, panic set in immediately. To make matters worse, I was on the other...

So...you think you've got a solid packing list drafted for your upcoming vacation? That's great, but for a truly organized trip, below are some handy extras you may want to consider, just in case. Now, I know this may sound pretty anal-retentive (I'm a list person), and you have to be flexible when traveling because 'shit happens,' but better to be prepared than not. Hope you find this helpful! Prep list: 30-60-90 days ahead Ensure you have a Passport and I highly recommend getting TSA PreCheck/Global Entry too Get travel insurance; also confirm what your credit card and current medical insurance already cover Things to buy: bare necessities only--there's so much you can buy in Europe Vaccinations to get (check https://www.vaccines.gov/who_and_when/travel/index.html to see what you need based on where you're going)  Call your bank/s and credit card/s if traveling internationally Book your lodging, book your tours (but allow some free time!) Print a...

Forget about the impacts of 9/11 and the recession, I still feel like airlines are sticking it to the customer. Cramped seating so they can make a few extra bucks, no free food (except junk), low grade beverages, negative attitudes, baggage fees, lost bags, delayed bags, supply/demand price gouging...I could go on. But what's a passenger to do about it? Simple--TALK ABOUT IT. Share your experience not only with the offending airline, but warn other passengers too. If you aren't already sharing your stories about flying experiences on social media, now is the time to start. We've all seen the news coverage of the larger issues, like people with reserved seats being dragged off planes, disgruntled passengers that airlines dismiss because they are frequent flyers, etc. But the more we all just 'sit and take it' in terms of the lesser, but still negative, aspects of customer service, the more airlines get away with it. Remember, the airlines are competing with each ...

So much is missed when we take naps on flights. The U.S. has some gorgeous spots! I snapped a few of these on recent flights between Portland, OR and Chicago. Tip: Always keep your phone on airplane mode rather than turned off so you're ready when the opportunity arises!

General packing tips: Put all liquids and gels in Ziploc bags; if using TSA precheck, don't sweat the 1 bag requirement--I usually have 2-3 and they never care Get travel size items at Target vs. drugstore (cheaper) Always wear sneakers vs. flip flops, heels or sandals for air travel. If sh*t goes down, your feet are protected and you can move more quickly. Plus, better for running through airport Bring socks if you don't have TSA Precheck. Nothing grosser than going barefoot on public floors. Keep anything that could leak in a Ziploc bag The below referenced suitcase and its contents fit in the overhead for carry on Pre-plan your outfits, don't just bring random tops and bottoms-- unless they are so neutral in color that they will all match each other Bring just enough of the below for the amount of days in your trip. You can always buy more at your destination if needed. SUITCASE: Belt Blow dryer (unless hotel has one—check web site) Bottoms (pants,...

I don't know too many people who truly enjoy work trips. Sure, there are nice dinners, receptions, team building events, etc., but it takes you away from your comfy routine, family, pets, etc. and can be exhausting. Of course, if you're young and single, it's probably still fun. Flying is the biggest pain here. While it used to be exciting and fun to fly, it often feels more like a hassle. Unless you know a few secrets. Okay, they aren't really 'secrets', but I don't understand why more people aren't taking advantage of them. These are especially helpful for people who haven't flown in a while and got out of the routine. Enjoy! Get TSA Precheck already! : If you haven't applied for this yet, what's stopping you? It's $85 for 5 years. That means, for 5 years, you get to skip the long line, you don't have to take off your shoes/disrobe and you get through security a hell of a lot faster. Apply now at  https://universalenroll.dhs.go...