Travel Tips

Zip-Lock type bags. Again, great for wet clothing, collecting shells, rocks, sand, etc. Keeps things dry in a sudden rain, or on a canoe/raft trip. They are always handy.

KEYS Always a pain in the rear. When you go to the beach you can leave you hotel keys at the hotel, and your wallet, etc. locked in the car. But you always end up with the car keys that you don't want to leave on or under the beach blanket, but are afraid to put in you swimsuit pocket in case they would fall out in the water. We have 2 solutions for keys in that and other situations.

1. Get a small foam floating key fob like boat owners use for their boat keys, and use it for hotel/car keys.
2. Get a Key Compartment Lock like Real-Estate agents use at homes they are showing. Its a combination lock that also has a compartment that will hold a full set of keys. This can be attached to a car door handle, through the lug hole on the outside mounted spare tire of a 4wd vehicle, on a strut behind the bumper of any vehicle, or other creative places.

INSECT BITESFor years divers and others swore by using Avon's Skin-So-Soft bath oil as an insect repellent. It was never meant to be that, Avon never promoted it that way; it just worked. Now they have a actual product derived from the oil that IS an insect repellent. Whether you're from the old school or want to try the new product, we found a site that sells Avon products on-line where you can purchase either. To do so, CLICK HERE.

Going Reef Snorkeling? Vinegar will take the sting out of Jellyfish or Fire Coral stings, (aP>^M^M Going Reef Snorkeling? Vinegar will take the sting out of Jellyfish or Fire Coral stings,^M^M (and various other stings also). Include a small bottle in your first aid kit.

The 10 Commandments for Travelers

1. THOU SHALT NOT expect to find things as THOU hast at home for THOU hast left home to find things different.
2. THOU SHALT NOT take anything too seriously--for a carefree mind is the beginning of a fine vacation.
3. THOU SHALT NOT let other travelers get on THY nerves.
4. REMEMBER THOU tickets/boarding pass so THOU knowest where they are at all times, for a man without a ticket/pass is a man without a ship/plane.
5. REMEMBER to take only half the clothes you think you need and twice the amount of money.
6. REMEMBER if THOU were CREATED to stay in ONE PLACE, THOU would have been CREATED with ROOTS.
7. THOU SHALT NOT judge the people of a country by the one person with whom THOU hast had trouble.
8. THOU SHALT NOT make THYSELF too obviously American- when in ROME do as the ROMANS do.
9. REMEMBER THOU art a guest in every land and he that treateU art a guest in every land and he that treatest his host with respect shall in turn be treated as an honored guest.
10. WHILST THOU art away - look around you and you will realize when you get home - just how lucky you are.

{from David Armour}

The Tourist's Prayer

Heavenly father, look down on your humble tourists,
Who travel this earth mailing postcards,
Walking around in drip-dry underwear, carrying armfuls of souvenirs.
We beseach you that our ship/plane be on time,
That we receive our baggage at each stop,
That our overweight luggage goes unnoticed,
And that the customs officials be always understanding.
We pray that the phones work,
And that there is no message waiting from our children,
Causing us to cancel the rest of the trip.
Lead us to good inexpensive restaurants,
Where the wine is included in the price of the meal,
And the coffee is not too strong to drink.
Give us the strength to visit the museums and cathedrals,
But if we skip historical monuments to take a nap after lunch,
Have mercy on us for our flesh is weak.
Protect our wives from bargains they cannot afford;
Lead them not into temtation,
For they know not what they do or buy.
Keep our husbands from looking at hat they do or buy.
^M^M Keep our husbands from looking at foreign women
And comparing them to us.
Save our husbands from making fools of themselves in nightclubs,
And please do not forgive them their trespasses,
For they know EXACTLY what they do.
And when our journey is over,
Grant us the favor of finding someone who will look at our home movies, Listen to our stories and share our memories.
We ask in the name of the long lost tourist,
Amen.

{thanks to Art Buchwald and David Armour}