Travel Gems for March 8th-12th

Each Monday through Friday, a Travel Gem of the Day will be posted at SmartWomenTravelers.com. These Travel Gems are tips that will help a traveler travel smarter, safer, handle home issues, be prepared and enjoy their journeys.

Here are last week’s Travel Gems:

Monday Mar. 8th– When looking for the best deal at a hotel, ask for the concierge floor or bed and breakfast rate. While it may be $50 more a night or so, it will include breakfast, perhaps a light dinner and complimentary water and soft drinks. When traveling with a spouse or children, this can save a lot in meals and beverages.

Tuesday Mar. 9th– Sleeping in a hotel room can be tough. I’ve found a great way to relax and fall asleep to the scent of lavender tucked into my pillow case. Lavender is said to be a great natural remedy for calming nerves and helping to ease you into a sound sleep and the scent is wonderful!  This is why a few hotels give out lavender spray upon check-in.

Get your very own lavender sachet at Zen’s Purple Garden. Slip it inside your pillow case and feel the sense of calm when your head hits the pillow. Upon waking, scrunch it up and place it back in its travel-safe container. Use it again and again and again. It’s now part of my travel must-have’s. You’ll want to use it at home as well.

Wednesday Mar. 10th– I keep learning this the hard way–When you first get into a rental car, find out where these key items are turned on and off:I keep learning this the hard way–When you first get into a rental car, find out where these key items are turned on and off:

• Door locks
• Headlights
• Wipers (front and back)
• Emergency lights
• Emergency brake

It is very unsafe to be fumbling around the dashboard trying to find out where to turn on the headlights when it becomes dark as you are driving. And it is distracting to your driving to be turning on the wipers accidentally and not know how to turn them off.  I know … I had to find the wipers today and I fumbled around trying to figure out where to turn on the back window’s wiper.

Thursday Mar. 11th– When leaving your hotel to go for a run, wear a wristband, ankle band or shoe pouch that contains your name, mobile phone and contact information. A great source for these products is at RoadID.com.

Friday Mar. 12th– Leaving your kids at home while you travel? Be sure to provide a list of  medical contacts for their caregiver.Leaving your kids at home while you travel? Be sure to provide a list of  medical contacts for their caregiver.

If you would like a favorite travel tip of yours to be included in the Travel Gem of the Day, email your tip, name and website totravelgem@smartwomentravelers.com.