Perfect Last Minute Travel Guide

I leave for Tokyo in four days! I honestly don't have time to do tons of research on my destinations, but I also want to have many great experiences during my five days in Tokyo. I discovered a fantastic travel guide that I must share with you! It's called "Five Great Days in Tokyo- A Walking Guide!" I discovered it while browsing the bookstore from my Kindle and downloaded it for less than $5 and in less than 30 seconds. This book is fantastic. It's written by an American who is married to a Japanese man and spent 12 years living in Tokyo. You could literally open this book on your first day in Tokyo and not have to do any preplanning! It outlines itineraries for each of five days that focus on different aspects of Japanese culture: food, history, art, architecture, rural life, etc. It also shows you the kanji (Japanese language characters) that you should be looking for on a restaurant sign or subway route so you can navigate without knowing any Japanese. The book gives you enough background on each activity so that it is meaningful, but not so much history that you feel like you have homework to do beforehand. I read the book in about 20 minutes and thoroughly enjoyed it. Before, I was overwhelmed with how to plan my five days in Tokyo, but now I am confident that I will have a great time and not feel like I have missed anything important. One of the days, I will take a high speed train out of Tokyo to experience a traditional Japanese village and see Mt. Fuji. I am so excited! I also took Alecia's advice and downloaded the book to the Kindle app on my iPhone as well, so that I can watch for the kanji characters as I walk down the street without having my Kindle out of my bag. Next thing on my to-do list is to figure out what to do in Shanghai! If only there were a book called "Two Great Days in Shanghai!"

INTL101: Passports & Visas Oh My!

Even though I have a U.S. passport, that won't gain me entry to anywhere I choose. Each country has it's own entry requirements and you must know them before you travel. For example, U.S. citizens traveling to Australia must apply for an ETA (Electronic Travel Authorization) one month before you travel, China requires a visa that can only be obtained via the Chinese Embassy, and Japan allows anyone to visit for 90 days without prior authorization. How does one keep track of all these requirements? A great travel resource is the website for the United States State Department. Here you will find international entry and exit requirements, travel advisories, information on terrorist activity, and a history of the relationship the U.S. has had with that nation. It is also full of information you need to know to avoid an unintended legal problem with a foreign nation. For example, it says that in China, taking photos of military buildings is grounds for arrest. Additionally, many nations will not allow you to enter or exit if your passport is set to expire within 6 months, even if your return trip is within that window. So, before you go, check out www.state.gov for important info.

Last-Minute Asian Getaway

I am about to discover just how prepared or unprepared I really am. I was just offered the opportunity to travel to Tokyo and Shanghai for 10 days with most of the expenses paid! The only catch is that I leave next week!!! It is going to be a challenge to manage work and other obligations while I am gone, but I just couldn't say no to this fabulous opportunity! I have 7 days to figure out how to spend my time in these two fabulous cities! I will keep you posted along the way. Post to the comments if you have been to Shanghai or Tokyo and your favorite experiences there. Most of the days I am there I will be exploring on my own. What are your travel tips for traveling alone?

Travel Tip: Be Prepared

Life is unpredictable and it pays to be prepared. Keep your toiletry bag packed with all the essentials. When you return from a trip and are unpacking, make it a habit of refilling anything that has been used up during the trip so you are ready for next time. Also, keep all of your travel essentials in one convenient location so you can easily access them. I keep my toiletry bag, noise-canceling headphones (airplane essential) and travel pillow in a box underneath my bed. You never know when a tragic (or wonderful) event would require you to leave town unexpectedly. Last year I received a phone call at 5am saying that my Grandmother was gravely ill and I needed to get to her very quickly. Because I was prepared, I was able to get to the airport in under an hour. I was very distressed and had my suitcase not been mostly packed already, I would not have been able to make decisions about what to pack and would not have made it so quickly. Being prepared isn't only beneficial in the sad times, but in the happy ones as well! With a mostly packed suitcase and a basic checklist, you could jet off to the Caribbean at a moments notice to take advantage of a super great last minute deal!
Life is unpredictable and it pays to be prepared. Keep your toiletry bag packed with all the essentials. When you return from a trip and are unpacking, make it a habit of refilling anything that has been used up during the trip so you are ready for next time. Also, keep all of your travel essentials in one convenient location so you can easily access them. I keep my toiletry bag, noise-canceling headphones (airplane essential) and travel pillow in a box underneath my bed. You never know when a tragic (or wonderful) event would require you to leave town unexpectedly. Last year I received a phone call at 5am saying that my Grandmother was gravely ill and I needed to get to her very quickly. Because I was prepared, I was able to get to the airport in under an hour. I was very distressed and had my suitcase not been mostly packed already, I would not have been able to make decisions about what to pack and would not have made it so quickly. Being prepared isn't only beneficial in the sad times, but in the happy ones as well! With a mostly packed suitcase and a basic checklist, you could jet off to the Caribbean at a moments notice to take advantage of a super great last minute deal!

Must Have: Convertible Bag

One bag to hold all your junk by day that becomes a tiny clutch by night? It's true! The Ibiza bag from Hayden Harnett has been on my wishlist for several years. It's a great work bag or travel bag because it's huge, has a separate compartment for a laptop (or other stuff) and can be configured and carried in no fewer than six ways! This bag is perfect to help you limit yourself to carry-on bags and would count as your "personal item" to accompany your carry-on suitcase. The large size is what you need to carry the flight essentials like water bottle, sweater, books, headphones, etc but when you arrive at your destination and no longer need such a huge bag, it can shrink to a more manageable size. Perhaps this bag remained on my wish list because of the price. A $200 price tag can definitely make me think two or three or four times about a purchase. But, can you imagine my excitement the day I discovered that Hayden Harnett created a line of bags for Target and made an almost exact replica of the Ibiza tote for less than $50?!? That bag, the flight tote, is now on clearance for $25! Snatch one up while you still can and let me know what you think!

Multitasker Monday: Kindle 2

Have you heard of the Kindle? It's an electronic reading device. As a traveler or a person with a mobile lifestyle, why should you get one? The obvious benefit of this device is the fact that it can hold thousands of books, catering to your every literary whim within 60 seconds and preventing boredome for at least another millenium. Did I mention that it only weighs 10 ounces and is less than a half inch thick? The less obvious reasons are where this device shines as my absolute favorite travel companion.

Kindle as guidebook
Have you ever felt awkward walking around a new city with a guidebook in hand? Conceal your tourist status by downloading a guidebook to your Kindle. Guidebooks are available from Lonely Planet, Frommers, and more. They are also far less expensive than a paperback version of the same book.

Kindle as travel insurance
Did you know that your Kindle has an email address? Forward your travel itineraries and confirmation documents to yourname@kindle.com and all of your travel documents will be wirelessly delivered to you Kindle to refer to when the hotel clerk tells you he can't find your reservation.

Kindle as Teacher
Have you ever been standing in front of an interesting building, statue or other potentially significant landmark and wished you knew why this place was so significant? Instead of pretending your are just as interested as all of the other tourists with cameras poised, use Wikipedia on your Kindle to tell you the answer. The experience of viewing the Mona Lisa is much more valuable if you know why it was painted and its affect on the art world.

Kindle as tour guide
The Kindle 2 has a "text-to-speech" feature that will read out loud any book on your Kindle. Plug in some headphones, open up your guidebook, and let the Kindle be your guide as you explore your destination. The bonus: you actually get to see your destination instead of staring down at the pages of a book (or screen).

Post your Kindle tips and questions in the comments.

Travel Gear: Cute Cosmetics Bag

My friend Rachel is off to Disneyland for her honeymoon and she writes, I am looking for a cute, small and functional cosmetic bag to hold basic toiletries for a one week trip. What should I get?
I LOVE this question! I am always on the hunt for the perfect cosmetics bag because having the right products on a trip can help you to feel more comfortable and confident, helping you achieve the goal of this blog: to travel with style, poise, and grace. On the other hand, they can also take up a lot of space and weight, detracting from your stress free trip. It can be difficult to find one bag that meets all of Rachel's criteria but I am up for the challenge. Most "functional" bags are basic black or just plain ugly and the really cute ones are either teeny tiny or enormous (would you want to put your entire shower in a bag?). Rachel is looking for a bag to hold her shower items (shampoo, face wash, etc) but some of these bags could hold some beauty products as well.

Here are a few with varying price points and features to choose from. I really like my cosmetics bags to have a clear panel to view all of my items so it is easy to find what I am looking for, and all of these bags have mostly clear pockets. Each pocket is no more than 1.5-2 in thick to allow for bottles and products to be viewed easily without having to pack bottles in layers.

Jane Marvel Hanging Cosmetics Bag
I love this bag because it is one of the few hanging cosmetics bags that is actually cute! It comes in so many fun colors and patterns! I wish all of my cosmetics bags were hanging bags. When counter space is tight, a hanging bag is a savior. This one also has several smaller pockets for accessories, jewelry, etc. Everything is easily viewed while hanging on the back or your hotel bathroom door. The largest pocket is also removable which would most likely be suitable for carrying your liquid toiletries through airport security. You would have to measure to be sure. At only $42 for this beautiful bag, it is really quite reasonable! This bag is so cute that I think I might buy one and let you know!

Update: I just found this bag on clearance for $8 so I will definitely be ordering it and you should to! They even have matching totes and duffels for 50% off!

Jimeale 704 (shown)
These bags are classy and gorgeous. This one comes with a quart-size clear bag for your liquids and two other removable bags for incidentals. It's lined so it easily wipes clean and prevents leaks from spreading outside the bag into your suitcase.

Sonia Kashuk Foldover Cosmetic Bag
This bag is the smallest and the cheapest of the bunch. It holds bottles about 3 inches tall, when standing up in the bag, and larger ones when turned sideways. I have this bag and with a lot of planning I can get all of my toiletries and beauty items in it for a one week trip. This is quite a feat and will probably be covered in another post. This bag can sometimes be found in Target stores, but ordering online is your best bet to a clean one in the pattern you want.

If you have a question for the Traveling Diva, email thetravelingdiva[at]gmail.com

Multitasker Monday: Resealable Plastic Bags

While you probably know that quart size resealable plastic bags are perfect for carrying 3oz bottles of your favorite toiletry items, did you know that they are useful for many other travel needs? I have a friend who carries a stash of both the quart and gallon size in the front pocket of his carry-on bag, and after reading this post, you might want to also!

Here are just a few of my favorite uses for these wonderful little bags.

• Place shoes inside bags to keep their dirt from from your clothes. Use freezer bags for added durability.
• Store dirty clothes in a bag until you get home.
• Use a gallon size bag as a portable washing machine for dirty clothes. Put undies or tees into a bag. Add a drop or two of laundry soap (or shampoo), fill with water about two-thirds of the way full, seal the bag and shake, shake, shake! Rinse and hang dry on shower rod. If you plan on washing more (or larger) clothing items, be sure to pack a small garbage bag instead. You don't have to worry about your sink not being clean or not sealing off and your clothes get cleaner because they get your own special spin cycle!

What are your favorite uses for resealable bags?

Heading Down Under

I just made arrangements for my next adventure! I am especially excited because this will be a completely new experience for me. I am going to Australia! A friend recently introduced me to TravelZoo, an email newsletter showcasing fabulous travel deals from your city. When I say fabulous, I mean really really fabulous! Through this site, I bought tickets from San Francisco to Sydney for $299! I can't wait! I have no idea what I will do or see in Australia but I have until September to figure that out. I will keep you posted as my plans progress. Have you been to Australia? Post your suggestions in the comments.

Paris in April

My friend is headed to Paris in April and would like some fashion advice. She writes...

I'm kind of intimidated about going overseas for the first time, especially being that I am used to stay-at-home mom wardrobe now. :) 

I know they don't wear jeans, and dress up a bit more.

This is so exciting for me because it was almost two years ago when EmilyStyle helped me prepare for my most recent trip to France!

A trip like this is the perfect excuse to update your wardrobe! The Parisian’s wardrobe is pretty much monochrome with few color accents. When traveling, I always recommend choosing a basic color palette so that all your pieces and accessories can mix and match together. In this case, black is perfect! This wardrobe features a base of black/white/grey with accents of purple and blues. I have also punched things up a bit with more bold accessories. Paris in April can vary from brisk and rainy to warm and sunny so pack thin layers that can be mixed and matched. This wardrobe contains three pairs of shoes, two pairs of pants, one dress and several tops to mix and match into at least 6 complete outfits.

Denim
While denim isn’t as common in France, don’t rule it out all together. It never hurts to have a classic pair of wide leg trouser jeans that are ultra slimming and can be dressed up or down. I recommend spending a little extra to get a pair of premium denim, with high quality material and an excellent fit. My current fav brand of denim is J Brand because the fit is amazing, they come in fits and styles for every body type, and they are minimally branded so they don’t stand out as being the “it” brand from last season, or any season for that matter. You definitely won’t look out of place in the city of lights wearing either of these fabulous pairs.

Trousers
A grey pair of seasonless wool trousers will serve you well. This pair is effortless chic and looks fabulous with the yellow flats! You could also go with a lighter grey pant or a refined cotton chino as well.

Tops
Pack lightweight silk tops like this and this with basic cardigans and pull over sweaters. Pick up a few pretty tees and tanks to layer underneath other tops. Those can also be washed easily in a hotel room sink, if necessary! Don't forget basic white! It goes with everything!

Shoes
Try not to pack more than three pairs of shoes: flats, heels, and sneakers. These yellow flats are just adorable, but you could also go with a more conservative grey pair of mary janes. Clarks makes some really cute pumps with a stacked heel and extra cushioning for lots of walking. For a sneaker, try to pick something that doesn't scream "athletic shoe" so that on the day when your feet are dog tired, you can throw on the sneakers and keep on going. These from Simple are a decent pair.

Accessories
A cute scarf or cashmere wrap will make any outfit feel more complete and a wrap will give you the option of added warmth in the evening.

Thin gold chains a nice delicate way to complete an outfit and this one from Forever21 is cute and a bargain price!

Get a durable bag with zipper closure that you can tuck under your arm (and away from prying hands) that is big enough to handle your daily essentials plus a water bottle, guidebook, camera, sweater, and a snack.

This trench coat is so chic that it will stop traffic!

Stay dry underneath this sunny umbrella.

Travel Wardrobe Staple: The Wrap Dress

The wrap dress was made famous by legendary Diane von Furstenberg in 1973 and the dresses just don't go out of style. They are also the perfect garment to pack for just about any trip. While they come in a variety of materials from silk to wool, the best for traveling are the ones made of synthetic materials. They just don't wrinkle and they wash easily in a hotel room sink. The wrap dress, especially a black one, is so versatile that it can move from day to night or from sight seeing to a business meeting with ease. You can dress them up or dress them down, depending on your needs. This classic dress flatters nearly every figure and covers a multitude of sins. While the DVF wrap dresses are gorgeous, the one shown is the classic Julian, there are also more economical options like this one from Macys. Once you find one you love, you won't want to leave home without it!

Packing tips from Real Simple

This short video from the Early Show from a couple of years ago has some great and simple tips for simplifying your packing and sticking to a 22" suitcase. While that suitcase is too big to carry on an international flight, the tips are applicable for any size. My favorite tips are rolling your clothes (I do this and it definitely keeps wrinkles at bay) and utilizing dry cleaner bags to separate clothes from the rest of your bag.

Multitasker Mondays: Hydrotint Duo

One important way to minimize what you pack so it fits into a carry-on bag is to use products that serve more than one purpose. Multitasker Mondays will feature a tip or product that does just that. I already shared with you one of my all time favorite multitasking products, Lotion-to-Go, an all purpose moisturizer. Today's product is more of a beauty product. We all want to look great, even if we are tired and jet lagged and this product works wonders. The Pixi Hydrotint Duo is five products in one tiny package. The main tube contains moisturizer that doubles as a foundation because of its subtle tint, sunscreen with SPF 20, and has anti-wrinkle ingredients too! The top is a solid lip and cheek tint and together, they can help you look refreshed and glowing in minutes. Pack this product with mascara and a pot of cream shadow and you have a complete face routine in very little space! Pixi is the fabulous London-based cosmetics company recently made famous in the U.S. because their new collection for Target. Unfortunately this product isn't a part of their Target collection, but you can get it on Amazon here.

Traveling Commandment #1 - Never Check Luggage

After many years of traveling all over the world and carefully watching and interviewing other travelers, I have come with a list of "Traveling Commandments" to share with you that I hope will help you enjoy traveling more and reduce much of the hassle. The Traveling Diva's first commandment is to never (or almost never) check luggage with an airline. Here are just a few of the reasons why you should choose to limit yourself to carry-on luggage only.

* You can check into your flight from home and head right to your gate on arrival at the airport, which means you spend less time at the airport
* If one of your flight segments is delayed or canceled, it's much easier for a gate agent to quickly book you on another flight if you haven’t already checked luggage
* The airline can't lose your bag!
* Many airlines now charge up to over $100 for checking a bag
* Your bag is in your control at all times, eliminating the risk of an airport worker with sticky fingers (this is an especially big problem in foreign countries)
* If you get delayed at an airport overnight, airlines will frequently not enable you to retrieve checked luggage, leaving you without the basic comforts like clothes, toiletries, etc.
* When you arrive at your destination, you don't have to waste time at baggage claim
* You can move more quickly with less (and the right kind of) luggage, which gives you more flexibility for your whole trip
* Your sanity

For trips one week or less, this is a no brainer. DON’T CHECK LUGGAGE! If you are wondering how on earth you can cram all of your stuff into a carry on suitcase, never fear, future posts will cover just that. You will wonder why you ever wanted to carry anything bigger! Packing for trips greater than one week in length will be covered in a future post. Traveling light is one of the nicest things you can do for yourself in order to enjoy your trip more and be better prepared for the bumps in the road, and that's what this blog is all about!

INTL 101: Identification

These days, no matter where you go out side the continuous 48 states, you will most likely need a passport. Almost all cruises now require them, and even Canada too. One of the worst things that can happen to you on your trip is to have your passport lost or stolen. To prevent being stuck in a foreign country because you lost your ID and have to hang out at the U.S. Embassy for days, follow this tip...

Photocopy your passport and keep copies in several places like your purse, suitcase, and with a friend back home. This way, you have some identification to facilitate the process of getting your ID back in case of the worst. If possible, leave your passport in your hotel safe during the day and carry only the copy. Another option is to take a photo of the passport with your digital camera and keep digital copies (as well as paper copies) in your email or some other online service that you can get to from anywhere in the world. You can even take a photo with your camera phone as long as the camera is good enough to make the text on your passport clear and readable. If your camera phone doesn't take excellent photos (mine doesn't), you can always sync the photo from your computer to your phone or email it to your phone, depending on your phone's capabilities. Bottom line- don't leave home without copies of your passport!

Lotion-to-Go

One way to tackle your travels (or just simply your day) with composure is to make yourself more comfortable. My favorite go-to product is an all natural lotion stick that has so many wonderful uses. I initially bought it because I wanted a hand cream to carry that was solid so I didn't have to declare it as I went through airport security. I did not expect to like it this much but it's fantastic! I use it a lot on my hands to moisturize them after I wash and it is exceptionally moisturizing. It also doesn't leave a greasy residue to rub off on whatever I touch next. It stays put and feels great. You simply glide the stick all over your hands and then rub our hands together. The friction from your hands causes the lotion to melt a little and spread all over your hands. Lotion-to-Go has more uses than I can count, but this is what I (or my friends) have used it for...

- hands

- cuticles

- fly aways

- blisters

- rubbing on heels or toes to keep you from getting blisters with new shoes

- baby bottoms

- chapped lips

- stuck zippers

- crazy eyebrows

- blending makeup

It comes in several scents (or unscented) but my favorite is lavender. It's so relaxing that sometimes I rub it on my hands simply to inhale! You will be amazed how much better you feel after just smelling this stuff! Best of all, it's only about $10 and you can pick it up at most Whole Foods. If you have tried it and have more uses for it, please let me know in the comments.

INTL 101: Carry-On Luggage

Carry-on bag requirements have gotten quite ridiculous in recent years. You used to be able to carry on just about anything, as long as you could physically carry it. These days, the number and size of bags continues to decrease and the contents of your bags are under increasing scrutiny. Internationally, the requirements are quite different. In the U.S. suitcases listed as 22" like in the first photo, are considered to be "airline-approved" for its ability to fit in the overhead bin of most commercial plans. In Europe and elsewhere in the world, showing up to a plane gate with a bag like that will get you a long, well manicured finger waved in  your face and a repeated "NO!" in a french accent. (At least it did for me!) In most countries outside the U.S. the standard is 19" or 20" for a carry-on suitcase. The pink suitcase in the photo is the type you will mostly find in Europe. The bags are almost always hard sided, which means you really can't over stuff them as I like to do on my suitcases. The upside to this limitation is that the 19" hard sided suitcases come in tons of fabulous bright colors and patterns. They also frequently have four small "spinner" wheels that can rotate 360˚ instead of two fixed wheels. This allows for much more maneuverability when racing through a eurorail station and makes the bags more stable when standing so they aren't constantly falling over is your bag is unbalanced (which mine always does). Ebags has a special section of their website dedicated to international carry-on bags and the one shown is currently only $80. If you sign up for their email list, they frequently email discount coupons for 20% off. 

In future posts, I will talk about why it's important to pack everything as a carry-on and to not check luggage, if at all possible. I will also cover how you can pack for a week in a small suitcase like this and still look fabulous!

Introducing...

Welcome to The Traveling Diva! The Traveling Diva is a labor of love and many years in the making. My passion for travel, organization and fashion have all lead up to this day and I am so excited to introduce you to this new resource for you!

Traveling these days can be incredibly stressful and emerging at your destination with a smile on your face should be a new Olympic sport! Despite the delays, jet lag, tiny plane seats, terrible food, and lost luggage, we still do it! Whether you are a business traveler, adventure seeker or simply a mom zipping from school to work to soccer and back again, this site can help you excel at navigating your mobile lifestyle with comfort, style and grace.

My dear friend Kris unknowingly inspired me to finally start this blog after many years of encouragement from friends and family. Kris is preparing to make her first international trip in April when she and her husband celebrate their 10th wedding anniversary in the city of lights, PARIS!!! In honor of her, over the next few months I will be doing special posts for any new international travelers. INTL 101 will cover everything beginner travelers need to know before they head overseas. If there is a specific topic or question you would like to see covered here, please email me at thetravelingdiva@gmail.com

Welcome!