Would you take a flight from Target?

I had a dream that Target had its own airline.

Planes would land and pull right up to the airport level of the store. It all had that stylized, white-on-white aesthetic like something from their t.v. ads.

Example’s of Target’s stylized branding. — Ad images via Target.

They also offered petsitting. So you could drop your dog off for boarding and then go upstairs to board a plane.

Which is what we had planned to do in the dream. However, when we looked past the trendy waiting room furniture, we saw that the “kennels” were barely bigger than the dogs. They looked more like mesh organizer cubbies that belonged on sale in late August with the rest of the dorm room essentials.

Image collage of a couch, side table, dog on a mat, and a metal mesh file box. — Product images via Target.

We could not leave Quijote in such cramped quarters. I started scrambling to find somewhere else for him to stay and trying to figure out how we could take him to another place and still get back to Target in time to catch our flight…

Have I mentioned that I had this dream as we were getting ready to fly to Chicago and leave Quijote overnight for the first time? And that I knew we’d have to take him to the real-life boarding place first thing in the morning (and I’m not great at mornings) and then rush to the airport?

Yeah, I was anxious about how it would go.

Dog asleep on clothing. — Quijote helpfully napping on top of clothing I’m trying to pack.

In reality, however, Quijote stayed at his regular doggie daycare spot and did really well. Phillip and I made it to Chicago.

And, so far, Target is not in the airline business.

I guess travel anxiety can take your mind some wild places.

April 27, 2017April 27, 2017

6 Travel Tips for Non-Morning People

I’m not particularly good at mornings. And, as much as I like the idea of jumping out of bed and tackling the day, I don’t magically transform into an early bird when I travel.

Here are a few things I’ve found helpful.

1. Get organized for the next day.

Anything you can do the night before is one less thing you’re stumbling around trying to do in the morning.

Either shower at night or at least get your shower stuff set up. You’re not at home where everything is in a place you’re used to, so make it easier on your sleepy self. Unpack your razor and unwrap the soap. Make sure there’s a towel within reach.

I also get out everything I’m planning to wear the next day, down to my skivvies. Finding out you need to iron a top or don’t have a crucial part of your outfit is a bigger issue when you’re traveling. I’d rather not have that type of surprise in the morning.

Getting your purse/bag/daypack stuff together, as well, will help make sure things don’t get forgotten in a last-minute groggy scramble.

2. But first, coffee.

If you require morning caffeination, make sure you plan for that too. Figure out the coffeemaker in your room or pick out your tea or find a nearby coffee shop. Or if you’re particular enough to feel it’s worth the hassle, bring your own.

I like to set up the coffeepot the night before (sometimes doubling up on the coffee packets), so all I have to do when I get up is turn it on. Even if coffee comes with breakfast and even if the hotel does not have good coffee, I like having a hot cuppa right away while I get ready.

3. Plan for breakfast.

Stay somewhere that serves breakfast, find a spot nearby (check the hours ahead of time), or bring your own.

Easy BYOB(reakfast) ideas:

If there’s a fridge, you can pick up yogurt, local fruit, etc.
We like those individual oatmeal cups that you just add hot water to.
Trail mix or granola bars work pretty much anywhere. No kitchen required.

4. Time or sleep?

For me, a little extra time to ease into the day is even more beneficial than a little extra sleep. Even when it’s hard getting up, an earlier wake up time is better for me than having a rushed, hectic morning.

Maybe this is the case for you or maybe not. It’s worth paying attention to what works for you, even before your trip.

5. Set multiple alarms.

Traveling often throws off your sleep cycle and routines, which can make it even more difficult to get up.

If you really need to be somewhere at a certain time – catch a flight, make a meeting or tour time – don’t count on just one thing to wake you up. Some ideas:

Set more than one alarm on your phone, but don’t rely only on your phone.
Request a wake up call (or two).
Don’t use black-out curtains. Allow natural light in.
If you’re traveling with someone else, ask them to wake you up (or knock on your door or call you) if they haven’t seen you by a certain time.

6. Give yourself permission to sleep in.

If you have flexibility in your schedule, don’t make every morning an early one. Plan for some more relaxed days that allow a later start.

Of course, this requires some compromise if you happen to be traveling with a morning person. In that case, come up with a plan so that they’re not just going crazy in the room (and driving you crazy in the process).

Things a morning person can do while you’re sleeping (i.e. take all that annoying AM energy elsewhere!):

Go for a run, swim, or work out.
Take a walk and get familiar with the area.
Bring you breakfast.
Visit a sight (or go do something) you’re not interested in.
Start on an activity you can join when ready. (Head to the beach, begin working their way through a large museum, etc.)

As much as you can, honor your natural rhythms instead of constantly fighting them. Resting better will help you make the most out of your trip.

In case you’re curious, here’s where I took all the photos:

1. Tasting Tour in San Francisco
2 + 5. Hotel Indigo Anaheim
3. Residence Inn, Tucson (bag)
4. Candlewood Suites Yuma
6. San Remo Hotel in San Francisco
7. Hilton in San Jose
8. Downtown L.A.
9. Omni Charlottesville
10. Airbnb in Ridgway, Colorado

March 20, 2017March 20, 2017

Fingers Crossed

I’d like to think I’m not superstitious, but then something good happens, and I’m afraid I’ll jinx it.

Can I whisper this to you?

We booked tickets to Europe.

There was a killer deal on round-trip flights to Madrid at the end of August. And, while I love Spain, it’s not our final destination this time.

Neither of us have been to Italy, and I have wanted to go since I was a kid, since learning that Venice had streets made of water, since I first saw photos of Pompeii’s ruins frozen in time, since my young fascination with Renaissance art, since seeing Audrey Hepburn in Roman Holiday.

We had planned to go for our 10th anniversary, and then our 11th, and, by last year, I had pretty much lost hope.

But now there’s an international flight with our name on it.

We plan to celebrate our 13th anniversary early, take our own Roman holiday, see a boat parade in Venice, stay in the agriturismo of this couple whose podcast we listen to, wander the ruins of Pompeii, and maybe even visit the Florence that is not in Arizona.

13 has always been my lucky number.

Not that I’m superstitious.

February 27, 2017February 5, 2017

Travel Trade-Offs

There’s no such thing as an ideal trip – or even an ideal itinerary. It’s more like a series of bargains you make with yourself, hoping to get the best deal based on what you value.

Do you see more sights or spend more time at each one? Pack to be prepared for every situation or have less to carry? Visit familiar places or risk venturing somewhere new? Have the security of making reservations or the flexibility of winging it? Spend extra money to stay close to the main attraction (city center, theme park, historic site…) or spend extra time getting yourself there?

How do you tackle your travel dilemmas?

December 8, 2015

An East Coast Winter Wedding: Figuring Out What to Pack

My cousin is getting married at the end of the year in Charlottesville, Virginia, a couple hours south of Washington DC. We’ll head out there, see Charlottesville, and spend a couple days in DC.

airfare-window
For us Arizonans, it’s gonna be cold.

So, along with researching what to see/do/eat in DC and Virginia (and making a pretty serious DC/Virginia/Maryland Pinterest board), I’ve been trying to figure out how to pack light but stay warm!

Here are a few articles I’ve found helpful:

Do you have recommendations of winter DC sights or cold-weather packing tips?

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