Introduction

Whether it is to instill a sense of culture, facilitate topics of conversation, or procure a broadened intellect, millions of people visit museums around the world every year. Museums rotate their exhibits regularly to keep the sights and information contained within fresh. There are thousands of museums around the world. The next time you are packing your luggage to take a trip, which museum should be on your itinerary? Read on and find out.

Metropolitan Museum of Art – New York City

The Met is a must see on any list of museums. The best thing about this locale- once you are done with the Met, don your backpack and check out the Guggenheim, Brooklyn Museum, Whitney Museum, the American Museum of Natural History, etc.

British Museum – London

This venue has about 4 million artifacts on display and 30 miles of corridors. If your fancy is Egyptian artifacts, other than Egypt, there is no better place to visit. If you find the museum so captivating to the point where you do not want to leave for the day – you can stay! You can sleep at the museum if it suits your fancy, so bring your laptop packed in your business case in order to do some research while seeing the actual sights.

Vatican Museums – Rome

There are plenty of sites to see and opportunities to purchase mementos, so make sure you are toting around your waist packs. What is there to see? Twenty-two separate collections, ranging from Egyptian and Etruscan art to maps and modern religious art. Feast your eyes on the legacy of Raphael, Michealangelo, and Bernini.

The Prado – Madrid

The Prado may not offer as many exhibits as the other museums on the list, but what it lacks in quantity, it more than compensates in quality. Find pieces by Goya, Velasquez, El Greco, Murillo, etc. Pack your international traveler bags for multiple nights because there are other attractive elements of Madrid to enjoy.

The Hermitage – St. Petersburg

The Hermitage hosts one of the richest collections in the world and the greatest museum in Russia. The museum’s 120 rooms houses English, French, Italian, Spanish, Flemish, Dutch, and Germanic pieces of art. It is a long flight to Russia from America, so make sure you bring the accessories necessary to ensure a comfortable flight.

The Smithsonian – Washington, DC

There are a lot of threads to cover here. It is best to plan for multiple trips. Pick one theme per day and stick to it in order to see everything. This museum is especially great for kids because of the many references to U.S. history and culture. When your tours of the Smithsonian are complete, you have a good number of other sites to see in the nation’s capital.

The Louvre – Paris

In 1985, I.M. Pei was awarded the opportunity to renovate the venerable venue. It resulted in more exhibition space, a restored plaza, and a glorious glass pyramid. We invite you to craft your own critiques of the renovation. After, roll your bags through the rest of Paris, Burgundy, Champagne, Provence, and Languedoc.

Labels: travel

To insure passenger safety, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has imposed strict security procedures at our nation’s airport. Here are some tips to help you comply with the new regulations.

Checking In

» Arrive at the airport at least two hours before flight time. You may encounter long lines at check-in counters and airport screening stations.

» Curbside baggage check is being reinstated on an airline-by-airline and airport-by-airport basis. Check with the airport to see if your airline has been approved for curbside checks. Otherwise, proceed directly to the check-in counters.

» If you are traveling with a tour group or cruise group, you will no longer be allowed to check in for flights at hotels or at the cruise terminals. You must check in at the airport.

» If someone is dropping you off at the airport, they must stay with the vehicle at all times. They should not leave it unattended, even for a moment.

» You must have a picture I.D. such as a driver’s license, passport, or government-issued identification. Insure that you make your reservation in the exact name that appears on the identification you plan on presenting at the airport. If your name has recently changed and the name on your ticket and your I.D. are different, bring documentation of the change (e.g., a marriage certificate or court order). If traveling with an e-ticket, you must produce a copy of your e-ticket receipt when you check-in.

» The FAA also requires all non-U.S. citizens boarding international flights in the United States to show evidence of admission into the United States. Evidence of admission can consist of visas, I-94, parole letter, admission stamp, alien resident card, etc.

Getting to the Gate

To enter the secured area beyond the security screening checkpoint, you must show a valid picture I.D. and one of the following boarding documents indicating a flight departure for the current date:

1) A receipt for an electronic ticket;
2) An itinerary generated by an airline or travel agency confirming an electronic ticket;
3) A boarding pass; or
4) A paper ticket.

The FAA says receipts and itineraries MUST have ticket numbers on them.

If you do not have a boarding pass, ticket, e-ticket receipt or printed confirmation, an airline-issued boarding document must be obtained at the ticket counter prior to clearing security.

E-ticketed passengers with no receipt, agency or airline-issued itinerary must first go to the airport ticket counter to obtain a boarding pass. More information can be found on the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Web site at www.faa.gov/apa/faq/pr_faq.htm.

Passengers who do not have baggage to check and already have an approved boarding document, as outlined above, may proceed through the security checkpoint directly to the departure gate. Although no curbside or skycap check-in is permitted, wheelchair assistance from curbside will continue to be provided.

Provisions will be made for parents who need to meet unaccompanied minors, for disabled persons and persons with special needs who need to be accompanied by healthcare assistants or guardians and for medical personnel who need to respond to a medial emergency beyond the check point.

All passengers should check with their airline or airport, or visit the airline or airport web site for additional information.

Keep your identification handy, as you may be asked after entering the gate area to produce it for airport or airline personnel.

Luggage

Keep your luggage and carry-on bags with you at all times prior to arriving at the airport and while in the terminal. Unattended bags will likely be confiscated – and even destroyed – by airport security.

The FAA has recommended that passengers be allowed one carry-on bag and either a purse or briefcase. Airlines have the option of following the FAA's recommendation. Check with your travel agent or airline for information on carry-on luggage restrictions.

Do not accept any packages or materials from strangers.

Do not carry any sharp instruments (i.e., letter openers, knives, box cutters, scissors, etc,) in carry on luggage. They will be confiscated at airport screening stations.

If you see any suspicious activity or see unattended bags, contact airline or airport personnel immediately.

Carry medications in your carry-on bags.

Hold onto your baggage claim check. Individual airports may elect to provide more security in the baggage claim area.

Labels: travel, work

What you pack, as well as how much you pack, will be largely determined by the type, destination and length of trip you take. But Innovation Luggage can help you through the frustrations of planning with the following, useful checklist on the bare necessities.

The Basics - What You Will Need
These are the items Innovation Luggage advises you not to forget.

• Travelers' checks - Bring a mix of traveler's checks, a credit or debit card, an ATM card, a few personal checks and some cash. Bring American dollars for situations when you want to change only a few dollars and not an entire traveler's check. And bring about $50 foreign currency for each country you plan to visit, so you can function easily until you can get to a bank.
• Passport - (if necessary) A passport, driver's license, any medical alert cards and one credit card can be kept along with paper money in a belt around your waist, leaving your hands free to take pictures or to handle merchandise. Keep a notebook elsewhere with passport and account numbers.
• Visas - (if necessary)
• Identification - Bring your passport, airline ticket, rail-pass or car rental voucher, driver's license, student I.D., and so on. Photocopies can help you get replacements if the originals are lost or stolen. Carry photocopies separately in your luggage and keep the originals in your money belt.
• Hidden money belt - You could lose everything except your money belt, and the trip could still go on. Be sure your money belt (lightweight and low-profile beige is best) is fastened securely or it could slip off unnoticed (especially if you're wearing a skirt). In addition to threading the belt through the D-rings, knot it.
• Comb, brush, or pick (the smallest you have)
• Toothbrush and toothpaste
• Dental floss
• Small bottle of roll-on deodorant
• Small bottle of shampoo - (preferably concentrated) Look for sample/travel-size toiletries, or squeeze your regular products into small plastic bottles. Square bottles fit together well, taking up less space and weight than cylindrical bottles. Don't fill bottles to the top if flying because air pressure may cause the contents to expand and explode. These should all be packed in a heavy plastic bag in case of leakage.
• Soap - (bar or liquid) You may not need to bring a bar of soap: most hotels provide a small one. Bring an empty travel soap holder, and just save and reuse the hotel's complimentary bar.
• *Razor - (with spare blades or cartridges stored elsewhere).
• Nail clippers, nail file - As well as clear nail polish and remover if you have weak nails (nails easily get chipped with all the activities and luggage-carrying).
• Small mirror
• Lip balm - A must for long, dehydrating flight and severe temperatures.
• One lipstick/one eye liner/shadow - If necessary. Try for trial sizes wherever possible.
• Sun-block - Bring a sunscreen that doubles as moisturizer.
• Roll of dense-pack toilet paper. - Space saving methods like these should leave your bag only two-thirds full to provide room for snacks and souvenirs.
• Tampons - All feminine products (even many of the same brands) are sold all over the world, but it's easier to figure out how many tampons, pads, or panty shields you'll need in advance and bring them with you rather than having to buy a large box in a foreign country.
• Plastic zip baggies - Use large Ziplock bags or mesh bags to keep items separate and visible, and to keep together what you need together. Also great for saving a little lunch from the breakfast buffet, leftover picnic food, containing wetness, and bagging potential leaks before they happen.
  

Clothing

In general, every piece of clothing should match at least two other items or have at least two uses. Certain items are specific to destination, temperature or season. Use common sense and limit yourself to the bare necessities in these instances.

Optional Items

• Spare eyeglasses, contact lenses - Many find their otherwise-comfortable contacts just don't work for them while on vacation. Bring your glasses just in case. Contact solutions are widely available.
• Prescription for eyeglasses
• Sunglasses
• Sunhat - (not just a visor) Save yourself a headache, or worse yet, a sunstroke.
• Guidebook - Make photocopies or rip pages out from books. Entire guidebooks are bulky and heavy.
• Language dictionary/phrase book
• Maps - Rip out appropriate chapters from guidebooks, staple them together, and store in a zip-lock baggie.
• Camera - If you're not a professional photographer, a couple of throw-away cameras will do. If you are, put a new battery in your camera before you go. Bring a protective and polarizing lens, midrange zoom lens, cleaning tissue and a trip's worth of film. Store everything in a low-profile nylon stuff bag, not an expensive-looking camera bag. Too much camera gear marks you as a typical tourist, giving con-artists the idea you're helpless. What’s more, changing locations becomes a major operation. With one bag hanging on your back, you're mobile and in control -- and less likely to have your luggage and camera get lost, broken or stolen.
• Film - If your sink lacks a stopper, pop a film-canister cap in the drain.
• Mini binoculars
• Magnifying glass
• 2AA flashlight, with spare bulb and batteries - Handy for reading under the sheets after "lights out" in the hostel, late night trips down the hall and exploring castles and caves.
• *Swiss army knife - with corkscrew Great for peeling fruit or whatever else might arise.
• Mini sewing kit - Try on your outfits before you leave to make sure no buttons are missing and things still fit. But bring a needle and thread and a couple of safety pins, just in case.
• Mesh or nylon bags - When deciding what to take with you, anticipate articles that you may want to purchase at your destination. And, always include a collapsible nylon tote bag that will fit easily into your luggage to accommodate new purchases.
• Whistle - For scaring away possible thieves or getting the attention of those you are traveling with when in busy, noisy areas.
• Insect repellent
• Mosquito netting
• Water bottle
• Mini umbrella
• Journal and pen - A tiny notepad in your back pocket is a great organizer, reminder, and communication aid, and an empty book filled with the experiences of your trip will be your most treasured souvenir. Keep a traveler's check and expenses log in the appendix.
• Mini address book - Use it to send postcards home and collect new addresses, though just a square of paper with these addresses will take up less space.
• Envelopes
• Small gifts such as postcards from home
• One or two credit cards
• ATM card
• International Drivers' License (and/or your standard license)
• Wallet Daybags and convertible daybags/fanny packs are also popular, but some women prefer the type of bags that look more like a purse, which sling across your body for safety, and are easier to access than a daybag on your back.
• One small candle/matches
• Sleeping bag along with inflatable pillows for more comfortable napping on trains, planes and beaches.
• Paperback book/cassette or mini-cassette player/recorder - There's plenty of time on a trip to just kick back and relax and enjoy some good reading/music along with the scenery.
• Batteries (AA alkaline batteries are available almost everywhere)
• Foam ear plugs - For noisy train rides or hotels.
• Rubber bands - Roll and rubber-band clothes to minimize wrinkles.
• Hair dryer - Essential in the winter and for those with long or thick hair. And it doubles as a sock dryer! To save money, buy a compact travel hairdryer with a built-in voltage converter rather than buy a converter for your regular hairdryer. Remember to bring a plug adapter. If you must bring a curling iron, consider the cordless ones with canister fuel -- but check with your airline's regulations regarding the fuel. For international travel, it is advisable to take along an electrical adapter kit for your hair dryer, shaver or travel iron. Most European countries run on 220 volts rather than 110. Your electrical adapter kit will not only convert the voltage, but also accommodate foreign plug designs.
  

*Post-September 11 FAA regulations mean you CANNOT bring these items on the plane and should perhaps consider not bringing these items -- or others that pose a potential threat – with you whenever possible to avoid complications when traveling.

Labels: travel, work

Limit yourself to 20 pounds in a carry-on-size bag. A 9" x 22" x 14" bag fits under most airplane seats.

If you have to force your luggage to close, remove a few items to prevent broken hinges or zippers along the way.

You may want to consider the "interweaving method" of packing for your trip. Drape longer garments such as dresses and pants across the suitcase with the ends hanging over the sides. Then fold shorter items such as jackets, shirts and blouses around the longer garments so that the clothes cushion each other. Placing a piece of tissue paper between each layer of clothing will also help prevent wrinkling.

Always carry your travel documents, medication, jewelry, traveler's checks, keys and other valuables in your carry-on luggage. Items such as these should NEVER be packed in luggage that you plan to check.

If you plan to fly with skis, golf clubs or other special luggage, check with the airline to see whether special containers for these items are available. Many airlines provide this service free of charge.

A small nylon daypack is great for carrying your sweater, camera, literature and picnic goodies while you leave your large bag at the hotel or train station. Fanny packs (small bags with thief-friendly zippers on a belt) are a popular alternative but should not be used as money belts.

Include a copy of your itinerary with your business address and your destination in your luggage in the event you and your bags get temporarily separated. This information will help minimize any delay in retrieving lost luggage.

Pack tightly. Packing loosely wastes precious space and causes clothes to wrinkle.
Leave your valuables behind.

Keep makeup to a minimum, and skip perfume.

Accessories are unnecessary.

Tight and restrictive clothing makes heavy activity difficult and uncomfortable.
Leave your heavy purses and wallets at home.

Heavy, molded luggage is a burden to carry around. Opt for softer, yet durable, luggage with wheels.

* Since September 11, 2001, airlines have imposed strict regulations on the sizes and the amount of luggage passengers may check. Travelers who fail to check size requirements before their flights may be charged with hundreds of dollars in fines in order to bring the bag on board the aircraft. To avoid such issues, INNOVATION advises you consult with the individual airlines' Web sites or Customer Service lines.

Labels: adventure, travel

Introduction
Have you been thinking about spending time with your special someone? People make associations to particular places. Now is the perfect opportunity to make new memories in a fresh destination. Do you want to know where to go? Read on.

Big Sur – California

Nature stretched its beauty for ninety miles along the Pacific Coast to make what we know as Big Sur (Spanish for “big south”). Experience a union of land, earth, and sky between glorious mountains and the crashing waves. Big Sur provides plenty of space for personal walks, so put a blanket and other items for a picnic in your daypack and find the right spot.

Savannah – Georgia

Savannah is labeled a Historic Landmark. You may want to pack enough clothes in your luggage for a few nights to enjoy the antebellum mansions, elaborate town squares, and breath-taking views of the country from the perspective of a couple falling in love all over again from a horse-drawn carriage.

Lake District – Argentina

Glimmering lakes, enchanting forests, and snow-capped mountains endow Argentina’s Lake District. Be sure to employ your adventure gear, because there are plenty of spots to engage in hiking and fishing with your loved one.

Vieques Island – Puerto Rico

This small island hosts a lot of love. With soft sand beaches, quaint nature trails, and sun-kissed lagoons, you may never need your name brand luggage again, after deciding to stay. When you feel like being social, San Juan is only a short ferry ride away.

Dubrovnik – Croatia

Take the object of your affection to the “Jewel of the Adriatic.” Whether it is a secluded sidewalk stroll through Old Town, an enriching experience at Rector’s Palace, or shows at the theater, Dubrovnik will provide many reasons not to return to the “real world” with its work hours and business cases.

Provence – France

Provence is the pride of Southeast France. Think of enjoying fields of lavender, aesthetic vistas, and awe- inspiring landscapes alongside your special someone. Take your guide bag, and get lost between the Alps and Rhone River, with only each other to think about.

Amalfi Coast – Italy

Go to the coast of the land of love with its marvelous crags, ravines, and embankments. The scenes of Italy’s edge will seduce you. After a few days under Italy’s spell, the next vacation may require kids luggage.

Labels: travel

Introduction
Have you ever wanted to spend time away from everything – except your family? Many couples desire to bring their little darlings away with them, but a number of places do not accommodate the little people. Once your name brand luggage is packed, where is a family to go? The following article will provide you with some answers to that question.

Go Europe
The Athenaeum Hotel and Apartments in London is near Buckingham Palace, Green Park, and the theatre district. The hotel invites the arrival of kids luggage; hosting complete childcare facilities. Babysitters, cribs, high chairs, and other necessary child accessories are available. For the older kids, the hotel hosts a “Mary Poppins Package,” featuring a chaperone that will fill the day with sightseeing and other excursions.

Portugal’s Sheraton Algarve Pine Cliffs resort is rich in culture, offers delectable cuisine, and a relaxing lifestyle. If you want to be active, there is a golf course, health club, tennis courts, and indoor/outdoor pools. The kids can enjoy two private ships to play on, remote-controlled boats, a playground, treasure hunts, team sports, and other counselor-lead activities. Sitting and chaperone services are available.

Waltz through the woods
The Tyler Place on Lake Champlain rests on 165 acres in the beautiful countryside of Vermont. The resort offers private cottages with fireplaces and kitchenettes. Be sure to bring extra clothes in your adventure gear bags because the site has unlimited canoeing, hiking, biking, windsurfing, water sports, and access to golf and tennis. There is on-site childcare (available depending on the season), toys, rental bikes, petting zoos, buggy rides, and indoor and outdoor wading pools. The resort offers educational and cultural programs available for children ages 3 to 16.

Rest by the beach
Boscobel Beach is a very enjoyable destination nestled in Jamaica. Business cases are optional if you can fit work in between surf, sand, water sports, a kid’s camp, reggae lessons, and huge buffets. A nearby nursery takes care of children up to three years old, and private nannies and day care centers are available for older children. Rates are low and excitement is high in the Jamaican West Indies, what are you waiting for?

Labels: adventure, travel