You can save a lot of money by staying at home for your vacation. Here are some ideas if you are still skeptical.

First, take a look at your vacation budget. You should always decide how much you are going to spend before you embark on any vacation so that you don’t end up with debt you aren’t prepared for. With your budget in mind take a look at things to do near home. I’ll bet you have some things you have been meaning to do, but have never found the time or money to try out.

For me, there is a park in the next suburb over that I have been meaning to find for years. Rumor is it have one of those fountains that you or your kids can play in. I know it would be easy to look up and even easier to ask a friend I know has been there, but for some reason I have never taken the time to find it.

Are there some things in and around your community that you have wanted to try, but didn’t think you could afford? Where I live I can think of several. We have theatres that do stage plays, concert halls with orchestras and ballets, high adventure stuff like rock climbing walls, those places you can surf indoors and places you put on a suit and some goggles and get in a tube that makes it feel like you are skydiving. These are all things I have been interested in doing, but it never seemed like something that would logically fit into our budget. If I were approaching it with a vacation budget, however, suddenly these activities don’t seem so out of reach.

Check your local newspaper for ideas. Most publications have lists or articles at least once a week about things that are going on in your community. In the summer, we have movies in the park, fairs, balloon festivals and more. Some of these events are even free.

I am sure your community does a lot of things, too. If you don’t take the newspaper and don’t want to buy or borrow one you can search online for events in your community. It will probably be a little more hit and miss than the newspaper idea, but can still steer you in some good directions.

You can also find coupons and discounts online or in the newspaper as well, this can help you stretch your vacation dollar even further.

You can also retry something you have already done and enjoyed. You can find a way to make it a little different by bring some different people along or making a competition out of it (like a race or scavenger hunt). Be creative and you will find endless possibilities right in your backyard and you will save a ton of money and get to sleep in your own bed.

One last tip: Don’t be tempted to let work lure you in. Take the time off and then turn off the phone, computer or pager just like you would on a vacation out of town.

My first tip is to buy a guidebook before you go. We had a great guidebook for Kauai called “The Ultimate Kauai Guidebook: Kauai Revealed” by Andrew Doughty. I am sure there are other good ones out there, but I can definitely recommend this one, it was informative as well as funny. His off-hand commentary was entertaining. So once you have a guidebook read through it and mark some of the things you would like to do. Make note of which things require good weather and which ones don’t.

If a guidebook isn’t your thing talk to a local, the ones I spoke to were quite friendly and happy to “talk story” with you and answer any questions you might have.

Check the weather often on your vacation, this will help you plan each day and make changes if necessary. The weather man isn’t always right, but he is a lot better at predicting it than you or I. We missed out on scuba diving because the surf was rough. We decided to try the next day in hopes the weather would be better and it was actually worse.

If you choose to schedule tours or activities like scuba diving, plan it early in the week. Most companies we dealt with were willing to reschedule you later in the week if the weather didn’t cooperate. So if there is one activity you can’t live without, plan to do it early in your vacation so you don’t get rained (or winded) out.

If you are just planning to spend the day at the beach, plan to get there before about 9 a.m. or you will have a hard time parking. If you can’t handle getting up that early on vacation you can also hit the beach around 3 or 4 p.m. when the morning crowd it starting to clear out.

Another thing you will want to get early is rental equipment. The nicer equipment goes first. My husband I decided to rent a surf board one day about noon and ended up with a pretty beat up long board that was scratched and peeling. It was the only one they had available. If you are planning to use equipment more than once you may want to consider renting it for the whole week, there is a discounted rate for that.

Planning ahead will make a big difference in your experience, you will spend more time doing and less time deciding or being held back by the weather. Enjoy!

These suggestions are specific to visiting Kauai, but can easily be adapted to many other vacations as well.

The earlier you start your planning the better chance you have at finding a great deal on airfare. Airlines sometimes have one or two day long sales on airfare. They don’t advertise them, so you have to check fares every day. Just make it part of your daily routine until you find a fare that fits your budget, then my advice is to stop looking. Once you have purchased just be happy with it, don’t torture yourself if it goes down another 20 dollars. Unless you can change it, let it go.

On Kauai you really have to rent a car. The sites are really too far apart to walk, and I didn’t see any public transportation — I’m sure there is something, but not much and probably time consuming (buses) or expensive (taxis). So start shopping around for rental cars when you start looking for airfare. Keep in mind you will have to transport your luggage as well! My dad was in charge of booking our rental car and when it came down to it, we couldn’t fit the four of us and the luggage in the first day or the last day when we had to go back to the airport. The upgrade was expensive, and I think we could have saved quite a bit if we had reserved the right car in the first place.

When it comes to food, you can save a lot of money if you prepare your own meals rather than eat out. This was particularly true on Kauai. Restaurants are expensive there, even the shrimp shack was 12 dollars a meal. It was tasty but an unnecessary expense. Grocery shopping on Kauai was expensive as well, significantly more than at home so plan for that as well. We saved a lot by having cereal, milk, bread and sandwich meat. If we had planned it out a little better we could have saved even more by bringing meals each day. There were a few days we thought we would be back to the condo in time for lunch and we weren’t so we spent money on eating out.

That brings me to my final tip for this blog, plan your days well. There are a lot of things to do on the island that don’t cost anything, such as visiting the beach or other sites or hiking. By making a plan for your days you may be less tempted to stray into activities that cost more than you planned for. Also, by planning out your activities ahead of time you can cut down on driving significantly and with gas prices close to five dollars a gallon it will pay off.

Enjoy your vacation, but don’t fall into the “we’re on vacation” indulgences that will leave you will more debt that you can handle at the end of your vacation. If you can save the money this time around it will be easier to make it to your next vacation.

I haven’t been to Hawaii before, so I can’t compare Kauai to the other islands, but it was a great vacation.  If you happen to be headed that way or are searching for your next great vacation here are some things you should be sure to check out.

The Na Poli coast is a beautiful mountainous are on the west side of the island that is only accessible by boat, helicopter or you can hike there. I took a catamaran tour from Port Allen on the southern tip of Kauai up to the northwest side. The landscape is stunning with green spires jutting toward the sky. There are a few stretches of sandy beach along the coast and some caves and archways carved into the rock by the waves. This area has been used in several movies including “Jurassic Park” and “6 Nights, 7 Days.” The catamaran tour itself was fun and we were able to see humpback whales, dolphins and sea turtles.

Queen’s Bath is on the north side of the island and is rumored to have been a place Queen Emma used to enjoy bathing.  It is a natural pool that waves spill into — rather forcefully at high tide. The black volcanic rock and the vivid blue green of the water make for a dazzling view. You have to hike a short way to get there, but it is well worth the effort. A freshwater stream runs along the trail and includes a charming waterfall. You can also see sea turtles swimming near this area.

The Grand Canyon of Kauai or Waimea Canyon is inland on the west side of Kauai. You can can take a scenic drive up the mountain to a lookout that gives a view down the expansive canyon all the way to the ocean on a clear day. They say it was dubbed “The Grand Canyon of Kauai” by Mark Twain, but Twains journals have apparently proven that he never visited Kauai.

Hanalei Bay is one of several beautiful beaches on the north side of the island. My husband and I attempted to surf here on day — we did not succeed.  All I got for my efforts were sore ribs, a sunburn on the back of my legs, a headache and a crushed ego.  Take a lesson.  Also check out Tunnels Beach, good snorkeling.

Spouting Horn was an interesting rock formation that resulted in a geyser-like spray as the waves crashed into the shore. The horn is a whole at least 20 feet inland in some black rock at the southern end of Kauai. It must have a cave or tunnel underneath it because as the waves come in, a second or two later, water spouts from the hole.  It is quite a site to see.

One last thing not to miss is the fruit.  There are many kinds of fruit on the island that I had never heard of and are very different than the things we eat here on the mainland. Be sure to check out a farmer’s market while you are there.

It was a great vacation and one that I will look forward to enjoying again in the future.

Stand in Immigration Lines

Okay, so this isn’t really something that you want to do, but odds are, you’re going to have to do it at some point during your USA vacation. If you are coming in from another country, be prepared to wait in immigration lines at the airport. It’s a pain, but it’s worth it … once you get to explore the country.

Tornado Tourism

The onset of fall means one thing in East Coast America – tornado season. If you’re a big fan of the movie “Twister” and find destructive tornados fascinating, you can actually do a little tornado tourism and be taken right into the eye of the storm. (Some people think it’s fun.)

Pipeline Masters Surf Championships

If you are into surfing and want to learn from the very best, head out to Hawaii. The Pipeline Masters are held in Oahu, Hawaii every December and attract the world’s best surfers, including seven-time world champion Kelly Slater.

Indy 500, Indianapolis

If you’re looking for a rush of excitement, look no further than the Indy 500. There are no words that can describe the excitement and roar of the crowd following the words “Gentlemen, start your engines.” At that moment, 30 or more race cars will come to live and the 500,000 (or more) spectators in the crowd go crazy.

The Indianapolis Motor Speedway is more than just a race … people camp out for days before it starts so they can be part of the fun.

Skiing in Jackson Hole

If you enjoy skiing, you’ll want to head on out to Jackson Hole. You’ll find some of the best skiing terrain in Jackson Hole, Wyoming. In fact, some people say it’s a playground for advanced skiers.

Busch Gardens Theme Park

When people think of amusement parks in Florida, most people think it’s all about Disney. If you love rollercoasters, you’ve got to visit the Bush Gardens theme park in Tampa, Florida. This park is a rollercoaster lover’s paradise.

New York Restaurant Week

Sometimes it can be painful going out to eat in New York City. The food is delightful, but often the price that goes with it can be a bit hard to swallow. That’s what makes restaurant week in New York so great. Every year sometime in February or March, 200 or more of the finest restaurants offer three-course lunches for $24 and dinners for $35 – that’s an excellent price for New York restaurants.

Olympic Bobsleigh

Ever watched the movie “Cool Runnings” and thought it would totally rock to take a ride in a bobsled? Yes? Then head on over to Lake Placid and take a white-knuckle ride with a professional bobsled driver and brakeman down the Olympic bobsleigh track. Be prepared, you’ll feel the G-force as you round corners going 90 or so miles an hour.

World Rodeo Championships

Don’t forget your boots and Stetson … you’ll need them when you go to the World Rodeo Championships in Las Vegas. Often referred to as the Superbowl of rodeo, the top 45 riders in the world attend this rodeo hoping to win the $1 million prize. The rodeo is held at the end of October at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas.

Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta

You won’t want to miss the International Balloon Fiesta in Albuquerque, New Mexico. For nine days in October the skies of New Mexico become alive with color as hundreds of balloons soar high into the sky. The festival features night magic glows, special shape rodeos and America’s Challenge Gas Balloon Race. This festival is known worldwide and has become a real favorite of many.

Whale watching in Alaska

If you’re heading down to Alaska this winter, take a few minutes (or hours) to go whale watching and maybe even get a glimpse of the Northern Lights. In Alaska you can see humpback whales, sea lions, bears, moose and eagles – just make sure you’ve got your camera handy.

Zero Gravity flights, Cape Canaveral

Are your shoulders feeling heavy with all your stress at work? Then head on over to the Kennedy Space Center at Cape Canaveral (near Orlando, Florida) and take the weight off your feet (and shoulders) during a parabolic flight. This zero-gravity flight has been used for the past 45 years to train astronauts prior to space launch and is the only way you can experience zero gravity without actually heading into outer space.

Grand Canyon Skywalk

The Grand Canyon is an incredible site. Looking down into the deep canyon, you’ll see a small silver thread of river – a magnificent sight. If you’re a dare devil you can test your nerves by stepping out onto the glass-floored Skywalk platform. The platform is suspended about 4,000 feet over the gorge and gives

you an incredible view of the Grand Canyon. It’s scary to step out onto the platform, but the view is worth it.

Drive from Las Vegas to Los Angeles

If you find it thrilling to cruise down the highway in a sports car with the top down in the middle of nowhere, this is an experience you won’t want to pass up. You’ll leave the chaos of Las Vegas behind you and cruise into the peaceful (and hot) Mojave Desert. If you want you can even stop in Bodie …  a real-life, authentic Wild Wild West ghost town (located on the eastern slopes of the Sierra Nevada mountain range).

Civil War battlefield tours

If you love history, you’ll definitely want to check out some of the Civil War battlefields. While the Civil War ended in 1865, in many parts of America (particularly the South), it remains close to many hearts. Take a battlefield tour in Franklin, Gettysburg, Vicksburg and the Shenandoah Valley – all of which experienced great bloodshed. The stories you’ll hear will bring a tear to your eyes.

Once you get outside of the main city of Luxembourg, you’ll find some pretty awesome bridges. Sit back and relax while we take a look at five of the coolest bridges you’ll see in Luxembourg. Don’t worry if you forgot your poncho … you won’t get during this river adventure.

The Red Bridge

If we’re using its proper name, the Red Bridge is actually the Grand Duchesse Charlotte Bridge and is a huge slab of red steel that connects Luxembourg City with the Plateau de Kirchberg. The Plateau de Kirchberg is home to several important European institutions and international banks. In fact, if you travel to the Plateau de Kircheberg you’ll find one of the European Parliament buildings, the European Court of Auditors, European Investment Bank and Eurostat (the statistical office of the European Union).

But that’s enough about the Plateau de Kircheberg. Back to the Red Bridge. The Red Bridge is made up of stark geometric lines and has a very vivid color. When you combine that with the sheer size of the bridge, you’ve got a great landmark that is visible from many different parts of the city.

The bridge was built in the early 1960s and is 355 meters long and stands about 85 meters high. If you really want to appreciate the magnificence of the bridge, try walking (or driving) underneath it – it will take your breath away.

The Vauban Bridge

The Vauban Bridge kind of sits back in the shadows of the Red Bridge, but is equally exciting to visit. The bridge was built by a French architect named Sebastien Vauban (1633-1707). The Vauban Bridge is a three-arch stone bridge with a stone watchtower at both ends.

During your trip, take a little walk down the Vauban Trail and visit some of the older sites the country has to offer.

Before you leave this bridge area, take a minute to take in the visual metaphor of the Vauban and Red Bridges sitting near each other – it’s a great contrast in history and style – old vs. modern.

Pont Victor Bodson

The Pont Victor Bodson is probably one of the most stunning things you’ll see (as far as modern architecture goes) in all of Luxembourg. If you’ve ever see images of Luxembourg on TV shows or movies, odds are, you’ve seen part of the Pont Victor Bodson.

The Pont Victor Bodson is a suspension bridge over the River Alzette and connects the plateau of Hesperange and Itzig. This is one of the few bridges that is actually pretty impressive to drive over.

Schengen

The little town of Schengen is located where the south-eastern corner of Luxembourg meets Germany and France. Schengen. Here’s a fun fact for you: Schengen was actually selected as the site for the signing of a very historic agreement of the European Union (the one that allows visitors to cross borders without needing their passports). You’ll find travel throughout Europe pretty easy for that reason (well, that and the fact that they all use the Euro currency). The UK didn’t sign the Schengen agreement, which is why you’ll have to show your passport to enter and leave Britain.

Echternach

The Echternach is a five-arch stone bridge that crosses the Moselle into Germany. Echternach town is a very pretty place to visit and you’ll find the walk across the bridge to be equally beautiful. Just don’t forget to take your camera … you’ll catch some breath-taking views of the riverside and landscape that you’ll want to capture.

Zip it … Zip it good

Take a 2,200-foot long zip line adventure over whitewater and an old forest in British Columbia. If you’re an adrenalin junkie, you won’t want to miss out on this adventure.

Feed the lions of the sea

Sure you can feed sea lions at Sea World, but during a behind-the-scenes tour at the Vancouver Aquarium you’ll get to learn all about sea lions and sea otters, help the staff prepare some of their favorite treats and get up close and personal with the animals and their trainers. Cost is $25-$35.

Seek a sea serpent

Sure you’ve heard of the Loch Ness monster, but have you heard of Ogopogo? Ogopogo is a snakelike creature that is anywhere between six to 20 meters long. Ogopogo resides in Okanagan Lake in British Columbia. Try to catch a peak of the creature … if you dare.

Take a fossil safari

Anyone can take an African safari (given they have the time and means to travel to Africa), but how cool would it be to take a fossil safari. During your fossil safari you’ll find dinosaur teeth and bones scattered all over the Dinosaur Park in Alberta. This area is actually one of UNESCO’s World Heritage Sites and is probably one of the richest fossil beds in the entire world.

Bask in the beauty of waterfalls

You’ve heard of Niagara Falls, but do you know anything about Edmonton’s Great Divide Waterfall? This waterfall is about 210 feet high and is actually higher than Niagara Falls. The waterfall is activated on holiday weekends during spring and summer, so if you can, make sure you head over to check it out.

Go zorbing

Zorbing. Yes, you read that right. Head on over to Canada Olympic Park (just west of Calgary) and you can participate in the latest thrill sport straight from New Zealand. What is zorbing? Basically it’s a sport where you flip and bounce down a hill in a giant hamster ball.

Go snaky

If you aren’t creeped out by slithering snakes, you’ll want to head out to Narcisse (two hours north or Winnipeg). During the spring, thousands and thousands of red-sided garter snakes meet up at the snake dens of Narcisse in a writhing and wriggling (procreating) mass of snakes for several weeks.

Golf at midnight

For all you golf enthusiasts out there, head on out to the Yellowknife Golf Club’s Canadian North midnight Classic. You’ll tee off at midnight and then play as long as you can. In 1970 a man golfed 171 holes in 33.5 hours … so if you’re looking to break the record make sure to give yourself plenty of time.

A swan parade

Stratford’s famous swans waddle from winter quarters to Avon River. Children lead this parade that is heralded by horns and trumpets. The annual swan parade helps to usher in the official start of spring.

Shediac Lobster Festival

Think you can eat more lobster than anyone else? Now’s your chance to find out. During the Shediac Lobster Festival you can take on the tasty crustacean during a nightly lobster-eating contest. The yearly festival also features a kids’ parade, live music and, of course, lobster dinners.

Lounge in a deck chair - on the Titanic

Okay, so the deck chair is just a replica at the Maritime Museum of the Atlantic and the deck is just an oversized photograph, but still, this is a cool experience. The Titanic exhibit has a wireless operator’s log of the ship’s distress cars and one of the only intact deck chares that matches the chairs used on the Titanic. The museum also has part of the grand staircase.

Get chummy with a shark

You probably never thought you’d be pals with a shark, did you? During this adventure you’ll take cover in a shark cage while a chum click (translation: blood and guts) is spread onto the water to attract the sharks. This is a bit pricey, it will cost you about $1,000 for up to six divers. To participate in this attraction you’ll need to be a certified scuba diver … and absolutely fearless.

Celebrate Anne at Prince Edward Island

For all you Anne of Green Gables fans out there, you won’t want to miss a trip out to Prince Edward Island for a Green Gables garden party, county fair and community picnic – complete with old-fashioned games and races. During your stay, the kids can go to school in Avonlea, watch pig races and even enter an Anne look-alike contest.

Pose with a 14-foot spud

Who said Idaho is the only place that grows big potatoes? Head on out to the little town of O’Leary and check out the 14-foot potato at the 7,000-square-foot potato Museum. The museum is home to the Potato Hall of Fame, historic buildings and a collection of old farm machines.

Learn Viking manners

Take a tour of the remains of L’Anse aux Meadows – an 11^th century Viking community. After visiting the remains, you can head on over to St. Anthony for a Great Viking Feast Dinner Theater. The restaurant is covered in sod and serves Jiggs dinner (salt meat with yellow split peas) with cod tongues. Remember to burp during your dinner … it’s good manners (and probably the only time it’s acceptable).

Scientists have spent a long time studying the Belizean cave systems. Research began in the 1960s and by 1984, researchers found and documents 65 different sites. Most of the sites are not yet accessible to the general public, but there are several cave locations you can visit during your Belize vacation. Many caves have been well known for a lot of years, but there are still several waiting to be discovered.

If you are looking for something to do in Belize, cave tubing should be at the very top of your list. There is no other place in the Western Caribbean (possibly the world) where you can do anything quite like it. Take it from someone who’s been before … you seriously don’t want to miss out on cave tubing.

I went on a Caribbean cruise in November 2010 with several girl friends. During our trip we visited the beautiful little country of Belize. I had heard that cave tubing was a must during my trip and I’m so glad I took their advice!

Our tour guide met us at the port and we drove about an hour to the cave entrance. During our drive we laughed and joked as our guide told us about the culture of Belize.

Once we arrived at the site, we headed off for a quick zip line through the jungle. Now, the zip line adventure was pretty fun, but if you’ve only got one day to spend in Belize, I’d recommend skipping the zip line and just head straight for the caves.

We got changed into our swim suits, put on our water shoes, grabbed our tube and headed for the caves. We “hiked” about 30 minutes through the beautiful rainforest before we hit the Cave Branch River. Just a note, don’t forget bug spray. No one in our group thought to bring bug spray for our walk through the jungle (dumb, I know) so our legs got pretty eaten up.

Once we got to the river, we put on our helmets and head lamps, jumped in our tubes and started floating down the river. It’s an amazing site … your headlamp’s ray will hit on glistening crystal formations as your imagination takes you back to a time 1,200 years ago when ancient Maya people were in the caves completing ancient religious ceremonies. Caves were considered a spiritual spot to the Mayans, so the carved sculptures you see in the caves are pretty neat. Don’t forget your camera, you’ll want to take lots of pictures … just make sure it’s waterproof.

We spent the next two hours or so floating through the cave system. Because we went zip lining for the first part of our day, we were only able to go through one cave formation. While the zip lining was awesome, I wish we would have skipped it because the caves were so amazing I wanted to see more!

Cave tubing is a great activity for anyone … families, singles, couples and groups … anyone can do this! Just find yourself a guide, a headlamp and a tube and prepare for an experience of a lifetime.

The first thing I hate about airport security is the line. Maybe it’s just me, but I always seem to get stuck behind some chatty lady who feels a great need to share her whole life story with me. If the line was only five minutes, maybe I’d be okay with it. But when I end up standing, ticket and driver’s license in hand, in line next to this lady for 30+ minutes, my patience start to get thin …

If it’s not the chatty, share-my-whole-life-story-lady in front of me, it’s a super slow security person checking tickets and IDs. On my last flight, the man checking tickets took his sweet time. I could see he was talking to every person and asking them questions … which intrigued me. When I got up there, I handed him my ticket and driver’s license and he said ‘Welcome, Mrs. Nelson. Please state your first and last name.” Um … is that really your security question? I’m pretty sure if I was flying with a fake ID, I’d take the time to memorize the name. Plus, he used my name in his question.

Next, I headed over to the massive line of people waiting to go through the detectors. I quickly took my shoes off, pulled my laptop out of my bag and waited until it was my turn to go through. I walked into the full-body scanner, spread my legs and put my hands above my head and then walked out and waited for my bags to come through. Getting through airport security isn’t necessarily hard … it’s just a pain. One wrong move (or word) and you’ll be heading straight to jail.

Here are a few quick tips to help make sure you get through airport security as quickly and painlessly as possible.

• Wear slip-on shoes. You’ll have to take your shoes off and send them through the x-ray machines, so sandals and slip-on shoes are the easiest (and most comfortable) shoes you can wear to the airport.
• Arrive early. There is nothing worse than being stressed out, trying to hustle to your flight and getting stuck in a monstrous security line. Give yourself plenty of time to get through security and get to your guide. TSA suggests you arrive 90 minutes early for domestic flights and 2-hours early for international flights.
• Be cooperative. Don’t fight with the TSA people … they can haul you to jail if they want, it’s really not worth the fight.
• Be familiar with airport regulations. Before you fly, take a few minutes to look over the TSA guidelines and make sure you know what is (and is not) appropriate to pack in your carry-on bags. You don’t want to have to worry about throwing things out at the last minute because it’s a prohibited item.
• Don’t forget your driver’s license or passport. I was travelling with my grandmother once and she left her driver’s license at home. This was before the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, but it was still a pain to get her through security. Today, it’s impossible. Double check (I always triple check) to make sure you have your ID before you leave home.

Here are a few other tips to help you get through the airport:

• Travel during off-peak times. Try to avoid traveling during the summer, major holidays and spring break – those are the times of year that you get families travelling, so airports get really packed. Don’t fly on weekends, if possible – the lines will be shorter and you’ll save money on your airplane ticket.
• Fly early in the morning. If you take morning flights, you may be competing (standing in line) with business travelers, but they are pretty experienced travelers and know the rules and regulations. You won’t have to worry about getting stuck behind a person who doesn’t know which pieces of clothing to remove or where to put his shoes.
• Give yourself at least an hour in between flights. You’ll want to have a little cushion just in case your first flight is delayed. If you have less than an hour, you’ll find yourself running to the gate from one terminal to another.
• Check-in online from home. You can check in online up to 24 hours before your plane departs. Checking in at home can be a real time-saver at the airport – especially if you don’t need to check bags. You can print your boarding pass and pay to check your bags before you leave, which will save you time and a headache at the airport.
• Make your bag stand out. Everyone has a black suitcase, which makes it really hard to identify your bag at the baggage carousel. If you’ve got a black suitcase, try putting a bright-colored ribbon on the handle to make it easily identifiable. If you are buying luggage before your trip, don’t buy a black suitcase. Find something with color (I’ve got a brown bag with bright green polka dots … I never have a hard time finding my bag).
• Pack light. You can only carry on two bags and you can’t check more than two bags.
• Know your airport. Most airports have online maps that you can print out and carry with you so that you can find the right terminal and know where to park.

Do you have any airport or airport security horror stories? If so, we’d love to hear them. Leave a comment below and tell us all about them.

One bag was my purse, complete with travel treats and my beloved iPad.

One bag for my laptop, Kindle, camera, notebooks and other “work” items.

My last (oversized, checked) bag held my clothes and seven pairs of shoes. Yes, you read that right … seven … one pair for every ‘outfit’ I planned to wear. (Speaking of outfits … I think I packed nine … for a 5-day trip.) Why I needed to take seven pairs of shoes to New York is beyond me. But I did (even though my husband said not to).

In the airport, having a few bags wasn’t a big deal. We checked one, so I just had two bags to carry with me. It wasn’t until we switched hotels mid-trip and had to walk 19 blocks with our bags that I was cursing and wishing I had left five pairs of shoes and that second coat at home.

One of the biggest mistakes new travelers make is taking too much. You’d think I’d never travelled before with the way I packed. If you try to be prepared for every possible scenario you will encounter on your trip, you’ll wind up taking the whole house.

To help you get started packing, and to make sure you avoid packing mistakes like I made, here is a list of some of the essential items you’ll want to take with you.

• Backpack or suitcase – obviously.
• Clothes – don’t forget the socks and undies.
• Camera – your heart will be very sad if you forget your camera.
• Money – don’t bring traveler’s checks or a ton of cash. Most places accept credit cards. Bring some cash, but not hundreds of dollars … you don’t want to be a target.
• Tickets – airplane, hotel reservations, excursions/tours, plays or concerts … make sure you have your tickets with you. I like to put all my tickets, itineraries and hotel reservations in a manila envelope to carry with me at (almost) all times.
• Children – you don’t want to have a ‘Home Alone’ incident … don’t forget your kids at home (or let them get on the wrong plane).
• Chargers – camera, phone, laptop, iPad, etc.

One thing I hate about packing is wrinkled clothes. Who knew clothes could get so wrinkly after just 24 hours in a suit case? To help avoid wrinkled clothing, try to unpack as soon as you arrive at your hotel. I like to pack a small spray bottle. When I hang my clothes up in the hotel, I’ll lightly spritz water onto them and the wrinkles fall out.

I tend to be a heavy packer. Even when I try really hard to not over pack, I end up taking way too much. Here are a few tips and tricks I’ve found helps me get the most bang for my buck (in terms of suitcase space).

• Place heavy items in the bottom of the suitcase. I like to start by putting my shoes and toiletries (only the ones that I won’t need in the morning before we head out) at the bottom of my bag.
• Roll clothes. I’ll take all my shirts and roll them up and set them at the bottom of my bag (next to my shoes and toiletries). Rolled items take up a lot less space.
• Use plastic bags to organize. I like to roll my underwear up and place them into large plastic bags. I’ll fill up the bag and then roll it (to get the air out) and seal it. The bag doesn’t take up much space and will keep your items together. I also like it because in my mind that means the security people aren’t touching my underwear. I’ll also put socks, swim suits or even shirts in plastic bags.
• I like to throw in my pants and any collared shirts on the top. Try to spread them out as flat as possible. Hang them up as soon as you can to prevent wrinkles.

The best advice I can give you for packing is first – don’t pack your travel documents. Make sure you don’t put your airplane tickets, passport, rental car information or hotel confirmations in the bag you are checking. Keep travel documents, prescription medication, car keys, jewelry and any valuables with you at all times.

Second – keep it simple and keep it light. You’re going to be the one hauling your bags through airports and 19 blocks in the city. If you don’t want to haul it, don’t pack it. The more you pack, the more it will cost you (if not in money, in aching muscles).