Travel with Julie

10 Travel Mistakes I'll Never Make Again!

I am embarrassed to admit this, but here goes:  I've made not one . . . not two . . . but, many travel mistakes over the years!  Some, very costly, too!  There!  Now that the cat's out of the bag, let me tell you about a few:

1.  Failure to use the airline's online check-in service.  

While catching a flight from Las Vegas to Dallas, I discovered firsthand how airline's overbook flights.  Arriving late to the airport, an airline agent informed me my plane was full and I didn't have a seat.  After a futile argument, my hopes of getting home on that flight were dashed.  Lesson learned:  a ticket doesn't promise you a seat. Your best guarantee is to check in online 24 hours in advance!

2.  Placing valuables in my luggage.  

This mistake belongs to my husband (but trust me, I felt the pain all the same!)  In a mad rush to pack, he tucked expensive cuff links into an inner pocket of his suitcase, rationalizing that they were well hidden.  When he unpacked the bag at home, the cuff links were gone!  Lesson learned:  place valuables into your carry-on bag and keep it with you at all times!

3.  Tossing a cell phone and the baggie of 3-ounce liquids into the same suitcase pocket.  

Chalk another one up for dear hubs (sorry, honey!).  In a moment of chaos going through London Heathrow's security checkpoint, hubs tossed his IPhone into the outer pocket of his carry-on.  Upon boarding our connecting flight, he threw the bag in the overhead bin, forgetting about it and the phone.  Once we arrived to our destination, he reached into the bag for the phone only to find shampoo erupting out of its bottle (and baggie!), bathing the phone completely.  Lesson learned: shampoo and technology do not mix!  Duh!  Now, I double bag my liquids, and I ask hubs (and myself!) repeatedly, "Where is your phone?"

4.  Forgetting to pack an umbrella.  

I am the proud owner of 6 umbrellas.  There were more, but some have been put to rest.  Why do I have so many umbrellas?  Because I would forget to pack one and invariably get caught in a rain storm!  Lesson learned:  include an umbrella on your packing list.

5.  Packing for fashion versus comfort or practicality.  

My feet have the battle scars to show for this mistake!  On one trip to Rome, I went through 3 boxes of Band-aids to cover the blisters caused by shoes that looked good! Lesson learned:  Wear good walking shoes with socks.  Your feet will thank you for it!

6.  Failure to know about local time changes.  

Who knew Italy followed Daylight Savings Time?  I didn't.  At least not until we showed up for dinner an hour before our reservation.  It seemed strange that we were the only car in the parking lot of a popular restaurant.  Lesson learned: Research time changes (and holidays, for that matter) of your destination prior to leaving home.

7.  Packing too much.  

For years, I got away with packing extra shoes and outfits for every occasion when traveling domestically.  Traveling internationally, however, broke me of this habit forever!  Lugging suitcases through cobblestone streets and hauling them up flights of stairs in hotels with no elevators, taught me to pack much lighter!  Lesson learned:  It is not only easier on the back, it is also cheaper to pack light.  Airlines and other baggage handlers (e.g., taxi drivers) often charge for excess baggage.

8.  Trusting the photos on a hotel's website.  

The little cabin by a beautiful New Mexico river looked like the perfect vacation spot.  I could hike with my dogs while hubs fished to his heart's content!  Photos of the cabin showed it was cozy, quaint, and decorated with loads of charm.  Image my surprise when we arrived to a dirty, bug-infested and moldy shack!  I'm getting the heebie-jeebies just writing about it!  Lesson learned:  Never trust a website's photos.  Spend time researching online for user photos and reviews.  If possible, get a personal reference.  And, at the very least, have a Plan B to fall back on if the place you booked is not fit for human or beast!

9.  Insulting a local in Italy.  

In restaurants, my husband (yes, I'm tattling on him again) has a habit of asking if the food is good.  Little did he know that this seemingly innocent question would be considered insulting to other cultures.  While looking at a menu posted outside a restaurant in Italy, the owner prompted us to come inside.  When hubs asked, "is the food good," the owner huffed at us in all sorts of unknown Italian words and stormed off.  At that point, we felt obligated to eat there--good or not--and suffer the consequences of the man's wrath!  Lesson learned:  prevent unnecessary embarrassment by learning basic cultural do's and don'ts of a country before visiting it!  

10.  Failing to alert my credit card of impending international travel plans.  

We had just enjoyed a nice dinner in one of Italy's many fabulous trattorias.  The server headed to our table to inform us that our credit card was "no good."  Oops. We tried our other credit card.  It, too, was "no good."  They were "good" earlier that day when we made purchases in a nearby boutique, so we were perplexed why this particular restaurant could not process our cards.  Fortunately, we had cash. The next day we ran into the same problem, so we called the credit card company. They had shut our cards down.  Seeing a rash of international charges on our account, they feared fraudulent activity.  We got the mattered resolved and the accounts restored, but not after some truly embarrassing moments.  Lesson learned:  call your credit card company before leaving home to tell them of your travel plans.  They will flag your account to prevent it from being shut down in the midst of your vacation.

A Great Beauty In Tuscany: Radda In Chianti

Radda in Chianti is one of those small Tuscan villages that seems to be overlooked for more vibrant towns like San Gimignano or Greve.  The town is made up of local people who support the area's wine making business.  It hasn't been overrun by souvenir and ceramic shops, nor the proverbial wine tasting rooms. Radda in Chianti does, however, gain attention from those who seek out undeniably stunning views of the Chianti region, and a taste of local charm and character.

Sitting atop a forested hill and surrounded by extensive vineyards, Radda in Chianti is a great base for visiting the area.  There are numerous agriturismi, wineries, castles and Etruscan ruins dotted throughout these hills. Yet, it is the quiet hum of local life here that keeps me coming back year after year.

 WHERE TO STAY

In Town: Palazzo Leopoldo.  In the center of town, this charming villa dates back to 1300.  You will find original frescoes, floors and furniture throughout the house. Rooms have been renovated to modern standards but keep the medieval feel with antique furniture and period decor.  No cars are allowed into the ancient town so the only noise you may have in the late night is the sound of a distant thunderstorm.  Morning brings the sounds of clanging milk and vegetable carts as the markets prepare to open for business.  The sites, sounds and smells that waft through your small hotel window magically draw you back into a simpler life and time.

Outside of Town:  Livernano.  Surrounded by 38 acres of vineyards, ancient olive groves and 130 acres of beautiful woodlands, Livernano gives the traveler a unique experience.  Click on my review to read more about this special place.

WHERE TO EAT

Livernano.  If you are staying at Livernano, you will definitely want to have at least one dinner there.  For a fixed price, you will receive a 4-course meal made from fresh local ingredients (many coming from the farm itself!).  I will warn you though, go with an appetite!

Ristorante Vignale.  Located in town and within walking distance of Palazzo Leopoldo, this restaurant offers incredible views of the Chianti valley.  Here, you will have a bit more of a fine dining experience; and the price reflects it too!

La Bottega. OK, technically La Bottega is not in Radda; it is in Volpaia.  But, it is so close (and it is a HUGE favorite of mine) that it warrants a visit.  Walking into La Bottega is like walking into a friend's kitchen.  Serving down-home Tuscan goodness, Carla (owner and cook) and her mother, Mamma Gina, will make you feel right at home.  It doesn't matter whether you speak Italian or not, these ladies will charm you with conversation and laughs all evening!  If you're fortunate enough to visit in the summer, reserve a table on the terrace--it is straight from a movie set!

 WHAT TO DO

For the artist:  Take in the stunning views of the Chianti hills.  By walking outside of Radda's ancient walls to either side of the main street, you will peer down into the valleys that surround the village.  The views are a photographer's and painter's dream!

For the wine enthusiast:  Radda in Chianti sits on the famous Chianti Classico Wine Trail.  There are many wine tasting rooms scattered throughout the hills; many are private and require reservations.  It will require a little research beforehand, the help of your hotel staff, or a local tour guide to help you navigate your visit. One of my favorites is Casalvento, located just outside Radda in Chianti.  Casalvento is the product of Livernano's owners.  It is the cantina where Livernano's wines are produced.  What makes this place special is...wait for it...the view!  OK, the wine is really good, too!  Grab a glass and sit out on the terrace for a wonderful afternoon!

Traveling With Jewelry -- Looking Good With Less Stress!

Normally, I advise travelers to leave their jewelry at home.  The risk of losing it, having it stolen, or drawing attention to yourself is too great.  Nevertheless, there are some vacations that demand the bling!  So, what's a girl to do?  My friend, Lia Wilson has the perfect solution!  Here's what she says, . . .

When traveling, you want to look your best, which often means using jewelry to put the finishing touches on your vacation wardrobe.  However, traveling with valuable jewelry can be worrisome.  Anxiety over how to secure expensive jewelry while you're not wearing it is a burden you don't need while you're suppose to be having fun!

The good news is that you can have your cake and eat it too!  With fashion jewelry, you can look fabulous without the worry.  High-quality fashion jewelry looks like fine jewelry, but at a fraction of the cost.  Often plated with precious metals like gold and silver, it gives the illusion of the "real deal," meaning you can enjoy it without worry about loss or theft.

Another advantage of fashion jewelry is its versatility. With current fashion trends favoring lots of layers and big statement pieces, it's easy to take a few pieces of jewelry and mix and match them in different combinations to create entirely new looks each day.  By getting more mileage out of a few basic pieces, you'll have less to pack and keep track of.

Here are some ideas for transforming a few basic pieces into new and different styles:

1. Take a necklace with a decorative clasp that can be worn in front as a design element.  Turn the necklace around and add a brooch or pendant. Voila!  You have an entirely different piece of jewelry.
2. Bring necklaces that compliment each other and wear them alone; then, wear them together for a different look.     Vary the length of the layers for variety. Wear a long necklace in triple layers as a short "statement" necklace.  Add a pendant or a brooch to it and you've got a choker with a completely new look.
3. Select reversible jewelry to get two looks for the price of one.
4. Use a brooch as a pendant.  Look for brooches that have both a bail (the loop that allows it to be strung on a chain) and a pin on the back.  If the brooch doesn't have a bail, simply pin it over the necklace.

Tips for choosing the pieces that make up a basic travel jewelry wardrobe:

1. Choose pendants that can be easily attached, such as those with a magnetic bail.  The magnetic bail makes it a snap (no pun intended) to add and remove the pendant.
2. Take a brooch that can serve double duty as a pendant when it's not being used as a pin.
3. For flexibility, take necklaces and bracelets in a neutral color.  Pearls are great for this purpose.  They can be worn with almost any color and combined easily with many other necklaces.
4. Select pieces that complement each other.  Look for an element that is common to both such as a specific stone, bead color or style.
5. Take items that can be easily and efficiently packed.  Elasticized cuff bracelets, for example, are great for travel.  They're comfortable, don't get in the way as you handle luggage, and can be flattened for packing.
6. Bring a couple of dressy pieces that can be worn in the evening.  For instance, replace a more casual pendant with an elegant one to create an evening look.

Take some time to experiment with different combinations and use your creativity. You'll be amazed at how many pleasing combinations can be created from a handful of jewelry pieces.

BIO: Lia Wilson is an independent distributor with Premier Designs, a jewelry company based in Irving, TX.  She loves fashion and enjoys the freedom of having her own business and working from home with her three canine "officemates."  The most gratifying part of her job is helping other women look and feel their best through a well-accessorized wardrobe.  Lia can be reached at [email protected].

**This is an unsolicited opinion.  For my full disclosure policy, please see this page.

FIRST FRIDAY FOTO THERAPY

Burano, Italy

Taken by: Julie Gilley

On the first Friday of every month, I will share a photo from my travels, or yours.  If you'd like a chance to see one of your fabulous vacation photos published on this site, send it (in .jpg format) along with a brief description to: [email protected].

Cure your travel bug with a little Foto Therapy!