Pack a Flashlight

Pack a flashlight or two. I always, always, always pack a flash light. If I'm traveling by car I pack a flashlight. If I'm traveling by plane, I always pack a flashlight. Going for a quick wk-end or a nice long vacation, yep I pack a flashlight in either case.
WHY?

1. Electric can go off anywhere, anytime. After all it goes off at home, right? Why wouldn't it go off due to a storm or electrical problem when you're traveling?
2. Hotel rooms are dark, which is really nice when you're trying to get some sleep; but when you wake up in different places all the time can you see your way to bathroom in the middle of night? Not normally. Thus the little flashlight on the right in above picture is something always packed in my ditty bag for all trips, long or short. It's always placed on my bedside nightstand in hotel rooms. It always get's used!
3. The flashlight on the left is a new item we've gotten really hooked on. You do not need batteries! Batteries are heavy. Regular batteries are expensive, always have to be replaced and are not at all environmentally friendly. If you use (and we do 99.9% of the time), rechargeable batteries, then you need to be sure and pack the recharger. This flashlights run by being cranked up. See the handle? You crank it a few times, then snap it back down and you have light. We've tested it out. We cranked about 40 times and it ran all night. It's small, lightweight, easy to use and the light has 2 levels--regular and bright. So, it really is one that you can see with.
4. If traveling by car, hubby usually has a large heavy duty flashlight in the car. This is a safety must! If you're on the road at night and have a problem, you really do need to see what you're doing. Maybe you need to change a flat, hard to do without a good flashlight.

Sometimes we're caught off guard and things happen one doesn't expect, with truly with a little bit of forethought and planning you can be prepared for almost anything. Being prepared, being organized can make your trips so much more enjoyable. Being organized, being safe and planning ahead can make what could be a bad situation nothing more then a little bump in the road.

Think Green while you Travel

We're just a few days past Earth Hour. I don't know how many of you partipated (we did you can read about it here; but thought in honor of it I'd write this post about thinking Green when you travel. No, I'm not suggest you stop traveling, and yes flying and driving uses gas and therefore that isn't green. Moderation is the key. Travel, explore, learn, and have fun; but think Green. Just because you're not paying the water, the heating or the cooling bill doesn't mean you throw caution and the word moderation out the window. There's still no reason to be wasteful. Why not practice moderation while you're at the resort with taking shorter showers, using your towels and your bedding for a few days. None of us change our beds daily at home, do we need to do that when traveling? All hotels, and resorts have a card you can place on the door or the bed to have your room/condo etc straighten, bed made without having all your linens changed daily. Save water, save electric; think GREEN, put the card out.

Many hotels deliver newspapers daily, don't throw them away; recycle them. In the last 5 years I've noticed the bulk of hotels we stayed in do have a recycling program. Ask about it when you check in. Recycle your newspapers, your plastic cups and water bottles, cans etc if you're cooking.

I'm betting it's safe to say most of us don't turn on the heat and open windows at the same time at home; or open windows with the air conditioning on at home. Who wants to pay to cool or heat the outside, right? So, why do people do this at a hotel? I've noticed it most when along a beach area. A.C. on, doors and windows open cause they want to see and hear the ocean. I too like to see and hear the ocean; but choice one or the other....think Green. If it's hot and you need the ac on, or it's on and controlled by the hotel; go outside to hear and see the ocean.

Moderation is the key, you don't have to do without, you don't have to make huge sacrifices to be green, to think green. If everyone practices moderation and does their part we'll make headway.

Another way to think and practice being green in your travels is to think about items before you throw them out. If you cook (and we usually do part of our meals), you often have food left over at the end of your week. Check the desk before you throw out unused items. We've noticed many Marriott facilities have a box for collection of unused unopened food stuffs. These unopened unused food stuff's are donated to food banks. That's recycling and helping those in needs.

Traveling Suitcase contests ends today. While I've been a bit disappointed in the number of those that choose to participate; it's been fun getting to know some new folks. I've added those that entered to my blog log, and will announce the winner tomorrow. People who stay actively involved with comments on my blog will stay on my blog log, while others will be removed.