It is definitely winter here in the Northeast, and sometimes all you want is a little warmth… as the subzero winds are blowing. My travel style is that I always like to have a few things handy that are instantly comforting.

I always have a cozy cashmere travel wrap (it doubles as a blanket on the plane),  my favorite book or magazines, and I love to have my own tea bags (and sometimes hot chocolate too) because having a cup of my favorite tea in the airport, on the airplane, or in my hotel room makes me feel at home wherever I am.

Recently, at an event I was given a goody bag. One of the items was a little travel tin with six tea bags from Revolution Tea. How simple and how useful. The tin keeps the tea fresh and the bags safe from tearing, and once they’re used up I can refill the tin with my own selection. Sometimes it’s really something very simple—like a cup of tea—that brings a sense of comfort to the traveler.

When you are on the road it is sometimes difficult get enough sleep or a good nights sleep. I don’t know about you, but if I’m not rested I don’t feel quite like myself. Whether its because you have crossed many time zones or because you find it a challenge to adapt to a new environment, here are 5 ways to help you get some zzzz’s without taking medication.

1.     Avoid drinking too much alcohol late at night. Yes, you’ll fall asleep fast but then you’ll wake up thirsty a couple of hours later as the alcohol begins to leave your system and your blood sugar suddenly drops.

2.     Take calming herbs (like Kalms or Rescue) and/or vitamins like calcium at night before you go to bed. Many women take calcium anyway, but most probably take it in the morning. But you’ve probably heard that drinking warm milk before bedtime will help you get to sleep. Why? Because the calcium in the milk relaxes you! [Read more →]

More and more families are splitting their vacations between the ski slopes and the sun, which creates the problem of how to pack and transport what they’ll be needing for two entirely different climates.

Having spent more than 2 decades traveling around the world, I have had to spend a good deal of time thinking of better ways to plan and pack smarter for all kinds of climates and situations. I’ve come up with the top five ways to take the hassle out of dual-location packing.

1.     Pack as many items as you can that will be useful in both locations—such as a tank top or tee shirt you can also wear under a turtleneck on the slopes or après ski, a cozy cashmere travel scarf that also works as a shawl for chilly nights at the island resort, or a beautiful silk scarf that can be worn around your neck, as a halter top, a belt, a hair band, or around the brim of your sun hat.

2.     Ship your ski wear, bulky sweaters,  and toiletries ahead to your destination. Just make certain to send the bags far enough in advance so that they will arrive before you do. (You can wear your parkas on the plane and then ship them directly home with the rest of your ski gear. You won’t be needing them in the Caribbean sun.)

3.     Take the sun gear with you, even if you’ll be skiing first. It’s less heavy and bulky to pack, and if it were lost in shipping it might also be more difficult to replace on an island than your ski wear would be at a ski resort. [Read more →]

When you’re in-flight you don’t get to choose your companions. You’re occupying a cramped communal space with a bunch of strangers, and the more thoughtful you are of one another, the better flight everyone will have.

I know you can’t control anyone else’s behavior, but at least you can do your part to make the time you’re sharing that space a bit more pleasant and civilized.

• Try to be aware of what you’re doing, and how affects the people around you. That can mean anything from not polishing your nails (the polish has an odor that you can smell 10 rows away) to not reclining your seat so far back that your head is in the lap of the person behind you, speaking loudly on your phone, etc.
• Don’t impinge on your neighbor’s space. No one wants your stuff under their feet, your elbows on their armrest, your magazine in their lap, or—certainly—your head on their shoulder. I always choose a window seat so that if I do want to nap or rest my head, I can lean against the window.
• Mind your children. I know little children sometimes cry because they’re bored or tired or because their ears are hurting from the pressure. Everyone understands that, annoying as that might be, it’s probably upsetting the child’s parents even more. But there are things you can control. Your kids should not be running up and down the aisle, kicking the seat of the person in front of them, screaming, or standing up in their seat and making faces at the person behind them. Bring quiet games or a video (with earphones) to keep them occupied; with games and bring food you know they like. The flight attendants will do their best to help you out, but your children are really your responsibility. [Read more →]

Health is very important to me, and I love lists for the same reasons as the Editors of Prevention magazine—they give you “just the facts,” they offer choices, and they’re finite—so I was totally thrilled to have two of my favorite lists included in their new book, List Maker’s Get-Healthy Guide.

From the best (and worst) organic foods to the germiest public places, and (my own) things you should never leave home without, there’s a huge amount of information here distilled into clear, bite-size pieces. In fact, it’s the perfect plane read—light to carry, light to digest, and rich in info and entertainment.

For the holiday shopping, sometimes its hard to know what to get someone. But if they love airplanes, ships, and submarines…here is your source! Whether you know someone who’s acquiring a corporate jet, a person who has a pilot’s license, or a kid would love to own a special model, Factory Direct Models go way beyond anything you might have had as a child.

Its as easy as sending them a photo, and they’ll build a finely detailed, handmade, completely customized model of any type plane with individualized logo and tail flashes. The models come with a beautiful mahogany stand and, if you choose, a personally inscribed plaque.

Factory Direct also makes custom models of vintage or modern ships, boats, and submarines as well as cars and trucks, so if you need a gift for the guy who has everything, this may be your answer. Or you can choose from their wide range of ready-made models. In the world of transportation models this company is definitely a premiere resource.

Let’s face it; traveling is stressful—especially during the busiest holiday week of the year. It’s simply a way to get from where you are to where you want to be, and unless you’re traveling on your own private jet on your time table, the getting there is almost never without problems, in and of itself, at times its anything but relaxing or fun.

But there are ways to travel smarter and keep your stress to a minimum.

1.     Always leave much more time than you think you need to get to the airport. You never know when there will be an accident or a traffic jam or a long line at security. If you’ve cut it close you’ll just be short tempered, biting your nails, and generally creating unnecessary additional stress for yourself.

2.     Especially this year with the new TSA screening procedures be prepared to be patient. Its a mindset that you are going to go with the flow. For many people, traveling is disorienting. People are often disorganized—even if you’re not. And, most of all—almost no one wants to be in that airport. They’re there because they have to be in order to get to their destination. So, if everything goes well, that’s great; just be prepared to be in annoying and/or frustrating situations and it will be easier to keep your cool.

3.     Get to the airport early and then go to the Crown Room or Executive Lounge, or VIP area to await your flight. If you’re not a member, you can get a day pass, and it will be worth it—less noise, less crowding, snacks, reading material, and less crowds and less stress.

4.     Have some way to distract yourself and block out what’s going on around you. Bring a good book; watch a movie on your laptop or iPad; listen to your favorite music on your iPod. Bring earphones. Always bring earplugs so that you can enjoy your book or take a nap—personally, I never travel without them.

5.     Take a deep breath (here is why it really works) and perform a little Zen on yourself and think about things that make you feel good, such as what you’re going to do when you arrive at your destination. The more you think about the annoyances or frustrations of the flight, the more likely it is that you’ll pick up on every little thing that’s annoying, like the meal or beverage cart bumping into your seat or the baby crying ten rows behind you. Really—it works.

I know that we all think vacations are therapeutic, but journalist Karen Schaler has taken that notion a step farther.

A three-time Emmy award-winning multi-media journalist, professional reporter, writer and now a freelance television travel host and correspondent for ABC’s new half-hour travel show, Schaler has come up with a variety of destinations designed to enhance and enrich whatever may be most important to you at any point in your life.

On her Travel Therapy website and in her book of the same name (right), she will help you find the trip that supports your current lifestyle or changes your life. Whether you’re seeking adventure or romance, traveling solo, with “the girls,” or on your honeymoon, there’s a trip to suit your needs.

Are you into cooking or culture? Do you want to combine volunteerism with your vacation? Seeking the luxury of a private island or the economy of an all-inclusive package? Check out the possibilities online. Or maybe you’re not sure what you want—a bed and breakfast or a beach, Africa or Mexico. There’s inspiration galore waiting for you at the Travel Therapy website!

If you’ve ever tried to juggle your coffee cup while wheeling luggage and toting a briefcase, book, or magazine through the airport, wishing you had an extra hand, you’ll love the tugo™ cup holder. Attach it to the handle of your bag and it holds the cup level and steady even when the bag is on a slant while you’re walking. I call this one ingenious.

And what about trying to get some work done while you’re waiting for your flight? Here are two items that turn those waiting areas into work stations. The Travel Table is a flat platform that attaches securely to the handle of your carry-on so that you can open your laptop and work comfortably while you wait. When you’re ready to board, it detaches quickly for storage right in your briefcase or computer bag.

And finally there’s the Trip (right), a travel bag that actually turns into a seat. It’s small enough to fit in the overhead compartment yet big enough and sturdy enough, with a tripod-like brace that opens for balance, so that you can sit on it wherever you are. No more searching for an empty seat in the boarding area, or having to squeeze in next to a family of five and their luggage. Find yourself a quiet corner, sit on your Trip, and open your laptop or check messages on your phone while you wait.

It’s really important for your health and well-being to keep your body well hydrated in the dry  (more like zero humidity) cabin air. During my many years of constant air travel I’ve learned a few tricks that I’m now passing along to you.

1.     Drink coconut water before and after your flight. Sometimes, it seems no matter how much water you drink during the flight, your body doesn’t retain it. Drinking coconut water will keep you hydrated when regular water just doesn’t do it for you . I was excited to  discover that Jet Blue is offering (for September and October) coconut water in-flight!

2.     Use non-medicated, pure saline eye drops. Even if you don’t normally have a problem with dry eye, using the drops while flying will keep your eyes feeling refreshed. On private flight, I even used to give them to the pilots to refresh their eyes after hours of constantly staring at their flight instruments.

3.     Non-medicated nose spray will do the same thing for your nasal passages that the drops do for your eyes. When you’re in a plane, every part of your body tends to dry out.

4.     I am a huge fan of skin serum because it is super-moisturizing and tends to be absorbed more completely than moisturizing creams, which tend to sit on the surface of your skin and begin to feel oily or greasy.

5.     Coconut water notwithstanding, drink plenty of flat water—no carbonated beverages, no coffee, and no alcohol, all of which are dehydrating.