Passport Renewal for U.S. / American Travelers

Before Renewing Your Passport: Guidelines & Considerations

A good rule of thumb is to always ensure your passport is valid for at least six months beyond the date you enter a foreign country. In the event that there are any issues with overstaying your welcome (or your visa), this provides a bit of “cushion.” This isn’t true for every country, but it’s a safe bet that I personally swear by. So, if the expiration date on your passport is less than six months away, now is a good time to renew. Especially if you’re eyeing any upcoming trips.

Be warned that any travel visa(s) currently attached to your passport will be voided, so plan your trip accordingly.

Step #1: Get the Correct Passport Renewal Forms & Documentation

Like all things with the federal government, make sure you’re starting with the correct forms. If you’re applying for passport renewal by mail, the form you want is Form DS-82: U.S. Passport Renewal Application for Eligible Individuals (PDF).

If you’re applying in person (much easier since the clerk can verify you have all the correct paperwork), however, you’ll need Form DS-11. You’ll also need this same form in any of these cases:

• This is is your first passport
• Your last passport was lost or stolen
• Your previous passport was issued more than 15 years ago
• Your last passport was issued prior to age 16

You’ll Also Need …

• Your old passport
• The appropriate passport renewal fee (see below)
• An envelope and stamps if renewing by mail

All applicants, whether renewing their passport or applying for a new one, also need two color passport-sized photos that meet these requirements:

• They must not be more than 6 months old
• They must be taken in front of a plain white background
• You cannot be wearing glasses or sunglasses
• No touchup software (i.e. Photoshopping or Snapchat) is allowed
• You can only smile “naturally” or not at all
• No selfies allowed
• The photos must be in pristine condition (no folds, stains, or tears)

These are available at most convenience stores, pharmacies, or photography stores. Here in the United States, AAA also offers passport photography services to members.

Because you’ll need to temporarily surrender your existing passport, that means you won’t be able to travel internationally while your passport renewal is being processed. You can, however, get a second U.S. passport assuming you qualify. If you frequently travel internationally, this is a great option that will allow you to continue to travel while your passport renewal is being processed.

Step #2: Renew Your Passport

Regardless of whether you choose to renew your passport at the post office or by mail, it’s a good idea to photocopy or take photos of all your documents. This is especially true for any original documents like your existing passport and proof-of-citizenship papers.

Online Passport Renewal

If you were hoping to renew your passport online, sadly, you’re out of luck. You can fill out the appropriate renewal form online. But it will still need to be printed, then mailed or submitted in person.

Passport Renewal at the Post Office (In-Person)

If it’s an option for you, renewing your passport in-person is almost always the best way to go. You’ll find passport renewal services at your local post office or at any official passport acceptance facility. This helps minimize transit times to mail your documents and allows you to ask the post office staff any last-minute questions you have before submitting your renewal application.

Passport Renewal By Mail

Renewing your passport by mail typically takes a few days longer. Only checks or money orders are accepted as payment; credit cards are not an option.

A few things to note before mailing in your forms:

• Use a trackable delivery method like USPS Priority Mail or Certified Mail.
• Use a larger envelope that can accommodate all of your paperwork without folding.
• There are different mailing addresses for normal (non-expedited) and expedited services. Be sure to address the envelope to the correct address:

Expedited Services (for all applicants — write EXPEDITE on the outside of the envelope):

National Passport Processing Center
Post Office Box 90955
Philadelphia, PA 19190-0955

How Much Does It Cost to Renew a Passport?

Whether in-person or by mail, renewing an adult passport book costs a flat USD $110. For expedited renewal, there is an additional $60 fee plus any additional expedited shipping charges (around $15).

You can score an optional passport card for $30. However, this can be only be used as identification for some domestic travel by air, and travel by land/sea in Canada, Bermuda, Mexico, and the Caribbean. Just to be sure: while it’s a good backup, a passport card cannot be used to substitute a passport for air travel.

Step #3: Hurry Up and Wait … (But, Seriously, How Long Does It Take?)

The wait to receive your renewed passport can feel excruciating, especially if you’re itching to travel right now. But the federal government usually turns around passport applications fairly quickly. In general:

• Standard passport renewals: 4-6 weeks
• Expedited passport renewals: 3 weeks
• Third-party passport agency: Usually 7 business days or less

These can change based on several factors, including the time of year, how busy the government is, and whether your application requires additional processing or scrutiny.

If you require guaranteed expedited service, there are third-party passport renewal services that can handle the entire process for you with lightning fast turnaround.

The post Passport Renewal: Everything American Travelers Need to Know appeared first on Vagabondish.

No, these fall into more of a gray area. Enough plausible deniability on the hotel’s part (“What? We told you there was free Wi-Fi … we just didn’t say where.”), but still plenty annoying from a traveler’s perspective.

Here are five of the worst, most deceptive tactics many hotels are using these days to mislead unsuspecting travelers.

#1: Deceptive Room Categories

Hotels use a number of empty adjectives to pretty-up their otherwise not-so-pretty rooms. These days, “Deluxe” and “Superior” are to hotel rooms what “gourmet” and “artisanal” are to lousy food: completely meaningless. Not to mention, the word “superior” is relative. It’s senseless to use it to describe an entry-level room.

“Garden” is another one. While sometimes accurate, more often than not, it’s code for “your balcony offers sweeping views of our parking lot full of dumpsters.”

But the mother of them all is “Oceanview”. Again, sometimes it’s accurate, but it’s often only technically accurate. “No, no … you can totally see the water. You just have to stand on the balcony air conditioning unit and cock your head like so …”

#2: Free (But Very Limited) Wi-Fi

(That any hotel is still charging for Wi-Fi these days is mind-boggling. It’s a disgraceful, Ryanair-style tactic. But we’ll talk about that another time …)

These days, hotels are instead touting “FREE WI-FI!” However, they never quite nail down exactly where the Wi-Fi is free. Can I actually get it, ya know, in my room? Or is it only available in the lobby? Or sometimes in the lobby? Or in the third-floor janitor’s closet? And is it a high-speed connection or can I actually hear the modem connecting a la AOL circa 1997?

I once stayed at a five-star resort in Africa where the “free” Wi-Fi was only available from one particular chair in the lobby during a one-hour window every afternoon. I’m not kidding. While not every hotel is quite that bad, it’s still a deceptive tactic and they know it.

#3: Hidden “Resort Fee” Charge

This one is particularly insidious and it’s exploded in popularity in the last few years. The gist is simple: charge guests a one-time fee for simple, often essential, amenities. Want to visit the gym, use the Wi-Fi, or drink the bottled water in your room? Yeah, that’s a $20 upcharge. Daily.

What’s worse is that it’s cropping up in hotels that are far from “resorts“. Most hotels reveal this surcharge somewhere, but it’s often intentionally buried on their website’s fine print or on one of the multiple papers you hurriedly signed at check-in. If you visit a handful of hotels each year, chances are you’ve already paid this fee at some point and not even known it.

#4: When “All-inclusive” Really Isn’t

I know it’s weird, but “all-inclusive” used to mean every last thing was included in your stay: food, booze, watersports, shows, and access to every restaurant on the property. No more. Now, almost every “all-inclusive” resort is really “mostly-inclusive” or, even worse, “kinda-inclusive”.

Resorts are now saving the best food for their a la carte (read: not included) restaurants, where the additional fees are sometimes $50 USD or more per couple, not including booze. And they would historically only charge for things like jet skiing or scuba diving. Now, even basics like kayaking and use of snorkel equipment are extra.

At an “all-inclusive” property (sorry, but that term requires quotes every time) in the Dominican Republic recently, the staff provided me with a list of what was and was not included with my stay. The “additional fee” list was almost twice as long as the inclusions.

#5: “City” Hotels That Aren’t Anywhere Near the City

This final tactic is cropping up especially in suburbs throughout the United States. It’s the “City Hotel, but Not Really” naming-scheme. I’m talking about when you book “Joe’s Goodtime Boston Beantown Resort” with dreams of walking to the city’s best bars, shops, and restaurants … only to realize that Joe evidently doesn’t own a map. Because Joe’s Boston Resort is actually 50 minutes outside the city.

While they’re not technically doing anything illegal here, this is intentionally misleading and they know it. And, while travelers should always do their research before visiting a destination, they still shouldn’t be hoodwinked into thinking they’re staying somewhere — or at least near somewhere — that they aren’t.

The Bottom Line

As with anything, the key is scrutiny. Hotels count on intentionally obscuring or misleading travelers, knowing full well that you won’t realize “Free Wi-Fi” doesn’t actually mean “Free Wi-Fi in your room” until you check-in. And, by then, it’s too late. Do your research, read plenty of reviews carefully, and always call the hotel directly with any questions.

The post The 5 Sleaziest Tricks Hotels Are Using to Screw You Over appeared first on Vagabondish.

According to a prominent study that I just made up for this post, we know travelers (want to) spend up to two-thirds of their vacations sleeping. But many can’t sleep in hotel rooms or, at the very least, have a hard time. With less than 10 minutes of first-day prep, you can save yourself hours of precious sleep.

Can’t Sleep in Hotel Rooms?

Are you constantly stricken with insomnia every time you crash at a hotel? First, start with our 6 Tips for Sleeping Well in a Foreign Place.

If that doesn’t work and you still find yourself wide awake in the wee hours checking for hidden hotel wall art or learning to bake muffins with the hotel iron, try these tips to turn your hotel room into a fortress of solitude.

Ask for an “Isolated” Room

Be sure to secure a room away from noisy things like elevators, ice machines, or heavy foot traffic. The best location is often at the end of a dead-end hallway, near the stairs.

Note that if you book your room through a third-party website (e.g. Expedia, Hotwire, etc.), you’re not likely to get the hotel’s choice rooms or have a say in where your room is on the property. In most cases, you simply get what you get.

Your best bet is to book directly with the hotel’s website and make sure you’re a member of their (often free) loyalty program. Loyal customers always get preferential treatment.

Hang the Do Not Disturb Tag

Once you make it to your hotel room, hang the Do Not Disturb tag immediately. Above all else, this is the first thing I do upon arrival. Housekeeping and others who hate letting people sleep may flat-out ignore that request, but it’s worth a try.

In some corners of the world (and in some, let’s call them “hotels of lesser repute”), hotels may simply not provide DnD tags. Which is why I travel with a generic one of my own that I’ve borrowed from previous stays.

For shorter stays of up to three days, hotel housekeeping will likely leave you alone if you hang the DnD tag. Anything longer and the front desk will call at some point to make sure you’re not dead.

Unplug the Hotel’s Alarm Clock

I can’t tell you how many times I’ve awoken at 3 a.m. because the previous guest must’ve worked nights at the cemetery and never turned off their own alarm. And housekeeping didn’t do it either.

Save yourself the hassle by unplugging the alarm clock immediately. It’s 2019 anyway — just use the alarm on your smartphone.

… and Unplug the Damn Phone

These days, I find the front desk increasingly likely to call out of the blue just to say hi and make sure everything’s ok. It’s a nice bit of customer service, but they have a knack for calling 30 minutes after check-in, just as I’m dozing for an afternoon nap. If you aren’t expecting any phone calls, unplug the phone.

Pack Some White Noise in Your Pocket

This one’s all about personal preference. Few things help me sleep like a baby like white noise: the hum of an air conditioner fan, a hard rain, the sultry voice of the Forensic Files narrator.

If you’re the same, download one of the many free “white noise” apps available for Android and iPhone. Or, if you’re the sort of hotshot who can afford to shop at Brookstone, opt for a dedicated white noise machine. The smallest ones (like this one from HoMedics) are affordable and packable.

Draw the Curtains the Right Way

Draw the curtains — both the inner and outer if there’s more than one set. But, for those of you who can’t sleep in hotel rooms, you knew that already.

The not-so-obvious pro tip is to always travel with a few paper binder clips (like these with strawberries and flowers on them). They’re small, lightweight, and practically free. And they keep you organized. But, for sleep purposes, they also close the inevitable gap between the curtains in your hotel room, blocking out all semblance of sleep-depriving sunlight.

Switch the Hotel AC/Heater Fan to “On”

Again, if you’re a light sleeper and/or enjoy white noise, you probably loathe the constant switching on/off of your hotel room’s HVAC system. To me, this is the bane of my hotel existence. It’s nails on a chalkboard.

The solution? Switch the HVAC system fan to “On”. Most systems have two fan settings: “On” or “Auto”. I switch it to “On” to make sure it’s not clicking on/off all night (as is this case in “Auto” mode).

Ear Plugs. All the Ear Plugs.

Right after my passport and a couple of nips of bourbon, the next thing that goes into my carry-on is a pair of earplugs. Seriously, I don’t understand how anyone — particularly those who can’t sleep in hotel rooms — travels without them. They’re cheap, packable, and comfortable (I recommend these).

Spray Your Bed

Some fancier hotels (Crowne Plaza comes to mind) are investing in signature scents. Partly for branding, but also because they have a measurable calming effect on hotel guests.

Find a scent that calms and relaxes you. Peppermint and other mint scents are a good place to start. Pack a small spray travel bottle of it and spritz your bed before lying down each night. It won’t work for everyone, but even a little sleep advantage is better than none.

(Full disclosure: I don’t actually use this tip because I only travel with Axe Body Spray and that doesn’t calm anyone. But, there is some science to back it up, and in the fancier hotel rooms in which I’ve stayed that do this, it seems to help.)

Still Can’t Sleep in Hotels?

If you’ve tried all of these tips, but still can’t sleep in hotel rooms? Sorry, there’s no hope for you. I’d try Ambien and a few glasses of Shiraz.

The post Can’t Sleep in Hotel Rooms? Here’s How to Turn Yours Into a Fortress of Solitude appeared first on Vagabondish.

While it’s technically “The Holiday Travel” episode, we chatted about road-tripping with our stoned cat, booking last-minute travel, a few bits of travel gear that I recommend every traveler pack (hint: always bring a backup battery), and some tips that are helpful no matter what time of year you’re traveling.

We tackle burning questions like: When is the best time to travel? What about buying tickets? Is it true that prices are different on different days? What about the rumor that prices will change if you revisit a website, even if it’s only an hour later?

It’s a quick, 30-minute listen but I promise there’s lots of great tips inside. Enjoy!

Listen Now

The post Holiday Travel Tips With the ‘Beards, Booze, and Bacon’ Podcast appeared first on Vagabondish.

Let me explain.

For years, I’ve pared down my travel kit with the obsessiveness of a hoarder, but in reverse. It started when I was traveling the Caribbean and Mexico for two weeks every month. I decided to shave my head. This was partly out of comfort since no hair means less heat retention, but it also meant I could pack less in my toiletries bag (no more shampoo or giant cans of Aquanet!).

I bought solid sunscreen sticks instead of lotions and roll-on insect repellent instead of spray.

I started packing only a sliver of emergency soap on the off-chance that my hotel didn’t have any (rare). But, for the most part, I relied on my hotel’s free bath products. And I got by just fine.

But, I still had to pack liquid toothpaste. Which really put a crimp in the goal of downsizing my liquids. This is important because, frankly, the fewer liquids I carry on, the more room I have in my tiny, TSA-approved Ziploc bag for bottles of bourbon. Amiright?

Then, I found out about The Dirt — a non-liquid “Trace Mineral Tooth Brushing Powder.” So, of course, I disappeared down the rabbit hole to find out what the hell powdered toothpaste was. I read way more reviews and science and the Wikipedia page for “bentonite clay” than any person should need to read in a lifetime.

Then I bought some. This is what I’ve found so far …

The Dirt Tooth Powder Review

The Skinny on The Dirt Powdered Toothpaste

So … what is it? The company describes The Dirt tooth powder as:

The company goes on to say that it’s:

• Easy to use
• 100% Natural Ingredients
• Fluoride-free
• Naturally whitening
• A little goes a long way! Up to 6 months of servings in one large jar.
• Tastes great naturally (no GMO-derived Xylitol)
• No corn, soy or gluten

That’s all stuff my teeth like to hear!

What’s In It?

I opted for the Super Mint flavor which contains only all-natural ingredients including:

The Traveler’s Take

How Do You Use It?

I was skeptical that dipping a damp toothbrush in a jar full of fine powder would result in a sticky, gunky mess. But, it’s surprisingly clean and straightforward to use.

You wet your toothbrush and tap off the excess water. Then, dip the damp bristles into the jar of The Dirt. Finally, tap off the excess powder and brush as normal.

I expected it to feel gritty like trying to dry-brush with sidewalk chalk. But the natural moisture in your mouth is enough to make it feel like you’re brushing with regular, non- powdered toothpaste. It’s not quite as silky smooth as toothpaste, maybe 80% as smooth. The difference is negligible.

How Does It Taste?

In a word: delicious! After my first use, I realized just how chemically most commercial toothpaste tastes. The Super Mint flavor of The Dirt has a smooth, subtle mintiness that doesn’t feel like it’s carpet-bombing my mouth with CRISPMINTYFRESHNESS!!! to get it clean.

By comparison, the Sensodyne I’ve been using for a few years has a slightly astringent mouthfeel. Like it’s working a little too hard to get my teeth and mouth clean.

The Dirt Tooth Powder Dentist Reviews

Like I said, I read way too much about this. I should, right? Since I’m considering abandoning the 100% ADA-approved fluoride-rich brand-name toothpaste I’ve been using for years. I wanted to hear what dentists had to say.

Most of the reviews and interviews with dentists pointed out two main things. First, the primary active ingredient in The Dirt is bentonite clay. It’s a time-tested, all-natural substance. “The real benefit of bentonite clay is that it is abrasive enough to remove the plaque, but not so much so that it will do damage to your enamel,” William Graves, DMD told Self magazine.

To get scientific: silica is a common abrasive used in many brand-name kinds of toothpaste. While tooth enamel is in the middle of the Mohs Hardness Scale at a 5, silica is a 7 (talc hits 1 on the scale, 10 is for diamonds). Clays such as bentonite score around 2 on the hardness scale, making them much less abrasive than silica and unlikely to ever damage tooth enamel. This is, of course, a good thing.

BUT, The Dirt is intentionally free of fluoride. According to the American Dental Association, this is a vital component to help protect your mouth against cavities. It’s been proven to remineralize weak spots in tooth enamel. A spokesperson for the ADA, Dr. Kim Harms, told Yahoo, “The number one big star, the ingredient that can reduce 25 percent of cavities, is fluoride. That’s what you always want to look for in your toothpaste.”

In an interview with Yahoo Beauty, makers of The Dirt countered, “We eschew fluoride in our products, as one of our core beliefs in maintaining good health is to source the nutrition your body needs from whole foods, minerals, and herbs.” They went on to cite European countries like Denmark, Holland, and Sweden tap where water has never been treated with fluoride.

So, fluoride works. Anyone who knows what they’re talking about in the dental world agrees that it works. But, at what cost?

The Dirt Tooth Powder: Before and After

I’ve always taken good care of my teeth: brushing daily, flossing (most of the time), and making sure not to drink too much coffee. Still, the whiteness of my teeth has faded over time. So, I’m not expecting teeth-whitening miracles from using The Dirt. I’m just hoping that it helps.

As for the all-important “before and after” shots … check back in about a month. I’ve only just started using The Dirt, so it’s too early to tell how much of a difference it will or won’t make.

Buy The Dirt Tooth Powder

The Dirt Tooth Powder isn’t cheap. A six-month jar direct from The Dirt website is about $30.

But, if you only want to try it and you’re not ready to commit that much, you can score a small travel size jar of this tooth powder on Amazon for far less.

Bestselling Alternatives

Have You Tried The Dirt Tooth Powder?

What was your experience with it?

If not, would you try an all-natural powdered toothpaste like The Dirt? Let us know in the comments below!

The post Why I Brush My Teeth With ‘Dirt’ When I Travel appeared first on Vagabondish.

So, when we decided to take our “boss”, Lizzi, on a three-month road trip of the U.S. East Coast, people told us we were crazy. They weren’t wrong. Frankly, we had no clue how to travel with a cat in a car long distance.

Anyone who’s ever tried taking their feline for even a five-minute car ride knows the struggle. Now, imagine bringing them on a seven-hour drive. It can be … stressful. But, our current living situation left us no choice. So, we prepped and researched and did the best we could to make things as comfortable for everyone as possible.

Fast-forward to the middle of our road trip. We’ve been traveling with our calico kitty for almost two months now, and we’ve learned quite a bit about what works. Here are our favorite tips for keeping your (and your cat’s) sanity on a long-term road trip without anyone ending up in the hospital.

How to Travel with a Cat in a Car Long Distance (with a Litter Box)

Prepare for Your Road Trip with A Dress Rehearsal

Of course, the best way to see how your cat will react on a long distance car ride is to actually put them in the car and go somewhere. It’s one thing to drive them quickly to the vet and back. But, you want to see how they’ll react on a long distance road trip.

We took a few short trips near home to see how Lizzi dealt with it. Almost any cat will be stressed, especially at first. Lizzi was no different. We let her out of the carrier in the car, she paced, she panted, she cried. She wasn’t happy. But after about an hour, she began to calm down.

Now, she still paces, pants, and cries on travel days but only for a short while. Then, after about 20 minutes, she usually settles down on top of our belongings in the back seat and just chills out. Or, at least tries to chill out.

Shop the Right Cat Carrier or Cat Crate

Most cat owners rarely consider their cat’s carrier or crate. It’s not something most people use often. But, your cat will likely spend more time in and out of it on the road than ever before. Make sure it’s sized properly for your kitty.

We had a soft-sided mesh carrier which worked fine. But, we ultimately switched to this hard-sided carrier with a removable fluffy liner, and Lizzi is much happier with it. We bring it into our Airbnbs and she’ll oftentimes curl up inside of it and sleep.

Of course, depending on your cat’s temperament, you may not need a cat carrier at all. We probably don’t as Lizzi is fine being picked up, held, and carried. But, we opted to use one anyway for the added security of knowing that she won’t get spooked once we stop somewhere and run off.

Take Your Cat to the Vet

This one’s a no-brainer. Before leaving home, make a stop at your local vet. Make sure your kitty is healthy enough for travel. Shots up to date? Any obvious health signs that should be investigated before hitting the road? Do you need to load up on prescription meds to last the duration of your trip? Any special dietary needs to tend to (e.g. does she need special food that may be hard to find away from home)?

Get Your Cat Microchipped

Aside from occasional breaks on our apartment balcony, Lizzi has been an indoor cat her whole life. I’m not sure she’d last ten minutes outdoors. Either something would eat her (she’s awfully plump) or someone would steal her (she’s far too pretty). Or she’d just plain wander off and get lost.

This last reason is why we paid to have her microchipped. The service is available at most vet offices these days, and it costs around $50. But, the rice-grain-sized chip isn’t even noticeable by her or us. And it’s serious peace of mind on the off-chance she goes missing while we’re on the road.

Find Familiar Objects for Your Cat’s Road Trip

Cats are creatures of habit. Making their environment as comfortable and familiar as possible is key. We packed Lizzi’s favorite blankets so we could lay them out at Airbnbs for her to curl up on (this has the added benefit of protecting our hosts’ furniture). Anything — toys, chews, scratching posts, etc. — that already has your cat’s scent on it is a good thing.

Slow Travel: Long Days, Less Days

Cats adapt slowly to new environments. They need to get their bearings, orient themselves, and ease into feeling comfortable with the new smells, sights, and sounds around them. This is especially true when you take your cat on a long distance road trip, and their new world becomes the backseat of a car moving at highway speeds.

For our road trip, we opted for fewer travel days but each day is a bit longer. We found about six hours is Lizzi’s max in the car. Any longer and she gets very stir crazy and irritable. Moving around less also means that we’re staying in each destination a bit longer which gives her more time to acclimate to each new living space along the way.

Keep Calm and Carry … Cat Treats

You may think you know your cat. But stress can make cats behave in (even more) mysterious ways. Lizzi is pretty chill, especially by cat standards. But she hates — hates — being in her cat carrier. And in the car. And especially in her cat carrier in the car.

Before recent trips to the vet, we discovered half of an all-natural calming treat helped ease her state of a mind. We’re not keen on medicating her to the point where she’s “stoned,” but we’re less keen on her being needlessly terrified for six hours. We found those same treats help relax her for car rides. Especially during the first 1-2 hours where she’s likely to be the most stressed.

Also, if you have any issues giving your kitty medication, we highly recommend Greenies Feline Pill Pockets. Lizzi needs a pill every day to keep her hyperthyroidism in check, but we could never get her to take it. We tried crushing it up in her wet food, but then we never knew how much of the medication she was actually getting. These Pill Pockets were a game-changer!

How to Take a Roadside Lunch Break

We were positive Lizzi would have no interest in food while on the road trip. But, since we have to stop every day to give her her medication, we found it an ideal time to attempt a bit of dry food as well. We’ll typically stop half-way through our travel day to grab some lunch for ourselves. This is when we’ll pour a small serving of dry food into her familiar food dish and let her snack a bit. She rarely eats much when we stop, but something is better than nothing.

Water has been another story. She really won’t drink in the car. But, most of her daily water intake comes from eating wet food (which we give her in the morning and at night), so that doesn’t seem to be an issue.

… and a Pee Break Too

Of course, the most challenging part of long-distance road tripping with a cat is how to handle the dreaded bathroom break. Dogs are easy; the world is their bathroom. But cats need the right setting: the perfect lighting, some votive candles, Yanni music, and, of course, a litter box.

To be honest, we had no idea how we’d handle this in the beginning. We wung it for the first few weeks, and hoped for the best. We figured she doesn’t pee more than 1-2 times a day at home anyway so a few hours in the car would be a cakewalk for her.

Then an idea hit us … our clothes were packed into a single, large suitcase in the backseat. It was easy enough to stop in a shady spot at a truck stop or service plaza, then pull the entire suitcase out and leave it next to the car. In the space left by the now-removed suitcase, we put a disposable litter box and poured a bit of litter in the bottom. To our amazement, Lizzi the (now expert) Travel Cat hopped in and peed almost immediately!

Once she’s done, I wrap a plastic litter box liner around the entire litter box and stow the whole thing back in her travel tote. Then, I put the suitcase back in the backseat, and we’re on our way.

Keep It Cool

It goes without saying that you should never leave an animal in a sealed-up car, period. On travel days, one of us is always in the car with Lizzi with the air conditioner running. So she stays calm, cool, and safe.

… and Keep Your Cool

Like dogs, cats naturally soak up stress from their bosses (er … owners). If you’re wigging out and screaming in traffic, your cat will sense that and, in turn, stress out more. Maintain your composure, talk softly to them occasionally to remind them you’re there, and soothe them as best you can.

Some cats may want extra affection while traveling which is why it’s ideal to have a co-pilot, while others may want to be left alone. You just need to see what works best for your kitty.

Clean-Up Duty

One of the dirtiest parts about traveling with a cat is clean-up duty. No matter where you’re staying — at a hotel, Airbnb, or campground — you’re going to want to clean up after your cat at checkout. We packed a washable rubberized mat to place under Lizzi’s litter box. It’s a snap to pick up and shake out over the trash when we’re ready to leave. Plus, we can hose it down in the shower if it gets a little funky.

We also packed an arsenal of cleaning products including this ultra-portable, stand-up Shark Rocket vacuum and a Swiffer kit. Since we’re mainly staying in Airbnbs for this road trip, we want to be the best guests we can be. And that means leaving our accommodations better than we found them.

Settle In and Settle Down

When we get where we’re going, our routine is to bring the cat and all her accouterments (which is a shocking amount of things!) inside before doing anything else. Lizzi is so habituated to life on the road now that, once we stop and I call her to her carrier in the back seat, she climbs right in.

Once inside, we set up her water, food, and bathroom immediately so she can start settling in as quickly as possible. Then we tend to all the other things we need to do at each stop.

The Bottom Line

There are, of course, no set rules for how to travel with a cat in a car. Your mileage with these tips may vary. Dogs are more predictable, laid-back, and easy to travel with in general. Cats are temperamental, finicky creatures by nature. Some, none, or all of these tips may work for you. If you’re heading on a long-distance road trip with your cat, I hope for your sake it’s smooth sailing.

It’s all still a work-in-progress for us. As we’re gearing up for an even longer fall road trip, we’re keen to hear other travelers’ experiences. So, fellow pet owners, what are your tips for how to travel with a cat in a car? Let us know in the comments below what did and didn’t work for you!

After two short months on the road, it seems Lizzi has become the model of how to travel with a cat in a car long distance!

Packing List for Traveling with Your Cat in a Car

These are the best cat-friendly products that we relied on most during our long-distance road trip.

Petlinks Purr-FECT Paws Cat Litter Mat

A flexible, easy-to-clean rubber mat that helps reduce scattering of litter — great for Airbnb stays!

Kitty’s WonderBox Disposable Litter Box

These were probably the single best thing we bought for our road trip with Lizzi! They help control odor, they’re ultra-durable, and they don’t leak. In our experience, each one easily lasted a few weeks, so a 3-pack was good for 1-2 months of travel.

Foldable Travel Cat Carrier – Front Door Plastic Collapsible Carrier

We upgraded from her soft-sided carrier to this hard-sided one. It folds down semi-flat and it’s super easy to wipe clean inside and out. Plus, it came with a soft, comfortable pad that Lizzi loved to sleep on in the car.

Purina Tidy Cats LightWeight Instant Action Clumping Cat Litter

Lizzi’s tote of road trip essentials was surprisingly large! This ultra-light cat litter helped keep the weight of her “stuff” to a minimum. Plus, it works great!

The post We Drove Cross-Country With Our Cat (and Nobody Died) appeared first on Vagabondish.

But not everyone can shell out the ridiculous prices it costs to travel in Business or First Class. “Help me, I’m poor!”

Here are seven tips to make your Economy experience a little less miserable and — although not exactly like First Class — a whole lot better than your buddies who didn’t read this post.

#1: Book The Right Seats

Before picking your seats, check Seat Guru. You’ll find critical seat information like if you’re going to be stuck sitting next to a bassinet (a.k.a. a screaming child) or the bathroom (a.k.a. poop smells) all flight long.

If traveling with a friend, book the window and the aisle seat. More often than not, the center seat will remain empty which = more room. And even if someone swoops that seat, they will only be extra grateful to you when you ask them to switch to the window.

#2: Carry On Cocktail Kit (… and a Plastic Champagne Flute)

Just because you’re not in First Class doesn’t mean you can’t drink like you are. First Class offers top shelf liquors. So, if you’re a booze snob (I hope to be you one day by the way), head to BevMo and purchase premium mini liquor bottles to take on the plane.

If you only care about the buzz (holla!), it’s all about how you drink that drink. Pack a mini cocktail kit and a plastic champagne flute for ultimate luxury that even your Instagram won’t be able to tell you just faked.

#3: Pack Your Own Snacks

Let’s be real, Economy in-flight meals will never win Top Chef or even, say, a pre-school cooking competition. The real difference between Economy and First Class (aside from the seats which, well, there’s no solution for that) is the food.

The key here is snacking. First class offers a wide array of options available any time during the flight, so be sure to pack a variety of treats. A few of my favorite are: clementines, a cheese and crackers snack box (thank you, Starbucks), See’s Candy, nuts (to go with your cocktails obvi), dried/fresh fruit, coconut water (which you should purchase at the airport), pretzels, and a small pack of almond butter.

#4: Bring a Face Mask

Sure, you run the risk of looking like a serial killer for 30 minutes but it’s well worth the temporary embarrassment. Grab one of those sheet masks, head to the bathroom, wash your face and your hands and once you’re back at your seat, plop that baby on.

If you’re on the shy side, wait until the cabin lights are dimmed. Bonus tip: make sure it doesn’t have a strong smell, you want to avoid acting like a serial killer.

#5: Bring PJs to Change Into

On long haul flights, First Class fliers get their own personal jammies. If they get it, so should we, amirite?

Bring a change of cozy clothes to put on whenever you’re ready to hit that snooze button. Oh, and don’t forget some socks (compression socks are the best).

#6: Eye Mask, Ear Plugs, and a Neck Pillow

This one is a must. For ultimate relaxation, don’t forget a heavy duty eye mask and a pair of ear plugs to drown out your neighbor’s snores.

If you’re fancy enough to have a pair of noise-canceling headphones … well, I’m incredibly jealous of you.

#7: Bring an iPad Filled With Movies

Most airlines provide decent entertainment, even in Economy. But, if you really want to take it to the next level, download a bunch of movies on your iPad. Just make sure it’s charged before takeoff or bring a portable charging stick. Pack a ziplock full of popcorn and you, my friend, are all set.

And now I know it won’t be exactly like Upper Class, but it’ll sure make your Economy experience a whole lot more bearable. Hopefully, this makes you less likely to channel that iconic scene from Bridesmaids where you put on your biggest shades and sneak into the First Class Cabin, Mrs. Iglesias.

Remember, a flight is just that. A flight that takes you somewhere new, somewhere special, and begins your journey to discovery. So what if you have to sit in a smelly, cramped tube for several hours? At least you’ll have extra money to spend on the actual adventure now.

Safe travels!

The post 7 Ways to Fake a First Class Experience in Economy appeared first on Vagabondish.

We combed CDC Travel and other health resources to gather a list of diseases and the most common travel illnesses, and all the reasons why you want to avoid them.

The Most Common Travel Illnesses

#1: Cholera

Forgive me for feeling that this disease sounded romantic when Gabriel Garcia Marquez included it in the title of his novel Love in the Time of Cholera — it is actually pretty nasty. You might pick it up in many parts of Africa and Asia, but it can occur anywhere with poor sanitation. You don’t want cholera because you’ll end up with diarrhea, vomiting, and fever, and it has the potential to be fatal, too.

Jabs are all well and good but the usefulness of the cholera vaccine is disputed — some experts say its effectiveness is only 50%. Since you pick up the cholera bacteria from contaminated food and water, you should avoid uncooked food and unbottled water.

© Ross_Angus

#2: Tetanus

While tetanus is the kind of disease that could happen to you anywhere, the highest number of reported incidences are in places like India and countries in central Africa. Tetanus is also called lockjaw for a good reason — it affects your nervous system and makes your muscles spasm and seize up.

But the good news about tetanus is that the vaccine is perfect. As long as you have your booster every ten years. Even in the United States, five people still die every year from tetanus, so it’s worth getting the jab even if you’re not planning to travel soon.

#3: Typhoid

Don’t ask me why, but typhoid has always sounded really dark and tragic to me. What I hadn’t realized is that it’s actually caused by the salmonella bacteria, and is transmitted if you consume food or water that’s been contaminated by the feces of an infected person. Nasty. It’s most commonly contracted in India and parts of Asia, Africa, and South America.

Typhoid is a disease that might hit you suddenly, but then develops slowly — you’ll get a fever, and after a week or so you might become delirious. In the vast majority of cases, it isn’t fatal, and the vaccine is also reasonably effective.

© jurvetson

#4: Dengue Fever

Once you know that dengue fever has been nicknamed break-bone fever or bonecrusher disease, you know it’s something you want to avoid. The initial fever is made worse by a headache, muscle and joint pains along with a really unattractive rash.

Dengue fever is most commonly found in tropical areas and parts of Africa. It’s a bit scarier because it also occurs in more developed parts of the tropics, like Singapore or Taiwan. Mosquitoes spread this disease and there’s no commercial vaccine yet, so use a repellent and nets to avoid getting bitten.

#5: Hepatitis

The various incarnations of hepatitis are running there way through the alphabet, but travelers need to worry most about types A and B.

Hepatitis A is found in developing countries including India, Mexico, Latin America and parts of Africa and is a nasty infection of the liver. Symptoms include fever, nausea and jaundice for a week or up to several months, but it’s rarely fatal, and it is usually picked up from contaminated food and water or close contact with infected people.

Hep A’s big, bad brother Hepatitis B is found in similar regions, plus the Middle East and some Pacific Islands, and can lead to a whole heap of liver damage, cirrhosis of the liver and liver cancer. Fortunately, it’s also harder to catch, as it’s usually transmitted only via blood, shared needles and body fluids. You have to plan ahead if you’re traveling to a Hepatitis B risk area because vaccinations must start over six months before you travel. And this one can kill you.

#6: Malaria

This is one of the trickiest diseases (and one of the most common travel illnesses) to deal with while traveling abroad. Most of the medication needs to be taken before, during, and after your trip, and some of it can have unpleasant side effects. These days, malaria is found in at least a hundred countries — the Center for Disease Control has quite a handy risk map to check your destination.

Malaria Control Sign © otisarchives2

You can catch malaria from a mosquito bite, so covering up against these nasties is a must along with taking medication. Symptoms including a fever and something similar to the flu; it’s not usually fatal, but it can be. Scientists are still working on a vaccine against malaria, and that’s something that would be a big benefit to travels if they figured it out successfully.

#7: Yellow Fever

Another mosquito-borne nasty is yellow fever. It’s among the most common travel illnesses, mostly found in the tropical parts of South America and Sub-Saharan Africa.

Victims usually end up with jaundice, hence “yellow” fever. But while yellow fever can also kill you, it’s easier to prevent because the vaccination is nearly always effective, and only needs to be administered a couple of weeks before you travel.

#8: HIV / AIDS

While definitely not only a travelers’ disease, HIV is becoming a serious issue for travelers in Africa and South East Asia where it’s become scarily prevalent. Yet a lot of carriers don’t realize they have the virus. As a result, many of these people will remain untreated and consequently, die of AIDS.

Fortunately, reducing your risk of contracting HIV as a traveler is mostly a matter of common sense and taking care. Avoid casual sex, use your own, high-quality condoms if you have sex with someone you meet, don’t share needles or syringes or get a tattoo or piercing. Common sense, right?

#9: Japanese Encephalitis

Those mosquitoes are responsible for all manner of unfriendly diseases and Japanese encephalitis is definitely one to avoid. It affects the central nervous system, causing severe flu-like symptoms, and it can be fatal. The vaccine is quite effective, especially if you get the recommended two doses.

And contrary to the suggestion in its name, Japanese encephalitis isn’t limited to Japan at all — it’s most common in agricultural regions of countries like Vietnam, Cambodia, India, Nepal and Malaysia. Again, cover up against mosquitoes if you’re traveling in these areas.

#10: Meningitis

Meningitis is another common travel illness/disease that’s not exclusively the province of travelers or the third world — it can occur, rarely, in Western countries too. However, the “Meningitis Belt” is an area stretching across Africa from Senegal to Ethiopia where it’s relatively common for large outbreaks of meningococcal meningitis to occur.

Meningitis usually comes from contact with, ahem, nose or throat discharges from someone who’s infected. This time you’ll also start with a fever, but usually progress to vomiting, a stiff neck and a bad purple rash. There are vaccinations available (but not against all kinds), or antibiotics can treat it. If you have suspicion of having meningitis, it’s the sort of thing you want to check out immediately — untreated cases are often fatal.

So, there you have it: the most common travel illnesses. If you get your shots before you travel, and you’re relatively careful on the road, the worst case scenario is usually just a minor version of these nasty diseases. But remember, I’m not a doctor, so check with yours before you head off into the danger zone.

For more info on the most common travel illnesses and foreign diseases, check out:

• CDC Yellow Book 2018: Health Information for International Travel
• CDC’s Travelers’ Health Resource
• The Travel Doctor
• World Health Organization’s International Travel and Health Report

The post These Are the 10 Nastiest Travel Diseases appeared first on Vagabondish.

If you’re heading anywhere with questionable tap water, this is something you need to think about. While I hate scaremongering when it comes to travel, water-related disease and illness (think cholera, dysentery, and hepatitis A) are a very real concern in many parts of the world.

Assuming you’d rather not go the bottled water route (which can get expensive, is extremely wasteful, and is not always available in parts of the world), here are five alternatives to purifying water while traveling.

Best Ways to Purify Water While Traveling

Portable UV Water Purifier

UV water purifiers are hands-down my preferred method to purify water while traveling. I travel with the SteriPen Ultra UV Water Purifier and, after several years, have zero complaints. It’s portable, lightweight, sturdy, and — the best part — it destroys more than 99.9% of viruses, bacteria, and protozoa.

If there’s a downside, it’s that UV water purifiers require batteries. Older SteriPen models relied on proprietary batteries that are difficult to find in more remote regions of the world. Thankfully, newer models like the Ultra are rechargeable via a USB cable that can be connected to any standard, powered USB outlet (like a wall, laptop, or spare battery pack).

How: For this water purifier, you simply push the only button on the unit, then swirl the UV bulb around the water until the timer stops. It doesn’t get much simpler. A smiley face pops onto the OLED screen if you’ve done it correctly, so you can feel a sense of accomplishment.

Survival Straws for Purifying Water While Traveling

A close second to the SteriPen Ultra … Ultra-lightweight survival straws are among the newest and best ways to purify water while traveling.

Among the many brands now available, LifeStraw is still my favorite — it’s less than $20 USD, filters a minimum of 99.9% of bacteria and protozoan pathogens, and lasts for up to 1,000 liters of contaminated water.

How: They function like a wide drinking straw — stick the business end into almost any water source and sip.

Purify Water with Chemicals

Although chemical purification covers a few different means of purifying water, I’m lumping them all into one method for simplification. Water purification tablets have been used by backcountry hikers for years. They’re cheap, portable, and effective. A 100-pack of Aquatabs, for example, is available via Amazon and they won’t leave your water tasting like chemicals.

The same can’t be said for bleach. It’s dirt-cheap, readily available, and extremely effective at killing nasty things in just about any water. But, it also leaves the water tasting, well, bleachy. Thankfully, you only need about two drops per gallon for it to effectively purify your water.

Boiling

If none of the above are available to you, the age-old method of boiling is one of the simplest and most effective ways of purifying water of any unwanted living organisms. This includes parasites, bacteria, and other pathogens.

You might wonder who the hell travels with pots and pans? GSI Outdoors makes great, lightweight, portable camp pots that are perfect for traveling. I pack their Halulite Boiler on every trip so I can make coffee and breakfast oatmeal no matter where I’m staying. (Incidentally, it also doubles as a place to safely store small, possibly fragile, souvenirs when I’m heading home)

How: Place your water in a heat-safe container (metal, ceramic, or glass will do) and boil over a high-heat source for ten minutes.

Distillation via a Solar Still

Distillation is the most effective means of purifying water when you have access to almost zero materials and you’re struggling to improvise. It’s more of a last-ditch, survival-style means of purifying water (if you’re in a life or death situation that would leave even Bear Grylls scratching his head). It’s time-consuming, difficult, and often yields little drinkable water. On the plus side, it purifies questionable water incredibly well.

How: It requires plenty of time, a tarp, digging a hole, a bunch of leaves, and a cut-off shirt like so:

The post Best Ways to Purify Water While Traveling: Filters, Purifiers, and More appeared first on Vagabondish.

If you ask the right questions on your travels, you’ll not only learn much more about the local culture and customs, but maybe even make some good friends along the way.

When I’m traveling somewhere new — although it’s probably because I’m somewhat neurotic and obsessed about exploring new places — I write notes in my diary about what I expect to find and what questions I have. Inevitably, the questions and answers I end up with are far removed from what I contemplated on the train or plane ride in, but I can live with that. I have insatiable curiosity — it’s a “fault” I inherited from my grandmother, apparently — but I really think it’s a benefit when you travel.

Here are my tips on the best eight questions you can ask in every new place.

#1: Where’s a Good Place to Get a Drink Around Here?

And that’s not because we can’t survive a day or two without a beer. Finding a local bar or pub — emphasis on local, not the bar where all the foreigners hang out — is one of the best ways to get in contact with local people, find out more about where you are, and see how the locals wind down.

#2: What’s the Weirdest Food I Can Eat Here?

This is a question I love to ask, but I’m not so good at following through on actually eating what people suggest. I basically just love to hear people describe the unusual objects that have become part of a normal diet in their country.

It doesn’t even have to be exotic – for example, as an Australian, I still have a really hard time dealing with the American habit of eating peanut butter and jelly sandwiches. A Korean who’s already dealt with a few foreigners might give you some measured reasoning about the Korean liking for dog meat, and an Italian will get into mind-boggling detail about the cutest names for some niche pasta sorts.

#3: What’s That Big Building Over There?

Get an insider’s info on major landmarks and work out what’s worth visiting. But beware: the insider’s info is often historically inaccurate and filled with urban myths. Just think about what you really know about significant buildings or monuments in your own town. It’s usually distressingly little, because they’re just places you see every day without thinking about them. Nevertheless, the stories you’ll be told about them are a great starting point, and often more interesting than the truth, anyhow.

#4: What’s Your Favorite Time of Year Here?

This is a great question for finding out the seasonal ups and downs of your destination. Someone will answer according to the weather, another will tell you about their favorite festival, and somebody else might describe the time when most people are on holidays. The only problem with this question is you might discover that the time you’d most enjoy being in the country has just passed. That’s okay — there’s always next year.

#5: How Does the School System Work Here?

It sounds like a dull textbook question, but honestly, the answers can be pretty enlightening. From the north-east Asian systems where students might spend ten or more hours a day studying, through the kinds of schools that I consider “normal”, that is with school from around nine until three each day, and then to other countries like in South America or some parts of Europe where students are finished by lunchtime, the variety is endless. It’s a topic that everyone knows something about, having gone to school themselves, and some great debates can arise.

#6: So, What Did You Have for Breakfast Today?

Seriously, you’ll be amazed. I learned in Japan, for example, not to believe what the guide books say about the Japanese all eating rice and fish for breakfast. A bunch of my Japanese friends have already made the (regrettably unhealthy switch) to white bread and sugared cereal. Ironically, I was the one who ate rice for breakfast for the entire two years I lived in Japan. Breakfast traditions are weird habits, and worth knowing about.

#7: What Sports Do Kids Play Here?

Sports cross all kinds of cultural boundaries. They’re a great topic for discussion, and also to learn about how the local people spend their free time. The reason I like to ask about kids and sport is that it takes all the controversy out of it.

For example, if you ask a bunch of Australian men in a pub which is the best sport, you’ll be throwing yourself into the lion’s den. You’ll watch as each man tries to defend his own code of football, depending on where he grew up, and then an argument about the game of cricket will probably ensue. Which means you’d never hear that practically all Australian girls, and a lot of women too, play netball. And the list goes on. Play it safe and talk about the kids.

#8: Why Do You Live Here?

This might be a question for late night pondering, and best saved for philosophical locals, but I’ve had some interesting answers. Many people won’t have thought about it, really, until you ask. But, when they do, their reasons for being there can provide a lot of clues about why you might enjoy being there, too.

I believe there’s no point in traveling if you don’t ask questions. At the very least, be open to questions arising as you travel. If you have the courage to get chatting with some locals — perhaps with a bit of a language barrier — and find the answers to some of your questions, it’s a guarantee that this will enrich your enjoyment and understanding of the culture you’re visiting.

What questions do you ask the locals when you travel? Share your thoughts in the comments below!

The post Curious Travel: 8 Essential Questions to Ask in Every New Place appeared first on Vagabondish.