Traveling tips

A friend went to South Korea last April without checking CNN for its daily weather report. He was shivering in the early morning cold when he arrived at Incheon Airport in Seoul. This happened to me too some years back when I went to Hong Kong for the Chinese New Year in mid-February. I thought my knits would suffice but the bracing cold of Hong Kong that time of the year got me running from my hotel to the nearest U2 store where I bought a quilt jacket pronto.

My friend could have evaded his discomfort had he taken the minute to check the weather condition in his destination. While I could have avoided buying that unnecessary jacket had I made sure about the probable temperature in Hong Kong. Of course, seasoned travelers have developed this weather check as second nature before departure. Still, this does not ensure anything...just like that time I went to Minneapolis & St. Paul in Minnesota. These twin cities are known to be perpetually windy-cold and I went in November, 1994. Unto the plane, I clutched my bulky winter overcoat...only to land in Minneapolis-St. Paul in the midst of an Indian summer. I hardly used that heavy overcoat the whole week we were there! Nonetheless, I had no regrets since I could have had to buy a winter overcoat had the weather turned as expected. Tip: check weather reports when traveling.

An Italian friend advised that a good leather jacket with denim pants is a better alternative to heavy and bulky winter overcoat. It comes off cool in style statement. One can have a cashmere turtleneck under it or a crewneck sweater with a silk scarf. Tip: it is important to keep the neck and head warm at all times in wintry weather. (Consider a beret, bonnet or cowl for the head.)

A pashmina shawl saved me from possible cough and colds when I managed to keep warm with it during a long wait at Kansai Airport hours before dawn. I already packed my thick jacket in my suitcase since I was on the way home. Luckily, I spotted the lilac/purple pashmina somewhere in an airport store and bought it. Tip: always have a thick shawl (pashmina is the best choice since it is warm, soft and light) in your handbag when traveling.

As walking is the best way to savor a place, and parks and landmarks seem to take forever when gadding about, shoes must be soft to the feet. The fit must be comfortable. I say it should be a bit looser than your usual choice. Our feet swell when abused. (Read that as over walking, hopping over obstacles and standing for hours on end.) Walking - make that limping - on ill-fitting shoes would destroy our enjoyment of the scenery or of the otherwise perfect way of ending a day in, say, Paris or London. These places would lose their romantic ambiance when our feet are bunches of searing pain. Aside from the fact that it would slow us down considerably, when time is of the essence during tours or shopping. Tip: good, comfortable shoes are priority considerations for travelers, especially those joining package tours.

Another important consideration is the bag that will go with you throughout your trip. A tote would be ideal but be sure to place an organizer inside so you will not be fumbling for your powder, lipstick or wallet. Disadvantage of a tote is the temptation to stuff it, making it heavy and causing shoulder pains. Tip: get a large enough good leather bag in black or brown (mine is a combination) that can go from day to night use, complementing a pair of rubber shoes or walking shoes by day, to satin pumps in the evening. My Italian leather handbag - a gift from my mom from Singapore - is almost 20 years old but it is looking good as new!

It is the start of summer in the northern hemisphere. Travel can be expensive at this time. Next month, my son and his wife will attend a conference in San Diego, California, and they find the hotel rates prohibitive (package rate is $260.00/night). Not to mention only rack rates for airlines. Tip: best for us to travel now - no change of wardrobe - but summer sales take place in autumn, if shopping is the agenda. Aside from it being expensive to travel in summer, it is also nicer to be in a temperate climate when on vacation, right?

Bon voyage!