jan can

I was feeling off but after all these posts no longer need an apple a day to keep the doctor away.

Now I have a tummy ache from laughing too hard.

Thanks Kazuhiro, Oceanwrench, et al. Brilliant stuff here

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I'm surprised no one mentioned sun tanning. That's what friends do so I thought that was one of the primary reasons for choosing a balcony. They like the freedom of an overall tan. I won't be getting a tan in any form.

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100% for soft side.

No spinners. They're a break waiting to happen. There may be some companies that warranty them, though not likely while you're traipsing around in the middle of no where.

I admit that I'm pushing my luck on this because I have a super light weight Delsey 18" that has spinners.

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We cruised with a very traveled Aussie couple on a 35 night cruise. They didn't want the weight of a jacket etc. on their flights so they headed for a thrift shop when they landed, bought a very suitable jacket for peanuts, and left it behind when they departed.

 

I thought that it was a very creative way to deal with the problem!

I wish I could convince my husband to think like this. I'd be willing to do it too. He would likely have a fit.

How is the consignment shopping in Australia? :)

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Notentirelynormal, that's a painful story. Too bad it isn't entirely abnormal.

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OP, thanks for the reminder. These thefts can happen anywhere. A lady on our cruise had her wallet taken from her purse on the 12th day of our cruise. Sometimes our guard drops when nothing bad has happened.

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I do wish HAL would at least allow one bottle per week of your cruise.

I don't relish paying high prices for poor quality wines.

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One carry on each (22") and one personal, squishable bag at fits under the seats. It holds the valuables - meds, electronics, etc.

We did a two week river cruise with travel of one week at each end of the trip.

We usually travel with this same luggage everywhere we go.

On our last cruise, we checked a medium size bag with his suits and my formal clothes. It was more than half empty.

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Did Viking last year. Went from Budapest to Amsterdam. Thoroughly enjoyable.

Funny about the comments of trying to stop Viking and HAL from sending so many promotions. Online I can deal with it, though still a nuisance. Feel guilty recycling the paper brochures immediately. If I'm not in the market for a cruise, I don't even look at them. As said, our fares would be lower if they cut out this wasteful advertising.

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I wear a 4.5, sometimes a five. When Zappos had a B&M store in Vegas I was in shoe heaven. Rows and rows of my size and they rarely fit. Feet and sizing are all so different. Since your mother is in Britian, I wouldn't count on being successful ordering online.

Best bet would be a trip with an empty suitcase to Italy. That's my dream. :)

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LOL at your 942 changes. That's my mental process too.

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Travelsmith has blazers with hidden pockets that are NOT like the Scottvest options. There was a period where they didn't have them (for women) but they had been in stock again last time I looked.

Those are getting closer to what I'm after.

http://www.travelsmith.com/city-safari-crinkle-vest/women/sweaters-wraps/807011. I'd like this with fewer buttons so it didn't have the "safari" look.

With most women carrying smartphones, etc, I'm surprised manufacturers haven't considered this. Men always get interior pockets.

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I used to create a three column spreadsheet. I think I'll go back to this for my next trip as it can be too tempting to throw in a few extras.

First column was the base, e.g. Black pants, grey skirts, jeans, black dress, etc

The third column was the tops I wanted to take. I'd then match these up with what they could be worn with. Some went with multiple items, These were now all moved into the second column. Some were eliminated.

The third column was now empty and I guessed which day or evening I'd be wearing it. That's when I found I had more outfits than occasions to wear them. More elimination.

The bottom of the sheets had misc notes.

I'd print the sheet and pull it out and not have to think about my items for the whole trip. It just makes a trip more simple.

I travel with just carry on.

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Another Canadian store that has a variety of travel items is http://www.tilley.com/us_en/shop_women?cat=49.

My MIL used to have a selection of skirts and tops that she could dress up or down with accessories. Their jackets never wear out.

I do wish companies made vests and blazers with a few hidden pockets. I'm talking about something that doesn't look like I'm going on a safari or you're wearing one of those vests where everyone knows you're hiding things.

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On my first cruise, formal night was part of the allure. Now it's almost a negative.

I do appreciate and admire lovely outfits. Folks should wear what makes them happy, within reason. It's still a dressy evening, not one for jeans or shorts.

Even if someone notices you wearing the same outfit, do they even remember you years later?

I haven't checked how many formal nights there on the next 14 day cruise from Sydney. Likely it will be a dressier pair of pants, dressy skirt and three tops.

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Usually there is shower gel provided on the ship or in the hotel. I use this rather than the shampoo.

I've been known to buy a small container of laundry detergent in a local store. In the scheme of expenses, this is tiny. I do carry my own dryer sheets.

Silk? I've been reading recommendations to travel with silk clothing, especially blouses. They were hand washing it and are quite anti dry cleaning. If you don't have an iron, how would you keep it looking nice? Any thoughts on travel with silk?

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Slips and petti pants is a walk down memory lane. It also dragged out the nightmares of girdle wearing. Perhaps I should wear Spanx or something similar. I just can't go back to being confined and uncomfortable.

Back to the question, on the rare occasion I would wear a slip if modesty or the fabric requires it. I bought a cute little lined skirt that I found still left too much visible. It wasn't easy to find the right slip. I found it in a thrift store and it still had the old tags on it. Guess that was another person who gave up on slips a long time ago.

I always thought a maxi dress needed a maxi slip to look right. I don't know if they even sell these now.

I wear skirts or dresses all the time in hot weather. This isn't a fashion statement. I find them much cooler than anything else.

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M, it wasn't the cost that I was questioning, it was the ability to know it was authentic. Were you able to do a return in the event it wasn't? That one ad I was following had no returns. That's a lot of trust unless you know the Seller.

There is a local store here that sells NWT - replicas. They have some folks who snap these up for selling on eBay as authentic.

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After all the online cautions not to wear your good jewellery in Europe, I left my diamond anniversary ring home. I had my simple gold band. Seems like everyone else on the cruise was wearing their good jewellery. It felt funny without it. Only one place where we got off at the wrong metro stop, would I have worried about wearing them. That's why I have insurance.

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In fall 2013 we where in Germany before starting a river cruise. I was in a phase of thinking I would not buy more purses because I have too many. That didn't stop me from looking and I found many top quality ones I loved. Wouldn't you know it, this was the time I stuck to my resolution and bought nothing. The first day there I even found a unique wallet that I LOVED. I left it in the store and I've looked for something like it ever since I got over this 'abstinence' silliness.

My favourite purses right now are the Derek Alexander leather. There are various qualities. I love the super soft ones. I am still trying to be conservative in my purchases.

I've looked through eBay and have been shocked by the starting prices for maybe/maybe not originals. Tory Burch are bid right up. I saw an original Chanel go for $5000. How anyone could spend that money just because it says it is authentic is beyond me.

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Going through my closet today, I found two Baggallini cross body bags, one in black,the other in light brown. One hasn't even been used. These are bigger than I usually need but don't have the heart to get rid of them. What can I say, I like handbags. Because I'm small I do prefer a smaller bag.

For those that live in Canada, Derek Alexander has a variety of sizes. These can be picked up for a good price when the Bay has a sale.

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The pillows are great if you like soft. I think they were fake down but it was hard to tell.

I would have bought one if they had been available.

I saw a shuttle service. There was a long line. I remember looking at the price, multiplying by two and thinking the stops at all the hotels would make for a long slow trip.

You have to pay for the taxi with forints. You can get those from an ATM at the airport

Do take a cab from the registered company not someone trying to wave you over.

Our taxi driver was efficient and quick. Can't remember the price but felt it was very fair for the length of the drive.

By the time we got to our hotel and settled in on the Friday night, I was glad I hadn't been on a shuttle. JMO.

Jan, those are excellent points about the hand sanitizer. Lack of them is likely a cost savings by the accountants. Even though it's only a couple of steps out of your way while walking into the dining room, it's a couple of steps that most folks don't take. There needs to be one on each side.

I may be remembering incorrectly re the Var but I believe there was one on each side in the self-serve coffee area prior to entering the lounge. I think they wouldn't be noticed if you're heading into the lounge. There definitely was one for the lunches/dinners there.

We also carry a mini-sanitizer with us for restaurants while off boat.

Any place I travel, I always carry a minimal supply of OTC aids to help me get through the start of any illness. I count on finding a drug store ilater, f needed.

This wasn't so easy in Europe because of the language differences. My husband needed a foot spray and it took us a while to realize that we needed a store with a green cross to get this product. It also was a little difficult to be sure of the active ingredients. The pharmacist was very helpful.

At home I sleep with the windows open so thought this would be great on level two also. Woke up the first night with a freight train that seemed to go forever. Not dreadfully loud, just confusing in the middle of the night.