Belize is blessed with a wonderful tourism product which includes:

• The longest barrier reef in this hemisphere,
• home to the Great Blue Hole,
• hundreds of islands,
• snorkel and dive locations,
• hundreds of ancient Maya sites both excavated and jungle-covered,
• lush tropical rainforest with many species of birds, exotic flora and fauna, cool clear rivers and cascading waterfalls,
• over ten friendly, English-speaking and diverse cultures willing to share Belizean hospitality, natural and cultural heritage with visitors,

Spectacular natural attractions and the excitement of discovering Mother Nature’s Best Kept Secret draw travelers from around the globe, promising both relaxation and the richly rewarding authenticity they seek in a genuine Caribbean getaway.   Nestled between Mexico and Guatemala on the Caribbean coast of Central America, Belize is one of the few remaining unspoiled places on earth.  Belize attracts more than 850,000 annual visitors eager to explore the mysteries of Maya sites. Belize City is the county’s largest urban center with a population of 49,050. The city surrounds Haulover Creek, which is the name given to the last 4mi/6.5km of the Belize River. Belize City rests a few inches below sea level and most of the houses are built on piles above the swampy ground. Belize City sits on a little land peninsula that juts out into the Caribbean Sea. It was the capital city of the country until it was horribly damaged by both floods and hurricanes. 

Occasionally, cruise ships will dock at Belize City’s port. The colorful and somewhat ramshackle city is less tourist-oriented and offers a more authentic Belizean experience than other towns and villages. Belize City is the nation’s principal port and its financial and industrial hub. Several cruise ships drop anchor outside the port and are tended by local citizens. The government was moved to the new capital of Belmopan (the Garden City) in 1970.

There is no need to learn a new language because, as a former British colony, Belize is English speaking. Spanish is widely spoken and unofficially it is believed it is the more popular language as the Belize Latinos have now become the largest single ethnic group. But most Belizeans are bilingual and many trilingual. All official documents, street signs, menus and so on are in English and most of the media, newspapers, radio and television stations are primarily in English.  

A free Belize fact sheet is available here plus more on travel in that country.   Do you know where Belize is located? Most american tourists do not.  Get out a map and find the Yucatan Peninsula. There is is on the southwest side.  You would fly into the capital Belmopan. Want ten good reasons to retire there? Here they are beginning with the fact that your money goes further in Belize.

Good old wikipedia provides more good information on tourism in Belize as the tourism industry is an important part of the overall economy of Belize and only recently contributed to over 25% of all jobs there.  Lonely Planet has a nice map of Belize.  

Lastly, World66.com has lots of information providing more maps, flights, day trips, museums, sights, eating out, festivals and top 5 must do’s. So now that you know where Belize is, why not check it out, Seniors.  Sounds pretty neat to me.  jeb

My wife and I drive from near Chicago to Phoenix once a year as we are “snowbirds.”  We pass by many signs that read “Old Route 66″ or “Take This Road Detour to Access Route 66.”  The signs are always the old brown historic ones that bring back many memories for those of us who still remember that road. We find the old dilapidated gas stations and old motels most interesting.  Seniors who have the time and want to discover America in a leisurely manner will find this trip memorable.

Route 66, “the Mother Road” as she is called, is considered the holy grail of road trips. The 66 route start is Chicago, Illinois at the Great Lakes and it winds Southwest through several states with the Route 66 end at Santa Monica, California. You will not find an official Route 66 map because the historic Route 66 was discontinued decades ago. Unofficial Route 66 maps exist, and this site provides several free route 66 highway guides including a google map of the route. Route 66 USA may be technically gone but the historic Route 66 is still burned into the consciousness of humanity since it represents freedom, and symbolizes Western liberty.

While Route 66 is now made up of several highways, sections of the historical route 66 still exist and much of our 66 route is on the historic Route 66. Route 66 associations have added Route 66 signs which helps to preserve the memory and help Route 66 travel. Old Route 66 is still very much alive and as you plan your Route 66 road trip, this free Route 66 guide will help you enjoy your discovery of America along much of the original Route 66.

The Mother Road: Historic Route 66 has a slide-show, with pictures from a trip down Route 66 in 1994 by Swa Frantzen.  Guy Randall took the trip in 2004 and writes, “It took only four years, two cars, 33.75 thermoses of coffee, untold Snicker bars, 457 Tums, and 4,566 photographs to complete this cyber tour of Route 66! What started out as a photographic journey to capture images along what I thought was a vanished road in Arizona and California expanded to encompass all of Route 66. What I found along the way has changed my life forever. Though Route 66 is no longer a US highway, it is far from being the lost and vanished road I once imagined it was. Route 66 is alive today and along her winding cracked pavement I discovered America” …and you can too.

Seniors, check out a map online and just take off and follow Route 66 for as long as you can as you are in for an adventure.  There are signs all along the route to follow.  A turn by turn road description is online here.  And here is a FREE route planning guide for Route 66 and another Mile By Mile Guide that I like. A PDF icon will provide you a printout.

Route 66 has held a special place in the American consciousness from its beginning. The road is uniquely American. There are a thousand stories of hope, heartbreak, love, hate, starting over, and new dreams found along the next bend of the highway we call the Mother Road. The story of Route 66 is our story; it embodies what makes us a great nation. No other culture has had the same type of love affair with the automobile, and few have had the wide-open spaces offered by the American West. The 2,400-mile route winds from Jackson Boulevard and Michigan Avenue in Chicago to Los Angeles, through the most romantic and celebrated portions of the American West. Route 66 was a lifeline through much of America, connecting the small midwestern towns of Illinois, Missouri, and Kansas, with the big cities of Los Angeles and Chicago.

Route 66 is the National Old Trails Highway. On November 11, 1926, Route 66 was born. It followed the old trails laid out by the early explorers and railroad. Route 66  became the twentieth century version of the Oregon Trail, the golden road to the promised land and has inspired our spirit ever since. John Steinbeck called it the Mother Road, and indeed it was. It provided hope to the farmers of the dust bowl era going west to find a new life. It served our country well during time of war. In optimistic post WWII America, Route 66 defined a generation looking for adventure and freedom on the open road. To understand the history of Route 66 is to understand a little bit about ourselves, where we came from and where we hope to go in the future. 

This site offers a nice overview on Route 66 and read, ” The often romanticized Mother Road inspires in many of us a nostalgic bone which niggles at something buried deep within us. While some may see legendary Route 66 as a link to our parents and grandparents, others perhaps feel the sense of freedom that the road provided to those early travelers. And then, for those of us that live continuously in the nostalgic past, the Mother Road is the next adventure beyond the Santa Fe Trail. Whatever the reason, the Mother Road is an experience, a feeling, a perception, a taste of sight and sound, and a mystery that can only be resolved by driving the pavement itself.”  Hey, don’t miss this opportunity.      jeb
 

As the song by Bobby Troup goes:
If you ever plan to motor west
Travel my way, the highway that’s the best.
Get your kicks on Route 66!

Your visit will probably commence with Moscow. Moscow is unlike anywhere else on earth. There are about 12 million inhabitants. It’s the wealthy economic nerve center for one sixth of the world’s land mass and has over 120 ethnic groups and nationalities. It’s a diverse and vibrant city with a strange combination of ancient traditional Russian architecture and newer Soviet tastelessness.  And Red Square.  Although the Square is no longer witness to the imposing parades of May Day, it remains a profoundly impressive space. Delimited by the stark severity of the mausoleum, the expansive facade of the world-famous GUM department store, and the exuberant colors of St. Basil’s Cathedral, Red Square is, and deserves to be, the requisite first stop for any visitor to Moscow.  Small groups of 12 or 15 people at a time are let in to see Lenin’s Tomb.  Don’t miss this one.
 
The famous St. Basil’s Cathedral was commissioned by Ivan the Terrible and built on the edge of Red Square between 1555 and 1561. Legend has it that on completion of the church the Tsar ordered the architect, Postnik Yakovlev, to be blinded to prevent him from ever creating anything to rival its beauty again.
 
Moscow’s landmarks include Red Square, The Kremlin, St. Basil Cathedral, Cathedral of Christ the Savior, Moscow Subway, Victory Day Parade

Now we are off to St. Petersburg.  St. Petersburg is located on the banks of the Neva River, which flows into the Gulf of Finland. It is the northernmost city, with over four million inhabitants. It is also one of the world’s most beautiful destinations, with lavish palaces, beautiful parks and canals, hundreds of bridges and world-class museums that hold the treasures of Russian emperors and the history of the entire nation. Millions of travelers head to St. Petersburg each summer making it one of the top 10 travel destinations in the world.
 
St. Petersburg Landmarks include The Hermitage, Peterhof, Catherine’s Palace, Peter and Paul Fortress, St. Isaak’s Cathedral, Savior on the Blood.

One of the most special regions in Russia is the famous ‘Golden Ring’ of cities to the North East of Moscow. This is the ancient heart of Russia and the old whitewashed walled cities filled with venerable onion-domed churches fulfill everyone’s imagination of medieval Russia.  Golden Ring Towns include Uglich, Yaroslavl, Kostroma , Suzdal.

Lest we forget… Secretary of State William H. Seward agreed to purchase Alaska from Russia for only $7.2 million in 1867. At the time, critics referred to this as “Seward’s folly”, “Seward’s Icebox” and “[President] Andrew Johnson’s polar bear garden”.  With approximately 365 million acres, that amounts to less than 2 cents per acre. Still, critics thought Seward was crazy, and the deal only passed the Senate by one vote.

I conclude with some travel tips; be sure to see the 5 essential Tips for Booking Travel to Russia on this page. Спасибо и до свидания (Thank You and Goodbye!).
Oh yes, do bring up my Best Russian Websites page and check out lots of other helpful links.    jeb

So where do you want to go? Their comprehensive travel guides to popular and off-the-path destinations around the globe can make your travel search much easier. Start by finding cheap flights and low hotel rates. Check out their guides for maps, weather, tips and attractions. Then, make the most of their hand-picked deals and expert advice.  One of their Daily Deals offers Virgin America One-Way Domestic Flight Sale from $59.  Keeping pace with the competition, Virgin America has launched its own fall, one-way flight sale with fares starting as low as $59! Experience the last leg of summer and all of autumn in the gorgeous west coast cities of San Diego, Seattle and others. 

Their Cheap Flights section can help with hotels, packages, cruises and cars.  Their Top 25 deals has a space where you can get the best travel deal delivered to your inbox every week plus Quick Links and Site Information.

I enjoy taking a closer look at luxury travel and if you are so inclined, give these a try.  Sherman’s also offers a variety of travel guides.   Their Smart Luxury includes the best travel deals and advice on four- and five-star getaways. Their editors publish the best smart luxury deals and recommend luxury vacations that seem to be worth the splurge. They also offer links to travel blogs.

Want to browse a region?  First check out the USA.  Then…

As the nation’s intercity passenger rail operator, Amtrak connects America in safer, greener and healthier ways. With 21,000 route miles in 46 states, the District of Columbia and three Canadian provinces, Amtrak operates more than 300 trains each day — at speeds up to 150 mph — to more than 500 destinations. Amtrak also is the operator of choice for state-supported corridor services in 15 states and for four commuter rail agencies.  Fact sheets, documents and information about Amtrak’s trains, corridors and improvement efforts are available online.  And FYI in a report issued in 2009 (Oct. 2008-Sept. 2009), we learn that Amtrak welcomed aboard over 27.1 million passengers, the second largest annual total in Amtrak history.  More and more seniors have decided to take AMTRAK on their journeys.

If you have a question that is not answered here, visit the travel agent contact page for more information. Check out Amtrak’s special deals and savings with everyday discounts, limited-time specials and unique passes and travel programs. Saving couldn’t be easier.

Amtrak offers weekly specials on selected Amtrak routes. Weekly Special purchases are non-refundable and may not be exchanged. Weekly Specials are subject to availability and may change without notice. Other restrictions may apply. USA Rail Passes are also available in three types with varying travel durations for travel through out the entire United States. Read the USA Rail Pass terms and conditions for travel, reservation and ticket requirements.  To make reservations for accessible space, please call 1-800-USA-RAIL (1-800-872-7245).  Trains have neat names like Blue Water, Empire Service, San Joaquin, Carl Sandburg, City of New Orleans, California Zephyr, Wolverine, Palmetto, Silver Meteor and Cardinal.

Hey seniors, check out taking the train from New York to Chicago to Seattle to L.A., a 3,582-mile journey on some of America’s storied trains, including the Empire Builder and the Coast Starlight. From the magnificent to the mundane it’s just one fine and easy way to see the country.  Here is a special link called AMTRAK Vacations.

The World’s Classiest Trains take you back to the golden era of luxury train travel, with dining cars set with fine linen and crystal, and observation cars offering panoramic views. Train tours roll through some of the world’s most spectacular landscapes. Trains can travel where cars cannot, so passengers on train tours marvel at scenic vistas that would otherwise be inaccessible.  Most of Amtrak’s long-distance trains use double-deck Superliner equipment, but those cars won’t fit through the tunnels into New York City, so overnight trains fanning out from there  to Florida, New Orleans and on two routes to Chicago — use single-level equipment. Sleeping cars are Viewliners, so named because the two levels of windows provide views from upper and lower berths. Dining cars are in the Heritage Fleet, a creative euphemism for old care that remain perfectly functional, even attractive, and they are a source of nostalgia for longtime train riders.

All aboard: America by Amtrak train provides a nice overview of a trip by train with some personal stories told by riders. On board there are books to read, people to meet, naps to take. Both urban and small-town America scrolled past my windows, along with less-peopled spaces in between. The most spectacular — the Hudson River, the Rockies and the Cascades, Puget Sound, the Pacific — prove unforgettable.     jeb

Are you dreaming of a certain destination? Do you prefer land tours? Or maybe you’re intrigued by the popularity of river cruising. Whether you’re looking for a summer vacation or winter getaway, a short jaunt or a grand tour, a value-priced ocean cruise or luxurious indulgence, there’s sure to be a Vantage travel program that fits the bill. Of course, if you’d like more information about any Vantage program, feel free to call  for catalogs and information at 1 800 786-1989 or for reservations at 1 800 322-6677. 
Choose by destinations:

• Europe
• The Middle East
• Asia
• Africa
• South Pacific
• North America
• South America
• Trans-Atlantic
• Antarctica

Or choose by type of travel:

• European River Cruises
• Escorted Land Tours
• Ocean Cruises
• Small Ship Cruises

And here is another of my personal favorites… an around the world opportunity; Around the World trip with Vantage offers extra exclusive features on this around-the-world cruise. Enjoy an included two-night hotel stay in Fort Lauderdale with private limousine service to your hotel and the lowest airfare offered. Embark on this voyage of a lifetime aboard Holland America Line’s Four-Star ms Amsterdam, and let your world view expand exponentially as you explore 43 ports in 27 countries filled with UNESCO World Heritage Sites, iconic cities, and maiden ports. Not surprisingly, this once-in-a-lifetime voyage is in high demand, and with just one departure — January 3, 2011 — and this cruise is sold out!  Watch for Vantage’s around the world cruise posting for 2012. 

You already know of my interest in World Heritage Sites. The World Heritage List includes 890 properties forming part of the cultural and natural heritage which the World Heritage Committee considers as having outstanding universal value.  These include 689 cultural, 176 natural and 25 mixed properties in 148 States Parties. As of June 2010, 187 States Parties have ratified the World Heritage Convention.
nota bene: I do not endorse Vantage Travel; I merely share what I find interesting in their publication and hope that these may be of interest to you as well.  More contact is available on both twitter.com/vantagetravel and facebook.com/vantagetravel.          jeb

What makes Ireland so special is its evocative scenery; the landscapes that have spawned the legends of Fionn Mac Cumhail, Cu Chulainn, Diarmuid & Grainne and the legendary warmth and friendliness of the Irish people.  Ireland (Éireann in Irish) is a place that both absorbs and permeates visitors leaving them with cherished memories. People sure don’t come to Ireland for the weather, though even when the rain is beating down its easy to find solace in a quiet corner beside a roaring fire or a riotous afternoon enjoying the craic in a local pub. Besides, on the Emerald Isle, it’s the rain that makes the grass so green.

Perched on the northwest tip of Europe, this is the one place in the world where even time getting lost will be worthwhile.  With ancient myths and legends to uncover, amazing landscapes to explore and locals who will be more than happy to reveal hidden gems, just go where the island of Ireland takes you. Guaranteed, you’ll return home with memories that will last a lifetime.  

One of the tricky things that tourists have to face when traveling in Ireland is understanding Gaelic, the language native to the country. Of course people in Ireland speak English as well, but their own version of the English language can be a little confusing, with some terms and phrases meaning differently from what an American or an Englishman may be accustomed to.  On this site you will find Gaelic words you need to know.  Good deal. 

Here are the Top Ten Places to visit.  So, hopefully I now have you planning a trip to Ireland and now you need to discover the ‘must see’ places to visit on Ireland Vacations.
A Visit Ireland Guide finds that thousands of tourists are being attracted to visit Ireland and Northern Ireland.  The range of places to visit in Ireland is massive. Among Ireland’s most famous attractions are places such as the Giant’s Causeway, the Guinness Storehouse, Newgrange, and Glendalough. Families coming to Ireland are well cared for when it comes to fun and exciting things to see and do. Examples of these are Dublin Zoo (third oldest Zoo in the world), the Irish National Heritage Park, Fota Island Wildlife Park, Bunratty Castle and the Marble Arch caves.

Ireland’s long and eventful history can be traced through places such as the National Museum, Trim Castle, Kilmainham Gaol, the Ulster Museum, Craggaunowen, the Rock of Cashel, the Hill of Tara, and Dublin Castle. People interested in spectacular outdoor scenery are spoilt when they come to Ireland. All parts of the country have their particular charming and sometimes dramatic scenery. Areas such as the Wicklow Mountains National Park, the Cliffs of Moher, the Glens of Antrim, and the Ring of Kerry boast outstanding natural beauty. 

IrishTourist.com offers a huge selection of Hotels in Ireland, as well as B&Bs (Bed and Breakfasts) and other accommodation across Ireland. To help you plan your visit, they have details of places to visit, tours, maps of Ireland, and more. Not sure where to stay? These  Regional Guides to Ireland provide information on the various counties, cities, towns and villages around Ireland as well as places to visit. Slán agus tá turas deas (Gaelic = Goodbye and have a nice trip).   jeb

Beyond these clichéd images, a vast, unexpected panorama unfolds before you. Emerald green mountains seem to slide into the wild blue Atlantic in the north. Proud, solitary castles and medieval towns are strewn across the interior. White villages glitter in inland Andalucía. My wife and I dearly loved Andalucia.  As you come around a corner, there on a hill is a huge black bull.  Around another corner, there stands a huge guitar.  Along the southern coast you will find hundreds of wind turbines.  Inland are thousands and thousands of olive trees.  Some growing on steep hillsides.  One wonders how in the world they are harvested being on such a slope.

More than 30 years of democracy and rapid economic development have spurred Spain’s cities to bedeck themselves with sparkling new ornaments. An army of local and international architects has left a slew of daring signature buildings in Barcelona and Madrid, to name a few.  Up and down the country, a zest for life creates an intense, hedonistic vibe in its effervescent cities. Indeed, if there is one thing Spaniards love, it is to eat, drink and be merry, whether gobbling up tapas over fine wine in Madrid and the south, or its elaborate Basque Country equivalent, pintxos, over cider in the north. 

Unfortunately at the present time, Spain is undergoing a huge economic problem with 20% unemployment.  According to a recent survey, illegal immigration, as well as unemployment is today one of the most important problems in Spain. This country faces nowadays three major conflicting points, which include: the border with Morocco, the Canary Island and the process of regularization of the Government. 

Lonely Planet chooses these as their top spots to visit in Spain:
1 Barcelona
Spain’s Mediterranean jewel sparkles with its Gaudí and gourmet delights, a buzzing waterfront scene and 2000 years of history
2 Balearic Islands
From Menorca’s crystal coves and Mallorca’s dramatic mountain coast to Ibiza’s clubs and Formentera’s chilled scene, these islands offer it all
3 Granada
Eight hundred years of Muslim rule left an indelible mark on this fascinating city, dominated by the magic of the Alhambra
4 San Sebastián
The elegant old centre of this Basque city, sited on a crescent-shaped beach, is a hive of nocturnal activity
5 Madrid
With its grand boulevards and art museums and outrageous nightlife till dawn, there’s no time for boredom 

Spain Travel Guide and Madrid Travel Guide offer good information for travel in Spain.  For example, they suggest seeing art by El Greco, Rubens, Goya, and others at the world-class Museo del Prado with more than 7,000 paintings. The Prado is one of the most important repositories of art in the world. It began as a royal collection and was enlarged by the Habsburgs, especially Charles V, and later the Bourbons. In paintings of the Spanish school the Prado has no equal; on your first visit, concentrate on the Spanish masters (Velázquez, Goya, El Greco, and Murillo). Tour the expanded Museo Nacional Centro de Arte Reina Sofía, one of the world’s largest modern art museums. Bike through the Parque de Retiro, Madrid’s city oasis.  Attend a flamenco performance. Bargain for finds at El Rastro, a flea market. 

Late-night dining has always been a staple of Spain, whether it’s on full-blown traditional Castillian paella or tiptoeing around tapas. But more recently, the concept of Sunday brunch has come to Madrid.  View this assemblage of wonderful photos in Madrid. 

Small world that it is, my wife and I were standing in the exit door of the Prado and it was raining.  I had on my Tilley Hat with a small Iowa button.  A man came  up to me and said “You are from Iowa?”  I responded yes.  He said “I have relatives in Iowa.  The town is called Cedar Falls.”  That happens to be the city where I used to live.  I asked “Where are you from?”  He showed me his passport from Chile.  I asked “What city?”  He said “a small city south of Santiago.”  I asked “What is the name of the city?”  He said “Temuco.”  I responded with “my wife and I were just there last March with a group of students on an exchange.”  Small world.  Like throwing a dart at a board and hitting two cities that match.  Wow!   

Additional helpful links include

• Lonely Planet features sites on Madrid;
• Madrid vacation rentals;
• Holiday in Spain;
• Spain Travel Guide

jeb

1. travel through up to six continents,
2. go around the world in either direction and 
3. fully comply with oneworld Explorer rules. 

The 11 member airlines of the oneworld® alliance share a common goal: to make worldwide travel an easier, more rewarding experience for you.  They offer booking tools to get you started.  The oneworld® alliance member airlines take you to nearly 700 destinations worldwide.

Use their interactive network map to view the oneworld alliance network of direct flights from your location or draw direct or indirect flights between two cities from the oneworld global network. You’ll find it makes travel planning a lot easier!  This is really cool… because you can use this interactive tool to display your access to the world with the oneworld alliance.

Once you have selected a specific routing, you can select to view your flight timetable.

The interactive network map and flight schedules include all oneworld member airlines and their affiliates, as well as non-oneworld codeshare partners. You can even book your own preferred airline.  If you have more questions, go to the oneworld FAQ page.      jeb

The goal is simple: to visit your destination without a suitcase so stuffed that you emit strange animal sounds trying to heave it into the overhead compartment — and with plenty of clean socks and underwear. But if only it were that easy! If you’ve struggled over which clothes to bring or wondered how many guidebooks is too many, you’re certainly not alone. Packing for a trip is often a struggle to distinguish what you want to bring from what you need to bring.  My wife is an excellent packer and yes, there is a special way to pack a suitcase so that both husband and wife can travel in just one suitcase.

When we’re forced to choose between our favorite things, we’re sometimes tempted to just bring it all — but overpacking can cost more than just extra suitcase space and a free hand. Checking more than one bag, exceeding your airline’s weight limit or even checking a bag at all can cost you. Delta, for example, charges passengers a $23 fee each way for checking one piece of luggage on domestic flights, and many other airlines charge $25 for a second checked bag and even over $100 per suitcase for third and fourth checked bags.

Everyone’s packing style is different and we all have our own travel needs, so before you get upset at the idea of leaving behind your beloved toothbrush sanitizer and electric foot rub machine, remember that these are only suggestions. 

Independent Travelers says leave out a few of the following items on your next trip — you’ll enjoy traveling with a lighter load, and you won’t miss a thing!  Here are the top tips from Independent Traveler:

• Don’t Pack Your Entire Beauty Routine.  If you use eight different products to tame your wild curls or have an elaborate face-washing regimen down to a science, let loose a bit when you travel instead of carrying an army of beauty products with you across the globe. You won’t look like a cave woman in your vacation pictures if you use a shampoo/conditioner combo for a few nights. If you’re adventurous enough to leave home and explore an exotic destination, you can also handle leaving behind a few hair products.
• Most major chain hotels offer complimentary toiletries — use them! Don’t bring your own 24-ounce shampoo and conditioner bottles to the hotel and then stuff the hotel ones in your suitcase to take home. If you don’t use them on the road, you’ll probably never use them at home. There are lots of products that have multiple uses. Opt for a shampoo/conditioner combo.
• Bring a tinted moisturizer with SPF. Let your moisturizing body wash double as a shaving cream. Share your shampoo, soap or toothpaste with your traveling partner.
• Lose the bulky containers. Instead, try zip-top bags. Stuff and pour everything you can into them, including hair products, lotions, cotton balls and even sunscreen. (Note: Do not put large liquid-filled zip-top bags in your carry-on luggage; according to TSA regulations, liquid-filled containers may be no larger than 3.4 ounces by volume.) To prevent spills, put all of your liquid-filled baggies in a larger plastic grocery bag — and be sure not to pack it next to any fishing rods or freshly sharpened pencils.
• Don’t Pack Your Jewelry and Valuables.  Rule of thumb — if you can’t imagine living without your grandmother’s wedding ring or your expensive Rolex watch, it’s best not to cart it overseas, where tourists are common targets for thieves and luggage often gets lost in transit. You may think you look like an icon of style, but to criminals and con-artists you appear as an icon of opportunity. It’s also wise not to look like a million bucks if you’re trying to bargain with the locals, and sparkly jewelry may set you apart from the natives when you’re trying to fit in.
• If you must bring your jewelry, keep it in the hotel safe except for special occasions such as dinner in a nice restaurant, and be sure it’s covered by appropriate insurance. Most homeowners’ policies will not cover jewelry if it’s lost or stolen while traveling, so you may need to purchase a separate policy.  This can be added on to your homeowners policy.
• Pack any valuables you buy while on your trip (and any of your own that you decide to bring) in your carry-on. As we all know, checked bags sometimes disappear into the mysterious black hole of lost airline luggage. Hope these help.     jeb