Monthly Newsletter - April 2009

At Latin America for Less, we keep in mind the safety and comfort of our travelers throughout the entire trip, even before they arrive on our continent! While the prospect of a Latin American vacation is definitely an exciting endeavor, busy airports and long plane rides can sometimes dampen the anticipation of the upcoming trip.  The best way to avoid these problems is to be prepared ahead of time and pack for any eventuality.  Although we make it our goal to ensure your entire trip from your front door and back runs as smoothly as possibly, we unfortunately cannot control the hectic stress of long air travel. With this in mind, here are a few of the very best travel trips from the staff at Latin America for Less, from the most veteran among us!

Footwear

• Footwear is one of the most basic elements of your wardrobe; and is especially important to keep in mind when flying. Be sure to wear comfortable shoes since you will most likely be traveling for several hours, walking long distances between gates or getting caught in long lines.
• Of course, it is also recommendable to wear shoes that you can easily slip on and off, such as moccasins, not just to speed up the process of airport security, but also for basic comfort as well.
• It is highly recommended that women avoid wearing high heels; they are usually uncomfortable and are not allowed on a plane’s emergency slides. 
• You will be grateful that you packed an extra pair of thick cozy socks or foldable slippers in your carry-on for any long flight or bus ride, often the air conditioning on these trips can reach (nearly) arctic lows and you will be glad to give your toes some wiggle room!

Clothing

• Wear darker-colored clothing as this is what you are going to be wearing for the next couple of hours. Darker colors make spills and similar accidents less noticeable. It is especially useful to prepare for any instance of delayed or lost luggage by having on hand a set of clothing that at least “appears” clean, even if you know the truth!
• As is normal with travel, it is common to go through pockets of hot and humid conditions outside to chilly lobbies within-and sometimes vice versa.  With this in mind, it is best to be prepared for any weather conditions by dressing in layers.  Bring along a shawl that can double as a scarf in addition to a sweater and the usual t-shirt.
• Avoid shorts altogether, you will be a human ice cube by the time you land!
• Stay comfortable and ensure you arrive at your destination with your clothes stretched or hugging in all the right places. Wear stretchy clothing; around 5% spandex is just fine to make sure you stay comfortable on that long ride over.  Jeans are good, though uncomfortable for long, and wrinkle-free khakis are even better. Deep-vein thrombosis, though rare, is a very real threat and is best avoided by wearing loose-fitting clothes on long journeys and keeping the blood flowing by changing position every 30 minutes, keeping your legs uncrossed or crossed only at the ankles and taking hourly walks around the cabin. 
• Some travelers also like to wear clothing with extra pockets like cargo pants or safari shirts. The more pockets the better-just remember which one has your money in it!

Accessories

• Take into consideration the comfort of your other passengers by avoiding any heavily-scented cologne, perfume or deodorant the day you fly.  Though the scent may be your favorite, remember that some people do have perfume allergies and there is very little room to escape in a plane, especially economy class!
• Make your security screening as smooth as possible by minimizing jewelry accessories. Eliminate any possibilities for re-screenings and hectic jewelry removal by not wearing much to begin with.  Silver belt buckles, underwire in bras, heavy chains, spare keys and loose change can all set of the buzzer, so save yourself from any embarrassment (and keep your jewelry safe) by packing your valuables in a carry-on bag and emptying your pockets before reaching the scanners.

A few quick packing tips:

• Carry all electronics in your carry on; do not put anything valuable in your checked luggage if you hope on seeing it at the arrival end!
• If traveling with a laptop, make sure it is easily accessible-you will need to take it out while passing through airline security.
• Familiarize yourself with current carry-on liquid restrictions.

These are small things to remember that will make your flight a much more comfortable experience, whether a 30 minute jog to your next destination or a long multi-hour transcontinental.  Though we all want to look our best while traveling, make comfort your priority and you will be delighted you planned ahead, saving time and energy to be spent on more worthwhile pursuits, like making this journey an adventure of a lifetime!

Sources:
What to Wear and Carry on a Plane Trip, What Not to Wear on a Plane

Written by Caitlin Ham and Alex Seeger.

PAST NEWSLETTERS:

• Newsletter March 2009
• Newsletter February 2009
• Newsletter January 2009
• Newsletter December 2008
• Newsletter November 2008
• Newsletter October 2008
• Newsletter September 2008
• Newsletter August 2008
• Newsletter July 2008
• Newsletter June 2008
• Newsletter May 2008
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