<p>Who needs an encyclopedia when you have CC?</p>
<p>I don’t travel much, but H & I are taking our first flight together to CA next week.
I am trying to avoid dumb beginner mistakes- when I flew on prop jet recently- all my lotions in my bag exploded/leaked/ ( I did have them in a plastic bag- but it was a carry on and I didn’t expect that to happen)</p>
<p>I also am bringing a small folding cooler to have in the hotel room ( we bought the room on Priceline & saw after booking that it didn’t have a fridge- however a Trader Joes/Safeway are across the street which should save us money on food.)</p>
<p>I also realized that since we are going to San Francisco, I will need changes of clothes for many weathers- so I am not going to get away with just a carry-on, and I am also tempted to bring my hiking boots.</p>
<p>What else should I know?</p>
<p>What do I do about all the electronics I am bringing?
( can I leave them in their cases?)</p>
<p>I also take about 15 different medications and nutritional supplements- it would be much easier to leave them in their Costco size bottles and have them in the checked bagbut will that make security freak out?</p>
<p>I don’t think there should be any problem with having your medications and supplements in your checked baggage–although you might want to have your prescription medicine with you in your carry on, especially if it is not liquid, and/or if you will need it the day of your arrival.</p>
<p>When you go through security, you need to take your laptop out of all containers, and send it through by itself. Other things can stay in their cases, I think.</p>
<p>Wow, sorry to hear about your lotions! I have not had a problem with things that have been doubled-bagged in Hefty zip-locs.</p>
<p>Hiking boots: it depends where you are going in CA. You would probably want them in Yosemite. In San Francisco, comfortable shoes should be ok.</p>
<p>You may want your meds to go on board with you because if they are lost you will be sunk. Only the liquids have to be separated. You can have them separately screened. Don’t put them in the same bag as the restricted size items. [TSA</a> | Transportation Security Administration | 3-1-1 on Air Travel](<a href=“http://www.tsa.gov/311/]TSA”>Liquids Rule | Transportation Security Administration)
“Declare larger liquids. Medications, baby formula and food, and breast milk are allowed in reasonable quantities exceeding three ounces and are not required to be in the zip-top bag. Declare these items for inspection at the checkpoint.”</p>
<p>Bring cheap paper plates and bowls as well as plastic utensils if you are going to eat in room. Because if the ick factor bring paper towels to use as placemats. Bring a plastic bag to put the remote in so you don’t have to disinfect it.
Layer your clothing. It will be mild so don’t over pack. Hiking boots are overkill.</p>
<p>Plastic bag for the remote–excellent idea, Batllo! I have read that the remotes are about the germiest things in hotel rooms. Never thought of encasing one, though.</p>
<p>I always bring anti-bacterial wipes with me and wipe down the remote, light switch and anything else hands touch. ALWAYS remove the top layer of bedding. I wouldn’t sit on that with clothes on.</p>
<p>If you’re bringing a laptop you’ll need to take it out of the carrying bag and place it in a bin by itself for security. </p>
<p>Take your electronics out of your pockets and place it in your carry-on or a bin to go through the scanner. A lot of people forget the cell phone in their pocket and set the alarms off. They can be left in their cases (unlike the laptop) and sent thru the scanner.</p>
<p>If you or H have a large belt buckle, take the belt off and place it in a bin.</p>
<p>You can’t bring a bottle of water (or any other drink) through security so wait to buy one on the other side of security if you want one and if you already have one, throw it away before getting to the scanner.</p>
<p>If the security people want to do an extra check of you don’t fight it - just ask what they want you to do and cooperate - it makes it go faster and easier.</p>
<p>Don’t forget to pick up all your stuff after going through security - a lot of people forget stuff.</p>
<p>Don’t try to carry on any fluids in large bottles - shampoo, lotion, etc.</p>
<p>Not all airport security follow the same procedures even though they’re all TSA so if they ask you to do something at one security point but not another, don’t be too surprised.</p>
<p>Carry on your prescription meds so in case they misplace your checked bag you won’t have to worry or panic. They’re used to seeing people with lots of meds.</p>
<p>At hotels, if the room doesn’t have a fridge but you want one, ask at the desk about it because sometimes they have some they’ll bring to the room. You could call ahead and ask about this.</p>
<p>Tip about coolers: EK I know that you already have one, but we have bought inexpensive styrofoam coolers when we were gone for about 10 days. We found them in the local grocery store in FLA for about $5.</p>
<p>Ask for 2 key in cards for your room.
Fire codes dictate the doors self close=self lock, so be forewarned.
When in the room activate all the locks and jams, don’t want strangers walking in on you due to desk error double assigning your room. It happens.
The safe may not be.
Bring disposable slippers, you’ll be glad you did. Then throw them away or burn.</p>
<p>I would suggest buying the cooler in San Fran and ditching it there before you leave. A cheap styrofoam cooler should be able to be found at Safeway. </p>
<p>Medications should be carried ON the plane. Put them in a separate bag from your other liquids. </p>
<p>re: lotions…unless there is something “exotic”, why not just use what there is in the hotel, or buy a travel size at the Safeway when you arrive. We don’t carry shampoos or lotions with us at all anymore. There are stores EVERYWHERE.</p>
<p>Think “layers” for your different types of “weather” clothing. Make sure your shoes are comfortable. To be honest, unless you plan to hike, I would leave the hiking boots at home…they are heavy.</p>
<p>Call the hotel about a fridge. Tell them you have medications that need to be refrigerated and see what they say. We had a kid on an antibiotic one time and they carried a fridge right into our room.</p>
<p>I agree with all of the above, especially TRAVEL LIGHT. You want to have room for momentos. Also, as was said, unless you’re VERY sensitive, you don’t need to bring lotions, shampoos, etc. but can use the hotel’s or get a small size at the local drug store or grocery. Possessions really do weigh you down when you travel. Layering is a good thing, vests with zip pockets is great to bring along to keep you warm but not hot. A comfy pair of walking/sports shoes as well as a nice pair of footwear that is comfortable for evening should be good for footwear. SF tends to involve a LOT of walking so comfortable footwear is a great investment.</p>
<p>It can get nippy in SF, so a windbreaker or lightweight jacket is also very useful, especially when the wind comes up and/or fog.</p>
<p>Get to the airport in good time. My son went on a trip with his girlfriends family and they were responsible for getting 2 of the teen girls to the airport and could not get them moving. They were late getting to the airport so his and her suitcase had to go with them through security. All the things they had carefully packed in the suitcase, that could not go as carry on, got thrown away - brand new sun tan lotion, make up, perfume etc etc. It started the trip on a sour note as they are students without much money so were not happy campers. Luckily the airport let him sign something so he could retrieve his pocket knife when he returned.</p>
<p>Agree with getting to the airport with time to spare. Recently, we missed a flight because they gave away our seats because we didn’t clear TSA security soon enough and had others who wanted our seats. Definitely be sure you give yourself enough time to check in (assume you’ll take time to park, take time getting thru TSA security, etc. plus an extra delay you hadn’t planned on).</p>
<p>I like to arrive 1-2 hours before our flight but some say that’s overkill. I hate missing flights but have missed two in the past few months (never missed one before this).</p>
<p>Check in on-line if your airline allows that, especially if you have only carry on luggage.</p>
<p>^^ The unpredictable thing is that the security line can be reasonable one day or at a particular time in the day and the next time it can be out the building and take a very long time to get through. I agree with getting to the airport reasonable early so you don’t need to worry about whether you’ll make the flight if you’re stuck in a long slow moving line.</p>
<p>The upside is that if you happen to get thru the line sooner than expected, you can have a leisurely snack/drink on the other side of security, where they often have a few decent places to eat & drink. It can be nice & relaxing, knowing you’re already through security & just waiting to board your plane. You may wish to bring something good to eat & drink on the plane ride too, especially if you have a long flight.</p>
<p>Himom at least the airports are large- Seatac & Oakland & SF.
WHen I was in Santa Barbara last year( which is a tiny airport)- there was a delay, I went through the line, but then drank about two bottles of water cause I was so dehydrated.
Guess where the bathroom was ?</p>