Here are some helpful tips to consider when traveling when a storm is brewing.

Consider re-booking. The airlines generally allow passengers to change tickets free of charge when a major storm threatens travel. You might be able to connect through another city unaffected by the weather system.

Sign up for airline alerts and check your flights frequently online before you head to the airport. A flight’s status often changes by the minute as the airline works to line up slots and crews and keep planes and runways clear of ice and snow during winter travel disruptions.

Make sure you have a cell phone and your charger in case you need to rebook a canceled flight. Get in line for assistance and try your airline by phone at the same time if you’re among hundreds of passengers jockeying for seats. If you can get online, try that, too.

Pack essentials in your carry-on. If you’re hoping to make your original flight, be sure to pack essentials such as prescriptions, glasses or contacts and other necessary toiletries or clothes in your carry-on. You and your checked luggage are likely to get separated if you end up stranded overnight.

Dress comfortably. With sleeping in an airport terminal in mind, pack and dress for warmth and comfort. Foam earplugs can be a saving grace.

Pack snacks. Airport entertainment and snacks can get expensive, and they’re harder to come by in the wee hours. Stow away an emergency book or magazine and some sustenance to keep you going.

Inquire at the gate about food vouchers and sleeping areas. While airlines aren’t required to provide accommodations for travel interrupted by severe weather, many airports have provided food and cots to travelers stranded in this season’s string of whopper storms.

Data found on CNN.

Smart strategies for stowing your belongings, from accessories to sleepwear.

Accessories (Earrings, Necklaces, Scarves)

• Keep necklaces protected and kink-free “by threading them through drinking straws, then putting the filled straws in toothbrush holders,” says Anne McAlpin, author of Pack It Up.
• Store earrings in a day-of-the-week pill container, or cut out a small cardboard square and punch them through.
• Put all the jewelry you intend to wear with a certain outfit in a sandwich bag and pin it to one of the clothing items.
• Toss silk scarves near the top of your bag to prevent them from getting crushed.

Belts

• For narrow belts: Wind them into coils and place each one in a zipper-sealed bag. Put every bag in a shoe.
• For larger versions: Fit them around the edges of your bag. Their size and width make them less likely to snake about.

Blouses, Shirts, Tees

• Layer tissue paper or plastic dry-cleaning bags between garments to keep them smooth. (Clothes wrinkle when they rub against one another.)
• Put nice items on top to keep weight off them.
• Shirts and blouses will lose their shape if they’re rolled up, but rolling works well for T-shirts, which should go near the bottom of the bag.

Books

• Because of their weight, books tend to shift to the bottom of a suitcase, near the wheels. To prevent them from dragging other items down, start by placing them there.

Bras

• To help preserve their shape, stuff rolled underwear and socks in the cups and seal in a plastic bag. Tuck into the corners of the suitcase.

Dresses

• If a dress is long enough, you can place it directly on top of your pants and “interfold” it (see Pants). Otherwise, keep it near the top―above heavier shirts and sweaters―and fold it as few times as possible.
• Either way, slip it into a dry-cleaning or garment bag to prevent it from wrinkling.

Jeans

• Because these are heavy, position them near the wheels, well below any delicate clothing.
• Fold them at the waist, then in half, lengthwise. Or roll them, folding at the waist, then rolling upward from the bottom, stopping just below the belt line (because of the zipper and the pockets at the top, rolling jeans all the way adds unnecessary volume).

Medicines

• Put all daily medications, as well as things like contact lenses and glasses, in your hand luggage. Keep prescription drugs in the original containers; the Transportation Security Administration requires you to have proof that they’re yours.

Liquids

• Traveling with your favorite bottle of vino.  Pack safely with the BottleWise Rollup.  Its compact and take up little space in your luggage.  Best of all it protects from breaking or leaking.
• You never leave home without your favorite lotion or makeup.  Be sure to protect your liquids with a Pitotube cosmetic case.

Pants

• Pack at the very bottom of the suitcase, just above the layer that fills the three indentations made by the suitcase pulley (that layer can consist of underwear, workout clothes, and pajamas).
• For the first pair, place the waistband against a narrow end of the suitcase and drape the legs over the opposite edge. Position the next pair’s waistband so that it touches the opposite short end of the suitcase. Continue alternating with all the pants, then put all the other items on top. Fold the pant legs over the pile of clothing. This “interfolding,” as packing experts call it, helps prevent trouser creases.

Outerwear

• In the winter, carry on an oversize jacket or parka and bulk up with long-sleeved T-shirts, sweaters, and scarves. Packing a light jacket and several layers is more space-efficient than packing a heavy coat.
• Place your jacket toward the bottom of the bag. Store gloves in your coat pockets.

Sleepwear

• Chances are your pajamas are among the things you’ll need first, so put a set in the top layer.
• Keep the rest at the bottom, filling in the indentations caused by the suitcase handle.

Article by Sara Reistad-Long, Real Simple

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Whoever said California doesn’t have a fall season was sadly mistaken!  Imagine rolling hills of vibrant red, russet, amber and gold grape leave shimmering in the sun.  Liquid amber trees dot the valleys in all their splendid fall glory.  Days are warm, skies are crystal blue and fallen leaves crunch underfoot.  Mix this beauty in with a wine tour and all seems perfect!  Wine touring is a fun way to get the best-tasting and most carefully selected wines.  The Pacific Northwest (a.k.a. Wine Country) has all the choices, waiting for you!

Here’s how to get a jumpstart on planning your trip:

1.  Choose your wine region- Seattle, Woodinville, Yakima, Rattlesnake Valley, Zillah, Leavenworth, Prosser, Grandview, Sunnyside, Red Mountain, Walla Walla Valley, and more…check out some Wine Country maps. http://www.inetours.com/PagesWT/Wine_Tours.html

2.  Choose which wineries to visit and determine the sequence and daily schedule. It helps to do a little research on wines and prices. Also, check out reviews and the atmosphere of these wineries to ensure they fit your expectations.  If you are traveling to a new location this Fall, look up to see if there are any local wineries in the area.  There are several growing niche wineries all across the country, so you don’t need to limit your self to the Pacific NW.

3.   You may want to call some wineries ahead of time to see if an appointment is necessary and if there are any charges.  Be sure to ask them about their wine-tasting hours as well and if there are any special winery events or festivals that you may want to take part in (ie. Grape Stomping!)

4.   Don’t forget the food! All the wine touring will make you hungry, so plan where you’ll be dining. Seattle, Woodinville, Walla Walla, Leavenworth, Tri-Cities, and Lake Chelan have some great selections. Many wineries also have private areas where you can bring in your own picnic and pair it up with one of their wines.

5.  Plan lodging and transportation accommodations if you’re traveling from afar.  Many hotels may offer wine tour packages that can offer you added savings.  Another option is to check with  your local travel agent. They have great insights on what areas to visit from past clients and can even plan a complete tour for you at no additional cost.

6.    Don’t forget the most important thing: plan to have something to bring back your wine in! The BottleWise Bot’lPak or the BottleWise Duo are the safest way to transport you wine in your checked luggage. They’re reusable and keep your wine safe from breaks or leaks. No need to waste money on shipping your wine back home, not to mention all the Styrofoam that goes to waste in that process! You can be cost-effective and environmentally effective at the same time this way.  SAVE $10 (now through October  10th), promo code  DUO10 at www.BottleWise.com.

Sources: http://www.winesnw.com/news_reviews/newsandreviews4.htm, http://www.washingtonwinetours.com/plan-wine-tour.html

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