"Gearing" up for the holiday season

If you know someone who likes to travel, any of these things can make life on the lam road much more enjoyable.

A luggage scale

For anyone who's ever tried to pack Christmas gifts along with a week's worth of clothes and footwear, it's a toss up as to who will win: you or the overweight luggage-fee pirates. Without a luggage scale, that is.

Scotty bought me this little gadget a few Christmases ago and I have to admit, at first I was dubious. Would I ever really use it? Conveniently repressed memories from my college days arose, when I'd stuffed sheets and towels into an airport garbage can to avoid overweight luggage charges. Reluctantly, I agreed to give the scale a try.

Now, after many trips since, including bringing back some rather overstuffed suitcases from the six weeks I spent in New York, I'm hooked. And my overweight luggage charges are (mostly) a thing of the past (thank you, honey!).

The best part is, the scale is so small and light, I can pack it along for the trip. I have such a thoughtful boyfriend.

Noise-canceling headphones

If you're traveling during the holidays you're probably doing it for several reasons: it's the only time you can get off from regular responsibilities (i.e. work, school) and there's a good chance it's going to involve family. No, I'm not suggesting getting headphones so you don't have to listen to your family (only you can know if that's a good option for you).

Traveling during peak holiday season, like we will be this year, is a lesson on forgoing personal space. Combined with any lost sleep or calories, that kind of situation is a recipe for emotional disaster. So get a reliable pair of headphones already. That way, while the rest of your senses are being thrown into overdrive at least you can tune out the cacophony of noises being emitted from your fellow passengers.

Here's a great article with a comparison of the top noise canceling headphones on the market and the ones I have my eye on as a result.

Smartwool Socks


If every airplane passenger wore these babies, that would be one better smelling bean can. Smartwool and other wool socks are pretty much odorless by virtue of their natural fiber. Wool allows for proper foot ventilation and reduces moisture (an essential component in keeping stinky bacteria at bay). I "discovered" Smartwool when I came to live in rainy Juneau and it's pretty much all I wear.

The downside is that at around $18 a pop, Smartwool socks are expensive. But they do last several years, even with a one day a week wearing. You can also purchase them here or here for slightly lower prices than at the Smartwool site.

Click here to read more about them and their environmentally friendly and socially-conscious approach to keeping feet (and sheep) happy.

Air miles

Alaska Airlines is currently having a 30 percent bonus air miles sale. Regularly priced miles are $27.50 for 1000. It normally takes 12,500 miles to get one way from Juneau to Seattle. But until December 21, if you buy 12,000 miles you get 3,600 as a bonus (15,600 miles! for $330). People in the Lower 48 are probably gasping at these prices, but that's just the price we pay to live in paradise. ;)