Richa

Travel Tips: How to travel with just a carry on..

With airlines increasing the cost of baggage plus the hassles of checking in and the chance of your bag being lost, carry on is the way to go.
I used to think that for long trips you cannot survive with just a carry on, not without compromising on style, but I was wrong. We traveled to Europe for 2 weeks with a carry on each. It was so convenient to just have small carry on bags when constantly moving from one place to other and it kept us organized as well.

So without further ado, lets see our little hacks and tips on how to travel light with a carry on.

Know the airline luggage policy

The first and foremost thing is to know the airline policy regarding the size and weight of your luggage. While there is no weight limit for carry on, most airlines have a size limit that measures 9″x 14″x 22” (22 cm x 35 cm x 56 cm) including wheels and handles. In addition to your carry on, most airlines allow a personal item which may include a laptop bag or handbag or small backpack as long as it fit under the seat. While most airline has same restrictions regarding dimension, but make sure to check your airline for any restrictions.

Invest in good quality carry on

A good quality carry on makes all the difference when travelling for long/short trips. If you are planning to buy a new one we would suggest to get a four wheeled spinner which is much more practical and easy to carry than standard 2 wheel versions. We bought a Samsonite hard case carry on luggage, but everyone has different opinion regarding choice of brand or style. Do your research before you invest in the right cabin luggage that is easily maneuverable, light weight and can hold all important things that you need for the trip.

Roll your clothes don’t fold

Rolling your clothes rather than folding will optimize the space in your bag and keep your clothes wrinkle free. However, rolling technique doesn’t work for bulky items like sweaters or jackets which end up taking more space when folded.

Get yourself air compression packing bags or packing cubes

This was the life savior for me. I didn’t know about air compression bag up until recently when I had to pack for my Europe trip. The air compression bag frees up lot of space but tend to wrinkle clothes, while packing cubes keeps your clothes more organized and wrinkle free. I used packing cubes for my husband’s luggage as his clothes were more prone to wrinkles and for me I used compression bag as I had more stuff to pack.

Pack versatile clothes

When you plan on traveling light, you cannot carry your whole closet with you; you have to plan ahead and choose pieces of clothing which you can re-wear or mix and match. Pack outfits that can be layered so that you don’t have to carry your bulky jackets. Choose solid color which can go with multiple outfits. Wear your bulkiest piece of jacket and shoes during your flight to save space in your bag.

Keep your toiletry to a minimum

As airlines have restrictions on the amount of liquids allowed in the cabin, its reasonable to carry only the bare necessities on the flight. Please check TSA guidelines here.

Things you cannot take in your carry on

Liquids over 3.4 ounces (100 ml): You can take toiletries or other liquids in containers limited to travel-sized containers that are 3.4 ounces (100 milliliters) or less per item. These items must be packed in a one quart sized zip top clear bag. Liquids more than 3.4 oz or 100 ml not must be packed in checked baggage.

Sharp Objects: Sharp objects that aren’t allowed includes box cutters, knives (except for plastic or round bladed butter knives), scissors more than 4 inches from the pivot point, pocket knife, razor type blades, Swiss army knife.

Other items include sporting goods, guns and firearms, tools, self-defense items, explosive /flammable materials, and other dangerous items.

Check with the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) for the latest restrictions.

Time for some more tips!

Remember that with compression bag you can fit more items and therefore it will increase the weight of your luggage.

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, but you have to declare these items at checkpoint before inspection.

If your hotel or Airbnb doesn’t have iron and your clothes are wrinkled, just hang in your clothes in the bathroom while you shower to steam iron your clothes.

Opt for solid version of Shampoo, body wash, deodorant which is a great alternatives to liquid toiletries.

Don’t forget to pack some first aid supplies like band aids,wipes, pain reliever, some indigestion tablets or whatever is your essential requirements, do check TSA guidelines related to medications.

Carry some extra bags, you never know when you will need them to pack your dirty laundry or if you are like me who always end up doing some shopping.

Do check with the country you will be flying to for their policies before packing.

Don’t forget to carry universal travel adapter.

Don’t over-pack! If you left something, you can always buy it at your destination.

What to do in San Diego, California …

San Diego is a major city in Southern California on the coast of the Pacific Ocean, approximately 120 miles (190 km) south of Los Angeles and immediately adjacent to the border with Mexico. The city is famous for its warm weather,pristine beaches, plenty of outdoor activities and the local craft brewing industry. No matter what kind of vacation experience you are looking for; this beautiful city has something for everyone.

We have visited San Diego few times as we really love its beaches, warm weather and the cool vibe of the city. We keep coming back to San Diego for more. Here are the list of things you should do while you are in San Diego:

Balboa park

Balboa Park is a one of the primary attraction in San Diego. It is home to more than 16 museums, multiple performing arts venues, lovely gardens, trails, and many other creative and recreational attractions, including the San Diego Zoo. With so many options,this is the place to go if you want variety. We spent first half of the day exploring the park and really enjoyed every bit of it. You can find all the details about the parks upcoming events and tickets here.

Interesting fact: Balboa Park Carousel, adjacent to the San Diego Zoo, is a menagerie of animals and all but two pairs are original with hand-carved European craftsmanship.

San Diego Zoo

San Diego Zoo, located in Balboa park has more than 3,500 animals of more than 650 species and subspecies. This is one of the largest zoo in the world with great animal exhibits. Giraffes, elephants, polar bears( An underwater viewing area is available to observe the polar bears swimming in their 490,000 l pool) and koalas are just a few of the many animals that you will find here. The exhibits are linked by an expansive series of trails such as the Monkey Trail, Tiger Trail. On these trails, you’ll see numerous exciting creatures including hippos in forest trail, arctic foxes in polar bear plunge, Indian rhinos in the Urban Jungle, African Penguin in African rocks and many more.

The zoo offers a guided tour bus that covers 75% of the park. There is also an overhead gondola lift called the Skyfari, providing an aerial view of the zoo. You can check the current ticket prices on their website.

It’s a must see attraction in Southern California.

Sea World

Sea World is an animal theme park, oceanarium, outside aquarium and marine mammal park. Spread across 190 acres on beautiful Mission Bay Park, it is known for spectacular animal shows, interactive attractions, aquariums, rides, lush landscaping and education programs for all ages. You will also find various tours where you can get up-close encounters with resident dolphins, sea lions, penguins, or gentle beluga whales, also known as the “canaries of the sea.”

If you are there during summer, you can also see a light show (Electric Ocean) that transforms rides, shows, and attractions into vibrantly colored displays inspired by the phenomenon of ocean bioluminescence.

Gaslamp Quarter

The Gaslamp Quarter is a lively downtown neighborhood known for its nightlife with find plenty of restaurants, bars and night clubs. The Gaslamp Quarter also hosts many city events year round. The annual Mardi Gras Parade, the Rock and Roll Marathon runs through here and San Diego’s biggest event, Comic-Con, hosts numerous activities and events here as well.

As it is one of the busiest spot, finding parking can be really difficult. There are some street parking available though but they get filled early. We booked our parking spot through parking app (Spothero) and paid only few bucks.

If you are looking for some really cool bars, we recommend going to The Tipsy Crow and Prohibition lounge and try their delicious cocktails.

La Jolla Cove

La Jolla Cove is a beautiful beach area surrounded by cliffs. The Cove is protected as part of a marine reserve. It is very rich in marine life, and is popular with snorkelers, swimmers and scuba divers.

You will also find Garibaldi fish, seals, sea lions and countless other local sea life here. If you are in a mood to relax and enjoy the sunset, the cove also has a gorgeous park above the sea cliffs, against the backdrop of the cove La Jolla.

Mission beach

Mission beach is built on a sandbar between the Pacific Ocean and Mission Bay. This is the ideal spot to soak up the sun on the sand or ride the waves with your surfboard. There is also a boardwalk that runs along the beaches, which is perfect for jogging, skateboarding, rollerblading or bike riding. Mission Beach also has many well-known bars. Most bars in the neighborhood are relaxed, beach-style gathering places.

If you looking for some more adventure, you can head over to Belmont Park an amusement park located on the shores of Mission beach. This Park is home to the famous Giant Dipper Roller Coaster, a wooden roller coaster that is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Park also features other rides such as bumper cars, the tilt-a-whirl, carousel and more.

USS Midway Museum

The USS Midway was the United States longest-serving aircraft carrier of the 20th century. Approximately 200,000 sailors served aboard the carrier, known for several naval aviation breakthroughs as well as several humanitarian missions. It is currently a museum ship. Admission includes a self-guided audio tour, narrated by former Midway sailors.

Coronado Island

Coronado Beach is a 1.5 mile long, wide sandy beach set against the backdrop of the iconic Hotel del Coronado, a 130-year-old National Historic Landmark. The beaches here has a silvery sparkle because of the presence of mica. If you are looking for a place to spend some quality time with your family or friends or just want to have a chill beach day to yourself, this is the place. We couldn’t get enough of this place. It was absolutely splendid! The sunset was so amazing here, it felt as if you are in a different world.

Don’t forget to visit the historic beachfront hotel, Hotel del Coronado. There are many good dining options including food trucks at this resort. But, we found it a bit expensive. You can just go there and walk around and enjoy the beautiful history of this place.

Where to eat in San diego

If you are a vegetarian like us or just want to try some good vegan food, these are some of the places we liked the most:

Donna Jean

Cafe Gratitude

Evolution fast food

Civico 1845, Little Italy

The first three restaurants mentioned above are completely vegan. We mentioned Civico in this list because they have a good vegan friendly menu. Cafe Gratitude and Civico are located in Little Italy, a popular neighborhood with many Italian restaurants and shops.

Time for some tips!

Parking in most places can be really tough during summer months so make sure to get early to find a spot on the street.

Buy tickets for Seaworld and Zoo online in advance. You should be able to find some online deals with a quick search.

Don’t miss the beautiful San Diego sunset at the Coronado Beach, La Jolla or the Mission beach.

Do try some vegan food while you are here.

2 days in Amalfi Coast, Italy

During our recent trip to Europe we spent two days in Amalfi Coast, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. We started our trip by first visiting Sorrento and from there we headed to Positano and the town of Amalfi.

The Amalfi Coast is a stretch of coastline on the north, located in the Province of Salerno of southern Italy. With beautiful landscape and culture, the Amalfi coastal towns are sure to take your breath away. It’s known for its sweeping water views , the quaint alleyways and small shops selling ceramics, lacework and marquetry (woodwork) and limoncello ( an Italian lemon liqueur mainly produced in Southern Italy ).

Arriving in Sorrento

The city of Sorrento has well connected public transport. You can reach Sorrento by taking any of these mode of transport.

Take a train from Naples to Sorrento: We took a Circumvesuviana train from Naples Centrale train station to go to Sorrento. The Circumvesuviana station is on the lower level of the Naples Centrale train station, below the high speed train platforms. Take the stairs down from the center of the station. For more details you can check it online.

Take a boat from Naples to Sorrento: You can also take a ferry from Naples to reach Sorrento. Its faster and gives a great view of the peninsula, but its little expensive than the train. You can check the details here.

Take a bus from Naples Airport: If you are flying to Naples Airport, you can take a Curreri bus from the airport. The point of boarding is at PI parking area and takes around one hour thirty minutes. The bus will drop you near Sorrento train station. We took the bus service while going back from Sorrento to Naples airport. For prices and other details you can check here.

Take a taxi : If you are ready to spend some extra bucks, you can also take a taxi to reach Sorrento.

Day 1: Sorrento

Sorrento is a town overlooking the bay of Naples in Southern Italy. It is the gateway to everywhere in Amalfi coast as you can take buses or ferry to Positano, Amalfi, Capri and other coastal towns from here. It is a very pretty town with some amazing landscape. We spent our first day exploring this town. Here are two of our favorite spots:

Piazza Tasso

Piazza Tasso, named after a famous Italian poet Torquato Tasso is the center of this town where you will find nice cafes, restaurants and bars. Also great for spending some time wandering around and enjoying the view of water from the top.

Marina Grande

A beautiful small harbor and a fishing port. It is a short steep walk from the center of the town but is well worth the effort. You can also take a bus from Marina Grande to Piazza Tasso too if you don’t want to hike back. There are lots of restaurants and bars along the water where you can enjoy some wine and watch the beautiful sunset. It is also a beautiful place to click some amazing pictures.

Day 2: Amalfi & Positano

We spent our second day visiting town of Amalfi and Positano. We started our day by taking a ferry from Sorrento to Amalfi via Positano, which took around 1 hour 30 minutes. We spent some time in Amalfi and then took a bus from there to Positano and finally back to Sorrento. You can get the tickets and schedules from the counters in Marina Piccola.

Saint Andrews Cathedral, Amalfi town

Amalfi is the main town of the coast. The most famous monument here is the cathedral which is a medieval Roman Catholic cathedral in the Piazza del Duomo. It is dedicated to the Apostle Saint Andrew whose relics are kept here. It is located at the main square of Amalfi town. At the top of a staircase, it overlooks the Piazza Duomo, the heart of Amalfi.

After visiting the church we spent some time roaming around the streets of Amalfi and browsing stores for some souvenirs. We also tried handmade gelato here which was really delicious.

Wander the vertical town of Positano

Positano is another beautiful city along the Amalfi coast. It is famous for its pastel colored houses , breathtaking views, beautiful black sand beaches. Be prepared to hike loads of steep stairs up and down! While this sounds tedious but it is definitely worth the effort . You will find many galleries, stores, cafes while wandering around those steep stairs.

Get yourself a customized pair of leather sandals/shoes if you are willing to spend some money, which also makes a great souvenir!

Enjoy food with heavenly views!

If you are a foodie, you are at the one of the best places in Italy. Positano is full of good places to eat and drink. One of our favorite place was Il Capitano. The food and drinks were really good with stunning views overlooking Positano bay.

If you have more time..

If you have more time, visit the island of Capri. Capri is famous for its rugged landscape, upscale hotels and shopping and handmade leather sandals. Blue grotto, a dark sea cave where the sea glows electric blue, is one of the biggest tourist attraction of Capri.

To reach Capri from Sorrento, you can either take a private boat tour or ferry from Marina Piccola. You can buy ferry tickets online or from the ticket counters in Marina Piccola. You can find the ferry schedules here. There are many private/small group Capri day trips available from Sorrento as well.

Tips!

We really enjoyed our two day visit to Amalfi coast. We suggest booking your stay in one of the town on the Amalfi coast and from there you can visit other towns by boat or buses. We chose Sorrento as the hotel rates were relatively cheaper compared to Positono and Amalfi. Book your stay well in advance because hotels can get really expensive especially during the peak season.

Don’t forget to try limoncello, an Italian lemon liqueur mainly produced in Southern Italy, especially in the region around the Gulf of Naples, the Sorrentine Peninsula and the coast of Amalfi. Limoncello is the second most popular liqueur in Italy after Campari. You can order it at virtually any restaurants. We got a bottle of limoncello and some lemon candies to take home.

Rome in a day …

We only had one day to spend in Rome. We know that it’s not enough to explore the city but we still made full use of the time in hands. These are some of the top highlights of our one day visit to Rome in chronological order:

Explore the Vatican Museums and Sistine Chapel

We started our day with museums of Vatican as it is the most busiest and visited attractions in Rome. There are 54 galleries in total containing roughly 70,000 works, of which 20,000 are on display. They display works gathered by popes throughout the centuries including several of the most renowned Roman sculptures and most important masterpieces of Renaissance art in the world.

The Sistine Chapel is the official residence of the pope, in Vatican City. It is famous for its Renaissance paintings that decorate the interior, most particularly the Sistine Chapel ceiling and The Last Judgment by Michelangelo.

Words cannot justify the beauty of this place. It was absolutely breathtaking.
We recommend buying the ticket in advance to avoid long queues. Guided tours are also available at an additional cost.

St. Peter’s Basilica

One of the holiest sites of Christianity and Catholic Tradition. It is believed to be the burial place of Saint Peter, who was one of the twelve apostles of Jesus, also believed to be first bishop of Rome. The entry to the basilica is free but you have to pay a small fee for getting to the top of the building from where you can enjoy the beautiful view of the city.

Spanish Steps

The Spanish Steps are a set of steps, climbing a steep slope between the Piazza di Spagna at the base and Piazza Trinità dei Monti, dominated by the Trinità dei Monti church at the top. This is very popular among tourists as well as locals, and you will find many people sitting, relaxing and enjoying the views of Piazza di Spagna.

PS: As of August 2019 sitting on Spanish steps could now cost you $450. So be careful and don’t sit on the stairs next time you are in Rome.

Trevi Fountain

It is the largest Baroque fountain in the city and one of the most famous and beautiful fountains in the world. Tradition has it that a coin thrown in Trevi Fountain is said to ensure the comeback to Rome, two coins thrown ensure romance and three coins thrown ensure the marriage with him or her. But you have to throw the coin in a certain way. You should toss it with your right hand over your left shoulder (or left hand over your right shoulder) with your back to the fountain.

Did you know around 3000 euros is tossed in Trevi fountain everyday? The city of Rome uses the money gathered to pay for the food and upkeep of a market for the area’s poorest inhabitants.

Piaza Venzia

Piazza Venezia is the central hub of Rome. The architecture, detail and scale of this monument is amazing. It is also a great place for some beautiful pictures.

Roman Forum

The Roman Forum is a sprawling ruin of architectural fragments and intermittent archaeological excavations. It was the center of day-to-day life in Rome, the site of triumphal processions and elections; the venue for public speeches, criminal trials, and gladiatorial matches; and the nucleus of commercial affairs.
We just took a walk around the area and didn’t go inside the forum. If you have time and want to know about the history of this place we would recommend to explore the area with a guided tour.

Colosseum

We ended our day by visiting the Colosseum, which is an oval amphitheatre in the center of the city, situated just east of the Roman Forum. It is one of Rome’s most popular tourist attractions and a must visit sight in Rome. Unfortunately, we only got to see the Colosseum from outside as we were short of time. We recommend getting tickets in advance if you want to explore this historical place.

Time for some tips!

Buy tickets in advance for major attractions like Colosseum and Vatican: To avoid the lines we suggest you buy skip the line tickets in advance to save some time. Guided tour are also available if you are ready to spare some bucks!

Public transportation is excellent in Rome. You can take Metro from the city center to Vatican city. We found Bus and Metro connectivity in the city really good.

Dress Modestly: For entering into the churches, shoulders and knees must be covered. Avoid sleeveless tops, tanks, shorts etc or carry a cover-up.

Carry an Umbrella: If planning to visit in summer, carry umbrella with you. Its was so hot and humid when we visited we had to buy an umbrella while waiting in the queue.

Wear comfortable shoes: Pack a pair of comfortable shoes to walk around the city.

Carry water bottle: You can refill your bottle at various water fountain located in the city.

Service charge for dining in: You are not expected to tip at restaurants in Italy. They will charge a service fee also called Coperto for every guest. It is generally 2 -3 Euros per person.

Be mindful of your belongings

Don’t forget to try the gelato!

How we booked luxury hotel in Paris for free using Chase UR points ..

We recently spent two days in Paris, France during the peak season of June. We wanted our accommodation to be luxurious without spending too much money. So, we decided to use Chase Ultimate Rewards (UR) points to book our stay for free.

We chose Hyatt Paris, Madeleine, a luxury 5-star boutique hotel near Paris Opera house. It is located in the 8th arrondissement in Central Paris. The average per night cost for a standard room during our stay was around USD 700+. Instead of paying USD 1400+ for 2 nights , we used total of 50,000 Chase UR points to book this hotel. Here is how you can do it as well:

Step 1

If you don’t have a World of Hyatt account, create one now. Once you have the account, you will need 50K points in your account to book this hotel for 2 nights. We transferred the points to World of Hyatt from Chase UR account. The total number of points will vary depending on the hotel and the length of stay. If you don’t have the required points, you can rack up points quickly by signing up for a new credit card:

Apply for Chase World of Hyatt credit card and you can earn up-to 50K signup bonus points when you meet the minimum spending requirements. Apart from the sign-up bonus, the best thing I like about this card is that you get one free night every year you keep this card.

Apply for Chase credit card that lets you to earn and transfer UR points to travel partners. Two of the personal card options are: Chase Sapphire Preferred, and Chase Sapphire Reserve. Both the cards are currently offering 50K+ points as signup bonus when you meet the minimum spending requirements. There are freedom cards (Chase Freedom & Chase Freedom Unlimited) as well that lets you earn UR points but they don’t let you transfer those points to the travel partners. Chase also gives you the option to combine the points from all your Chase UR cards (2 Sapphires and 2 Freedoms) into one account. We suggest you put all the UR points from all the eligible Chase cards into one of the Sapphire card account. Once you have the points required for the hotel redemption, follow Step 2 to transfer the points to your World of Hyatt account.

Step 2

If you have 50K points in your Chase UR account, follow this step to transfer it to your World of Hyatt account. If you already have the points in World of Hyatt account, go directly to Step 3. To transfer the points, login to your Chase account and open the Chase UR portal for your Sapphire card. Click on “Transfer to travel partners” link and next click on “Transfer points” next to World of Hyatt. Now, enter Recipient and Member ID and click “Continue”. Enter number of UR points to transfer and confirm. The points will be available to your World of Hyatt account instantly once you confirm the transaction. See the screenshots below:

Step 3

It’s time to book your hotel using points. Open Hyatt’s website, and select the “Use points” option and provide your destination and dates. You should be able to see the available hotels with number of points required.

For the dates shown in the screenshot above, the hotel price was USD 580 per night or 25000 World of Hyatt points. When you use the points, you are getting value of 2.9 cents per point for this particular reservation. The price of this hotel can be as high as USD 700+ during the month of June & July, but the points redemption rate of 25K is fixed based on the hotel’s category.

If you have Chase Sapphire Preferred or Reserve card, you can even book the hotels directly without transferring the points using their travel portal. But, you get fixed value per point depending on the card. For the Preferred card, you get 1.25 cents per point and 1.5 cents per point for the Reserve one. As you can see, you are getting double the value per UR point by transferring it to World of Hyatt account in this case.

Conclusion

We talked about how you can book luxury Hyatt hotels with Chase UR points by transferring it to your World of Hyatt account. In the sample reservation above, we are getting value of 2.9 cents per point which is much higher than the fixed rate that you get when you book directly through Chase UR. But, remember this might not be always true! Always check the value per point you are getting before you transfer the Chase UR points to travel partners.