Travel planning tips?

You know you’re an adult when you travel by yourself. It’s a double edged sword for me. In some sense, I like the control of being able to do what I want when I want when I’m alone. On the other hand, that’s pretty much my whole life as a single person. For the most part, I like to travel. I wish I could do it more often. I blame my pioneer ancestors for giving me the travel bug gene. That’s probably not a logical conclusion, but it sounds good. Regardless, I’ve accumulated some experience (or habits). Here are a few travel tips that probably aren’t useful, but I always find to be handy:

1. Over pack. What’s that old saying? One is none and two is one. This is very true when you find yourself puking on the only pair of jeans you brought with you in an effort to travel light. I try to control my OCD and not bring all the clothes I own, but my fear of being unprepared for inconvenience sometimes gets the better of me. I have to remind myself that I’m not leaving the planet. Since I don’t camp, there is almost always a Target or grocery store nearby to fulfill any needs.
2. Lysol. Hotel rooms are filthy, even the swankiest place is inhabited by people who have no manners and bad habits, so I always bring a can of Lysol with me and spray the place down. Seriously. The doorknobs, light switches and remote are the first places that get doused since they are usually the worst. Heck, I even spray down the bed and any furniture. Yes, I’m crazy, but I manage.
3. Bottled water. If you’re anything like me, you tend to overindulge in alcohol from time to time. Most hotels come with a mini-fridge or at the very least an ice machine down the hall and around the corner. Bring your own water. I have traveled to Southern California too many damn times to know the local water can be gross and that sucks when you are dehydrated from too much boozing. That grocery store I mentioned? Go there and stock up on bottled water…and maybe something bubbly. No, not champagne, mineral water or club soda to help with any stomach issues.
4. Snacks. Again, I like to prepare for possible unknowns, like being stuck in a hotel room and having nothing to eat. It’s 11:00 at night. Room service just shut down and you are starving. What do you do? Dig out that box of crackers or bag of tortilla chips! See. I’m all about comfort. It’s funny because I would never eat that late at night at home, but for some reason when I’m traveling, I get hungry at the most inconvenient times.