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How to Travel Efficiently
With the days getting longer and the mercury rising, the travel bugs start to bite, infecting us with a venom that leaves us itching to leave. If you're ready to get out, you have plenty of options in varying levels of efficiency. "Getting there is as important as the destination,"
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says Anita Kephart, store manager of Le Bon Voyage, but getting there can sometimes be a hassle. To make your travels more efficient, start by planning and packing smart. Even if you're not ready to spring on stylish, top quality luggage that will keep your underthings neat and safe in the hands of sometimes careless baggage handlers, visiting a dedicated travel store can open a world of organizational methods and vacuum-sealed over-packing. In order to know what you actually need to pack do a little research; the Internet can be handy, but there's nothing like an exhaustively researched travel guide for your back pocket that will tell you everything you need to infer proper kit and accouterments. Next, choose a mode of transportation that suits you. If you want to get there fast, obviously the friendly skies are your best option, but for those of us unaccustomed to leaving the ground for more than two seconds at a time, there's always the quaint, scenic view from a train. The continental bore of America's highways via car or bus has its own special charms, but before going Greyhound, a word to the wise-be prepared for unwanted, uh, adventure. Efficiency is not in the bus traveler's vocabulary, no matter how you pack your underwear.
Do it yourself:
The folks at Le Bon Voyage (328 S. Guadalupe St., 986-1260) will talk your ear off regarding packing systems and Travel Bug (839 Paseo de Peralta, 992-0418) will steer you to the right guides and maps. As to modes of travel, talk out your apprehensions with an understanding local travel agent prepared to recount the pros and cons of diesel vs. jet fuel.
