Heather Lindstrom 3/12/23 Heather Lindstrom 3/12/23

Hot Tips for Preparing for International Travel (Revisited for 2025)

The travel industry is definitely booming and many travelers, tired of local haunts, are heading to far-flung destinations post-pandemic. At Curated Travel, our clients are headed to St. Lucia, Bora Bora, Cancun, South Africa, Germany, European River Cruises, the British Isles, Slovenia, France, and the always-popular Italy in the next several months. With 3 trips to Europe last year and Italy on my horizon later this month, I will attest that travel is back and more exciting than ever!

The travel industry is booming, and many travelers, tired of local haunts, are heading to far-flung destinations. At Curated Travel, our clients are headed to the Lake District of Italy, Bora Bora, European River Cruises, the British Isles, Slovenia, Portugal, Spain, France, and the ever-popular Italy in the next several months. With 3 trips to Europe last year and Italy on my horizon later this month, I will attest that travel is back and more exciting than ever!

Hot Tips for International Travel

Pack your passport first (be sure it’s valid for 6 months or more post-return). Your passport is your most essential item for international travel. Take a picture of the info page and upload it to your phone in case your passport is lost during travel.
Check the website of your airline for luggage sizes and weight limits. If you can manage to pack your essentials in a carry-on only (and congrats!!) do it! If not, I strongly recommend packing a ‘capsule collection’ of basics and necessities in your carry-on in case of delayed luggage.
While you are checking the airline website be sure you have created your account and have the latest apps (including airline entertainment apps) downloaded before travel. Check-in 24 hours before travel and turn on notifications for any changes.
Contact your bank and credit card companies to alert them of your upcoming international travel and charges.
Call your cell phone company for the best international phone plan options during travel. Travel Hack: If you keep your phone in airplane mode for your entire trip, you can use your phone functions on free wifi at hotels, cafes, and airports with ease.
Purchase a universal adapter or two to use in the hotels for plugging in phone chargers and computers, or request one at your hotel. Check the voltage ratings in the small print on your electrical items. Most are rated for 100-240V; however, some are rated only for 125V (my blow dryer), which requires a converter from 220V to 110V US to European Converter.
Download WhatsApp on your phone for free international texting and video calling with family and friends (be sure they have the app too!). For our travel clients, WhatsApp is frequently used by our international travel partners to keep in close contact with tours/guides/transfers while you travel.
Bring your state driver’s license if you plan to rent a scooter during an excursion. If you plan to rent a car, an International Driving Permit is strongly recommended. It’s easy to obtain ahead of your travels from the American Automobile Association here.
For dining abroad, apps like TheFork are available internationally for easy booking. Use the Michelin Guide (one of our preferred partners) for more dining and travel inspiration.
Download a language translation app like TripLingo, or, better yet, learn the language before you travel.

UPDATE: Here I am, packing for my spring trip to Italy for 2 weeks at a luxury travel event. I couldn’t quite believe I was able to manage it all (fancy events included) in carry-on luggage only. Trust me, it was so freeing not to worry about my luggage arriving with me. It was also freeing not to be schlepping extra baggage around for 2 weeks.

Notes on Packing: After too many experiences with delayed luggage, I’m a recent convert to carry-on-only luggage (I use a small roller bag plus a Beis Mini Weekender and a small crossbody bag). If you do check bags I highly recommend creating a ‘curated capsule’ in your carryon of at least 2 multi-use outfits, 2 pairs of shoes, makeup/haircare basics, deodorant, toothbrush/paste, medications, and scarves/jewelry to change up your look. If you do check a bag toss in an Apple Air Tag to track your luggage. I’ve written several articles about the fine art of packing for longer trips. Read more about my travel advisor packing strategies, including the essential Carryon Capsule Collection here. If you are curious about how I survived for 6 days at my first luxury travel event in Italy with NO Luggage read here.

Spending power: Credit cards are accepted almost everywhere these days- including from your phone with digital wallets. That said, it’s always good to have some cash on hand, especially for tipping or smaller purchases. Also, you will want to tip tour guides and drivers along the way in cash.

You can exchange for cash at the airport OR you can request your transfer/taxi driver make a quick stop at a local ATM on the way to your hotel for lower exchange rates.

Please note, Apple and other payment apps are widely used in Europe these days so going as wallet-free as possible is a good security tip. My husband learned this the hard way when pickpocketed on his first day in Lisbon. For your cash, use a money belt or clip and never put your wallet in your back pocket. For women, I’m all about the cross-body bag.

HOT Tip: My husband has started bringing home some leftover currency like euros or pesos to ease our arrival on our next trip to the destination.

Notes on tipping: Tips are usually included in the meal price (check the receipt) so it is not necessary to tip at a restaurant unless service is above and beyond. In Europe, your server typically won’t bring your bill until you request it. Essentially, the table is yours for the evening if you like. That said, tours/transfers/guides do not include tips in the pricing. In Italy/France the common practice for transfers with a short drive is €10-20, for a long drive is €40-50, and for private guides, a full day is €50 and a half day is €30.

HOT TIP - When you leave your hotel, grab a business card with the hotel address and phone number included or snap a photo of it. If you get lost (and don’t happen to meet an English speaker), showing a taxi driver or a passerby the card with the address is extremely helpful, even with a language barrier. If you have an itinerary app (such as UMAPPED which I create for my clients) show them the hotel address on the app to keep it simple.

My Must-Haves 2025 -

Apple AirPods Pro 2 Wireless Earbuds (Noise-canceling)

Portable Bluetooth Speaker

Tote Bag

Makeup Case (and I love this hanging bag too - Toiletry Bag)

Compression Packing Cubes

Wide Brim Hat

I hope this list of tips for international travel is helpful as you prepare for your upcoming travels.

Ciao! Ciao!

Heather

Heather Lindstrom 9/8/20 Heather Lindstrom 9/8/20

Creating a Milestone Anniversary Celebration When Bora Bora is Postponed to 2021

As I shared on Instagram, my husband and I made the difficult decision to postpone our long-awaited ‘wanderlist’ trip to French Polynesia for our 20th wedding anniversary. We had plans to arrive today to enjoy the beauty of Moorea and Bora Bora, experience those aqua waters in overwater bungalows for the first time as we toasted our anniversary. As you can probably relate, the delayed gratification is not easy, especially when you are looking forward to the change of pace, ease of stress, a new adventure, and reconnecting with nature, yourself, or someone you love.

Early in the pandemic, when I missed out on a trip to Italy, I called it ‘delayed grativacation’. At that point, I could not have imagined we would be at home every day and every night for seven long months and it’s still mind-blowing when I think about it. I took 5 international trips in 2019 so all this home time would not have seemed possible. Are you feeling it too? Like so many of you-clients, friends, and blog readers- who have had to postpone your travel plans, we feel for you and have recently done the same.

But for now, it feels safer to postpone, so we pivot. We feel the disappointment and move those plans further back on our ‘wanderlist’ calendar. Bora Bora will have to wait until July 2021. And then we make some new plans. For us, it needed to be something meaningful, something worthy of our 20th celebration and it needed to feel safe in these COVID times. By sheer coincidence, and a webinar I joined with preferred travel partners, the perfect destination fell right into place. The answer, it seems, was hanging on the wall in my husband’s home office all along.

My dress for our anniversary dinner is more coral than red, but Scott and I will lounging on this very balcony, and enjoying a stay at this residential-style boutique hotel in the Napa Valley later this week. Auberge Du Soleil, “Inspired by the south of France. Infused with California soul'“ will be perfect for our celebration. With a bit of planning and creativity, we have another ‘wanderlist’ stay on the horizon for this milestone and I hope you do for yours.

Stay safe and cheers! Heather

Follow along with us on Instagram Curated Travel + StyleMindChic (behind the scenes)

View Auberge Du Soleil and contact us at Curated Travel for more information and to book this or any of the Auberge Collection Resorts.

Painting by California Artist: Michael Flohr

Heather Lindstrom 4/17/19 Heather Lindstrom 4/17/19

Curated Travel: Stylish & Savvy Travel Tips from a Travel Advisor

There’s nothing like arriving at your destination and feeling like a hot mess to lessen your enjoyment of a much anticipated trip. I know this from personal experience when my luggage was delayed for 6 LONG days on a luxury travel event in Italy last year. Just imagine wearing sneakers to a posh dinner at Villa d’Este and using the rosegold makeup bag in your purse as a clutch. Yes, it happened to me. Here are a few savvy tricks I’ve learned along the way to keep things more stylish than hot mess while traveling.

Packing Strategies

The most effective way to insure your items will arrive at your destination is to pack only a carry-on bag. If that is not an option, create a capsule carry-on bag with all the essentials to get you through several days if your checked luggage doesn’t arrive. Wear a monochromatic outfit on the plane, and include an additional blouse/top and pair of neutral (black) pants in your bag. If possible add an additional pair of walking shoes (and socks). Pack mini sizes of all necessary beauty products, makeup, hairbrush, all-in-one styling products, a hair tool, toothbrush/paste and anti-perspirant. As I learned the hard way, it’s difficult to recreate your skincare and makeup on the fly with little or no time to shop. Pack all necessary medications. Include a swimsuit if you are headed to a tropical or spa vacation. Scarves are also a way to change up your look. A couple of statement accessories can update your look even if you are wearing the same basics for a day (or 3) in a row.

My Packing List for the Plane

Crossbody bag
Capsule collection in my carry-on rollerbag
Pashmina
Mario Badescu Rosewater Facial Spray
Sanitizing wipes (for the seating area)
Noise-cancelling headphones
Travel pillow or neck roll
Disposable toothbrush/toothpaste
Chargers for devices
Downloaded entertainment apps recommended by your airline
A new book downloaded to my devices
My Bejeweled app to keep me occupied when there is turbulence
A healthy snack like almonds, a meal bar or (let’s face it) M&Ms
Bottle of water purchased at the airport

Travel Tips for International Travel

*Passports - Extra pages required and be sure your passport is due to expire more than 6 months from your travel end date. Your passport is your most essential item while traveling internationally. Pack it first and keep it safe!

*Call your mobile carrier and check on international plans. AT&T can roll you into a $10 per day international plan while traveling. Other carriers may do the same. If you are considering a pocket wifi, sim card or data roaming this article discusses pros and cons for you.

*Credit cards are easy to use and are accepted in most places of business these days. Alert your credit card company (and bank if need be) that you will be traveling internationally or they may hold up charges.

*Put a hold on mail if you don’t have a housesitter.

*Charge all devices and carry a universal international adapter.

*Download itinerary apps as needed. I use UMAPPED for my client itineraries. Tripit is a great one for personal travel.

*Download a language translation app like TripLingo or better yet learn the language before you travel. See a breakdown of a variety of language learning programs from Consumer’s Advocate.

*An International Driver’s Permit if you plan to rent a car on your trip. Apply here.

*Bring your state driver’s license if you plan to ride a scooter or drive a car during an excursion.

*A note on tipping: Tips are usually included in the meal price (check the receipt) so it is not always necessary to tip at a restaurant unless service is above and beyond. In Europe, they typically won’t bring you the bill unless you request so as not to rush you. Essentially the table is yours for the evening if you like. That said, Tours/Transfers do not include tips in the pricing. Common practice is in the range of 5 Euros for half a day, or 10 Euros for a full day, per person for gratuity.

Clients often ask me about my favorite new must-haves for travel and I’m happy to dish. My most important tech accessory has become my external charger for my iPhone. I like the built-in cables on this one. It’s sleek, compact and will charge your iPhone and another device at the same time. It’s all in one so there are no extra cords to pack.

As for adapters, you will need a universal adapter (or two) if traveling internationally. This Universal Adapter is a great option. Most European countries have the same style so this universal adapter should work as well in Italy, France, Spain, etc.

I’m a new convert to noise cancelling headphones, and they make a huge difference in noise fatigue/exhaustion on the plane and jet-lag recovery upon arrival.

Travel packing cubes are my new obsession! If you tend to wear lots of neutrals while traveling (black), your suitcase can look like a tornado hit and it’s hard to find what you are looking for. Packing cubes will keep you organized AND keep your clean and dirty clothes separated. I’m a fan!

Strategies for Beating Jet Lag

Pack eye shades, a travel pillow (my favorite brand is Savvy Sleepers founded by my friend Dale Janee') or neck roll, and download an app for ambient music to help you sleep on the plane. I also take melatonin, but you can take whatever sleep-aid works best for you as needed. As always stay hydrated.

Upon arrival, I adjust to my new time zone immediately. I used to leave my watch set on my ‘home’ time zone but that made me even more tired. My advice is to freshen up at your hotel and head out for a little exploring and a great meal on the first day. Try to stay up for a typical bed time in your new time zone if possible. This will get you acclimated more quickly. More melatonin and doses of vitamin D sunshine are also helpful to reduce jet lag.

What to Purchase While Traveling

While traveling, I often bring home the sensory experience of my destination. Flavors, fragrances, candles and fine linens are the perfect consumables to bring to your home or as gifts.

On my recent trip to Paris and the French Riviera I purchased Caudalie serum and day creme from the fabulous French pharmacy (like a candy shop for us French skincare and makeup fans).

In the charming mountaintop city of Eze, I visited the parfum shop and purchased a locally made fragrance by Fragonard, ‘Soleil’. It’s a sunny fragrance that transports me to the French Rivieria with each delightful spritz. Tours of the Laboratory are offered at the Eze location. During our trip we also collected truffle mustard, regional flavored salts and Herbs de Provence. I’m a fan of local linens. They are essential for the home but have that local vibe to remiind you of your travels.

Purchasing items that transport you to the sensory experience of your destination is a wonderful way to relive those special moments of travel.

My best advice, since travel is always an adventure despite our best preparations, even if you end up feeling like a ‘hot mess’, is to lead with a smile. If your smile is bright enough maybe no one will notice that you are wearing sneakers at a fancy event at Villa d’Este at Lake Como.

Learn more about what I learned when my luggage was delayed for 6 days in Italy here.

Packing Tips on Curated Travel for Pinterest

Today I’m pleased to be joining this fabulous group of experienced bloggers. Stop by their links and learn about their tips for stylish travel:

"How to Pack Your Suitcase Like A Pro" by After Orange County

"How to Take the Stress Out of Packing When Every Outfit Counts" by Brenda Kinsel

"Steps To Plan An Unforgettable Large Group Vacation" by Classic Casual Home

"Stylish & Savvy Travel Tips from a Travel Advisor" by Curated Travel

"How to Pack for a Weekend Getaway" by Most Lovely Things

"How to Rock an Over 50 Travel Wardrobe" by Rough Luxe

"Footloose: Shoes For Spring and Summer Travel" by Une Femme D'un Certain Age

Feeling inspired like I am? Contact me to get started planning your dream getaway here.

Heather Lindstrom 10/10/18 Heather Lindstrom 10/10/18

Savour: The Anticipation of Travel

I’m in that lovely space where I’m looking forward to a much anticipated trip to Tuscany but I’m not in the final frenzy of packing just yet. I’m in the phase of researching, exploring, daydreaming about my travel plans. Let’s face it, part of the joy of travel is savouring the anticipation. With travel we look forward to changing up our day to day experience, enjoying new adventures, meeting new people and treating ourselves especially well. Combined with the sensory experience of regional flavors, a cacaphony of languages, a myriad of scents and smells blending into the vibrant color palette that is travel.

As I take a few moments to savour this upcoming trip to Tuscany, I’m enjoying this glimpse of our first destination today:

Fonteverde

Fonteverde is truly one of the most outstanding destinations in Italy. Originally built as a renaissance palace for the Grand Duke Ferdinando I de' Medici, the resort overlooks the majestic rolling hills of Val d'Orcia, and is set atop the natural hot springs to fully utilize the healing power of the thermal waters.

We’ve been invited to enjoy luxury spa hotels for the first four days and the itinerary has a “pinch me I’m dreaming” vibe.

Other destinations, on this hosted trip to Tuscany, include Bagni di Pisa, Castel Monastero, a few days in Florence at Grand Hotel Cavour and our final stop at Villa il Poggiale to retrace the footsteps of our first visit to Italy back in 2003. Mr. C.T. will be joining me on this Tuscan adventure and I couldn’t be more pleased.

Along the way I will be researching the best of the best in Tuscany for my clients. I’ve been hearing interest from a number of you for Tuscany so feel free to email me with questions.

Ciao for now!

Thoughts on Tuscany….

“We walk into the olive grove and sit in the dry grass on the bluff. The monastery and the whole world lie before us. Purples, yellows, pinks and blues but all washed, hazy, indefinite, dreamy. The world was dissolving, vanishing. And if you half-closed your eyes, you could see yourself from afar, dissolving in the haze. You could see yourself turning into light.”

— Ferenc Mate

Would love for you to follow along on Facebook and Instagram:

Heather Lindstrom 6/21/18 Heather Lindstrom 6/21/18

Tips for Preparing for International Travel - What You Need to Know

Planning for your dream vacation can be so exciting — you are already daydreaming of where you’re going to stay, what you’ll see, the shows you’ll take in, and all the amazing food you’ll eat. But what about prepping, packing and organizing all your travel documents? Are they all in order? It can be overwhelming. Here’s a list of everything you need, plus practical tips on how to keep everything organized, safe, and accessible.

Preparing for International Travel

Prepping, packing, paperwork...What you need to know

What to PACK:

*Carry on bag: I always include a swimsuit, coverup (if headed to a beach vacation), thongs, beauty essentials like the Nars Mulitple Stick, toothbrush/paste, deoderant, moisturizer, a brush and at least a couple pair of undies. I hope you never understand the importance of this but just in case your luggage is delayed or lost as mine was for 6 days in Italy. Medications as needed. I pack a sleeping mask and a few melatonin tablets to help me sleep on a red-eye flight. I always take a wrap or pashmina to double as a scarf or a pillow on the plane. Comfortable walking shoes are a must! I use disinfectant wipes to wipe down the tray table, armrests, buttons, etc.

*A crossbody bag or document carrier to wear under clothing. The last thing you want to have happen is a stolen bag or wallet on vacation. Pick pockets are a real thing so never leave your wallet in your back pocket, gents!

*Technology: Phone charge booster, ear buds, phone (check with your carrier for international plans), kindle app for reading, entertainment app recommended by my flight carrier. Download music, movies, TV shows and a splitter for earbuds if you plan to watch with a fellow traveler.

FOR YOUR DESTINATION:

Download a language translation app like TripLingo for communicating with the locals on your vacation. This will make your ease of travel much improved and you will likely impress the locals, even make some new friends.

Adapters for electrical plugs as needed based on the country of your destination. Guide with details. To buy universal adapters.

DO take business cards, or, at the very least, plan to share your Facebook profile with travelers and locals you meet along the way. Our travels are often greatly enriched by the friends we make along the journey. With the dawn of Facebook, it is super easy to keep in touch upon your return home. Follow Curated Travel here.

International travel documents: what to bring and how to keep them safe

• Your passport. This is the big one. Make sure it hasn't expired and is within six months of being expired. And don’t forget passports for your kid(s)!

• Any visas that can be acquired in advance, including those for countries you’ll only be traveling through. If you can’t get a visa in advance, bring the letter from the consulate stating that your visa will be granted upon your arrival (the UAE and Oman are two countries that don’t issue visas outside their countries, for example).

• A copy of the picture page of your passport, and extra passport photos.

• Your airline miles card

• A copy of your itinerary and any e-docs or e-tickets

• Originals and paper copies of your tickets (plane, train, bus, etc.) and confirmation numbers (hotel reservations, car rental, etc.) and all contact info for these companies. • Travel insurance card and accompanying information

• Guidebook for the countries you are visiting and maps of your driving route — plus discreet city maps if you’ll be exploring a new city

• Your international driver’s license if you plan to drive. Italy requires an International Driving Permit in addition to home country license. Can be picked up at AAA for $20. Good for one year Link to the app is here. The document also lists countries that require this. Or you can order your International Driving permit online here.

• If you use traveler’s checks, bring a copy of your check register. (Tip: Ask your bank if you can use your US debit card at cash machines in the country you are visiting. In some cases, withdrawing cash may be easier and less expensive than cashing traveler’s checks.)

• Contact info for all the people you would want/need to contact in case of an emergency (including me!). Don’t forget the numbers of the consulates where you’ll be staying. All these numbers can be stored in your phone, as well — simply designate a consistent label for them (like “France 2017”) for easy access, and they can be easily deleted when your trip is done.

• Copies — front and back — of any credit cards you’ll be taking with you.

When you’ve assembled all the essential documents/copies, the first thing you should do is check to make sure your name appears the same on all documents. This may seem like a small thing, but it can be a big hassle during travel if your names don’t match. Next, scan the papers and send them in an email to yourself and to your emergency contact(s). In addition, you can carry a USB card with encrypted copies of all these images — so even if it gets stolen, no one could access the documents without the master password. You can keep this USB card in a tiny, discreet pocket, along with some extra cash — an absolute last resort in the extremely rare event that you lose everything. Choose a family member or close friend who will be your representative while you’re away and who can have access to major accounts if needed. This way, you have a trustworthy contact available any time, and there is someone who always knows where you are. Store copies of your major travel documents (passports, tickets, reservations, etc.) in a waterproof plastic zip bag and in a separate piece of luggage from the originals. It’s stressful enough to have your passport stolen — but having it stolen from the same bag where all the copies are is even worse. When you’re out sightseeing, always carry the essential documents on your person, ideally in a waterproof carrier that can be worn under your clothing. Once you get all this info in order, you can travel with confidence, knowing you’re covered in the event of the unexpected. And — bonus! — you’ll have laid the groundwork for future trips.

Trip Details - Use an app to gather all of your information in one place. I like the Tripit app for storing trip info - flights, hotels, transportation. For my travel clients I use a sophisticated, highly detailed Umapped app to organize their travel information at every step of the way.

To start planning your trip today, contact me by clicking here. I look forward to hearing from you!

Heather Lindstrom 5/4/18 Heather Lindstrom 5/4/18

How I Survived Without My Luggage for 6 Days on a Luxury trip to Italy

After carefully curating my packing list, constructing outfits and meticulously organizing my accessories for the most import trip of my travel advisor career, a luxury travel event in Italy, the unthinkable happened. My luggage filled with 9 days of outfits, shoes, accessories, makeup and hair tools, did not arrive with me in Nice, France. It didn't arrive while I was traveling on the Italian Riviera, and it didn't arrive until my last few moments at Lake Como!

After carefully curating my packing list, constructing outfits, and meticulously organizing my accessories for the most important trip of my travel advisor career, my first luxury travel event in Italy, the unthinkable happened. My luggage filled with 9 days of outfits, shoes, accessories, makeup, and hair tools, did not arrive with me in Nice, France for my first few days in San Remo. It didn't arrive while I was traveling on the Italian Riviera, and it didn't arrive until my last few moments at Lake Como!

Here I am, at the airport in Sacramento, with my roller bag that, in the end, would make additional flights to Munich and Milan without me. I had no idea I would have to manage six days of professional and semi-formal luxury events by living out of my carry-on and one quick shopping trip.

Here's what I learned about making do with the clothes on my back and in my carry-on luggage for 6 days.

1 - Create a survivor capsule in your carry on. Think through your carry-on luggage as a mini version of what you would need for (the unthinkable) numerous days. I had a skeleton version of my makeup but nothing like I needed for the semi-formal events and 2 days of professional meetings. Take small versions of all the products you need to create your look. Include the moisturizers and lip balm to keep you comfortable. I always carry a toothbrush & toothpaste, hand cream, roller ball perfume and a multiple stick (mine is Nars) for blush, but never thought to pack deodorant in my carry on. Day three this will feel like a necessity, I promise you. Also include a hair brush, accessories and hair products to tame the mane.

2 - Stick with neutrals - I debated between wearing the comfy, trendy track pants or a pair of black stretch leggings on the plane. As you can see, I went with the track pants, but in the end it was the wrong choice. Though I was thrilled to see that track pants are definitely a fashion statement in Italy (image above), what I found, over the next several days, was that the more neutral your pieces are, especially for reuse in a pinch, the better. Do you really want to see me wearing obviously the same pair of pants three days in a row? I think not.

3 - Pack jewelry and accessories - to mix up your look with basic neutrals. I got lucky! At the last minute I moved my jewelry bag from my checked luggage to my carry-on. Having a sparkling necklace and multi-strand of pearls definitely helped my basic black 'uniform' feel more festive for fancy cocktail parties. Also, scarves are ideal with neutral basics. They can be used as a scarf or a wrap as I did for a formal night at Villa d'este.

IMG_0468(1).jpg — My purchases in my quick one hour to shop for backup items in San Remo

4 - Be practical (not precious) when you need to shop for necessities. When I realized my luggage would be delivered to the Italian Riviera after I was scheduled to leave for Lake Como, I knew I had to get smart. I knew there would be no time to shop at our Travelux 2018 event, so I made a quick list of necessities and walked to San Remo to power shop. Though Italy has amazing fashion, I didn't have time to browse the expensive boutiques for something special. I hit the inexpensive makeup store (mascara, tinted moisturizer, day/night cream) the pharmacy (a brush, dry shampoo) plus an inexpensive boutique (undies, black leggings, black top, a graphic scarf). At another, more hip boutique, I found a pretty green blouse with bold sleeves and a gold tank sweater with a bit of sheen (for semi-formal nights).

4 - Pack two shoe options - One pair for comfort and one pair for professional or dressy events. I had this one covered. I wore sneakers on the plane which came in very handy when I had to sprint through the international terminal in San Francisco to catch my Swiss Air Flight to France. This is where my luggage and I parted ways since it did not make the quick connection. Also, pack socks (to prevent blisters) and band-aids, just in case you end up getting blisters from repeating the same shoes day after day. Despite the band-aids, my blisters became so bad I had to wear my sneakers to a couple of the semi-formal cocktail parties and events... Seriously, sneakers at a semi-formal event at Villa d'Este? As a shoe lover, that is my personal fashion nightmare!

5 - Get creative. I had packed my black halter swimming suit in the carry-on since there was a spa at my first hotel. I considered pairing that black halter with my black legging and a long wrap for one of the semi-formal evenings. In the end, I decided it was too bare for the cold weather, but it was a creative option. I also pulled my cosmetic bag out of my purse and used it as a clutch for our spectacular evening at Villa d'este. In the end, I felt like a 'fashion MacGyver'.

6 - Pack Multi-Use Pieces - At the last moment I grabbed my reversible vest - faux fur on one side and nylon on the other. That turned out to be the most versatile piece I packed. It was a pillow on the plane, a warm/rain shield on the boat tour of Lake Como and a stylish layer (faux fur with gold tone zipper) for a cocktail party.

And when my bag finally arrived in Italy(BLISS!!) just moments before we left Lake Como for Abano, I was elated. I told my traveling companions to expect to see me in at least 3 outfits per day, just because I could FINALLY wear my packed clothing. Our last stop was at the Grand Hotel a spa hotel in Abano where robes were enocouraged for day wear. No matter, I still rocked as many outfits as I could.

Struggling to put myself together for these luxury events in Italy for six days was NOT easy. I had one moment, on the phone with my husband (furiously tracking my luggage on his end), when I wondered if I had taken on too much with this international trip for my new career. I used pretty 'descriptive language', shed a couple of tears, and then my wise husband said to me, "flash that beautiful smile and they won't notice how you look". That was just the push I needed and resolve set in. I was in ITALY invited to attend 3 hosted luxury travel events for nine days and I was bound and determined to make the best of it! It helped tremendously that I made some wonderful friends who were sympathetic and encouraging about my plight. They shared their luggage stories and agreed my situation was a tough one. They even offered to loan me clothes and do my makeup. One Italian friend brought a pair of socks to me at a fancy cocktail party. These kind gestures helped keep my spirits up for the most part.

Being without my luggage, and all the elements that make me feel like myself, was a life lesson to me. It's not about having the right clothing, makeup or the right shoes. It IS about making the best of a challenging situation, getting creative, and letting go of the things you cannot control. I also had to be self-forgetful about my appearance, which is not easy at my age, when being polished and put together feels essential at times like this. It was a mind game and I simply had to make the choice not to let this issue impact my enjoyment of the trip.

In the end, I learned new lessons about what to pack in my carry-on, to get creative with my resources, and how to make it work with the right attitude. I learned that fireworks and candlelight do wonders to hide makeup flaws and wild hair. My husband is right, if you lead with a bright smile, maybe they won't notice that you are wearing sneakers to a formal event at Villa d'este.

Bellissimo!! Heather