If you’ve never taken a fall vacation to enjoy the changing of the leaves, you’re missing out on one of the best reasons for fall travel. Nothing is more relaxing than enjoying a weekend lazing in a cottage overlooking trees cloaked in gold, red and purple. Get out of the city for a few days and head to your nearest wooded area for a treat you won’t soon forget.

Gatlinburg, Tennessee

Fall Foliage Report: Generally the last two weeks in October are the best for color change.
Where to Stay: Gatlinburg is full of remarkable country inns that offer sweeping views of the Smoky Mountains. A long-standing favorite is the Buckhorn Inn, offering private cottages, large wooded grounds, hearty breakfasts, and mouthwatering candlelit dinners. Another is the Hippensteal Inn, owned by artist Vern Hippensteal. With its view of Mount Le Conte, it can’t be beat for fall leaf-watching. Don’t forget to venture into the town’s mega-touristy center and get in touch with your caramel-corn-loving, Ripley’s-Believe-It-or-Not-museum-going, airbrushed-t-shirt-coveting inner self.

Gatlinburg Image

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Got a few vacation days left to use before the end of the year? Think international! Leave the laptop at home, pack your carry on bag and your passport, and jet-set to your nearest international city for a whirlwind long weekend. Do-able in a carry on? Of course! Adhere to the 3-1-1 carry on guidelines for liquids and you’re fine. Don’t spend a lot of money on a grand hotel. Weekenders are all about getting out and exploring the city.

New York to London, England
Leaving Thursday, returning Sunday
$300+ USD
Average air time is between 7 and 10 hours.

Do-able in a carry on? You bet! Adhere to the 3-1-1 carry on guidelines for liquids and you’re fine. London weather can be cold and rainy in fall, so be sure to wear a good raincoat and carry a compact umbrella. A long pashmina can double as a scarf during the day and a shoulder wrap at night. Wear comfortable shoes and plan to do plenty of walking. London’s public transportation system is excellent, so purchase a 3 Day London Pass with Travel Pass for unlimited access to London’s city transportation as well as tons of attractions like the Tower of London, Windsor Castle, the Globe Theatre, St. Paul’s Cathedral, Queen’s Gallery and more.

London Image

Check out the other 2 stops after the jump . . .

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In response to high gas prices and outrageous restrictions by airlines, many people are staying home instead of going on vacation. This trend has given rise to the “stay-cation” - finding things to do in your own hometown (or very nearby) that don’t cost you an arm and a leg.

But what if you want something in between? You want to sleep in another bed for a few nights, and not have to worry about making it up yourself in the morning. And you don’t want to drive far. You’re in luck! Almost every city has a pool of great hotels or resorts, and because travel is in a lull right now, most are discounting their rates to attract visitors.

Find one you like, and call them up. Talk to the manager and ask for a “locals” discount. It’s very likely you’ll get one! Particularly if you are willing to stay mid-week. Tuesday and Wednesday nights are generally wide open and discounted rates are available.

Don’t know where to start in finding a hotel in your own backyard? Have a look at TheTopTenSite.com. For example, here’s what they recommend in the way of boutique (smaller) hotels in New York City.

The Casablanca
The Gansevoort
The Bryant Park Hotel
The Hotel Elysee
The Library
The Gramercy Park Hotel
The W Hotel Union Square
The Lowell
The SoHo Grand
The W Hotel Times Square

Find a hotel that has a restaurant, a bar and a spa, and you won’t even have to go anywhere for a few days! But if you do want to venture out some, don’t forget to check out your city’s convention and visitor’s bureau pages for discounts on local attractions. Now’s the time to check out that museum or art gallery you’ve been meaning to visit. Go on … be a tourist in your hometown! Not only will you get to know your city a little better, you’ll be helping boost the local economy.

Happy Travels!

So you just got the cutest new belly ring. Or maybe you’ve had other more private areas pierced. Whether you just had your piercing done or have had it for years, the metal jewelry you take for granted in your day to day comings and goings could be a security hassle at the airport.

Up until now, proper TSA procedure would require that you remove any jewelry that sets off the metal detectors, probably resulting in you having to get back in line and go through security again. This can be a real bugger if your body jewelry is not meant to come out easily; you could risk damaging yourself or your expensive body jewelry if you’re in a rush to get back through the security lines and off to your flight.

Very recently, TSA has changed its procedure to allow passengers to request a visual inspection instead of removing the jewelry, but hey! Who wants some security agent poking and prodding your piercings, right? Here are a few ideas to help you avoid this embarrassing scene at the airport:

1.  Take your jewelry out before you get to security. Unless the piercing is brand new, it should be fine for most piercings to take out the jewelry for an hour or so while you check in and get through security. Place it in a clean contact lens case, cover with sterile saline, and pack it in your quart-sized liquids bag to present to security. When you’re through security, find a bathroom and replace the jewelry. No harm, no foul.

2.  Make sure you wear body jewelry that is easy to get on and off. If you fly a lot, you definitely need to make sure that you can remove your body jewelry yourself. If you need to have a piercer remove it, you probably shouldn’t wear it while flying.

3.  Carry extra components. If you wear rings with capture beads or removable segments, have an extra bead or segment or two in your bag in case one does a runner while you’re taking off or putting in your jewelry. If you wear jewelry with external thread closures, or with internal thread closures…well, same thing. Have an extra closure or two available in case you lose one.

4.  Try wearing jewelry with plastic or acrylic posts. There are tons of bars and rings available now in plastic and acrylic, materials which won’t set off the security devices at the airport. Consider investing in a few pieces for travel. Just make sure you don’t have allergies to the plastic or acrylic. Some jewelry styles even come in wood or other organic materials. You might just find them more comfortable than metal!

5.  Consider a retainer for travel. Retainers aren’t just for facial piercings anymore. Consider wearing a plain retainer for travel.

6.  The one type of body jewelry you should NEVER wear while traveling? Seamless rings. These require pliers to put on or take off, so traveling with them is totally inconvenient and potentially dangerous.

Whatever type of body jewelry you choose - from earrings to nose rings to nipple rings and beyond - just make sure you understand the potential for air travel security delays and then adjust your jewelry accordingly.

Happy Travels!

The Grab-And-Go Kit
(or, the essentials you should always have packed in your carry on)

Ladies who travel often know that it can be a real pain to pack, unpack, repack, rinse and repeat every time they have to hop a plane for work (or a quick weekend sanity getaway). It can really eat up your time.

You can avoid some of that wasted time, though, by preparing and keeping current a “Grab-And-Go” kit for your carry on bag. When you use something from the kit, just replace it as soon as you return from your trip and your “necessaries” will always be ready to go.

Jet Set Beauty Must Have From Top Left: Top Row: Sephora, Second Row: Benefit, Third Row from Left: Lola and Urban Decay

The full story after the jump . . .
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Our very own M.I.S.S. Diva On A Carry-On who writes our M.I.S.S. Jet Set posts has one of her travel posts as part of a competition. If you vote for her story you’ll be entered to win a trip to Martinique! Who doesn’t want to get out of the cold and into the Carribean?? Simply vote for her story “Cartoons Aren’t Just For Kids.” It’s easy & free so go do it!!

1. I will make sure my passport is current.

Passports are the single most important document in traveling outside the country, whether you’re just visiting a border town for the day or spending two weeks in Tuscany. Make sure yours is up to date and ready to go when you are. Check here for more information on United States passports.

2. I will print out my electronic tickets 24 hours before I travel, and will check the TSA website for possible delays at my airport and connecting airports.

Last-minute delays happen, as do glitches in your electronic ticketing sometimes. Checking on things 24 hours ahead of your flight can help insure that you don’t run into unnecessary snags at the airport. You can check security checkpoint estimated wait times here.

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It happens to all of us at one time or another. We try to plan ahead for the holidays and our travel schedules but somehow, it sneaks up on us and bam! We’re stuck a few days out with nothing to do on Christmas or New Year’s Eve. Here are a few ideas to keep you from spending the holidays sitting at home watching DVDs if you end up with a little time on your hands.

www.newyearseve.com - This site offers tickets to all the best holiday parties around the U.S. and Canada. If you live in a major city, or plan on going to a major city this holiday season, drop by and check out the availability of tickets to a grand party! It’s amazing how many are open to the public (for a fee of course).

www.lastminutecruises.com - Live in a port city? You’re in luck! Every year there are thousands of available last-minute deals on cruises, short and long ones. Spend some of your holiday time out on the open seas. Cruises today are definitely not your grandma’s shuffleboard-over-water deals. The food’s better, the entertainment’s better, and the crowds flocking to the boats for their getaways are getting younger and hipper. Why not give it a whirl?

www.spafinder.com - Can’t take the time for even a short trip? Why not treat yourself to an overnight stay at a great spa, then? Spafinder tracks and reviews spas all over the world, so no matter where you are, you’re sure to find a bit of pampering to help get you through those hectic holiday stress moments.

www.amtrak.com - Train travel is one of the most overlooked modes of transportation these days, but one of the most romantic! Surprise your honey with a two or three day train trip, all inclusive, or go by yourself and enjoy the downtime. There’s no better way to see the countryside, and heck! You don’t even have to REALLY be focused on GETTING to a particular place. Just pick a random destination according to how much time you have to spend, and hop on! You’ll be amazed at how soothing riding the rails can be.

www.towd.com - Just have no idea where you’d like to go or what you’d like to do for the holidays? Have a look at the Tourism Offices Worldwide Directory. This site puts your fingers right on the tourism pages for locations around the world. Local tourism sites often point readers to holiday specials or unique information about their areas that can help you make a decision for your last minute holiday travel needs. –
Dana Harrison-Tidwell
Editor, diva in a carry on