A Couple's Travels

Joe and Mary

How To Check Into Lodging

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I always make advance reservations with special instructions that I might arrive late. I always ask for keys equal to travelers plus one when I check in because I frequently leave my key in the room on an end table, dresser or in the bathroom. I keep the spare key in my wallet to avoid the embarrassment of returning to the front desk to admit I accidently locked my key in the room.  

Here are my idiosyncrasies for checking out a room based on decades of traveling in third world countries and in lower class lodging: On entering the room, I always do the following: 

  1. Look over the room for current occupancy. Check the bathroom and closet as I put my stuff away. On three occasions I have been checked into an already occupied room or had others checked into my room while I was out. It is better to fix this problem immediately. 
  2. I also do a vermin check based on the many rather suspect locations I have stayed. First, I bounce the bed by pounding on it to see if ‘dust’ ejects into the air. On occasion I have found this dust to be fleas and small vermin. If I do see ‘dust’,  I look closer with a small magnifier I carry in my wallet. If the dust is more than dust, and I don’t want to change the room, I sprinkle the bed with the flea and tick powder I usually carry and watch the abandon ship drill. If I have to sprinkle the bed, I pull out my small satin 2-person sleep sack to block the critters. I also lift the corner of the sheet to look at the mattress. If I see small black dots or tiny blood droplets, I immediately suspect bed-bugs, and drag out my magnifier. I then try to change rooms, change hotels or if I have to stay, I sleep in the tub or on the floor in my silk sack. I would never dream of staying at an infested hotel while traveling with Mary. 
  3. I do a security check. I check the door lock, bar lock, and chain lock to ensure they are solid and functional. I also perform many other specialized checks based upon a rather extensive security background that can be summed up as ‘a little paranoia is not so bad’ and be ready for the worst. 
  4. Unpack clothes. I usually roll clothes for each day and put into a Ziplock bag. I empty and place each plastic bag into the drawer as a liner then lay out socks, underwear, and shirts onto the bags in the drawer. I then hang my pants and coat in the closet. I have always felt better by organizing and unpacking my clothes rather than living out of a suitcase half filled with dirty clothes. 
  5. Check the thermostat to ensure the temperature is comfortable, especially in hot weather. 
  6. Lay out my grooming kit in the bathroom and plug in my phone charger. 
  7. Make sure I have my key before leaving the room. Unfortunately, I do not always remember this, and have to use a spare key from my wallet to get back in. 

Transportation and Lodging

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To plan for any trip, we used a process we call connecting the dots for both transportation and lodging.

Using a calendar, we walk through the entire trip step by step to insure there is a constant flow of transportation and lodging from the initial departure to the end of the trip and that all of the dots are connected with no gaps.  We also do our best to ensure we can accomplish the activities between dots without heroics, such as driving 500 miles to the hotel after a day of sightseeing. Starting with transportation, at each transition point from one form of travel to another, we ensure arrangements or reservations are made and documented.  

The “Transportation Dots” must account for every stop, start, or change in mode of travel. For the Yellowstone trip: 

1)      Origin: Bozeman Airport 

2)      Departing Bozeman Airport to start the trip.  

3)      Acquire a rental vehicle 

Note: in arranging for a rental car, Mary had a special request: She dislikes getting in and out of small /low cars (She drives an SUV). Therefore, we rented an SUV. 

4)      Travel from Bozeman airport to Bozeman Hotel meeting point – rental vehicle 

5)      Travel from Bozeman Hotel to Lodging in Yellowstone – rental vehicle 

6)      Travel from Yellowstone Lake Hotel to each daily visit location and return – rental vehicle/walk 

7)      Option: If using a park guided tour – all transportation should be included with the tour 

8)      Return from Yellowstone to Bozeman Hotel – rental vehicle 

9)      Travel from Bozeman Hotel to Bozeman Airport – Continue with rental vehicle 

10)   Arrive Bozeman airport – Turn in rental vehicle 

This trip was easy to prepare the transportation and connect the dots. Walk to the rental car, drive, return the rental, walk to the airline check-in desk. That’s as easy as it gets. 

Lodging planning must account for each night of travel. Again, Using a calendar: 

  1. Night one, arrival in Bozeman. Stay at a commercial chain hotel (After decades of travel, we have acquired brand loyalty to a few major chains and use their frequent stay program benefits).
  2. Nights two through five in Yellowstone, stay in Yellowstone – The Yellowstone Lake Hotel as Mary recommended. 
  3. Night six, return to Bozeman, stay at our preferred chain hotel  
  4. Complete the trip 

As I do my ‘connect the dots exercise’, I place my travel and lodging plan into a planning travel journal. An example based on the first page of our Yellowstone travel and lodging plan is on the following page of this book. I have also included a few blank pages which can be copied or downloaded using this link. 

Carry On For Travel Emergencies

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I also carry a just-in-case clothes sets for multi-day extensions, loss of luggage, or unexpected changes in weather. I am able to compress everything into a very small lightweight space for always available carry-on and under-seat storage in a small bag with my iPad, cell phone, chargers, and documentation.

  • 1 set of specialized travel underwear (multi-day, wash & dry overnight)
  • 1 specialized T-shirt (multi-day, wash & dry overnight)
  • 1 pair calf-length travel compression socks
  • 1 extreme lightweight nylon base long underwear set with gloves, socks, and hood
  • 1 lightweight single silk sleeping sack
  • 1 extreme lightweight nylon sweat suit

The trip that hooked Joe on international travel

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A long time ago I decided to take advantage of the travel opportunities offered by the military to take my first international trip. My only problem was lack of funds, which I considered only a minor inconvenience that barely slowed me down.

While I was in a military college during the later phases of the Vietnam War, I was able to travel for three weeks to Hawaii, a number of South Pacific Islands and Australia and back through Hawaii for less than $200.00 for everything.  How is that even possible you may ask.  Flexibility and solo travel was the key for me. Here is how I did my cheapest, self-funded trip ever and my first international travel, that hooked me for life.

Air Travel  If you have flexible travel plans and are not tied to a travel schedule, active duty and retired military are able to travel on military transport aircraft carrying goods throughout the world in a Space Available status.  Be warned, schedules and destinations can be very flexible although there are common transportation routes between US transport bases and overseas.  If there is spare room on the transports, largely uncomfortable airline seats or fold down bench seats are made available for free to minimal cost for military or retiree travel.  Comfort is not a consideration, only cheap travel.  You are given ear plugs and a blanket on boarding, both which you will need.  I flew Space Available for the entire trip from Peterson AFB, CO to Norton AFB, CA to Hickam Air Base, HI (spending a week) then to Guam, with a few island stops enroute, then to Woomera, Australia with a 4 day stop, then back to Hawaii with an unscheduled diversion to Wake island for an emergency medical evacuation (adding an extra day travel), then back to Norton and finally to Colorado Springs and back to school.  None of the flights could be scheduled in advance and were made available on a first come, first serve basis at the disembarkation point.

Lodging I was prepared to sleep anywhere, even on a beach, but had learned a closely held secret location at each military base where I was able to stay and eat for free – the base fire station.  I had worked at a base fire station during a familiarization trip and had acquired the knowledge that every fire station had spare beds, good family style meals, a willingness to tell their stories to a new audience, and were always willing to host somebody willing to help with chores such as mopping, sweeping, washing vehicles, cleaning toilets, etc.  They also gave me a letter of introduction to use at other bases.  I used this information and the letter to get free lodging at different bases, where they added endorsements of their own to my letter.  Free lodging, food, and great stories!  In Australia I wasn’t staying near a base for a stay at a fire station.  I wanted to take a train to Sydney for 3 days but had no idea where to stay so I asked the Air crew.  They gave me the address of a place near King’s Cross in Sydney and said it would be ideal for me!  I did wonder why they were all grinning.  When I arrived, I noticed a group of beautiful women sitting on the stairway outside the entry.  What did they mean by ‘Ave a go mate?’ when I entered?  This hotel was really, really nice with plush decorations.  I told the ‘manager’ that I wanted to stay three days if the price was right and that the US aircrew had directed me here.  He responded with ‘three whole days! We usually rent by the hour!’.  Just about then, my light bulb went on and the word Brothel surfaced. He got a thoughtful look, said “they did, did they”, and told me I could stay for free, breakfast included, if I would talk to an inspector coming the next day.  Of course I said “sure”.  There was one additional task he needed, I had to allow some of his staff escorts take me on a tour of Sydney for the rest of the day.  The perfect deal, of course I agreed.  I spent the rest of the day with a half dozen beautiful escorts going to the zoo, shopping and sight-seeing.  I had wanted to go swimming at Bondi beach, but they had looked at me like I was nuts since it was July and the middle of winter.  What?  I kind of missed that bit that seasons are reversed in the Southern Hemisphere.  Anyway, I talked to the inspector and told him how great the hotel staff ‘escorts’ were in giving me great tours around Sydney, and yes I was staying for three days until my flight back to Hawaii left.  Sex?  No way, they were just the best tour guides a fellow could have.  He looked stunned but believed me.  After he left, the manager thanked me profusely and said he had another tour arranged that night, but I needed to wear my military Class A dress uniform.  Sounded good to me.  When I met up with my beautiful escorts, they were all wearing stunning eveningwear.  They took me to a ‘do’.  Turns out they were taking me to the grand opening, black tie, invitation only, opening gala of the new Sydney opera house.  They took me to a side door where a liveried staff member let us all in.  My escorts said they would see me back at the house tomorrow and split up and headed in different directions.  I then saw the most amazing buffet spread I had ever dreamed of and promptly forgot about them. Tons of free food! I thought the Baluga Cavier was too salty and overrated.  I never did find any french fries.  Was the best party ever, many of the guests seemed to enjoy talking to the young military American and nobody ever asked for the invitation I did not have.  I saw the girls again the next afternoon, they were all extremely happy.  When I got back to the base and met up with the aircrew, I thanked them all for recommending such a great hotel, with wonderful tour guides but best of all it was free.  In a long life, I never again saw such stunned, unbelieving looks!  If their eyeballs weren’t attached, I am sure they would have popped out and jaws really do drop.  By pure luck and timing, I had free lodging and food in one of the greatest towns in the world.  I also think my naivety helped.

Meals As I have already said, I was able to acquire free food throughout the trip.  When I did buy food, I went fast food, looking for the largest quantity at the cheapest price.

Nobody could have really planned for my trip but through flexibility, a military background, a total lack of concern about travel and lodging comfort and a willingness to help at places I stayed, I was able to take a three week trip to many of the most desired vacation spots for virtually no cost. After that experience, I traveled whenever I could, eventually migrating to jobs that entailed up to 330 days per year of international travel, including over 90% of the countries on the planet. Unfortunately, I worked during those trips and seldom was able to see and enjoy the places as an interested tourist. Now my goal is to enjoy, with Mary, what the world has to offer.

Yellowstone Videos

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These are the video’s from A Couple’s Travels to Yellowstone

Yellowstone River running fast in Yankee Jim Canyon outside North Entrance
Kepler Falls in Yellowstone National Park
Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone North Rim Brink of the Upper Falls
Video of Buffalo grazing at edge of Biscuit Basin near Old Faithful Geyser
Video of Old Faithful eruption
Roaring Mountain

Determining a Destination

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First, let’s assume you are going to travel to a destination for enjoyment, not work, necessity or to a predetermined location such as a visit to home/relatives/parents/grandparents/school/etc..

Joe’s Checklist

How much are you willing to spend?

Finances can be the most limiting factor in determining the destination and its affordability. With adequate funds you can fly all travelers, get rental vehicles, afford convenient lodging and reach any domestic or international destination quickly so as to maximize your trip. If you are limited to what you can afford, read on – I’m cheap and am always looking for the best prices. Why pay more than you have to?

How much time do I have for the trip?

The second consideration is ‘how much time do you have from when you
leave your door to when you return to your door’. This is a finite number usually determined by the amount of time you can get off work plus the nonworking days during the trip. Normally five days during the week can add the weekends at each end to get 9 days for the trip.

When my children were little and we were returning home to visit family on military leave, we would steal a little time from each end of our trip to maximize our time at home. In other words, sacrifice our comfort and convenience for time at home for the children. We would lay down the seats in our station wagon, layer our clothes in the flat area to save luggage space and cover the clothes with a blanket, making a cushioned bed. My wife would feed, then dress our children in pajamas. When I came home from work she would have sandwiches packed, I would change into travel clothes and we would hop in the car to drive cross country. We would drive all night, only stopping for fuel/toilet stops while the children slept. We would generally arrive around noon, exhausted but home while the children would be ready to start a vacation with their many relatives. Our return would be the reverse, timing our arrival so I could shower, get back in uniform then return to my duty station. Fortunately, I was always able to operate effectively missing the occasional night’s sleep.

Once you have determined the amount of time you have, you can start narrowing down your destinations.

What type of activities do you want to do?

  • Domestic wonders of nature such as Natural Parks, rivers, mountains, trails, lakes, beaches, and locations such as the Black Hills, Grand Canyon…
  • Domestic man-made locations such as large cities, harbors, or structures like covered bridges, Mount Rushmore, the Hoover Dam…
  • Domestic historical sites such as battlefields, monuments, cemeteries, old western towns, forts, Spanish missions…
  • Domestic entertainment such as theme parks, museums, musical venues and events, film studios…*
  • Scheduled sightseeing trips such as cruises, trains, river boats, or even driving around the country side without a fixed destination…*
  • Shopping such as commercial centers in big cities, outlet malls…*
  • Health and well being facilities such as spas, exercise camps, athletic training camps…*
  • Personal experience and training such as dude ranches, guided hunting or fishing trips, rafting trips, climbing expeditions…*
  • The International versions of all the above *

All activities have an associated cost, but those marked with a * can generally have a much, much higher cost than mere observation activities such as looking at things available to the public.

How will you travel?

This is usually determined by cost, distance, and convenience. Traveling by automobile is usually the most convenient and is frequently the least
expensive, but takes time and does have an associated cost of food and lodging, plus wear and tear on your vehicle. Those costs can be lowered at the cost of some comfort or convenience by carrying food from home and marathon driving.

Will the destination include the travel to get there?

By this I mean, will you be taking a scenic route to enjoy the sights and places along the route and possibly stopping to visit different sights or try to get from your originating point to the destination as quickly as possible. In other words, travel as a means or travel as part of the adventure.

Determining the final destination

This is a deeply personal decision based on the travelers’ desires, likes and needs, limited by comparing cost and time with the desired enjoyment
type. These options can be further limited by the form of transportation to be used (again influenced by cost) and the route to get to the destination.

Damn, Mary was right! I sound like an engineer. This is a decision tree and not a checklist.

At least it gives some small insight into selecting the best destinations based on your circumstances. Sometimes, people save for years to take that special vacation. In those cases, it’s even more important
to plan well to maximize your vacation and minimize your inconvenience.

So, where did we go on our first trip?

Types of Trips

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Below is a brief list of the type of trips we will be covering here on A Couple’s Travels.

  • Local adventure to explore where you live, more deeply.
  • European ocean cruise around Scandinavia
  • Business trip to a convention
  • Disneyland with kids and grandkids
  • All inclusive trip to Iceland

Our first trip together was determined by prior knowledge and location familiarity. These may be good reasons to travel for enjoyment but are far from the only way to figure out your destination. Mary thinks it’s impossible to use a checklist to determine your travel destination. Joe wholeheartedly disagrees and set out to prove Mary wrong.

Welcome

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We are Joe and Mary. Welcome to our travel blog. Independently, we have each acquired tips and tricks of travel through very different experiences. Now we are traveling together and here we will be sharing with you. Not only will we be sharing our tips and tricks but a variety of anecdotes, stories (both old and new), and checklists. As you will quickly learn, we both find checklists to be critical in planning every type of trip.

Speaking of types of trips, we will be taking every type of trip, from a quick local weekend getaway to an all expenses paid and planned trip through Iceland to attending an author’s conference…and everything in between.

Travel. Enjoy your moments. Come back often.

Books on each trip, forthcoming.

8 Important Questions to Consider When Packing

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Answering these questions will determine which items you’ll need to pack. We both feel that checklists are extremely important.

  1. What is the destination?
  2. What are the expected weather conditions?
  3. How long is the trip?
  4. Do any expected activities need specialized equipment?
  5. Do we need any health and wellness equipment?
  6. Is any special documentation, licenses, permits, or references needed?
  7. Do we need any expendable supplies?
  8. Are there any travel restrictions which must be counted for?

For Yellowstone, the answers to these questions are:

What is the Destination?

  • Yellowstone park is a natural environment without the need for dressing up or specialized clothing.
  • Should take sturdy clothes and shoes, suitable for sightseeing and the environment.

What are the expected weather conditions?

  • Early summer. Mild daily and evening temperatures. Possibility of rain, maybe frost or light snow possible.
  • Light coat and rain gear should suffice. Head cover also recommended (I need a hat to prevent burning my bald skull).

How long is the trip?

  • 5 days and 4 nights.
  • Need layered outfits for 5 days, two sets of night clothes, a lightweight jacket, a hat and rain gear. Also need Pandemic masks,  gloves and sanitizer.

Do any expected activities need specialized equipment?

  • Sightseeing, photography, sending data to a blog,
  • Sightseeing: binoculars to spot game
  • Photography: Camera with multiple lenses
  • Sending Data to Blog: Transmit & Receive, We use a Verizon coded IPAD pro with keyboard and iPhone 11 Pro cell phones if coverage is available to update our blog. In Yellowstone, cell coverage is somewhat limited to areas with lodging. Regardless, even without coverage, the cell phone is useful for photography and voice memos.

Do we need any health and wellness equipment?

  • We both need daily medications, as well as protections from the outdoor environment: Sun burn lotion, insect repellent, a vehicle first aid kit, and emergency dental kit (I always carry one since a dental problem can really shut down a trip).
  • We carry enough Meds for 2 extra days, ie 7 days. We use small bottles (3 oz or less per TSA travel restrictions) of high SPF suntan lotion, 90% Deet insect repellent, and a full first aid kit (including aspirin/Tylenol) as well as an emergency dental kit (for short term fix of broken tooth/crown/denture, gum problem or sensitivity) and sunglasses.

Is any special documentation, licenses, permits, or references needed?

  • Need standard driver’s license and ID. Need permit to drive in Yellowstone park for trip duration. A map of Yellowstone helps navigation.
  • Yellowstone visitor’s permit can be acquired upon park entry. We use a national Park map supplemented with GPS.

Do we need any expendable supplies?

  • Due to COVID-19 restrictions in food services, we will carry food and beverages for 7 days in a cooler acquired in Bozeman.
  • A variety of food as well as the specialized food for our needs: Lactose free milk, sugar free oatmeal, cold cereal, sugar substitute sweetener, diet drinks, Teas, and sugar-free snacks. We also carry microwave safe utensils and containers in case we have a microwave available; otherwise we carry enough food to eat cold breakfasts and sandwiches if required.

Are there any travel restrictions which must be counted for?

  • No luggage restrictions. Our SUV can carry everything we need
  • In actuality we will carry very little besides our clothes and the few items identified above beyond food and beverages in a large cooler.

After answering the questions above we were able to put together a consolidated packing for Yellowstone.

  • 5 Sets of Layered Clothing (Underwear, Socks, T-shirts, Shirt, Pants, and handkerchiefs) each
  • Light Coat (waterproof to double as rain gear) each
  • Hat for each
  • 2 Sets night clothes each, 1 pair of slippers each
  • 1 Pair Sturdy Walking Shoes each
  • Face Masks, gloves, sanitizers for each
  • Binoculars
  • Cameras (2) , Charged with battery charger, extra charged battery and memory card for each
  • Smart phones (act as Camera, GPS, Alarm clock and … phone) and chargers (Can replace cameras above)
  • IPAD w/keyboard & charger
  • Medications (7 days for each)
  •  SPF 35 Sports Sun block
  • Repel 100 insect repellant (100% Deet)
  •  First aid kit
  • Emergency dental repair kit
  • Personal Toiletries Kit for each
  • Driver’s License and ID each
  • Park Permit (acquired on entry)
  • Yellowstone Map & GPS
  • Large Cooler (with reusable freezing blocks)
  • 2 Qt Lactose Free Milk
  • Sugar Free Oatmeal (6) and Cereal (enough for 2 for 5 days – doubles as snacks)
  •  Tea and instant coffee (enough for 2 for 5 days)
  •  Sugar free sweetener
  • Sandwich Materials for 2 for 5 meals
  • 2 x 6-packs of diet soda and 10 bottles of water and water flavoring
  •  Assorted sugar-free snacks
  •  Plastic microwavable utensils and containers for 2
  • Assorted plastic zip lock bags

               Note: Normally we would only take some snacks but for this trip, food services were limited so we carried food as if we were camping. Unfortunately, we had no refrigerator or microwave available.