Nothing says romance like Romeo and Juliet.  A trip to Italy, specifically, Verona — home to star crossed lovers, would be an incredibly romantic choice. However, most of us would be more likely to take a little more affordable romantic getaway.  And it’s not too difficult to decrease the cost while increasing the romance by creating a romantic dinner in your room, either, provided you have kitchen facilities at your disposal.

Photo credit Carlton Browne

An unexpectedly interesting and budget friendly travel destination is Southeast Asia. Cambodia is a wealth of ancient temples and statuary, and you can do an awful lot for a very little. Angkor Wat is the  most notable destination, but there is much much more to see.  Thailand is another country with a lot to offer the adventurous traveler.  There are many ways to enjoy Thailand. Bangkok is a cultural mother lode. You can easily fill a week just with what’s available to the curious in Bangkok.  Ayutthaya, the ruins of the ancient second capital of Siam, is another remarkable Thai destination that should definitely be part of a Thai vacation.

Photo courtesy cornstaruk

The great thing about Olympic venues is that they are available to the public after the Olympics have gone. The upcoming 2012 London Olympics offers a fresh venue to England travelers. The home of the 1972 Olympics, Munich, Germany, is another great venue that can be included on your tour of that country. Domestically, the Olympic village and venues of Park City, Utah, are great for winter enthusiasts.  Best of all, this Olympic theme can be included in a budget friendly way to your travel plans.

Photo credit Taken by Gabi

S Hooks:

When you travel light, it usually means you end up carrying most of your belongings near or on your person. A side effect of this is that during the course of your excursion, you’ll need to create hanging space where none exists. For my money, the best way to do this is with an s hook. You can get large ones at the hardware store, but the ones with the wider curves tend to be thicker and heavier than necessary. I like to pick mine up at Ikea in the kitchen section. They’re thinner, still sturdy, and have a wide enough s curve to accommodate shower poles, restroom stalls, door knobs and the cross bars on a Southeast Asian tuk tuk. They also have the flat versus the round variety, which provides greater flexibility in my opinion.

Electrical Adapters:

Speaking of travel gear you can buy at hardware stores, electrical adapters are another extremely flexible vacation or business travel item. While the adapters that allow you to switch from a European plug to a North American one are helpful, what I’m talking about here are the adapters that allow you extend a single outlet into one that allows you to charge three or more items. This comes in handy during an airport layover when outlets are scarce. If all the outlets are taken, it’s no big deal to ask someone to unplug their machine for a second while you expand the power access.

Bandanas:

Thin, quick-drying and easy to pack, the travel uses for bandanas are many. Use one for a small picnic surface, to wash your dishes and even as a wash cloth. Of course, they also make great napkins for inexpensive street food purchases. If you have room, consider packing several. You’ll be surprised how often you’ll need them once you get used to having them around.

Lip Balm:

Aside from its obvious use, lip balm can serve a number of uses on the road, saving you money and luggage space in the toiletry department. The key is to purchase an unscented balm with no color tinting. Once you do, you can use it for a variety of skin care tasks. Rub some on your finger to treat dry spots on your heels and elbows. Your balm will remain sanitary for lip use, and you’ll have fewer cosmetic items to pack. The same idea applies if you need to moisturize the inside of your nostrils in dry weather conditions such as high-altitude villages or desert climates. Another great idea is to use your lip balm as a cuticle treatment. It saves having to pack nail oil, and doesn’t need to be included in your one-quart bag of liquids required by airport security.

Bobby Pins:

Sure, bobby pins can help you have great hair for less. French twists, bang management and more can all be accomplished with hair pins in a color that coordinates with your natural shade. But have you considered allowing them to do double duty as bookmarks, emergency zipper pulls and on-the-fly paper clips? All these things are possible with bobby pins. They can also help you securely close bags of food in your hotel room, and are much more space efficient than chip clips.

When trying to travel light, packing multipurpose items that don’t take up a great deal of space is crucial. These five items are among my favorites. What do you use to create a more streamlined life on the road?

Photo Credit: Lastonein

Glass:

The Chrysler Museum’s glass collection and state-of-the art glass blowing studio have literally made the venue a center of learning for the craft. For those with even a casual interest, be prepared to be blown away. The collection itself is every bit as expansive as the erotic pottery collection on display in Lima, Peru and includes everything from Tiffany lamps and stained glass windows to art nouveau pieces and items from ancient Egypt. There are some wonderful modern pieces as well.

The glass-blowing studio, located in an entirely separate building from the original Chrysler Museum, is state of the art. Students pursuing their Masters of Fine Arts degrees, renowned glass artists, families, tourists and local school groups can all benefit from the program. Freed from the budget constraints similar programs might experience, the studio offers free daily demonstrations to the public and a chance for visiting master artists to mentor the student interns participating in the program. For those who would like a more intimate, hands-on experience with the glass, the studio offers paid classes and workshops with limited class sizes focusing on everything from decorative beads, cold work, inclusions and even fusion.

Diversity:

In addition to the Chrysler Museum of Art’s extensive glass collection, you’ll find roughly 30,000 objets d’art spanning 5,000 years of human history. Examples are on display of European and American painting and sculpture, art nouveau furniture and pre-Columbian art as well as Islamic, African, Asian and numerous ancient Egyptian pieces. There’s even a notable photography program.

One that struck me in particular about the Chrysler Museum is the number of interactive opportunities there were for a museum that focuses mainly on older, more traditional art forms. In addition to the expected reflection benches in various gallery spaces, paintings of importance have soft couch seating in front of them. This invites longer, more introspective analysis of the works and makes a struggling art student’s life just a bit more comfortable. Also, in the neoclassical sculpture exhibit, there’s a place for youngsters to sit with sketch chalkboards and try their hand at capturing the essence of a variety of classical pieces.

Rotating Exhibits:

For those who visit regularly, fresh viewing opportunities are worked into the schedule at the Chrysler Museum of Art. At the time of my visit, the big draw was the 30 Americans show, featuring works from 30 different African American artists using a variety of styles. There was also an interesting black and white photo show featuring images from the deep south. Other works of note featured on a rotating basis include items by such artists as Norman Rockwell, Rembrandt, Andy Warhol and more.

Historic Homes:

Within walking distance of the Chrysler Museum, and part of its overall program are two period homes of note. First, the Moses Myers House. Built by one of Norfolk’s prominent families after the Revolutionary War, the home contains an extensive collection of the family’s personal belongings over several generations, as well as a number of art works owned by the Myers.

Additionally, the Willoughby-Baylor House is also affiliated with the Chrysler Museum and is currently home to the Norfolk History Museum. The building contains several private works of the Chrysler family as well as a number of other items donated by private citizens to represent an accurate picture of the history of Norfolk. The garden was specifically designed to represent the most specific understanding available today regarding the look and feel of Colonial architecture.

The Chrysler Museum of Art if free to enjoy for all who would like to visit, although memberships are available for those who would like to provide additional support for the venue’s mission. When you are done sampling all of the food adventures the city of Norfolk has to offer, then this museum is a great way to incorporate a bit of culture into your vacation itinerary.

Photo Credits: Trek Hound

If your vacation takes you near a body of water, it’s almost mandatory to enjoy it in some way.  Affordable beach travel is very available with a bit of planning.  If something physical helps you appreciate your travel destination more, consider kayaking. It can be done on lakes or oceans and, even including some training, is a very cost effective option. Scuba diving, albeit a bit more expensive, can be included for a reasonable share of your travel budget. Or consider snorkeling, which doesn’t require any training, as a very affordable family option for underwater exploration.

Photo credit Mike Baird

Have you ever considered a travel destination specifically for it’s historical value, but shied away because of cost? If history is your gig, you can get to historical destinations on a budget. That includes foreign and domestic destinations.  Take a walking tour of Tarpon Springs, Florida, for example, to see some unexpected history right on the American continent.  A trip to Peru would probably include Machu Picchu, but there are other Peruvian historical sites worthy of exploration. Similarly, in Israel, there are must-see historical sites, but there are many options for history buffs that don’t have to be budget busters.

Photo credit LWY

Many, many people consider the availability of a nice golf course when planning a vacation. The trick is making a golf getaway affordable. It can be done, even if that get away is to Scotland.  Domestically, Florida and Arizona are very popular golf destinations.  A little further, but not so far as Scotland, Bermuda has much to offer golf enthusiasts or anyone enjoying outdoor and water activity.

Photo credit Foxy Par 4

Traveling as a family can be an intimidating pile of logistics.  What type of trip do we take? Do we make it an educational trip? Maybe one for science geeks?  Or maybe we should make our destination a one-stop shop. A family resort of some type. There’s bound to be something for everyone in that environment!  Or maybe an adventure vacation is the ticket.  Load up the family and take a bike tour of this or another country! Whatever your decision and however it all goes, the memories created by family vacations are lifelong. Everyone benefits in one way or another, and stories are lived and repeated.

Photo credit Demoshelsinki

Try though we might to minimize what we take with us when we travel, as women, we just require most stuff.  Like ways to deal with menstrual issues while traveling. Then there are the issues of hair care, in general, and dressing up face and clothing for nights out.  All these can be managed with a little savvy and creative thinking, so we can be both road warriors and elegant women while traveling and be comfortable in both roles.

Photo credit lululemon athletica