This morning we are on our way to France and Italy.  Yes, a stop in France before we go to Italy on our buying trip.  I've listed a few travel tips for you.  Some pertain only to international trips and some are good for most any type of travel. 

1.  Take a copy of your passport and keep it separate from your actual passport.  That way if you lose the original you at least have a copy until you can get it replaced.
2.  Make sure you have enough prescription medications to last your entire trip.
3.   Call your credit card/debit card companies to let them know where and when you'll be travelling.  Some companies put temporary holds on your card if it sees international transactions.  This doesn't always work.  A few times my card stopped working at the ATMs and I had to spend time calling to get it straightened out, even though I had contacted them prior to my trip. 
4.  Make copies (front and back) of your license, credit cards and insurance card . . . keep them separate from the originals.  If the real cards turn up missing, you at least will have the number to call to report a missing card.
5.  Particularly for international travel - I make an extra copy of my list of "hotels/dates of stay" to give the airlines in case my luggage gets lost.  That way they know where I am and a phone number to call when they have located the bags.
6.  I also take pictures of my luggage (both opened and closed) and print out 2 copies.  You can give the airlines photos of your bags to help them identify your luggage.
7.  One last tip and I'll close . . . I type out my flight information and international phone number and make several copies.  I put them in the outer and inner zipper compartments of my bags.  If the bags get lost, that is positive identification that the bag is mine! 

Seems like a lot of tips about lost bags!  Well, it's happened to me over the years so I try to be prepared.

More from the road!

Ciao, and welcome to my blog.  I get so many questions about my Italian import business and my travels and adventures in Italy . . . I thought a blog is a good place to put the information.  For my first entry I'll briefly describe what we do so you'll know how we get all those lovely ceramics home! 

Four Large Suitcases
We go to Italy at least once a year to buy ceramics and other Italian goodies (Florentine paper, Venetian masks, Murano glass) to sell at special events and local Farmers Markets.  We also offer home parties - that could be a subject of another post!

We leave the US with four of the largest suitcases that the airlines will allow and all four are full of bubble wrap.  Yes, filled with bubble wrap.  Our clothing and other items are all in our carry-ons.  We specialize in smaller items just so that we can more easily carry them home in the above mentioned suitcases.  Inevitably, we buy much more than will fit in the suitcases and I have to ship a few boxes home.  

Since 2001 I have enjoyed the beautiful countryside, outstanding food, talented artisans and amazing cities throughout Italy.  In future posts I'll tell you about my adventures along the way.