by Susan Foster

On a different note about rejected credit cards, Marsha McClintock of SAF-T-POCKETS Patterns said, "Recently several customers at consumer shows have had their credit cards declined because of numerous charges from all over the country on the same day. This occurs because vendors process the cards at the show, but their business addresses are scattered about the US". A call to your credit card customer service number should resolve the problem.

Plan Ahead (Way Ahead!) for Healthy International Travel:

For more than a year we have been planning a trip to Hong Kong, India, and Singapore during November/December. How to prepare and what to pack have been on our minds for a long time and are now reaching maximum focus. Here are some reminders if you are planning a long international trip:

- Visit a medical travel specialist or clinic for the latest information on required inoculations and health issues in the area where you plan to travel. Go to www.cdc.gov/travel for general information and to www.istm.org to locate a travel clinic. We found for India we need some booster shots, malaria prevention medications, and serious insect repellents for all areas.

- Plan for a safe water source. Magellan's Travel Supplies (my favorite travel resource, that sells SMART PACKING!) can help. Go to www.magellans.com and click on Travel Advice at the top right on the home page, then scroll down to locate your destination. We are looking at their purifying water bottles.

Plan Ahead (Way Ahead!) for Off-Season Travel Clothing:

Thank goodness I was thinking ahead about "what to wear" for our winter trip to Asia, a hot-weather climate, so we are set. But what can you do if you find out at the last minute that summer clothing is needed and stores are filled with coats and winter sweaters, or the reverse?

- Search the off-season sale racks at the back of the store and hope something works - items will certainly be deeply discounted!

- Do an online search at websites such as www.LandsEnd.com where swimwear and summer sportswear are available all year long. Click on "Overstock" at LandsEnd.com for off-season discounted clothing, or "sale" at other websites for the same.

- Hawaiian shops sell warm weather clothing all year around, and are located in many cities as well as on-line. (CONTINUE...)