JDPFu.com 2013

This 21" carry on is fantastic!

I just spent 14 days overseas with this bag and a backpack. The corners are all reinforced so it should hold up over time. Another reviewer seems to confirm the durability with 2 years of use. While gone I moved hotels 3 times and checked this luggage for the longer flights. My sport coat and dress shirt remained unwrinkled (vacation trip, not business). I put my dirty underwear, socks and undershirts in the outside pocket for the return trip. Sadly, it wasn’t searched. My traveling buddy brought a HUGE bag, so placing gifts and souvenirs in his bag on the way home worked out for me, but that won’t always be the case.

If you’re traveling for 1-4 days and don’t expect to bring big gifts back, this size is a good choice. If going international, you might want a little larger version. I’ve gotten the 26" version of this same bag for future longer trips. How’s that for an endorsement?

The luggage has straps to hold clothes in place and the removable shirt area on the top should allow 3 folded dress shirts to remain unwrinkled. The extensible handle is nice, but the inside of the bag is impacted by it – heck it has to slide away somewhere.

Check that the extra external bag strap on works. In the store where I bought this, they only had 1 working strap for 3 of the bags. I wanted to latch my backpack to this roller when transporting them together. This 21" size is a little small for my huge backpack to work that way. I just set it on top and used the handle on both bags to keep them together for easy rolling.

The Delsey "Helium Breeze" line seems to be where the jump in quality happens for Delsey without the pricing of the "Pro" line.
Highly recommended.

I don’t really have jet lag when going to any destination since my schedule is usually set. I simply must do it. I haven’t tried this, but a few web sites have recommendations via a Jet Lag Calculator. Here’s what British Airways has.

Places to visit – work in progress All All -

Travel See / Do

• 
  - North America
  
  
  
  • 
    - USA
    
    
    
    • 
      - Eastern
      
      
      
      • 
        - Kentucky
        
        
        
        • 
          - Louisville
          
          
          
          • 
            KFC Museum
          
          
          • 
            Kentuky Derby Horse Racing

      • - Maryland
        

        
        
        • 
          - Baltimore
          
          
          
          • 
            + - Natural Museum
            
            
            
            • 
              Bodies
            
            
            • 
              Planitarium

        • Annapolis

      • - Massachusits
        

        
        
        • 
          - Boston
          
          
          
          • 
            50 things

        • Cape Cod

      • - New York
        

        
        
        • 
          - NYC
          
          
          
          • 
            50 Things

        • Syracuse

        
        
        • 
          Buffalo

      • - Pennsylvania
        

        
        
        • 
          - Philadelphia
          
          
          
          • 
            Independence Tour
          
          
          • 
            Art Museums

        • + - Hershey
          

          
          
          • 
            Chocolate Tour

        • + - Troy
          

          
          
          • 
            Harley Davidson Factory

        • Gettysburg

      • - Virginia
        

        
        
        • 
          Fairfax
        
        
        • 
          Jamestown
        
        
        • 
          Williamsburg
        
        
        • 
          Charlottesville
        
        
        • 
          Roanoke
        
        
        • 
          - Richmond
          
          
          
          • 
            Pocahontas State Park

      • - Washington DC
        

        
        
        • 
          - Mall
          
          
          
          • 
            White House
          
          
          • 
            Capitol
          
          
          • 
            Washington Monument
          
          
          • 
            WW2
          
          
          • 
            Korea
          
          
          • 
            Vietnam
          
          
          • 
            Lincoln
          
          
          • 
            Jefferson
          
          
          • 
            Arlington Cemetary

        • Old house on Maple Drive

        
        
        • 
          Air and Space
        
        
        • 
          Potomac
        
        
        • 
          Great Falls

      • West Virginia

    • - Southern
      

      
      
      • 
        - Alabama
        
        
        
        • 
          Huntsville Space Center
        
        
        • 
          Mobile Martigras Parade
        
        
        • 
          Montgomery

      • + - Arkansas
        

        
        
        • 
          Blytheville
        
        
        • 
          Gosnell
        
        
        • 
          Little Rock
        
        
        • 
          Clinton Library

      • + - Florida
        

        
        
        • 
          Florida Keys
        
        
        • 
          Miami
        
        
        • 
          Disney World
        
        
        • 
          Space Shuttle Launch
        
        
        • 
          Cape Canaveral
        
        
        • 
          Titusville

      • - Georgia
        

        
        
        • 
          - Hikes
          
          
          
          • 
            Acadia Mtn
          
          
          • 
            Red Top Mtn
          
          
          • 
            Kennesaw National Battlefield
          
          
          • 
            Allatoona SP
          
          
          • 
            Pine Mtn SP

        • + - Atlanta Area
          

          
          
          • 
            Stone Mtn
          
          
          • 
            Georgia Aquarium
          
          
          • 
            High Museum of Art
          
          
          • 
            Lenox Mall
          
          
          • 
            Buckhead
          
          
          • 
            Midtown
          
          
          • 
            Underground Atlanta
          
          
          • 
            Atlanta Botanical Garden
          
          
          • 
            MLK Museum
          
          
          • 
            Carter Center
          
          
          • 
            Cocoa Cola Museum
          
          
          • 
            CNN Tour
          
          
          • 
            Centennial Olympic Park
          
          
          • 
            Zoo Atlanta
          
          
          • 
            6 Flags
          
          
          • 
            Whitewater
          
          
          • 
            Atlanta Motor Speedway-NASCAR

        • + - Savannah
          

          
          
          • 
            http://www.tripadvisor.com/GoListOverview-g60814-Savannah_Georgia.html
          
          
          • 
            Savannah St. Patrick’s Day Parade
          
          
          • 
            Savannah Heritage Tours

        • + - Jekyll Island
          

          
          
          • 
            Walk the Beach
          
          
          • 
            Birdwatching
          
          
          • 
            Nature Walks

        • + - Warner Robbins
          

          
          
          • 
            WRAFB-Museum
          
          
          • 
            Rumble Jr High School

        • + - North GA Mtns
          

          
          
          • 
            Appalachian Trail

      • + - South Carolina
        

        
        
        • 
          Appalachian Trail

      • - North Carolina
        

        
        
        • 
          - Raleigh Area
          
          
          
          • 
            Duke Basketball Game
          
          
          • 
            Museum
          
          
          • 
            Mom's house
          
          
          • 
            Ann's house

        • Appalachian Trail

      • - Tennesee
        

        
        
        • 
          - Chattanooga
          
          
          
          • 
            Aquarium

        • + - Memphis
          

          
          
          • 
            Elvis Museum
          
          
          • 
            Graceland
          
          
          • 
            BBQ

        • Nashville

    • - Midwest
      

      
      
      • 
        - Ohio
        
        
        
        • 
          WPAFB Museum

      • Nebraska

      
      
      • 
        + - South Dakota
        
        
        
        • 
          Badlands
        
        
        • 
          Mount Rushmore

      • + - North Dakota
        

        
        
        • 
          Fargo
        
        
        • 
          Wapeton
        
        
        • 
          Bismark
        
        
        • 
          Elgin

      • + - Indiana
        

        
        
        • 
          Oshkosh air show

      • + - Illinois
        

        
        
        • 
          Chicago

    • - Southwest
      

      
      
      • 
        - Arizona
        
        
        
        • 
          Grand Canyon
        
        
        • 
          Hoover Dam
        
        
        • 
          Great Crater

      • New Mexico

      
      
      • 
        - Texas
        
        
        
        • 
          - Houston
          
          
          
          • 
            JSC
          
          
          • 
            Astrodome
          
          
          • 
            San Jacinto Battlefield
          
          
          • 
            Battleship Texas

        • + - Galveston
          

          
          
          • 
            Seawall
          
          
          • 
            Moody Center
          
          
          • 
            Ferry to North Island

        • + - Dallas
          

          
          
          • 
            JFK Assassination
          
          
          • 
            Southfork Ranch
          
          
          • 
            State Fair

        • - Austin
          

          
          
          • 
            AquaFest
          
          
          • 
            Capitol
          
          
          • 
            - UT
            
            
            
            • 
              50 things
            
            
            • 
              UT Football Game

          • + - Town Lake
            

            
            
            • 
              Watch the bats at dusk

          • Barton Springs Pool

          
          
          • 
            Lake Travis
          
          
          • 
            GM Steakhouse
          
          
          • 
            Wendy's Hamburgers (not a chain)
          
          
          • 
            Trudy's Bar
          
          
          • 
            + - 6th Street
            
            
            
            • 
              Maggie Mays

          • LBJ Library

        • + - San Antonio
          

          
          
          • 
            River Walk
          
          
          • 
            Japanese Garden
          
          
          • 
            Fiesta Texas
          
          
          • 
            Seaworld
          
          
          • 
            Mexican Food
          
          
          • 
            AlamoDome

        • + - Lubbuck
          

          
          
          • 
            Texas Tech U
          
          
          • 
            14th Street Bar
          
          
          • 
            Billy Holiday

        • El Paso

        
        
        • 
          Corpus Cristy
        
        
        • 
          South Padre Island
        
        
        • 
          + - Drive for an hour just east of Austin-Hwy 71
          
          
          
          • 
            Bastrop-Place for my ashes to be e spread

    • - West
      

      
      
      • 
        Hawaii
      
      
      • 
        - Alaska
        
        
        
        • 
          Northern Lights
        
        
        • 
          Salmon Fishing

      • + - Montana
        

        
        
        • 
          Glacier National Park
        
        
        • 
          Grand Tetons National Park
        
        
        • 
          Yellowstone

      • + - Washington
        

        
        
        • 
          Seattle

      • - Utah
        

        
        
        • 
          - Salt Lake City
          
          
          
          • 
            + - Mormon
            
            
            
            • 
              Tabernackle Choir

          • + - Skiing
            

            
            
            • 
              Park City
            
            
            • 
              Deer Valley
            
            
            • 
              Alta
            
            
            • 
              Solitude
            
            
            • 
              Brighton
            
            
            • 
              Snowbird

        • + - State/National Parks
          

          
          
          • 
            Zion National Park
          
          
          • 
            Angel’s Landing

      • - Colorado
        

        
        
        • 
          - Denver
          
          
          
          • 
            Downtown
          
          
          • 
            Coors Statium
          
          
          • 
            Buffalo Bill Museum

        • + - Skiing
          

          
          
          • 
            Beaver Creek
          
          
          • 
            Breckenridge
          
          
          • 
            Vail
          
          
          • 
            Copper Mtn
          
          
          • 
            Steamboat Springs
          
          
          • 
            Winter Park

        • Grand Lake

        
        
        • 
          Granby

      • - California
        

        
        
        • 
          - Southern
          
          
          
          • 
            + - Hollywood
            
            
            
            • 
              Walk of Fame
            
            
            • 
              Mann's Chinese Theater
            
            
            • 
              Rose Bowl Parade
            
            
            • 
              JPL
            
            
            • 
              Beaches
            
            
            • 
              Disney Land

          • - Santa Barbara
            

            
            
            • 
              - Carpenteria
              
              
              
              • 
                Beaches

        • - Northern
          

          
          
          • 
            - San Francisco
            
            
            
            • 
              Fishermans Warf
            
            
            • 
              China Town
            
            
            • 
              Stanford
            
            
            • 
              Alcatraz Prison
            
            
            • 
              Soho
            
            
            • 
              Golden Gate Bridge
            
            
            • 
              NASA Ames
            
            
            • 
              Half Moon Bay
            
            
            • 
              Redwood Forest

          • San Jose

          
          
          • 
            Palo Alto
          
          
          • 
            Mountains

  • - Canada
    

    
    
    • 
      - British Columbia
      
      
      
      • 
        Vancouver
      
      
      • 
        Whistler Mtn
      
      
      • 
        Blackcomb Mtn

    • + - Toronto
      

      
      
      • 
        Niagra Falls

    • Banff

  • + - Mexico
    

    
    
    • 
      Matamoros
    
    
    • 
      Mexico City
    
    
    • 
      Cancun
    
    
    • 
      Tulum Ruins
    
    
    • 
      Guatalahara

  • + - Carribian
    

    
    
    • 
      Puerto Rico
    
    
    • 
      Barbados
    
    
    • 
      Virgin Islands
    
    
    • 
      Cayman Islands
    
    
    • 
      Grand Bahamas
    
    
    • 
      Cuba

• - South America
  

  
  
  • 
    - Venezula
    
    
    
    • 
      Angel Falls

  • - Brazil
    

    
    
    • 
      Sao Palo
    
    
    • 
      - Rio De Janeiro
      
      
      
      • 
        Carnival
      
      
      • 
        Overlook
      
      
      • 
        Hang Glide

    • + - Amazon Trip
      

      
      
      • 
        Amazon Manaus

    • Brasilia

  • - Argentina
    

    
    
    • 
      - Iguazu Falls
      
      
      
      • 
        Moonlight Falls Tour
      
      
      • 
        Hike the falls
      
      
      • 
        Jungle Tour

    • - Beunos Aires
      

      
      
      • 
        Tango
      
      
      • 
        Recoletta Cemetary
      
      
      • 
        Goucho Trip
      
      
      • 
        Obolysk
      
      
      • 
        Coffee at Cafe
      
      
      • 
        Pizza
      
      
      • 
        Leather Shopping
      
      
      • 
        Pink House
      
      
      • 
        Train Station
      
      
      • 
        - Le Tigre
        
        
        
        • 
          River Boat Tour

      • Soccer Game

      
      
      • 
        Learn Spanish

    • Mendoza

    
    
    • 
      Moon Rocks
    
    
    • 
      + - Patagonia
      
      
      
      • 
        Glacier

    • Train to the Sky

  • + - Urugay
    

    
    
    • 
      Monteverde

  • + - Equator
    

    
    
    • 
      Galapagos

  • + - Chile
    

    
    
    • 
      Easter Island

  • - Peru
    

    
    
    • 
      Machu Pichu
    
    
    • 
      - Inca Trail
      
      
      
      • 
        Train

    • Cuzco

• - Central America
  

  
  
  • 
    - Costa Rica
    
    
    
    • 
      + - Beaches
      
      
      
      • 
        Wildlife
      
      
      • 
        Learn to surf

    • + - Volcanos
      

      
      
      • 
        Irazu
      
      
      • 
        Areolas
      
      
      • 
        Some other

    • Botanical Garden – Orchids

    
    
    • 
      Learn Spanish-Homestay
    
    
    • 
      + - Monteverde
      
      
      
      • 
        Butterflies
      
      
      • 
        Wildlife
      
      
      • 
        Zipline
      
      
      • 
        Skywalk
      
      
      • 
        Cloud Forest
      
      
      • 
        Learn Spanish

    • Drink Tico Coffee

  • + - Panama
    

    
    
    • 
      Traverse Panama Canal

  • Nicaragua

  
  
  • 
    Honduras

• - Europe
  

  
  
  • 
    - UK
    
    
    
    • 
      London

  • Ireland

  
  
  • 
    Scottland
  
  
  • 
    + - Germany
    
    
    
    • 
      Berlin
    
    
    • 
      Munich

  • + - France
    

    
    
    • 
      Paris
    
    
    • 
      Nice
    
    
    • 
      Venice
    
    
    • 
      Normandy

  • Finland

  
  
  • 
    Poland
  
  
  • 
    + - Russia
    
    
    
    • 
      Moscow
    
    
    • 
      St Petersburg

  • + - Italy
    

    
    
    • 
      Tuscany
    
    
    • 
      Rome

  • Greece

  
  
  • 
    Austria
  
  
  • 
    + - Belgium
    
    
    
    • 
      Antwerp
    
    
    • 
      Chocolate
    
    
    • 
      Waffles

  • Amsterdam

  
  
  • 
    Iceland
  
  
  • 
    Greenland

• - Africa
  

  
  
  • 
    South Africa
  
  
  • 
    - Zimbawia
    
    
    
    • 
      Victoria Falls
    
    
    • 
       

  • Madagascar

  
  
  • 
    Kilimanjaro
  
  
  • 
    Lake Victoria
  
  
  • 
    Victoria Falls
  
  
  • 
    - Middle East
    
    
    
    • 
      - Turkey
      
      
      
      • 
        Istambul

    • + - Egypt
      

      
      
      • 
        Great Pyramids
      
      
      • 
        Sphinx

    • Iraq

    
    
    • 
      + - Tanzania
      
      
      
      • 
        Star Wars Village

• - Australia
  

  
  
  • 
    Sydney
  
  
  • 
    Melborn
  
  
  • 
    Aires Rock
  
  
  • 
    Great Barrier Reef
  
  
  • 
    - New Zealand
    
    
    
    • 
      Glacial Lake

• - Asia
  

  
  
  • 
    - Japan
    
    
    
    • 
      Bullet Train
    
    
    • 
      + - Tokyo
      
      
      
      • 
        Emporer's Palace

    • Yokohama

    
    
    • 
      Kyoto
    
    
    • 
      Hiroshima
    
    
    • 
      Mount Fuji

  • - China
    

    
    
    • 
      - Kong Kong
      
      
      
      • 
        The Peak
      
      
      • 
        Victoria Park
      
      
      • 
        Flower Festival
      
      
      • 
        Shopping at Mall
      
      
      • 
        Shopping at street market
      
      
      • 
        Soho
      
      
      • 
        Kowloon
      
      
      • 
        HK-Space Museum
      
      
      • 
        HK-Art Museum
      
      
      • 
        HK-Heritage Museum
      
      
      • 
        10,000 Buhddas
      
      
      • 
        Chinese New Year Parade
      
      
      • 
        Food
      
      
      • 
        Subway
      
      
      • 
        + - Lan Tau Island
        
        
        
        • 
          Big Buhdda

    • + - Macua
      

      
      
      • 
        Cemetary

    • Shanghi

    
    
    • 
      Beging
    
    
    • 
      Great Wall
    
    
    • 
      Red Square
    
    
    • 
      Palace

  • + - Korea
    

    
    
    • 
      Seoul

  • + - Thailand
    

    
    
    • 
      Bangkok

  • Vietnam

  
  
  • 
    + - Malaysia
    
    
    
    • 
      Kuala Lumpur

  • Singapore

  
  
  • 
    + - India
    
    
    
    • 
      Taj Mahal
    
    
    • 
      Bombay

  • + - Indonesia
    

    
    
    • 
      Bali

• Must do things? http://www.lonelyplanet.com/worldguide/costa-rica/
  • Learn Spanish
  • Zip Line / Hiking thru the Rain forest
  • River tour
  • Hang gliding over San Jose
  • Deep Sea fishing
  • Volcano tour Irazú Volcano or Poas Volcano
  • Rural Tourism??? Not very high on my list
  • Environmental tourist?
  • Teach a computer class?
  • Learn to surf
  • Lay out on a beach – tan; you can’t go on vacation and not get a little sun
  • Any local festivals or holidays upcoming (April 11th: Juan Santamaria Day, National Hero)
• Spanish is the official language; need to brush up on my Spanish
• Fly Delta for frequent flier miles, if possible (Tues-Sat)
• Where to stay (4/5 star hotel)
  • San Jose
  • elsewhere?
• Duration?
• Rent a car?
• Money Exchange Rate?
• Shots/Health Concerns – scheduled shots/boosters needed $350 worth.
  • Drink bottled water, avoid ice in all drinks
  • vaccinations – Yellow Fever, hepatitis A+B, Tetanus, typhoid, Mumps-Measles-Rubella.
  • Malaria Risk in Alajuela, Limón, Guanacaste, and Heredia provinces. No risk in Limón city (Puerto Limón).
• US State Department / Costa Rica Consolate Safety issues ** Don’t carry your passport – photocopy of Costa Rican entry stamp) Travel Suggestions
  • State Dept Travel Registration International Travel tips
    Entrance/Departure Visa fees – none for short stays; US$26 to leave
    Airport Shuttle costs?
    Power converter not needed
    Internet/WiFi in the hotels?
    Insect repellent w/ DEET
    Immunization records – Mumps, Measels
    Phrase book

Overseas telephone card?

• Important Phone numbers:
  • Bank CC cancel/replacement
  • overseas health insurance
  • family
  • in-country US embassy/consulate
  • airline
  • hotels
  • tour guide

Current temp – 27 deg C – 80 deg F
Time Zone – Central US