Three shirts, two pairs of pants, one pair of shoes, a coat, a handful of toiletries, a laptop, a small amount of homework which will probably not get done and a copy of Dante’s Inferno. These are the only possessions I will carry during a 10-day, five-country excursion around Europe. All of it fit into my average-sized backpack with little room to spare for souvenirs. It is fall break in Morocco and the aim of the trip is an opportunity to explore Europe. The plane tickets from Morocco to Madrid were only $12. The cost of traveling from Moscow to Spokane by bus is nearly double that. Traveling around Europe and North Africa may be cheaper than in the states but sacrifices must be made to ensure things go smoothly/Cheyenne Hollis, UIdaho Argonaut. More here.

Question: How much luggage do you take when traveling to another country?

An eBay teddy bear sporting a 10th anniversary shirt

According to this ABC news story 1-in-4 grown men travel with a stuffed animal.That’s right, teddy bears, stuffed dogs and other plush animals are neslted alongside shaving cream and razors in many traveling businessmen’s luggage.

Really? Really? C’mon guys. Fess up. Do you travel with your teddy? How about you ladies? Can you sleep without Mr. Fluffernutter or Bear Bear?

H/t LizA

On Labor Day weekend, 91 percent of travelers will reach their destination by car. Some of those drivers will inevitably get lost and a new study suggests lost drive time costs men $3,000 or more in gas over their lifetime.”That does not surprise me, a girl will stop and ask for directions. A guy has too much pride,” says Spokane driver Evette Pitchlynn. The newly released study sheds light on male and female driving habits. British insurance company, Seila’s Wheels, claims that one in 10 male drivers refuses to ask a stranger for help. More than a quarter of men polled say they would wait at least half an hour before asking for directions/Tania Dall, KXLY. More here.

Question: Are you too proud to ask for directions as soon as you realize that you’re lost? Is your spouse?