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Brave or crazy? Not sure which one you might classify my decision to travel just days before Christmas, but it is an exercise to say the least to put some trusted travel advice to the test. A client invitation to attend their year-end meeting and holiday party arrived and falling to the temptation to take advantage of an opportunity for good face time and further relationship building, I went to my travel agent's Web site (

www.tltravels.com and clicked on its partner sites to research airfare pricing.

CheapTickets has always been a personal favorite and the site did not disappoint this time. With just a week's notice I was able to score a non-stop flight from Ft. Myers, Florida to Washington, DC for just over $150. I had to do a double-take. Then I researched a few car rental options and it turned out by staying two nights, the slight fare increase on the USAirways class flight, my total package price was less due to a special car rental offer by Budget.

Despite a great flight and car rental price, I realized that extra charges could be lurking resulting in a bigger expense than what appeared on the surface. I wanted to ensure that I could avoid the baggage fees, so I packed with precision resulting in one carry on luggage item, along with my personal item. Since I typically check my bags, I do not often worry about TSA's 3-1-1 rules as most of my liquids are in checked luggage. But this trip was different and I had to inspect each toiletry to ensure it was under the 3 oz. limit. To my surprise, a few of my "travel size" products were 3.2 oz. or larger which would not be permitted to be brought onboard in my carry on bag.

To my rescue, I previously discovered the Clear Bag System product which is a quart size, stylish, airport approved clear bag with ready to go 3 oz. and under containers for shampoo, condition, body lotion and more, complete with labels. This bag had ample room for extra liquid items such as anti bacterial liquid soap, lip gloss and my "can't live without" hair serum!

One twist to my packing is that I came bearing gifts for the client and for the friend who was my gracious host. My husband declared that there would be no way that I could manage to pack all of the gifts plus the minimum five pairs of shoes that accompany me on my journey. I took his challenge and did sacrifice my shoes for convenience and successfully packed all "necessary" items for the trip.

The key for me to be able to get by with just my carry on and personal item is a large enough ""purse"":http://www.travel-ad vocate.com/2008/12/18/tips-to- navigate-busy-holiday-travel/w ww.coakleybusinessclass.com that serves almost as a piece of luggage, yet is not unwieldy. I've discovered the Coakley executive bag that is functional, durable and stylish. It has a place for everything and truly helps organize my pre-flight preparation.

One benefit I've quickly realized by traveling light is that I was able to bypass the long holiday check-in line and go straight to security with my roller in tow. I went online the night before to print off my boarding pass, which is a critical time saving step in any travels, but particularly when you are not checking luggage. But, in times of full flights, it is also wise to check-in online to ensure you indeed do have a seat.

Now I admit I did not follow the two-hour arrival rule. I arrived an hour prior as my departing day was not a peak travel day and since I was not checking luggage. Caution, do not necessarily follow in my footsteps though on this one as there have been times I have been stuck in long security lines of more than an hour.

Amenities onboard are limited now on most airlines and these flights were not exceptions. I have always packed along a few snack essentials since I'm typically traveling with a toddler in hand. I also always stop at one of the airport stores pass security to purchase a bottle of water to bring on board. While these steps might seem little, they do save money and provide convenience.

A few travel tips when planning last-minute travel during the holidays include: Expertise: Use a travel agent or their resources to research at-a-glance options for quick comparisons. Commit: Airlines have reduced capacity so flights are expected to be full this season, so when you find a price that seems reasonable, book it. Combine: More often than not, you can score a better deal when combining different travel elements such as airline ticket, car rental and hotel versus booking each independently. Planning: Depending on the amount of days you are traveling for take a few extra moments to really think about what you will need. Pack like colors to help provide additional mix and match options, reducing the need for different shoes or other accessories. Check In: Go online to your airline's Web site and check in and print off your boarding pass. This is a time saver. Carry On: With inclement weather, possible flight delays and cancellations, if you can pack smartly to avoid checking your baggage, you've removed one more possible complication - lost luggage - that could damper holiday spirits. By having your items with you, you have also become more mobile in case you need to catch a quick connection or even change flights all together due to unforeseen circumstances. Bag It: When traveling with gifts, be cautious to not wrap ahead as it is possible security might require you to open these items. Pack some gift bags and tissue paper, which travel easily, if this is your case. Or purchase the gift wrapping essentials when you arrive. What is your top space saver travel trick?

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