The Imperfect Traveler’s Guides
My first book about traveling with hidden disability and chronic illness is now available for pre-order!
The Imperfect Traveler’s Guide to Traveling With Pain
The flagship book of my fabulous new travel book series, The Imperfect Traveler’s Guides, will be published in the spring of 2011. Inspired by this blog, The Imperfect Traveler’s Guide to Traveling With Pain contains plenty of new content to help travelers with both chronic and acute pain to enjoy more fun on the road with less pain and less hassle. A slim volume that’s easy to take on trips (and that will also be available on the Amazon Kindle), Traveling With Pain takes readers from the all-important planning phase of travel, through dealing with the pitfalls of lodgings and dining, and on out to the sights, museums, parks, and events that make traveling fun in the first place.
In the meantime, please consider pre-ordering this book. The more pre-orders I get, the more marketing I can do to increase sales, and the more people with pain can get out and take a nice vacation.
Moon Handbooks
I researched and wrote these guidebook to the state of California while dealing with active endometriosis, IC, pelvic pain, and all that fun stuff. Be aware that none these titles are written specifically for those of us with hidden disabilities. So if you’ve got a question about the comfort and accessibility of a particular California locale, please ask me! I’ll tell you my experience, or otherwise find an answer for you.
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Moon California, the mothership of my California guidebooks, describes travel across the Golden State. Instead of an exhaustive list of hotels, restaurants, attractions, etc etc from Crescent City to San Diego to Mammoth Lakes to Mono Lake to Mount Lassen, I select what I think are the very best spots to visit in my home state. Reading Moon California is like sitting down with me for a cup of coffee and asking me for advice about where to take a romantic weekend getaway or a weeklong trek across the state. My wry wit comes out clearly as I make sure my readers know that every hotel, every monument, every restaurant is not created equal.
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A “pullout” guide based on Moon California, Moon Northern California includes a few of my favorite itineraries for traveling pre=”traveling “>NorCal, plus all the great region-by-chapter specific content from the original. Hike a volcano, comb beaches for agates, hug a really big tree, climb a rock, eat some haute cuisine, relax into a massage…there’s no place like Northern California. Oh, and a whole bunch more Wine Country content. Because Wine Country rocks.
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A “pullout” guide based on Moon California, Moon Southern California includes a few of my favorite itineraries for traveling SoCal, plus all the great region-by-chapter specific content from the original. I explore the flat, sunny beaches, brutal yet beautiful deserts, giant Sequoia trees, and some of the best cheap ethnic food anywhere. Come join me down south!
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A “pullout” guide based on Moon California, Moon Coastal California includes a few of my favorite itineraries for traveling the Coast, plus all the great region-by-chapter specific content from the original. Just don’t ask me to pick any one favorite. I love the pristine views of Big Sur, the barefoot beaches of San Diego, and the untamed wilderness of the Lost Coast all equally.
Moon Spotlight Palm Springs includes information about Joshua Tree National Monument and Death Valley National Park. This cute little regional reference includes information about where to stay, where to eat, and how to maneuver through the sometimes desolate California deserts.
Whose Panties Are These is part of the bestselling Sand in My Bra women’s travel anthology series. My story “Why Earplugs Are Mandatory” describes a slight honeymoon mishap. Reader advisory: some material in my story may be hard for cockroach-haters to stomach. Consider carefully before reading while dining.
Liz: what great stuff you have here? haven’t looked at it all yet, but I was wondering if you’ve looked into myofascial release and unwinding? I’ve gotten to the point where I can spontaneously unwind, and it helps A LOT!
Hi Laura,
Thanks for reading! I get myofascial release work done when I can afford it, which is not at all often these days. But when I do get it, it’s quite helpful. I’m also a big fan of the Esalen massage style.
What is unwinding, and how do I get some/learn to do it? I’m always looking for a new way to minimize pain!
Hope you’re having a pain-free day,
Liz
Liz, I’m editorial director of NileGuide.com, a travel website. I’m interested in talking to you about licensing your California Moon content. Do you have time for a quick phone call? Eric
Hey Liz! late last night I read your blog and was shocked to hear of your mishap in Atlanta airport. I called hoping to connect with you. I was in Atlanta airport Thursday – wish it were Tuesday and I could have helped you out!
Your website looks great and I look forward to your book!
Hope you’re feeling better!
This information is great for some of our clientelle and will encourage them to check out your books and website!
Take care,
Nancy
Liz–
I bought your book on Kindle and read it all last night. I think I have read every thing on your blog as well. I am new to living with chronic pain and I am afraid that I will ruin my husband and daughter’s trip to Israel that we are taking in June. We are going to gone for over 2 weeks. Your blog really helped me calm down and see that if I plan, I can do it.
After reading the book, I have some questions:
Do you actually bring your pillow and blanket on the plane? Do you put it in your carry on?
You discussed how to get ice on the airplane, but what about the hotels for night times?
We have a 6 hour layover in Newark (this was the only way we could get more leg room). Do you have suggestions of what to do during that kind of layover? So I’m not already in pain before we even board the plane for the 13 hour tirp. Also how do you use the wheelchair service–just have them take me from the plane to the gate?
Thank you so much for your book and blog. I learned I am not alone and I was able to admit that yes, I am living in Chronic pain.
Mara
Hi Mara,
Thanks so much for buying the book! I’m glad both it and the blog are helping you.
I don’t carry my bed pillow, no–I don’t generally need it. But I see other people carrying them onto planes all the time. And I carry a full-sized neck pillow (filled with silicone beads). A good way to carry a pillow without taking up space–get a nylon strap that attaches to your carry-on, and strap your pillow down to the outside of your bag. I do that with the neck pillow and it works like a charm. With the blanket I cheat. I’ve got a fleece-lined cocoon coat that I wear onto the plane, then take off and use as a blanket in-flight. But you can pack a lightweight blanket into your carry-on, or strap it to your pillow.
Medium to high-end hotels have ice machines, and usually ice buckets to carry it in. I’ve never been to Israel so I’m not sure what they’ll have. I’d say call them or check their web site and ask. If there’s no ice machine, talk to them about your needs and see what’s possible.
Wheelchair service: Request the service from the airline in advance (not necessary but a good idea). Then ask for a wheelchair when you check in, either at the desk where you check your luggage or at the skycap desk. I usually get a chair from check-in to the gate, because I’m good to walk down the jetway and to my seat.
6-hour layover in Newark: Yuck. But I totally get it. If you’ve got the extra cash, I’d strongly suggest getting a hotel room at or adjacent to the airport and laying down for a couple of hours. What with going through security, you’ll only use the room for a couple of hours, but those hours are precious and worth it if you can get on the plane to Israel feeling reasonably comfortable. You can do whatever stretches or PT exercises help your pain in the hotel room as well. Your husband and daughter can shop or sightsee while you rest if they’re feeling energetic.
If you can’t get a hotel, the next best thing is an airline’s frequent-flyer lounge. They have cushy chairs, and you probably won’t have to go back through security to get to your gate. Failing that, Newark Airport has a spa bar. Get a massage and a pedicure (maybe mother-daughter mani-pedis?). It’s not quite as good as a few hours of horizontal time, but the relaxation will help with the pain, and make the transatlantic flight more bearable.
I hope some of this helps! Have a wonderful time in Israel!