GADLING’S TAKE FIVE: Week of July 1

Good, practical travel advice just the way your mother used to give. That’s the theme for this week’s Take Five. Well, maybe not all good and maybe not all advice, but it’s stuff I’m sure more than a handful of you out there reading can use. Why? Because we care…

5. New Blogs: Transitions Abroad and National Geographic Traveler:

Looking for a few new blogs to go in your travel RSS feeds? Give these two a go and keep virtual travel going longer and stronger. (Okay, that was corny.)

4. Shape’s Top 25 Stay-Fit Travel Tips:
If you travel so much you basically live on the road and out of a suitcase you probably already discovered a few tips to staying fit. On the flip-side for those of you haven’t found the perfect way to blend your road trippin’ fun with fitness you may wish to take a peek at this plug here.

3. Traveler’s Phrase Book T-shirt:
Unlike Justin, who points out this nifty phrase book style tee to wear and assist in communication, I think it is a great idea and not so overpriced. I’m a HUGE advocate for learning the local vocab and slang, but sometimes your mind freezes, goes numb or went back packing with the cat that also has your tongue and in such event it never hurts to resort to Plan P by pointing it out!

2. Problems in a Hotel? Complain Immediately for Best Results:

I think the title of this one says it all. Don’t wait until check-out to rant and point out flaws. If the room is seriously painfully bad or unsanitary let the folks behind the front desk know ASAP.

1. What Countries Have Universal Health Care?:
So you’ve seen the movie Sicko and you walked away with a knot in your stomach like the rest of us… Now you wish to plan an escape to a country with Universal Health Care… Where do you go?