Take pictures of your food – Dining out tip

by Gadling Staff on

Dining out during vacation is an experience you want to remember — just like sightseeing! after all, with only a little work, you’ll get to try something that’s a specialty for that region.

My mouth still waters when I review the pictures of the ahi poke I had from Hawaii, barramundi fish in Australia, and the poisson cru in Tahiti. So go ahead and take a photo (or two… or ten!) of the lovely presentation. No need to be embarrassed as taking a picture of the food is a high compliment to the chef.

Save wine bottles (or at least the labels) – Souvenir tip

by Gadling Staff on

Many people have a nice bottle of wine when they dine out on vacation. When you’re on vacation, scan the wine list for locally produced wines or choose a bottle with the restaurant’s label. Instead of packing the bottles to lug home, ship them home as you leave each city.

Alternatively, if you don’t have room for the bottles, soak the labels off the bottle in your hotel room, let dry overnight and press between the pages a book. At the very least, they make for a great color insert in your Moleskine.

Related: The 25 greatest cities in the world for drinking wine

Collect take-out menus when dining out – Souvenir tip

by Gadling Staff on

One of the best parts of traveling is the different types of food you get the chance to try.

When dining out, consider photographing the restaurant and your meal. If the meal was memorable, request a copy of the menu and make a note while it’s still fresh in your mind what you ate — to go with your corresponding picture. Upon your return home, your menus may help you seek out restaurants in your area that serve the same dishes… or even allow you to give them ideas for new ones.

Bonus: if you have friends visiting the same destination, you can share your menus with them and help them to have a wonderful meal. Consider giving them a travel debit card before they leave town, so they can enjoy dinner out on you.

Dine OUT! – Dining out tip

by Gadling Staff on

You’ve spent so much money on just getting to Hawaii, why pay more to sit inside a restaurant? Weather permitting, you should be outside on the grass! Or on the sand. Or at a picnic table.

Borrow a sheet from your hotel to sit on or use as a table cloth, as well as glasses and silverware. Chose the most appropriate place from your “sights to see” list and make a lunch or dinner out of it by ordering take-out from one of the local eateries.

Having a picnic outside near a fun destination will give you an “insider’s view” of both that sight and the local culture.

Kimpton takes the edge off tax season

by Tom Johansmeyer on

‘Tis the season for taxation. We gather up our W-2s, sift through 1099s and try to figure out just how painful the experience is going to be for our wallets. Tax season isn’t the most pleasant of experiences for many, so Kimpton Hotels & Restaurants is hoping to take the sting out a little bit. With its “Sweet Tax Relief” deal, Kimpton will make sure tax time leaves you with an enjoyable taste in your mouth – for a change.

To start, participating Kimptons will pay your room tax for you, for stays during the entire month of April. And, your meal tax will be picked up when you throw down some grub at its restaurants. If you’ve ever taken a close look at your restauant receipt or hotel folio, you know just how substantial this savings can be. To sweeten the pot, so to speak, candy bars like “Payday,” “100 Grand” and “Sugar Daddy” will be provided, which you can munch on while waiting for your late checkout to come.

According to Niki Leondakis, chief operating officer of Kimpton Hotels & Restaurants, “Tax season can be a stressful time of year and this fun promotion is a great way for travelers to save a few dollars on the road and enjoy some sweet treats.”