Read signs in Japan, even if you don’t know Japanese – International travel tip

by Gadling Staff on

Afraid to visit Japan because you can’t read the signs? Are you intimidated by all the Kanji? Don’t worry! First, buy a Nintendo DS, and then, buy a Japanese/English dictionary cartridge called: Kanji Sonomama Rakubiki Jiten.

No matter how bad your Kanji stroke order is, and no matter how sloppy your handwriting, this dictionary helps you read Kanji in a light and compact way. After you write the character, it will show you the various English translations.

It also breaks down the Kanji into hiragana and katakana for a simple read for those with limited Japanese language training.

Blog it or Facebook it or Tweet it or … – Road trip tip

by Gadling Staff on

Let friends and family share in your road trip adventure by posting details along the way via your blog, Facebook, Twitter or other social media site. People at home are curious about your adventures, and seeing your update may trigger a memory or suggestion they have to improve your trip.

With a smartphone such as the Apple iPhone, Motorola Droid or Research in Motion’s BlackBerry, it’s a snap to post a status update of your trip or take and upload a photo or video of a roadside attraction. Smartphone Facebook apps and apps such as Bloglive make it easy to upload your content.

Of course, don’t do any of this while driving. Wait until you’re stopped, or have a passenger do the posting.

Make a scrapbook travel diary – International travel tip

by Gadling Staff on

The worst part of getting home from an awesome vacation is figuring out what to do with all the papers, brochures, receipts, unique candy wrappers, news articles, postcards, and other things that have accumulated in your bags along the way. So next time, just bring some tape and scissors with you and paste those items in your diary or Moleskine as you travel.

It’s a great way to pass time waiting for your next bus or sitting on a train. Once home, you’ll open up your travel journal and have all sorts of colorful memories to share.

An alternate use for a hotel iron – Hotel tip

by Gadling Staff on

Hotel irons have more uses than just getting the wrinkles out. Pack a few feet of aluminum foil in your luggage, and you’ve got all the tools you need for cooking and reheating food.

Grilled cheese is simple to make! Just wrap it in foil and lay the iron on top of it.

Irons also work great for reheating food that you may have brought back from a restaurant. Anything that you can spread between aluminum foil can be reheated. I’ve reheated everything from pancakes to shrimp scampi for a late night snack. I’ve used this trick for years.

Tip: It works best when you turn off the steam option on the iron.

Put culture before curios – Souvenir tip

by Gadling Staff on

From refrigerator magnets to postcards to snowglobes, I’ve collected many things during my travels. Of them all, what I value most will surprise you: the programs from cultural events.

Don’t toss them so quickly! The miniature Big Ben I bought will never mean as much as the program for La Boheme at Covent Garden. The Sacher torte I enjoyed at Hotel Sacher was divine; my program, on the other hand, will forever remind me of the spectacular Vienna Boys Choir.

My programs are my most prized collection. They continue to mean more than any items purchased in souvenir shops.