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.

Create an adventure storybook as a souvenir – Traveling with kids tip

by Gadling Staff on

A favorite stuffed toy can be an excellent way to create an inexpensive and creative souvenir for your child.

Everywhere you go with your child, be sure to take a picture of your child and the toy doing something fun (making faces, pretending to run away, etc.). Make sure you get a good view of the sight in the picture as well.

Then, when you get home, combine these images into a storybook and use your imagination to create a storyline. Don’t forget to include a ‘blooper’ page for pictures that did not make the ‘final cut’.

Use a junior navigator on road trips – Traveling with kids tip

by Gadling Staff on

The front passenger is always the navigator when I’m traveling with my family or a group. However, I discovered that you can turn your children into junior navigators while helping them learn geography at the same time. It helps eliminate them from asking, “Are we there yet?”

Just ask them to look for a specific landmark or road sign. It will keep them interested in the travel and less likely to be bored along the way, because they’re actively doing something. In short, it keeps their interest in traveling while having fun — and learning about the country!

Use social media to plan your trip – International travel tip

by Gadling Staff on

Social media provides the easiest channel to prepare for a trip and gather information from friends — or from individuals you don’t even know. Let’s face it, people are willing to share their personal information.

On Facebook, update your status and ask friends for advice on places to see, food to eat, and more. Return the favor, and let everyone know how about your experience by posting updates via comments. Don’t forget to share pictures, too.

Another popular site, Twitter, can be used to perform keyword searches from the homepage. You won’t even need to build a network to find the most current information on any destination.

Hint: Be sure to follow Gadling for travel tips on Facebook and on Twitter.

Host foreign exchange students – International travel tip

by Gadling Staff on

This may not help with your trip next month, but think about it for the future. When my husband and I traveled to Europe, we had a home away from home (not to mention local tour guides) in France, Germany, and Denmark.

Hosting foreign exchange students gives a family the opportunity to learn about other cultures and the possibility of visiting them in the future. Just think, when your French sister gets married one day, guess who will be on the guest list?

Bonus: you’ll already have some experience with French culture from living with her for 6 months.