Double-check your credit card statement – Hotel tip

by Gadling Staff on

Hidden hotel charges can appear on a credit card statement weeks after your stay, even if you paid your balance at checkout. Generally, these phantom charges include amenities like Internet access and parking. Be sure to scan your credit card statement to be sure you were charged the correct amount — and not charged twice.

Also, be wary If you’ve used a voucher for a meal at the hotel restaurant; the discount may suddenly disappear. The worst offense I’ve personally experienced was when the shopping spree of another guest was charged to my room.

If this happens to you, just contact the billing department at the hotel. They understand that this happens and are happy to work with you.

6 useful iPhone apps for road trips – Road trip tip

by Gadling Staff on

Try these six useful apps on your next road trip. All are available on the App Store (warning: links open iTunes):

  1. MapsBuddy ($1.99) finds nearby gas stations and restaurants.
  2. SimulTravelGPS (Free) locates hotels with details of prices and amenities.
  3. UrbanSpoon (Free) suggests restaurants based on your cravings.
  4. RoadTripFun ($0.99) contains a menu of traditional road trip games for you to play with your friends and family.
  5. The Weather Channel (Free) provides weather conditions for your exact location with radar maps and forecasts.
  6. Flashlight (Free) turns your phone into a flashlight, if you need to find something in your car at night. App includes SOS signal.

To tip or not to tip – International travel tip

by Gadling Staff on

Just because you might drop a few bucks on the table after eating dinner in the States doesn’t mean that’s appropriate behavior everywhere. It’s best to check local customs before deciding to do the same in another country.

Some countries, such as New Zealand, Australia and Japan, don’t customarily tip and the result can be confusion for your servers. In other countries, such as France, the tip is added to the bill automatically.

Take the time and check online or ask locally if tips are customary before making the gesture.

Fly first-class on a A340, A380 or 747 for the price of coach – Airplane tip

by Gadling Staff on

If you want to fly in comfort on an international flight, but don’t care for the frills of first-class (or don’t want to pay for them), purchase four coach seats in a row.

A row of 4 seats is long enough to lay across and is just as comfortable as a flat first-class bed. You also get to carry four times the luggage (while saving as much as 50% off the price of a first-class seat), and you can also order four different meals. Finally, as an added bonus, you earn four times the frequent flier miles.

The only downside is that you’re still in coach class.

Turn travel t-shirts into a quilt – Souvenir tip

by Gadling Staff on

If you’re like me, you have to have a t-shirt commemorating every place you’ve visited. However, often times you end up with a drawer full of shirts you use when it’s time to paint the house or mow the lawn. Those “souvenirs” often become less appealing once you’re home.

Don’t despair: turn those shirts into something you can truly treasure by cutting out the front portion of each one, sewing them together, and making a travel quilt. This one-of-a-kind souvenir will bring back wonderful memories every time you snuggle up with it.