Buy local art – Souvenir tip

by Gadling Staff on

Every traveler has been subjected to the blitz of souvenir stores filled with junk. A better option is to purchase an original painting created by street artists who, for a few euros or dollars, capture the location.

Since the picture is unframed and flat, it takes up virtually no suitcase room (a big consideration with all the “baggage hoopla” nowadays). Arriving home with your treasure, go to the local craft store, buy an inexpensive frame and viola! You have a pictorial memory that was easy to pack and will bring back memories for a long time.

Pro tip: Take a photo of yourself with the artist, paste on back.

Wear, then toss – International travel tip

by Gadling Staff on

Just before a big trip overseas, I cull my closet of those items of clothing that might have one more “wear” in them, and that are still appropriate for the destination to which I’m traveling. While on my trip, once that outfit has been worn, it goes straight into the hotel room trash bin.

Doing this means both one less laundry item when I get home AND it opens up space in my luggage for those obligatory souvenirs.

Don’t go overboard though… be sure to leave yourself enough clothes to cover an unexpected layover on your return home.

Use plastic bags – Packing tip

by Gadling Staff on

Packing clothes for travel without having to iron upon arriving is easy. Here’s what you do —

  1. Save those plastic bags from the dry cleaner (or go get some).
  2. Hang each skirt, jacket, blouse or pair of pants on a hanger and then cover each with a plastic bag.
  3. Hold all the hung clothes side-by-side and roll them up together and place in suitcase. (Other items like sweaters need to be rolled individually and wedged amongst other items in your suitcase.)
  4. At you destination, unroll everything, hang the hangers in a closet, and lay flat the others on the back of a chair.

Now… go out and look sharp!

Take a convertible – Road trip tip

by Gadling Staff on

Thelma and Louise, Bonneville, and Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas are all classic road trip movies. What do they all have in common? The car they traveled in was a convertible.

For maximum fun during a road trip, take a convertible! If you don’t own one, look into renting one for your next road trip. There’s no better way to see everything with the top down.

Experience all the sights, sounds and even smells that a great trip has to offer. Wear a hat and use plenty of sunscreen, but most importantly, keep that convertible top open!

Use two-way radios – Cruise tip

by Gadling Staff on

Most cruise ships today are multi-deck mini-cities carrying as many as 5,000 passengers. And, unless you’re traveling alone, you may find yourself separated from your traveling party at some point during your cruise. How to reconnect… or stay connected in the first place?

Give each member of your group a two-way radio, all programmed to the same frequency to help keep you organized and in touch. These handy radio sets, priced from about $40, offer features like rechargeable batteries and programmable ring tones.

Remember: your cell phone may not work on a cruise ship, and even if it does, the roaming charges may be crushing.