Clean your car – Road trip tip

by Gadling Staff on

You’ve packed your bags, prepared some snacks and even went so far as to tell your family you were heading out of town. (How thoughtful!) But did you remember to clean out your car?

A little dust and grime isn’t too bad for a short trip, but leftover fast food bags and a pile of stuff cascading over the back seat can turn a road trip into a nightmare-on-wheels pretty quickly.

Instead of dealing with foul smells, swirling dog hair, or dusty air, treat yourself to a clean car the next time you plan a road trip. Get rid of all the trash, clean the windows, and vacuum the seats. A little effort can make a big difference in the quality of your road trip.

And you may even arrive at your destination without the need to shower immediately.

Wear (or carry) heavier items – Packing tip

by Gadling Staff on

Airlines find any excuse to charge extra fees. Not only do extra luggage fees now apply, but if the one piece of luggage you are checking is even slightly overweight, you can expect a hefty fee for that, as well. A quick review of your airline’s rules may save you fees prior to boarding. How to avoid fees all together?

  1. Wear your heaviest clothes such boots, coat, or sweater onto the plane.
  2. Carry your extra shoes or coat in your carry-on.
  3. Trade in your heavy-duty luggage (which can weigh up to 18 lbs) for a lighter, but durable, piece of nylon luggage instead.

Applying these tips could free up as much as 25 pounds in your suitcase!

Don’t unpack – Hotel tip

by Gadling Staff on

If you are ever staying in a hotel room for less than a week you should never unpack. Yes, living out of a suitcase can be a hassle, but it also ensures you won’t leave something behind.

I’ll never again see that Transformer™ I left in the Paducah, KY hotel room when I was 11. I’ll also never see my favorite t-shirt, that comfy sweatshirt, or that old pair of jeans that were left in New Jersey in 2000.

I’ll never see them because I broke a cardinal rule of a short-term hotel stay: I unpacked.

Use garbage bags – Packing tip

by Gadling Staff on

Next time you pack, line the bottom of your suitcase with a new, large trash bag. Add your clothes, shoes, and accessories, and just before closing the suitcase, top it off with another new, large trash bag, making sure you wrap the bottom bag’s excess over the top bag.

Now, when your baggage is left on the tarmac during a downpour, your clothes have a better chance of staying dry.

The plastic bags also does double duty on the return trip: one bag holds dirty laundry, and the other covers the clothes again.

Plan an offbeat stop – Road trip tip

by Gadling Staff on

Quirky roadside attractions can often be the part of the trip you remember most!

You might recall the movie Michael, where an angel wreaked havoc upon his fellow travelers until they relented and allowed him to visit The World’s Largest Ball of Twine. Talk about the spirit of the Great American Road Trip!

Research your route well, and plan to visit at least one — or maybe several! — unusual attractions along the way for an unforgettable road trip experience. Roadside America, a definitive guide to offbeat American attractions, lists thousands of offbeat destinations. Plan ahead, and you’ll never miss such wonders as the Museum of Stripping or Mystery Hill.

Bonus: when you reach your destination, you’ll actually have an interesting story to share with the people at that end.