Bring clothespins and sleep in – Hotel tip

by Meg Massie on

Why is it always impossible to close hotel curtains all the way? It’s always that little sliver of light that shines through the crack in the hotel curtains that’ll wake you up on a vacation morning when you very much want to sleep in.

Remember to pack a few clothespins in your bag whenever you travel, and wake up on your own terms by pinning the curtains together.

Closing that little gap will keep your room a lot darker by blocking the morning sun. You’ll also block the street and other outdoor lights at night.

Pack toilet paper – Road trip tip

by Gadling Staff on

Campers know this rule, but road trippers should follow it, too: always bring a roll of toilet paper.

It’s good to have if you need to make an “emergency stop” if the next exit is too far away. It saves you problems at poorly stocked rest stops. Finally, it’s great for cleaning up those spills of giant sodas and coffees from a little road turbulence or heavy-duty laughter.

How to pack perfume – Packing tip

by Gadling Staff on

Want to smell great while traveling without risking your expensive — and probably large — bottle of fragrance? There are several options to try.
1.) Many fragrances are available in solid form, a great alternative.
2.) Ask for multiple samples of your favorite fragrance and pack those in a medicine (or similar) bottle with a tight seal.
3.) Spritz cotton balls and place in an airtight container. Rub on, or stick in a pocket, as you travel.
4.) Pour some of your usual fragrance into a plastic “spritz” bottle from the travel-size section of a grocery or drug store. It’s cheaper than a travel atomizer.

Smell ya later!

Avoid conversations by wearing headphones – Airplane tip

by Gadling Staff on

Sick of hearing about a stranger’s dysfunctional family or odd medical conditions? Avoid conversations all-together by doing a simple thing: wear headphones.

This works best if you also avoid eye contact (and it may be necessary to pretend that you don’t hear you fellow passengers the first time they speak). Pull your headphones off when speaking to them and then put the headphones back on when the chit-chat is over.

In reality, it doesn’t even matter if the headphones are plugged in. The other passengers just need to believe they are.

How to showcase beach souvenirs – Souvenir tip

by Gadling Staff on

We beach-lovers usually wind up bringing bits of driftwood, shells and pebbles home. They are all pretty, but used to wind up sitting around in plastic bags which eventually got shifted into storage. Then, about 20 years ago, a better idea dawned on me.

Now, the finds that come home — all of which I sign and annotate with the beach location and year — go into a shadow frame. Artistically arranged and glued in place, they provide a nice reminder of a pleasant vacation and bring a little unique art to the kitchen, or room of choice.