Ask them to personalize your room – Hotel tip

by Gadling Staff on

Many hotels will customize your room based on your personal preferences — even going as far as to make sure you have your favorite pillows and robes in your room upon arrival.

If you have a preference for room location (high or low floor), proximity to elevator, or pillow type (soft, firm, or down alternative), or would like robes or anything else specific in your room, give the hotel a heads-up when booking your room.

As long as they’re not super busy, you’ll find most properties to be very accommodating to your requests.

Pack something that reminds you of home – International travel tip

by Gadling Staff on

No matter where the destination, chances are you’re going to be out of your usual comfort zone when traveling abroad. When I embarked on a two-week trip across parts of Europe last year, I began to feel homesick after a couple days and wasn’t enjoying my “trip of a lifetime.”

Fortunately, I discovered that my friends had tucked a few pictures of themselves in my bag before I left. This gave me a little piece of home to carry along with me.

Therefore, when leaving home for a period of time, it’s a good idea to bring something familiar with you, to quell any sadness. Whether it’s a picture, blanket, or favorite snack pack, a comfort item can handily ward off being homesick.

Use an old backpack – Packing tip

by Gadling Staff on

I spent three months living out of a small, ratty backpack in Costa Rica, and it was the best travel decision I made.

When two of my travel buddies had their brand new packs stolen, mine was safe because it was old-looking and ugly. The size of my backpack forced me to pack light, and every time I used public transportation I was grateful.

My friends would drag their huge packs onto crowded buses and take out people in the aisles, but my pack kept me nimble and friendly with the locals.

Get a group together and lower your rate – Cruise tip

by Gadling Staff on

When you’re planning your next cruise, don’t just bring your family — bring your golfing buddies, church group or the whole neighborhood. Most cruise lines offer discounts for groups of eight cabins or more.

In addition to saving money, group cruises are sometimes offered special events, such as a private cocktail reception aboard the ship. And on some cruise lines, the group leader (i.e. you!) gets to sail for free.

Bonus: Your kids will have friends they already know to pal around with in the children’s programs.

Clear your browser’s cookies before booking flights online – Airline tip

by Gadling Staff on

Many airlines and travel web sites (such as Expedia, Kayak, etc.) track how many times you’ve visited their websites. In so doing, they provide different offers and deals depending on the user.

To make sure you’re getting the best prices when you book air travel online, be sure to clear your web browser’s cookies and cache. This will make it appear as if it’s your first time visiting these sites, and you’re likely to see much better prices for your next flight!