DON’T take lava rocks from Hawaii – Souvenir tip

by Gadling Staff on

…even small ones. Madame Pele, goddess of Hawaii’s volcanoes, has been known to reach out as far as the mainland to make you very sorry that you took her stuff.

The Hawaii Visitor’s Bureau receives rocks in the mail every day from folks who have suddenly hit a run of bad luck. Returning the rocks will get you back in the goddess’ good graces. Even the County of Maui, on their website, lists an address to where one can return the rocks they pocketed.

Buy an aloha shirt and leave Pele’s rocks alone.

Traveling with jewelry – Packing tip

by Gadling Staff on

If you’re going on a cruise or traveling for a special occasion, you’ll undoubtedly pack a few pieces of jewelry. Finding a matching set of earrings in an overstuffed travel-size jewelry case can be frustrating.

To avoid this problem, follow these tips:

  • Pack each pair of earrings, necklace or bracelet in its own container.
  • Fill old film canisters or prescription pill containers half-full with dry rice grains.
  • Use each padded container to store delicate earrings in pairs, keep rings from being scratched, and prevent necklaces from getting tangled.

Dance to soothe turbulence fears – Airplane tip

by Gadling Staff on

One problem many fliers share is a fear of turbulence. If you fly, you’re bound to experience it at some point — but airplane turbulence doesn’t have to be scary! Bring an MP3 player aboard and, the moment the air gets bumpy, turn it to your favorite track and get groovy!

You’ll likely get some looks from the other passengers, but hey — you get to have fun and forget the fear.

When you dance in place — or “chair dance” — the dips and jolts all seem like part of the experience, and they become less noticeable. It’s tried and true advice. Don’t be skeptical; try it on your next flight!

Souvenir tip: knowledge is the best souvenir

by Gadling Staff on

Hopefully when we visit other places, we can take a bit of the culture home with us. Knowledge is the best souvenir. So take a class with the locals. Learn:

  • To do a local dance
  • To sing a song in their language
  • To play an unusual instrument
  • To cook a special recipe

No time to take a class? If food is your favorite, buy a local cookbook or ask the chef for a recipe. Purchase a songbook or a video of local dances. You can learn it when you return home or continue practicing the lessons you did take.

When traveling with pets, read the fine print – Hotel tip

by Gadling Staff on

If you’re traveling with a pet, make sure you read all the fine print about pet fees and policies when booking a hotel room.

Many hotels require that pets must either be kenneled in the room or not be left alone at any time. Pets may also be banished from lobbies and other public areas. Some hotels place size restrictions on pets. Still others even have “breed restrictions” in place.

Finally, some hotels place pets and their owners in the same rooms or floors that are designated for smokers, so if you have allergy issues, call or email ahead before checking in with Fido or Fluffy.