Keep maps and tickets – Souvenir tip

by Gadling Staff on

As an undergrad traveling around Europe, I didn’t have a lot of money to spend on souvenirs, but I still wanted a memento from every city and town that I visited. Though I couldn’t afford, say, a miniature plastic Eiffel Tower, I did stumble upon the perfect souvenir for anyone looking to save money: transit maps and tickets.

By keeping tickets, I not only had a physical keepsake of my trip, but I also had a great way of documenting exactly what I did and when. And by keeping maps, I could literally retrace my steps at any time.

Groceries can be a cultural experience – Dining out tip

by Gadling Staff on

When you arrive in a town in a country that’s not your own, check out the local culture by heading for the grocery store.

You’ll find more new food experiences than you would in a restaurant at half the price — and you can still dine out!

For instance, on a trip to Denmark, we visited a village’s grocery, looked at all the interesting foods, and bought some fabulous cheese, yogurt and smoked fish. We took it to a park and had the best lunch of our trip. (If you plan to do this, don’t forget to throw some plastic cutlery in your suitcase!)

Leave the plane with more bags than you came with – Packing tip

by Kyle Ellison on

With baggage fees constantly climbing, travelers are having to get creative to skirt unwanted costs. One unconventional method involves actually leaving the plane with more carry-on bags than you boarded with.

How is it possible? Simple:

  1. Wear extra clothes while entering the plane (layers of t-shirts, long sleeve shirts, jackets, shorts beneath pants, etc.).
  2. Pack an empty duffel bag in your allowed carry-on.
  3. Once you reach cruising altitude simply shed the extra clothing into the empty bag on a trip to the lavatory.

Peculiar? Undoubtedly. Effective? Highly.

Buy a cookbook – Souvenir tip

by Gadling Staff on

Part of the fun of travel is eating new foods. But why restrict yourself to only eating these fabulous dishes while on vacation? If you’re impressed with the food during a trip, buy a local cookbook and a few area-specific ingredients.

When you get home, recreate your favorite dishes there. If you’re feeling like a party, invite your neighbors over and feed them, too. When they’re devouring your delicious meal, they may even be interested in hearing about your fantastic experience.

Check-in 24 hours in advance, to get better seats – Airline tip

by Gadling Staff on

Have you ever made an airline reservation and been told the only available seats are those in the middle? What you probably weren’t told is that airlines hold a number of prime seats for last-minute bookings to elite customers. When those seats aren’t sold, they’re released about 24 hours prior to departure.

To take advantage of this, visit your airline’s website and look for the “check-in” link. There you will see what (newly released) seats are available, and you can change yours if necessary.

If that doesn’t work, use the check-in kiosk when you get to the airport. It offers the same option.