Pack plastic zipper bags – Packing tip

by Gadling Staff on

I always toss a couple plastic zipper bags in my suitcase and carry-on.

They come in handy for everything — from wet bathing suits after a hotel swim, to a dirty diaper on the airplane. They also keep souvenirs dry and unscratched, and come in handy for muddy shoes or liquid gifts (like maple syrup or olive oil) that might otherwise ruin clothing in a suitcase if the glass breaks.

Don’t be sad if you can’t find a zippered bag: any plastic bag will work. In fact, larger bags are great for containing muddy shoes, or can be used as an impromptu “day bag” in a pinch.

Buy local music – Souvenir tip

by Gadling Staff on

Most vacation spots sport all kinds of souvenirs at shops aimed at tourists. Many of these items were manufactured in other countries and have nothing to do with the location you came to visit. Take home a memory and support local creativity everywhere you go. Visit a club or an area with street performers and buy a CD from a musician.

Choose someone whose music you enjoy and strike up a conversation. Get the CD signed, and you’ve succeeded at supporting someone’s music and acquiring a personalized souvenir and a story to go with it.

Bring change – Road trip tip

by Gadling Staff on

Stock your console with a few handfuls of change.

Loose quarters, dimes, and nickels can be used to pay for toll road travel, might come in handy if your cell phone battery dies and you need to make an emergency call, or if you need a late-night cup of coffee from a gas station to keep you going just one more hour down the road.

You’ll also be glad you brought along loose change if you need to make an unscheduled stop at a carwash or Laundromat — like when you spill that cup of coffee in your lap.

Decorate with bills and coins – Souvenir tip

by Gadling Staff on

Anyone who’s been to a foreign country knows it’s inevitable — you come back with foreign coins and bills in your pockets. That leftover money can make a great souvenir.

Colorful bills can be framed for unique decor, and coins can be made into jewelery or refrigerator magnets.

Older kids and teenagers are especially fascinated by foreign money. Plus, unlike other souvenirs, money doesn’t take up much space in your suitcase, and you don’t have to spend extra to buy everyone t-shirts and knickknacks.

Buy a power inverter – Road trip tip

by Gadling Staff on

A power inverter is a small device that plugs into your car cigarette lighter and outputs electricity through a standard grounded socket, converting DC power from the car battery into AC 110-volt power just like you have in your house. You can plug literally anything into your power inverter: a blow dryer, air mattress pump, video game, cell phone, computer, etc.

It’s great for on-the-go entertainment — or for solving last-minute emergencies.