Free workouts coming to a hotel room near you

by Melanie Nayer on

Being on a vacation doesn’t mean you should neglect your workout. Put down the bag of potato chips and candy bars that are calling to you from the hotel mini-bar, and turn on the TV for a quickie workout, thanks to new programming from The Hotel Networks.

The television programming company has teamed up with ExerciseTV to provide free workout videos in hotel rooms at Hyatt, Marriott, Fairmont, InterContinental, Hilton, Loews, Omni, Radisson, Crowne Plaza, DoubleTree and other hotels throughout the U.S.

Now you have no excuse not to keep trim while you travel. It’s a matter of willpower – will you opt for the $13 on-demand movie, or flip on a free workout?

“Frolf” away the fidgets – Road trip tip

by Gadling Staff on

Road trips all over America can be made into fun family adventures by simply investing in a few Frisbee golf discs. Disc golf courses can be found all over the country, from urban, technical courses to woodsy, hilly courses that offer beautiful views; the best part about this game is that it is free and fun for all ages!

Before your trip, map out a few Frisbee golf — or “frolf” courses — and any time your muscles start aching and you want to get out and stretch, detour a bit to a “frolf” course and start throwing.

Rules of play and a course locator can be found at www.pdga.com.

Bonus: while frolfing, you may meet some locals who can provide tips for dining out on the road or other fun detours.

Ask for a map of the ship – Cruise tip

by Gadling Staff on

Most cruise ships have several floors with long hallways, multiple restaurants and rooms that look alike from the outside. Multiple levels and a variety of things to do means there’s more to remember, including where your room is located. Ask for a map and mark the room’s location as well as other areas you will be frequenting, such as the dining hall.

Make sure that everyone in your party has a copy of the map and never leaves the room without it. This way, if anyone gets lost it will be easier to stop and ask for help.

Seek local flavor by creating a food “theme” for your travels – International travel tip

by Gadling Staff on

Find a way to link the unfamiliar with the familiar.

While honeymooning in Greece, my husband and I discovered oregano flavored potato chips at a local supermarket. Thus began our quest to seek out “locally-flavored” chips wherever we traveled — paprika chips in Hungary, Maui onion chips in Hawaii, seaweed chips in Hong Kong, jalapeno chips in Mexico…

Find your own tradition and each international visit will be both an adventure and a comfort.

Check your carry-on at the gate – Airplane tip

by Gadling Staff on

Baggage fees can be pretty steep, and most people try to avoid them by packing everything in a carry-on. The result, of course, is a heavy carry-on bag for them — and a shortage of overhead bin space for the rest of us.

Avoid the misery of fighting for overhead bin space by asking the gate attendant to check your bag from the gate. This allows you to get on the plane without having to fight for the limited overhead space. It also saves your arms and shoulders the heavy lifting and possible injury. Final bonus: there is no checked bag fee from the gate!

When the plane lands, your bag will be waiting for you when you get off the plane, right there at your gate.