Wear, then toss – International travel tip

by Gadling Staff on

Just before a big trip overseas, I cull my closet of those items of clothing that might have one more “wear” in them, and that are still appropriate for the destination to which I’m traveling. While on my trip, once that outfit has been worn, it goes straight into the hotel room trash bin.

Doing this means both one less laundry item when I get home AND it opens up space in my luggage for those obligatory souvenirs.

Don’t go overboard though… be sure to leave yourself enough clothes to cover an unexpected layover on your return home.

Use plastic bags – Packing tip

by Gadling Staff on

Packing clothes for travel without having to iron upon arriving is easy. Here’s what you do —

  1. Save those plastic bags from the dry cleaner (or go get some).
  2. Hang each skirt, jacket, blouse or pair of pants on a hanger and then cover each with a plastic bag.
  3. Hold all the hung clothes side-by-side and roll them up together and place in suitcase. (Other items like sweaters need to be rolled individually and wedged amongst other items in your suitcase.)
  4. At you destination, unroll everything, hang the hangers in a closet, and lay flat the others on the back of a chair.

Now… go out and look sharp!

Take a convertible – Road trip tip

by Gadling Staff on

Thelma and Louise, Bonneville, and Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas are all classic road trip movies. What do they all have in common? The car they traveled in was a convertible.

For maximum fun during a road trip, take a convertible! If you don’t own one, look into renting one for your next road trip. There’s no better way to see everything with the top down.

Experience all the sights, sounds and even smells that a great trip has to offer. Wear a hat and use plenty of sunscreen, but most importantly, keep that convertible top open!

Nearly 100 new hotels to open across the U.S. in 2010

by Melanie Nayer on

If you build it, will they come? Hotels from Hyatt to Starwood – and all the boutiques in between – are prepared to put that question to the test this year. While some hotels continue to drop prices in an effort to fill rooms, other popular brands prepare to introduce travelers to new hotels in 2010.

The New York Times is reporting a slew of new hotels launching state side in 2010, with 46 of those properties residing in New York. Houston will open doors to approximately 30 new hotels and Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Dallas, Los Angeles, Miami and Washington are also getting into the game.

On deck: Marriott will launch their boutique brand, The Autograph Collection; Hyatt opens its new Andaz properties; InterContinental will open four hotels, including a 592-room hotel in Times Square; Starwood will open six new hotels and others like Holiday Inn and Sheraton are planning new properties.

One of the more anticipated openings of the year happens next months in Los Angeles when the 878-room J.W. Marriott opens it doors at L.A. Live. It’s Ritz-Carlton neighbor is scheduled to start taking reservations for a March opening.

Use two-way radios – Cruise tip

by Gadling Staff on

Most cruise ships today are multi-deck mini-cities carrying as many as 5,000 passengers. And, unless you’re traveling alone, you may find yourself separated from your traveling party at some point during your cruise. How to reconnect… or stay connected in the first place?

Give each member of your group a two-way radio, all programmed to the same frequency to help keep you organized and in touch. These handy radio sets, priced from about $40, offer features like rechargeable batteries and programmable ring tones.

Remember: your cell phone may not work on a cruise ship, and even if it does, the roaming charges may be crushing.