Buy Christmas ornaments – Souvenir tip

by Gadling Staff on

Maybe you don’t need shot glasses, postcards, or (even more!) t-shirts cluttering your life. Perhaps a once-a-year reminder of your trip is enough. If so, consider buying Christmas ornaments, or other holiday decorations, on vacation.

Most vacation areas sell holiday items. You may find you appreciate your souvenirs more by unpacking them once a year and reliving your vacation memories. Plus, once you pack them away until next year, you don’t have to dust them all year!

Bonus: if you can’t easily locate a store selling holiday items, this means you’ve got to do some research and explore your destination more deeply. The reward will be tremendous.

Confirm your cellphone’s rates – International travel tip

by Gadling Staff on

Before you leave home, make sure your cellphone has the ability for you to call home from all the places you will be visiting.

It’s also a good idea to know your calling rates before you go, or purchase a a short-term international roaming plan through your carrier. Further, if your phone has Internet capabilities, be sure you know the international data rates, as well. You don’t want to return home to a phone bill that costs as much as your trip!

Call ahead, make sure they’re there – Dining out tip

by Gadling Staff on

If you find a restaurant through a listing in the phone book, a local tourist magazine, or from an online service like Yelp, don’t rush out the door. Call first.

Things change. Call the restaurant and ask about their hours, parking situation, whether they require reservations — anything. What you’re really doing is confirming that they’re still in business. It’s no fun to choose a restaurant in an unfamiliar city, make the effort to get there, and then find out it no longer exists. This can be especially frustrating if you had to take a cab to get there!

Calling ahead will give you crucial information. Your questions — both asked and unasked — will be answered, and if necessary, you’ll have a chance to choose another restaurant before leaving your room.

Don’t rely on a single agent – Cruise tip

by Gadling Staff on

Don’t rely on a single agent. Not all of them are knowledgeable about cruises, and some promote only a few cruise lines. Instead, consider the following:

  1. Read the latest issues of Travel Weekly, especially the issues with a cruise guide. Then ask agents about specific cruises that interest you.
  2. Get prices from several agents. Surprisingly, prices often vary because of the many promotional gimmicks of the cruise lines.
  3. Ask about cash rebates, free airfare to the port of departure, flat rates for inside and outside cabins, and free passage for third and fourth persons.
  4. Finally, check with the steamship company itself, which may give you a better deal.

Eat “linner” – Dining out tip

by Gadling Staff on

Eating out on vacation can be be expensive. There are so many choices to make, and a limited amount of time and money to spend. Perhaps you’ve heard of a fabulous restaurant, but the dinner menu is a bank-account-draining monster. Why not try a late lunch — “linner”* — or happy hour?

Luppers and happy hours at famous restaurants generally offer the same quality of food for a smaller price; they often have some super specials; and you still get to check out the ambiance of the restaurant. However, you don’t have to sell your car just to have a nice meal! Bon appetit!

*[Ed’s note: My grandmother used to call this meal “lupper.”]