Bring an old book, but not for reading – International travel tip

by Gadling Staff on

Many people bring iPods and MP3 players with them when they are traveling internationally. Thieves love to steal them! To deter them, bring a book…

  • First, find an old book or pick one up in a used bookstore.
  • Cut out some of the pages inside the book to make a secret compartment.
  • Insert your valuable into the compartment, and your old book will help to hide your device.

If a thief gets into your belongings while you are away from your room or luggage, there’s a good chance they aren’t looking for a good book to read!

Make an inside joke – Souvenir tip

by Gadling Staff on

Every trip has a good memory, something you laughed at then or something you will laugh at later. Nothing is better than finding that one thing that brings the entire experience back to mind… and makes you laugh again.

It may be something as small as a snowman statue that resembles that hideous one you made — or a map that outlines a trail you followed on an eventful, hilarious hiking trip.

In any case, each time you look at it, you’ll get a smile on your face and think back to that great trip.

“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.

All Nippon Airways to have women-only bathrooms on international routes

by Amy Chen on

Starting March 1, ANA will designate some lavatories on international routes as only for women.

One toilet in the aft section of each plane will be reserved just for women. The signs are expected to go up in March and be completed fleet-wide by the end of April.

Exceptions include A320/B727 aircraft, and depending on the passenger load, the women-only restriction may be lifted if there aren’t enough women on board. (ANA flies long-haul flights from North America to Asia, including Japan.)

There will be no male-only bathrooms, so women can use either. Other than the new signs, there are no differences between the restrooms, though the airline is considering having different amenities in the women-only restrooms, such as special hand soap.

The change comes as a result of customer demand, though spokesperson Justin Massey tells me via e-mail that “there weren’t specifics about seat-down-versus-up… It was determined in general that the females preferred not following a male into restrooms and that males, to some extent, mentioned not feeling totally comfortable with a female coming into the restroom after they’ve used it.”

Considering the line to the ladies’ room always seems longer no matter where you are, this change could help make a long flight slightly more tolerable since women can now access more on-board restrooms than men.


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.