If traveling with another adult and children, change seats from time to time.
Swapping seats gives the grown-up a new perspective … and makes the child feel important for sitting in the seats normally reserved for “Mom” or “Dad.”
Finally, it also gives everyone a chance to have different conversations and makes the trip more fun.
Taking a road trip is universally synonymous with adventure, relaxation, and new experience. While others might mention plotting out your trip, picking good stopping points, and making sure to have a rest and change drivers as often as you should, I won’t. Instead I’ll stress the one and only thing that you should never ever start a road trip without: a thorough mechanical check of your vehicle.
It you run out of sunscreen, you buy more. If you run out of money, you get some wired to you.
But if your car breaks while far from home… you’re stuck.
Put small items in a plastic bag and use a safety pin to attach it to the backside of the curtains — as high as you can reach — between the drapes and the sheer. Then: open your curtains, pulling the drapes into a bunch. It’s not foolproof, but it should offer some comfort while you’re out enjoying the beach.
When you just can’t “take it with you,” you have to get creative! Hotel thieves usually want to get in and out as quickly as possible. So the more difficult the search, the better your chances of keeping your valuables.
Obviously, this method won’t work if you’re trying to hide a laptop, if your hotel only has sheer curtains, or if your room has no windows.
Large and small cruise companies alike have come to realize that creating opportunities for like-minded individuals to come together on a cruise is a really good thing. Thus, the “themed cruise” was born.
The sky’s the limit when it comes to themed cruises; if you can imagine it, it probably already exists. Movie fans can dress like their favorite characters; Harley Davidson aficionados can bring their bikes; scrapbookers have cruises of their own; and golfers have a range (no pun intended) of cruises to choose from, as well.
In the world of theme cruises, the most popular seem to be music-themed cruises. And, in the classification of music, the theme cruises offered are inclusive of all genres ranging from country and western, to classical — even hard rock!
Remember: if one of your traveling group happens to love only classic rock and roll, they will be miserable on a ship full of several thousand crazy jazz aficionados. So be sure all members of your group are “on board” with the chosen theme.
Every traveler has been subjected to the blitz of souvenir stores filled with junk. A better option is to purchase an original painting created by street artists who, for a few euros or dollars, capture the location.
Since the picture is unframed and flat, it takes up virtually no suitcase room (a big consideration with all the “baggage hoopla” nowadays). Arriving home with your treasure, go to the local craft store, buy an inexpensive frame and viola! You have a pictorial memory that was easy to pack and will bring back memories for a long time.
Pro tip: Take a photo of yourself with the artist, paste on back.