Avoid conversations by wearing headphones – Airplane tip

by Gadling Staff on

Sick of hearing about a stranger’s dysfunctional family or odd medical conditions? Avoid conversations all-together by doing a simple thing: wear headphones.

This works best if you also avoid eye contact (and it may be necessary to pretend that you don’t hear you fellow passengers the first time they speak). Pull your headphones off when speaking to them and then put the headphones back on when the chit-chat is over.

In reality, it doesn’t even matter if the headphones are plugged in. The other passengers just need to believe they are.

How to showcase beach souvenirs – Souvenir tip

by Gadling Staff on

We beach-lovers usually wind up bringing bits of driftwood, shells and pebbles home. They are all pretty, but used to wind up sitting around in plastic bags which eventually got shifted into storage. Then, about 20 years ago, a better idea dawned on me.

Now, the finds that come home — all of which I sign and annotate with the beach location and year — go into a shadow frame. Artistically arranged and glued in place, they provide a nice reminder of a pleasant vacation and bring a little unique art to the kitchen, or room of choice.

Pack one suitcase inside another – Packing tip

by Gadling Staff on

I always shop and buy souvenirs when on vacation. Even on business trips, I tend to bring home more than I brought, due to literature, books, and lunchtime shopping sprees.

For this reason, I have learned to pack my belongings in a small suitcase, and then place that suitcase inside a larger one.

This means I leave home with one suitcase, and return with two. I save the charges for an extra suitcase by making sure the smaller one is carry-on size, so I only need to check the larger one for the return flight home.

Disconnect the video games – Hotel tip

by Gadling Staff on

When checking in to a hotel, ask the front desk to disconnect the video games from the TV.

When someone plays the games, the front desk automatically charges your room. If you’re unaware that your children have been playing video games while you are in the shower, you may have a surprise on your bill.

Heading to West Virginia? Hit Hillbilly Hotdogs – Road trip tip

by Gadling Staff on

Traveling through West Virginia? Why not check out the finest “redneck diner” you’ll ever encounter? Just don’t take the Homewrecker Challenge on a full stomach.

If your travels take you through West Virginia, and you happen to be in the vicinity of Huntington, check out Hillbilly Hotdogs. It’s a small diner decorated in what the owners affectionately call “redneck chic.”

The dining area consists of two school buses, homemade barstools, and a picnic area adorned with hundreds of license plates from across the US. Patrons are invited to sign the walls (or any available surface) to commemorate their trip, and the staff will put on a great show if you ring the bell above the cash register.