Carry cash for the country you’re going TO – International travel tip

by Gadling Staff on

When traveling abroad, get at least a small amount of foreign currency for tips and other unexpected cash expenses before leaving the airport or crossing the border. Although many countries in Europe are now using the Euro, there are still some that are not.

Imagine our panic when we drove across the border from Switzerland — where we had been using Francs — and hit a toll in Italy before we got a chance to find an ATM for Euros. Luckily, there was an option to charge our 1 Euro toll, but other countries may not have that option.

[Ed’s note: this is a great way for train conductors on cross-border trains in Africa to earn extra money. The second you cross the border, the currency of the old country is no longer valid, and the trains will only accept currency from the new country. Changing money right at the border offers very poor exchange rates. Therefore, it’s wise to try to have currency for the destination country before boarding the train.]

Wear your room key – Cruise tip

by Gadling Staff on

When you’re on a cruise, you’ll probably find yourself spending time getting some sun on the deck. Many passengers decide to leave their room key on their lounge chair when they’re swimming in the pool. This leaves your room key available to everyone who walks by.

Get a key chain necklace and put your room key on it. Wear this around your neck at all times to avoid losing it or having it stolen.

Purchase your excursions onboard – Cruise tip

by Gadling Staff on

When preparing for a cruise, there are a couple of advanced purchasing options that travelers have including ticketing, accommodations (drink tickets, suite size, etc.), and shore excursions.

It may be tempting to pre-purchase shore excursions, but there’s no need to be hasty. Shore excursions are fun, desirable, and an important component in the cruiser’s experience. However, unforeseen circumstances can arise during a cruise (a late night, for instance, or horrid weather), and once purchased, these tickets can be difficult to refund or exchange.

In many cases, excursions can be purchased on board, so waiting until you’re aboard can potentially save time and money.

Related: Research, and get off the beaten (excursion) path – Cruise tip

Meet new people while you dine at formal dinners – Cruise tip

by Gadling Staff on

One of the best parts about cruising are the formal dinners every night. In addition to fabulous food, many cruise lines will seat you at larger tables with other passengers.

Eating with strangers is fun? That’s entirely up to you. What better way to meet new people than to chat up the people that you’ll be sharing a mealtime with for the duration of your trip?

Be engaging. Swap stories of your daily adventures. Share tips on cool things at ports of call you may have visited previously. The options are endless and new friends await.

Counterpoint: Tip the maître d’ upon embarkation – Cruise tip

Pack for a theme party – Cruise tip

by Gadling Staff on

If you really want to get into the spirit of a cruise, you’ll want to participate in any theme parties or special events on board.

Before departing, contact the cruise line to find out what will be offered on your cruise. Toga parties require a gown made of bed sheets, of course, while shamrocks and green hats are appropriate for a St. Patrick’s celebration. Beads, feathers and masks are in order for a Mardi Gras parade, and pirate garb would be appropriate for any pirate-themed celebration.

You can sometimes buy the items aboard ship to make your costume, but why spend the money? Pack your own outfit and save your cash for a Hurricane cocktail.

Related: Choose a themed cruise – Cruise tip