Wear (or carry) heavier items – Packing tip

by Gadling Staff on

Airlines find any excuse to charge extra fees. Not only do extra luggage fees now apply, but if the one piece of luggage you are checking is even slightly overweight, you can expect a hefty fee for that, as well. A quick review of your airline’s rules may save you fees prior to boarding. How to avoid fees all together?

  1. Wear your heaviest clothes such boots, coat, or sweater onto the plane.
  2. Carry your extra shoes or coat in your carry-on.
  3. Trade in your heavy-duty luggage (which can weigh up to 18 lbs) for a lighter, but durable, piece of nylon luggage instead.

Applying these tips could free up as much as 25 pounds in your suitcase!

Enjoy “island time” – Dining out tip

by Gadling Staff on

When vacationing in the Caribbean, remember that everything — including service in restaurants — runs on “island time.”

Life on The Islands runs at a more relaxed, laid-back pace than most Americans are accustomed to. Plan accordingly — dining at a restaurant in the Caribbean can take 20 to 40 more minutes (or more!) than you’re used to back in the United States. To deal with this, either budget more cushion into your meal times … or don’t plan anything, and just go with the flow.

Remember — your server isn’t being lazy or ignoring you — a slower pace is simply the way of life in the Caribbean. Enjoy it, Mon. You’re on vacation!

Warm your sheets – Hotel tip

by Gadling Staff on

You’ve turned up the thermostat and called hotel management but your room still won’t get warm. A chilly hotel room can make for an unpleasant night’s sleep but there’s a simple — albeit goofy — solution to this frustrating problem: Find the iron, and warm the sheets.

Right before crawling into bed, pull back the comforter and iron the sheets. Set the iron on its lowest setting to avoid potential scorching.

The sheets and mattress pad will lock in the iron’s heat for several hours, allowing you to get a good night’s sleep in a cold hotel room!

Use eRideshare.com – Road trip tip

by Gadling Staff on

By posting an ad on sites like Craigslist or eRideShare, you may find other travelers who would be happy to join you … and your friends … or whomever else … on your road trip.

Sharing a ride may give you the opportunity to meet new people and make new friends. It will also help out another traveler in need. Finally, it may even save you a decent amount of money, since they should chip in for gas.

Buy a postcard – Souvenir tip

by Gadling Staff on

Ensure you have at least one great photograph by buying a postcard.

Sure, you brought along your digital camera and snapped some awesome shots, but remember — images can accidentally be deleted and memory cards can be lost or corrupted.

To make a postcard an even better keepsake, write a little note about what you’ve done on vacation so far and mail the postcard home. Your postcard will be waiting for you when you return, complete with a special postmark/cancellation stamp from your vacation spot — perfect for tucking away in a scrapbook!