Pack a dry erase board and markers – Cruise Tip

by Gadling Staff on

Packing a dry erase board and markers and attaching to your cabin door accomplishes two things:
1.) it makes your cabin door stick out among the long hallway of cookie-cutter doors, and
2.) it’s an easy way for your family to communicate their whereabouts.

Before going on your vacation, attach heavy-duty magnets to the back of the board with a glue gun. Because cabin doors on cruise ships are metal, the board stays put. Instruct your family members to write where they’ll be on the ship (“Headed to the pool!” -Nicole) when they leave the room.

Roll the dice, make decisions – Traveling with kids tip

by Gadling Staff on

When traveling with the family, there will inevitably be disputes over things like the television station, choice of restaurants, and who gets the pull-out couch.

Bring a pair of dice along, and let everybody roll the dice to make decisions. Whoever gets the highest roll wins.

Documenting a vacation via postcards – Souvenir tip

by Gadling Staff on

When going on vacation with your family or friends, you often have special memories of different locations or attractions. An inexpensive way to capture those memories is to purchase a postcard from that location and immediately have each person write down on the back of the postcard their favorite part of the attraction. Be specific.

When you get home, collect the postcards and add them to an album with some of your pictures taken at the location.

[Image credit: D Sharon Pruitt]

Laminate maps and printed directions – Road trip tip

by Gadling Staff on

Passengers eat, drink, and frequently move in and out of the car during a road trip. A paper map or set of printed directions easily gets shoved into a seat during a stop, or worse yet, ruined if food or drink is spilled on it. Upon arrival, directions and maps are even more likely to get misplaced or damaged. To keep maps and directions safe during the trip, laminate them.

For around $30, a home laminating machine will seal standard letter size pages. Copy and print stores have the capability to laminate larger maps for a minimal fee. Alternatively, you can use contact paper to cover paper maps.

Pro tip: you can draw your route on a laminated map and easily wipe the mark off, if you change your mind.

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.