Month: December 2013

Let’s say you’re going to Europe and taking your tablet computer, your phone, your Kindle, and any other gadget that needs to be recharged. If they don’t all charge on the same cord or if you don’t have a device that allows you to plug different cords in to the same spot, you have several cords you need to take with you.

Or, let’s say your kids have a couple of game devices and they need to take their charging cords.

Keep them untangled and identified by using those plastic closures found on bread or English muffins. Write the name of the device on the little plastic tag. You could save different colors and use one color for each type of device or each kid.

Slide the plastic tag onto the cord and you’ll know which device it gets used for by just glancing at it. If you have several cords, put each one in its own small plastic resealable bag. No more loose cords hanging out in the bottom of your backpack or sneaking their way around your suitcase.

When traveling to another country do you try to fit in with the locals? Are you interested in the culture and the way things are done there?

Do you ever see ‘ugly Americans’ and wish they would tone down their behavior a little?

Recently I read a great post on Budget Travel’s site about dressing and acting like a tourist. I’ve included some of their ideas and added some of my own.

Just like money doesn’t buy taste or love, having vacation savings to burn doesn’t guarantee the royal treatment everywhere you go. There are two keys to not being an American jerk: “Being a little bit patient and not assuming that everybody here is here to clamor over your tourist dollars is important,” says Anna Post, co-author of Emily Post’s Etiquette 18th Edition. Back in 1922, Emily herself wrote a book chapter titled “Europe’s Unflattering Opinion of Us.” Unfortunately, very little has changed. “For years, we Americans have swarmed over the face of the world, taking it for granted that the earth’s surface belongs to us because we can pay for it,” she wrote. Try to buck those stereotypes. 

Are you that person who orders French fries from a McDonald’s next to the Spanish Steps in Rome? . “The absolute worst thing you can do is to ignore the local food in favor of what’s familiar to you: always seeking out the American-style burgers and pizza and Caesar salads on a menu or, worse, eating at fast-food or chain restaurants you know from home,” says Laura Siciliano-Rosen, founder of Eat Your World, a website featuring local eats around the globe. Try sampling local or exotic foods. Enjoy that country’s culture through their food. Worried about food poisoning? If you’re concerned about cleanliness of the food, wash your hands a lot and be smart about the basic things—avoid tap water and ice and unpeeled fruits and vegetables—and you can eat plenty of local food,” Siciliano-Rosen says

Need a gift for a traveler in your family? This is the last in a series of ideas I gathered from great travel sites. Be sure to read the earlier posts as well.

What travel gadgets do you take with you when you travel? Do you take different ones depending on where you’re going? Is there something you can’t leave home without? Do they weigh you down when traveling?

Do you really need your laptop? I don’t. My tablet computer works so much better and easier to take with me.

Do you take a large camera or do you use your phone? I take my large camera. It’s important to me and I don’t mind carrying it.

Don’t forget the cables, charges, extra memory cards, and any other accessories you may need as well. If you’re traveling internationally, make sure you have the correct adapter. No use having carried your device only to have no way to plug it in.

Pack your gadgets carefully and make them easy to retrieve when you want them. It would be a good idea to have a small bag for the cables, etc. so you know exactly where they are. You could make a gadget checklist as part of your packing list…provided you have a packing list.

Things to think about before boarding your plane for a non stop ride to Paris…or any other long distance flight.

The cabin air will be dry. Since you don’t want that dry air to compromise your immune system, stay hydrated. This means…if you normally drink four glasses of water a day, drink at least that amount on the plane. Carry a refillable bottle and fill with water once you’re through security. On the plane, ask for water to drink instead of soda.

Long stretches of sitting in one spot can contribute to circulatory conditions like Deep Vein Thrombosis. On long flights, get up and walk around. Do ankle and leg  exercises at your seat. Move those ankles around in circles while sitting. Remove any tight shoes or socks.

Long flights can be boring. Pick up a book of puzzles or games to stimulate your brain. If you have recently learned a new language, practice it at your seat.

Recently I read this post about the best credit cards to use when traveling. I thought it was worth reposting.