Bright lights and curtains that don’t close in hotel rooms are irritating. My bag full of tricks to help me sleep includes hangers, pillows, and duct tape to solve the issue annoying light issue to ensure a good night’s sleep.
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Travel Planning
Road trips, planes, trains and boats
Airline travel tips: delays, cancellations, & lost flight attendants
Flight delays and cancelations are no fun. But the travel pain can be minimized if you are properly prepared. Our practical airline travel tips will help you successfully manage flight cancelations, delays — and even airlines that manage to lose flight attendants.
Switching seats on a plane? Why I often say ‘no’ to swapping seats
I often say “no” to swapping seats on a plane. I do get asked to switch seats on a plane often enough, and sometimes, though infrequently, I am the one doing the asking. There is an etiquette to seat swapping to keep the skies friendly.
How to be a good traveler in Europe – 11 tips to travel better
The caricature of that loud, garishly dressed American traveler in a different country may be funny, but you do not want to be that traveler. Here are a few easy tips on how to be a good traveler in most European countries.
Air travel is getting harder: Here’s how to make flying more enjoyable
Air travel is getting harder. Long delays, canceled flights, lost or delayed luggage, and horror stories of packed planes, plus stressed-out passengers, and flight crews. Here are a few tips to make flying more enjoyable or at least tolerable.
Stargazing tips: dark skies, stargazing apps, and proper gear
From the best stargazing apps to unforgettable stargazing locations and Dark Sky preserves, we share stargazing tips that will make your next stargazing adventure memorable.
Important tips for traveling internationally even when vaccinated
Traveling internationally when vaccinated requires forms, tests, research about countries’ requirements and a lot of flexibility. Here are our tips for traveling during Covid from our personal experience.
Best vacation travel tips: Stay healthy, stress-free and safe
Traveling by airplane, train, car, or bus can be stressful, especially if plans must shift or change due to cancellations, delays, or illness. Our vacation travel tips will help you minimize the stress!
The best railbike adventure – Find railbikes near me
Railbikes have been used on railroad tracks since the 1800s. It wasn’t until recently that individuals and companies began designing railbikes and offering railbike trips for the public. Railbiking companies are numerous. Our guide will help you to find the best railbike adventure near you and to understand what railbiking is.
Post-pandemic planning checklist for vaccinated travelers
When the CDC gave the green light to fully vaccinated travelers to begin hitting the road and flying again, the announcement generated numerous questions about travel preparation, planning and COVID protection. This checklist for vaccinated travelers is how to start planning your next trip.
Road trip safety essentials for travel during COVID-19
Since COVID-19 is likely going to be around for a while, even after vaccinations, safe road trips may be the best answer to see new places. With our road trip safety essentials list, you can avoid relying on restaurants and make less frequent trips to stores so you can focus on having fun and traveling well.
How to travel in a post-pandemic world – respect, safety, patience
The COVID-19 global pandemic has had a huge impact on travel. When you do however start to travel in a post-pandemic world, be sure to travel with respect and patience, and always travel safely, paying attention to local regulations.
7 tips for staycation travel: Finding travel adventures close to home
Traveling enthusiasts often look many miles from their own home and regions to find travel adventures. But great travel opportunities exist right around the corner, too, close to home. It is time to expand our definition of travel and embrace staycation travel to explore your own city, county and state.
Virtual travel experiences to tour the world when you can’t leave home
Virtual travel experiences are available all around the globe. It is possible to travel virtually from home for planning or pure enjoyment. We’ve assembled a comprehensive guide to the best virtual tours around the world, including museums, art exhibits, live concerts and theaters, national park tours, street art tours and virtual tours of various cultural destinations and sights.
How to pick the best airplane seat for any flight
Trying to figure out how to pick the best airplane seat with today’s sardine-like seating is a challenge. Here are our proven tips and tricks to being able to pick the best airplane seat no matter what flight you are booking.
The ultimate travel planner: International trips
International travel takes a fair amount of trip planning: visas, passport, airline tickets, hotels, car rentals & more. Our ultimate travel planner makes travel planning easier.
We know flying is painful, but flying doesn’t have to suck if we all pitch in
Ask most any traveler these days to name the one thing they hate most about traveling, and flying will likely top the list. For many of us, the experience of flying sucks all too often. But we can work together to make it less painful.
How to be a good traveler: Be flexible, heed local customs
When I hear friends tell horror stories about travel, I find myself wondering why some good people seem to frequently have bad experiences when traveling. Perhaps it is because they have not yet learned how to be a good traveler?
6 simple tips to save money on train travel in Germany
Want to save money on your next trip on a German train? Follow our six simple travel tips to save money on train travel in Germany with Deutsche Bahn.
Schengen Agreement explained: do you need a visa for Europe?
If you are traveling to Europe, you need to know about the Schengen Agreement. U.S. citizens may still (at the time of this writing, see below) enter Schengen countries without the need for a special visa for short-term tourism, business or if in transit to non-Schengen countries. But…
Before traveling use the travel planning checklist
Travel surprises can be fun unless it means forgotten passports or gear. Use our essential travel planning checklist to be sure travel surprises are good ones.
Choosing the best flight for your next trip
Flying has never been more challenging. When booking a flight, forget airline loyalty. Think health, safety, comfort, convenience, and cost with our guide to choosing the best flight for your next vacation.
Five essential travel apps for the globetrotter
Traveling takes planning and time. But it also takes flexibility, patience and an ability to adapt on the move. Here is our list of essential travel apps we use to keep travel stress to a bare minimum, and up the ante on travel fun and adventure. Keep travel stress down.
Travel fitness tips: Plan ahead to stay on track
Once your trip is planned and you’re thinking about how you can cut back wisely (per the advice in our article “Travel fitness tips: You can stay fit if you adapt”), it’s time to start plotting. Should we say planning? Nah, plotting. It’s time to “plot” hotels, tours, sightseeing, travel departure times and all that other stuff so it doesn’t make fitting in even a short workout totally impossible.
The Best Worldwide Travel Plug and Voltage Guide
Consult our traveler’s worldwide travel plug and voltage guide before you travel to ensure you are prepared to plug in and stay connected.
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