If you’re leaving your hotel room a little bleary-eyed from too much partying the night before, you may not be seeing straight.  Or maybe you’ve lost a contact, or forgotten your glasses.  Or maybe you’re in a country where you don’t understand the floor numbering.

Don’t worry!  You can always get back to ground level, usually the location of the hotel lobby and front desk, by looking for the star sign. 

The star sign is universal elevator-speak for ground floor.  And that piece of information can help keep you grounded.

Photo credit:  flickr

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When we travel we often forget that things are not always as they are back “home.”  Here’s one difference that international visitors may find when they visit the United States:

Unlike many countries, the United States has no national sales tax that is comparable to the GST (goods and services tax) or the VAT (value added tax) that is found in many other countries.  Instead, each state, county and/or municipality sets their own tax rate.

This means that what you pay in tax in one location may be different from what you’d pay in another location.

Additionally, in some locations certain goods are tax exempt, most typically food, and some things are taxed at different rates.

Prices quoted on a sales tag or by sales personnel do not include tax, so be sure to take that additional charge into consideration when evaluating a purchase price.

Confused?  Just ask what the sales tax is.  We don’t try to keep track of what it is from one place to another, and not knowing isn’t a big deal.

One way that you may avoid paying sales tax is to have your purchase shipped out of state.  Since a shipping charge will likely apply, you need to make sure that any savings outweighs the additional cost.  If you’re making a rather large purchase, ask your sales clerk about this option and decide if it’s the way to go.

And if you’re visiting Alaska, Delaware, Montana, New Hampshire, or Oregon, you’re really in luck.  Those states have no state sales tax at all.

Photo credit:  wikimedia

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The morning of checking out of your hotel can be a hectic time, getting dressed and ready to leave and making sure all of your things are packed.  If you’re traveling with kids the list of things that you are responsible for is even longer!

Some of the stuff cannot be done till the last minute, but one thing that can take a weight off if to review your hotel bill the night before your departure. 

Many hotels have a video check out option, allowing you to review your charges on the television.  In the privacy of your room you can go line by line through the charges to make sure that there are no surprises. 

If your hotel doesn’t offer a video option, stop by the front desk the evening before and request a print out.  They’ll be happy to provide you with one, and you can then take time to review it.

Disputing any charges THE NIGHT BEFORE DEPARTURE is key!  If you find anything unexpected, you have time to speak to the front desk to get an adjustment.  If you find a charge that you don’t understand, ask questions.

If you wait till morning, all too many things can cause your time to be rushed, from oversleeping, to a long line at the front desk, to having a dispute that needs to be research.  Save yourself time, stress, and maybe even a little money by taking care of reviewing your bill the night before.

Photo credit: flickr

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If you enjoy listening to music of watching movies while you travel, chances are that you have a couple splitters laying around the house.  I have a couple in my carry on; they’re small and they always come in handy.

Use them to share the movies you are watching, or music you are listening to, with your traveling companion. 

Some airlines carry these to offer to passengers, but most don’t.  A little advance planning, and a small purchase, may allow you to save on inflight entertainment rentals.

You can find splitters available at most electronic stores, and online at Amazon.  They vary in price, but are pretty cheap.

Image:  Amazon

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You have to wait in line at the airport, to get through security, and to get on and off the plane.  You can shorten the wait time, but you are still stuck with the line. 

But don’t stand in line any more than you have to during the rest of your travels!  Buy tickets in advance, and skip the purchase line and go right to the front for entry.

Many attractions, from theme parks to museums, offer advanced purchase tickets.  Tickets can be for a specified admission time or for general admission, but nearly all allow you to skip the line and go to the head of the class. 

Even if you don’t know what you’re doing till the last minute, many places allow you to advance purchase same-day entry.  That means you can decide what you want to do over breakfast, purchase your tickets online, and then off you go.

Check the official website of the place you want to visit for conditions and restrictions; they will vary.  Many times a convenience fee applies, but if it saves you an hour or so, it’s worth it!

Photo credit: SXC

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Traveling, whether by air, car, train, bus, or on foot, can be an exhausting experience.  Many times, you cannot control or shape the events happening around you.  But you can take care of yourself with a little thoughtful planning.

One of the easiest things you can do, and inexpensive too, is to carry along some bottles of water with you.  Whether it’s your own refillable bottle, or you buy it as you travel along, having some water handy can make for a more pleasant traveling experience.

Taking water on a flight is the most complicated.  By air:  You are not going to be able to take your water through security, so this option required a little more planning.  You can plan to buy water at a shop inside of the security gate and resign yourself to the cost.  Or, you can bring your own water bottle with you and fill it once you past through security.  There are drinking fountains located throughout most airports, or step into a restroom to use water from the sink.  If you’re in an area where you are concerned about the quality of the tap water, just plan to buy it.  Make sure that your bottle is full when you get on the plane, and you’ll always have some handy.  Time and supplies permitting, when in flight ask for additional water to refill your bottle.

In all your other travel situations, taking along some water won’t be a big deal.  I try to keep a bottle in my purse (or backpack) and drink it when other options aren’t available.  When I’m somewhere that water is accessible, I just remember to fill it up, using the same bottle repeatedly.

Having water handy also means that you don’t have to go looking for it on the road, taking precious minutes and energy better left for enjoying your travels.

There are lots of good health reasons for staying hydrated.  From a practical stand point, you’ll also be a more self-sufficient traveler, happier, and a lot more pleasant to be around.

Photo credit: SXC

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As if getting to the airport isn’t tough enough, most of us have to figure out how to get from our destination airport to our hotel.  And this is another time when some planning, and asking a few questions, can be a real savings.

Public transportation:  I’m a big believe in public transportation.  When at all possible and practicable, I use a subway, train, or other form of public transportation to get from the airport to my hotel.  A call to the hotel usually will confirm what line I need to take, the stop or station where I need to get off, the fare, and how/where to buy tickets.

Recognizing, however, that public transportation is not always possible or practicable, there are other options.  I’d recommend checking out all of these options BEFORE you leave home.

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If you are one of those people who always save the best for last — the best piece of candy, dessert, or your favorite section of the paper — you may want to re-think that.

I was having this discussion with a fellow blogger, and we both agreed.  If there is something that you are just dying to see in your travels, do it right off.  Waiting can mean that unforeseen things can intervene.  A holiday that you weren’t aware of, bad weather, illness, a general strike, electric failure, or something more catastrophic. can ruin the best laid plans.

While I’m traveling around Italy right now, you can bet that I’m following my own advice!

Photo credit:  wikimedia

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Using your laptop while flying requires a little common sense, practical considerations, and some basic etiquette.  The competing interests are protecting your privacy, keeping your “stuff” contained within your personal space and not spilling out into other’s space, and making sure that you keep your laptop protected from damage.

Here are a few tips, most of which I’ve mentioned before, to keep in mind when whipping out your laptop onboard:

1. As you are boarding the plane, keep your laptop in its bag.  Don’t try to be working on something as your are locating your seat and getting settled it.  I have seen a passenger holding up the boarding process as he tried to turn on his laptop.
2. Watch your laptop bag as you proceed down the aisle.  Turning from side to side without giving thought to your surrounding may result in your bag hitting passengers that you are walking by.
3. Turn off your laptop when asked to do so.  That means power off, not just put into sleep mode.  I know that you think it doesn’t matter, and it may not, but the Flight Attendants are required to make sure that you comply before shutting the main cabin door.  Do them, yourself, and everyone else a favor — turn it off.
4. Your laptop is considered carry on baggage.  This means that it needs to be stowed for take off and landing.  So put it in the overhead or beneath the seat in front of you when requested to do so.
5. Don’t stuff you laptop into the seat pocket.  It’s too large and heavy to be restrained there, and it just rips up the seat pocket.
6. Protect personal and confidential information on your screen.  Whether your seat mates are intentionally peering at your work, or are just casually looking around and have to glance at your screen, keep your private stuff private.  The easiest option, in my opinion, is to use one of the many privacy screen guards that are on the market.  A friend also suggested doing your typing in a very small font so that it’s not as easily seen.  The only downside to this, however, is that you may not be able to see it yourself!
7. Keep your laptop out of the aisle.  I know that there isn’t much room at your seat, but letting it creep out into the aisle is a recipe for disaster.  It’s likely to get hit my someone walking by, or get thwacked by the beverage cart.
8. Close the top when the Flight Attendant is serving your row.  I continue to be amazed at how often I have to tell people to watch the keyboard as I hand something across.  We try very hard not to spill, but accidents and turbulence happen.
9. Use earplugs.  If you are watching a movie, playing a game with sound, or listening to music, most airlines require that you use earplugs.  It’s annoying to everyone around you, and we don’t need any more noise pollution in such a contained environment.
10. Leave the porn for another time.  Adult rated content is not acceptable for viewing in a public location, and that means its off limits for the airplane.  N one likes to be a tattler, but someone will mention it to the Flight Attendants, and you will be asked to turn it off.  Failure to comply may result in the police chatting with you about it upon arrival at your destination.

Sound like a lot of rules?  I travel with my laptop regularly, and have never found them that difficult to comply with.  Next time, give it a try!

Photo credit: morgueFile

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