Smart tips for using your smart phone overseas

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I’ll admit upfront that I impulsively (and stupidly) bought a smart phone that I cannot use in Europe. So even though I love my Droid here at home, I don’t have to worry about racking up big bills with it when I travel. For those with shiny new iPhones or Blackberries, though, international charges can be a very unpleasant surprise.

A recent article in the New York Times describes the hazards of unfettered roaming (a bill for a $1,000 waiting for you when you get home?!) and outlines some great ways to limit your exposure. Some of the strategies are simple (turn off the data roaming option, or sign up for a data roaming plan) and some require a little more technological know-how (replace the SIM card or use VOIP instead), but any traveler should be able to pick up some good ideas from this article.

And if it all leaves you more confused than before, just ask your travel agent to rent you an international cell phone for you to use while you’re away. Rates are reasonable, and it couldn’t be easier!

Packing Light for the Trip Home

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By Alissa Graham (intern)

Any traveler, whether you have to travel to one state or 25 countries, has to deal with the rising cost of baggage. Last year, airlines made an estimated 65 million from our checked baggage. If you are like me, you are pretty good at keeping things light on the way to your destination, but on the way back, things seem to multiply quickly on the road. Maybe you like to collect house wares, t-shirts, or art from your destination. I like to collect interesting books that will help me remember my trip in the years ahead. But try to pack all these items in your already jam-packed baggage and you are in for some surprise added costs. That’s why I’ve put together this helpful list to help you pack lighter for the return trip home.

  1. Do not bring home any toiletries. Leave your ¼ bottle of shampoo with a friend still on the road, or just chuck it in the garbage. Do you really need to bring home your grody toothbrush? It’s probably time to buy a new one anyway. Throw it out.
  2. Do not bring home any food. Sure you brought 20 granola bars and peanut butter sandwiches for your long journey, but on the way back, practice some restraint and only bring an apple or banana. Cheerios also make for a lightweight snack.
  3. Clothes get a little worn on the journey? Throw them away. For some reason I always end up with holes in all my socks after traveling. Good solution though, you can just throw them away and have some room in your luggage for more important things!
  4. Clear out all the unnecessary papers and receipts. Do you really need to bring home that coaster from the hotel bar or the brochure that a guy on the street handed you for a strip club? Probably not.
  5. Did you come with books and magazines? Give them away, donate them to a local library, or leave them at your hotel. Someone will appreciate it (or be able to start a fire!)

So now that you’ve saved yourself about $75 in overweight luggage fees, you can splurge on awesome souvenirs that will really mean something in 10 years!

Travel Gadgets for Your Holiday Wish List

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I’m really not that much of a “gadget girl” (my kids can attest to this…they make fun of me all the time), but there are some exciting new “toys” out there this year that have even caught my attention.

Travel and Leisure magazine just ran a great article about some of the best new travel gadgets, from smart phones to netbooks and more, and it got me thinking about my own Christmas wish list. I’m definitely in the market for a new phone, so I’ll be asking Santa to give me one with some nifty available travel apps.

And, for my birthday a few weeks ago, I was lucky enough to receive a new Flip video camcorder. I gave it a tryout on my recent trip to San Francisco, and it was really cool! Lightweight, simple to operate (a key consideration for me!), great image quality, tons of memory, and it comes with built-in You Tube software that makes it super easy to upload video to the web. It’s perfect for someone who wants to be able to capture those memorable sights and sounds from vacation and share them with friends and family.

So, what’s on your travel gadget wish list this year?

The next Costa Rica

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If once-exotic destinations like Costa Rica, Belize and Panama just don’t do it for you anymore, how about Nicaragua?

As I learned at the Adventure Travel Expo this past weekend, Nicaragua is an up-and-coming hot spot that offers all the nature, adventure, history and culture that you could want — at prices significantly below its better-known Central American neighbors.

Nicaragua volcano

In a country that’s just slightly smaller than the state of New York, you can enjoy Spanish Colonial art and architecture in the historic city of Granada…hike to the rim of an active volcano…flyfish and SCUBA dive among Caribbean islands…surf an unspoiled Pacific beach…explore the only fresh water lake in the world that has sharks….and sand board down the side of a dormant volcano. If that’s not enough, there’s nightlife, wildlife, and resort life.

Worried about getting there? There are daily direct flights from Atlanta, Miami and Houston.

I think that Nicaragua may have just made it onto my “short list”. What about you? Interested in checking it out before the secret is out?

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