Beating the crowds
When you go to Disney or Universal Studios, head to the back of the park first and work your way to the front. You'll get to the best rides before the crowds (because they're going the other direction) and you'll completely miss the lineups.
~ Holly, Arlington
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Book Your Own Shore Excursions
Cruise line tour operators offer a great snapshot of ports of call, but many are over-priced. Grab yourself a guidebook and research your destination before you arrive. Most tours can be booked the day of arrival at the pier, but some need to be booked ahead of time.
Just watch your timing. A tour operator endorsed by the cruise line is obligated to get you back before your ship sails - a cab driver *you* hire isn't. And cruise ships wait for no one.
~ Angela, Columbus, Ohio
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Navigating a Path Through Customs
You've spent a week trolling the markets of Casbah, but will you have a problem bringing your bounty back through customs? Not understanding customs can be a 
Air Travelnasty surprise for you and your checkbook at the end of a fabulous trip.
Each time you enter a new country or return to your place of residence you need to clear customs. No one is exempt - airline attendants and pilots are subject to the same rules each time they land in a different country.
Contrary to popular belief, customs agents don't exist solely to harass travelers. Their real job is to ensure no one's bringing illegal or potentially harmful items into the country.
When you arrive at the customs counter you'll be asked if you have anything to declare. In other words, did you buy or receive anything in the country you visited? Customs officials are especially interested in plants (including fruits and vegetables), animals, alcohol, weapons and automobiles. Any item crossing the border must comply with that country's regulations or they'll be confiscated.
Customs officials are also interested in the smaller and more seemingly benign items, like jewelry, furniture, electronics or anything else they can slap a duty fee on. That silver turquoise ring may have caught your eye, but it be subject to a 100% duty fee - which means you already paid once from the vendor when you bought it, but you'll pay the full fee again to clear it through customs.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection can help you with more specific questions.
The good news is that you're eligible for an exemption, depending on how long you've been out of the country. In most cases, you'll be allowed an $800 spending allowance. If you're visiting a U.S. insular possession, such as the U.S. Virgin Islands, the duty free exemption goes up to $1600, which can be applied to any purchase except alcohol and tobacco products.
~ GG Staff
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Flight Check-In
Pack and Travel in StyleIf you're checking in with bags, proceed to your airline's check-in counter. Make sure you have your ID open and that your bag is unlocked or has a TSA approved lock. Once the attendant has weighed your bags and confirmed your ID, you'll get a boarding pass and baggage tag receipt. Next step: security.
If you're carrying your luggage onboard and not checking it, avoid the line ups and head to a self check-in ticket kiosk machine. Most airlines have them at major airports.
Insert your ID (which can be a credit card, license or passport, depending on where you're traveling). If you haven't already selected a seat assignment, you can do so here before printing your boarding pass.
Note: Some airlines position these kiosks right in front of the counter and allow passengers with checked luggage to use them. The attendant can assist multiple passengers with luggage, but lines move faster since everyone is looking after seating assignments electronically.
~ GG Staff
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Say goodbye to jetlag
- Make believe you're leaving a day early so you're not run ragged at the end.
- Drink up: skip the coffee, alcohol and soda pre-flight
- Set your watch: start living the new time zone as soon as you get on the plane
- Stay awake: Painful as it is, try and put in a full day before hitting the sack
- Shower: The heat will relax your muscles and the cold air afterwards will make you sleepy
~ Carole, Lincoln, Nebraska
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Safety at Sea
Safety First?It may sound a little grade school when you're asked to attend a mandatory lifeboat drill, but this is one event you don't want to miss - especially if you're a first time cruiser.
Safety begins with you, so follow these tips to ensure a safe and fun cruise:
- When you get to your cabin, make sure your life vest is in good condition and you know how to secure it.
- If you're traveling with children, ensure that their life vests are sized for them.
- If you have a disability, tell the ship's purser immediately.
- Never use an iron in your cabin.
- If you smoke, never throw a lit cigarette overboard. It could blow back into an opening and start a fire.
~ GG Staff
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Seasickness Cures
Cruise Past SeasicknessIf you're prone to nausea while at sea, you don't have to spend your cruise drugged up and groggy. Explore some homeopathic and natural cures so you can get on with your vacation.
- Ask the bartender to mix a couple tablespoons of Angostura Bitters with some club soda. Do this first and you can probably stop reading.
- Always keep something in your stomach. It may seem counterintuitive, but any woman who's lived through morning sickness can attest to the beauty of saltine crackers and dry toast.
- Get on deck and keep your eyes on the horizon instead of the churning water below. The non-moving focal point will help restore your sense of balance, and the fresh air will lighten your mood.
- Drink ginger ale, chew ginger gum or suck on ginger candies.
- Get some ice and hold it against your throat just beneath the chin.
- Get yourself some Sea-Bands at the shipboard store or at a health store before you leave home. They're elastic bands that work on an acupressure principle. When you apply pressure to the inside of your wrist, seasickness disappears.
~ GG Staff
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