Gray Line Wanderings Travel Blog

Try picking just ONE (Photo by Slightly Everything on Flickr)

Once upon a cold day in Frankfurt, I was miserably bogged down by a 40lb backpack and a 15lb shoulder bag while scaling a steep hill questing for a hostel. I took massive pity on myself and imagined myself as a Sherpa hauling heavy supplies up Everest (something tells me I was really just acting like a big baby) and let my grumpy mood develop accordingly.

If you’ve ever packed an uber-heavy bag, you know what a burden taking the stairs, changing hotels or checking bags can be. You also might know how many t-shirts you have to unpack to lose any weight in your luggage. However, there is one heavy item that almost all travelers pack that you can use to dramatically change the weight of your bag. Books!

At an average of .75lbs each, books can quite literally weigh you down! Here are a few travel tips for lightening your load while still having the chance to read on vacation (because when else do you have the time to catch up on  your reading!).

1. Grab an e-Reader. A Kindle or Nook are the most obvious options for saving weight in your bag, though you should be aware of international downloading restrictions before your vacation.
2. Only bring a book you think you can finish. This is not the time to start a hard-covered copy of War & Peace. The extra 500 pages are probably not worth the weight–it’s not much of a beach read anyway.
3. Consider buying books in-country. While not all countries have English bookstores, they will often have a small section of English books mixed in with the local offerings.
4. Leave behind books that you finish for other travelers. You can read while you’re there and cut the weight on your way out. Plus just think of all the bonus karma.
5. Swap books with traveling companions… just don’t get too pushy after you’ve finished your first read and they’re still leisurely thumbing through theirs.
6. Read newspapers or magazines instead. If you don’t think you’ll be reading a lot on the trip, but want something casual to pass the time, newspapers and magazines are a great way to pack light. In flight publications are usually free and interesting, or pick up a paper or magazine to stay up on current events or industry happening while on vacation.

Ever made the mistake of bringing a book on vacation that you wouldn’t even touch at home? What was it? Tell us about it on Facebook or in the comments below! (Click here if you can’t see the comments)

Author & Friends Cooking Shrimp Chile Rellenos from Scratch in Mexico. Photo by Steve Hoberg.

As a recent college grad on a big trip, I’ve become a budget travel aficionado more out of necessity than desire. Now that you know How to Save Money on Flights and How to Save Money at the Airport, its time to start saving money while you’re actually on vacation. Even if you’re not traveling on a tight budget, read on. Sometimes it can be fun to try out a local place or cook your own meals while abroad! Here are a couple of ways to cut back your spending on food while traveling abroad.

Eat Where the Locals Eat: Almost anywhere in the world, you will find that you get a serious discount by avoiding the popular tourist restaurants and eating where the locals eat. Avoid the main road and find a little pub or noodle shop on a side street. Then you’ll finally understand how much local food should cost!

Stay Somewhere with a Communal Kitchen: Cooking is almost always cheaper than going out to eat for every meal. If you’re settling down in one location for more than a week, look into short term rentals with a kitchen so that you can prepare a couple of simple meals during the day rather than heading out to eat because you don’t have options. Many hostels also offer a communal kitchen for young travelers. Not only will this help you save a bit of money, but it can be a fun vacation activity to stage cooking contests and trade off cooking responsibilities during your trip.

Buy Snacks at Grocery or Convenience Stores: At theme parks, historical sites and world monuments, there are many people waiting to capitalize on your desperate thirst and hunger. The idea is that once they’ve got you cornered, you’ll probably overpay… willingly. However, if you come equipped with a couple of snacks, you’ll not only be eating what you want, but you’ll be getting it for a fair price.

Drink Less Beer: If traveling on a budget, you’ll start to realize that your alcohol tabs run up dinner bills significantly. “But I’m on vacation!!” I know. BUT If you’re looking to spend an evening out within your budget, why not have dinner first and order drinks only after you’ve finished eating. This option will provide a couple of extra hours of entertainment at no additional cost to you. If you’re trying to be really classy (I wish there was a sarcasm font), you can also buy drinks at a convenience store or grocery store and drink them in your room before heading out.

Skip Meals: I’m not advocating anything crazy, but I do know that the three-square-meals-a-day folk need some persuasion on this issue. If you sleep in or get off to a slow start, it IS ok to skip breakfast and go for an early lunch! If your day trip runs long, eat around 4pm and snack for dinner that night. Going with the flow regarding meal times and snacking in between can help you accidentally save a bit of money.

Whats the most terrible thing you ever ate because you were on a tight budget, at home or abroad? My roommate’s spaghetti with ketchup and green beans tops my list. Tell me about it on Facebook or in the comments section below! (Click here if you can’t see Facebook comments below: Budget Travel Tips: Saving Money on Food)

Avoiding Traffic from Bangkok's Sky Train

Metros are perhaps the most useful method of transportation when getting around a new and unfamiliar city. They are usually easier to use, harder to get lost on, and more affordable than other transportation alternatives. Whether running above the highways or plunging below the streets, metro systems serve as a web of interconnection that can get you to and from nearly anywhere in cities around the world. However, if you’re from a less-than-urban town in the United States, you might be more familiar with fishing line than the green line. As a former metro rookie, I wanted to create a how to guide for the rest of us. Here’s a General Guide about How to Use a Metro, using the Washington D.C. metro as an example:

Example: Metro Map of Washington D.C.

1. Figure out where you’re going. If you’re visiting the Eiffel Tower or the Lincoln Memorial, look in a guide book, ask a station attendant, or go on the website to figure out which metro station is nearest the sight. Sometimes metro maps include pictures of major attractions to help tourists locate the sight. Example: You would like to go to Eastern Market Farmers Market, located off of the Eastern Market metro station.
2. Figure out the station nearest you. Find the metro station near you. Ask at your hotel or look for above ground signs (typically a Red “M”).
3. Buy a Ticket. Look for a ticket machine or head to the information counter if you’re confused. Sometimes the prices are flexible based on distance while some are flat rate. Most machines provide instructions in English if you change the language.
4. Identify what line you’re on and what line your destination is on. Metro lines are named and identified by a color. If you’re beginning at a station of a different color than your destination, you will have to change stations or “transfer” at least one time. Example: You begin at Fort Totten metro, servicing the red and green lines. You want to go to Eastern Market off the blue line. 
5. Identify which station is the interchange. Interchange stations are usually identified with a bold open circle that shows the connection of two lines. Example: You need to get to the Blue line. The easiest way to do it in the above example would be to take the red line to Metro Center where the red and blue lines intersect.
6. Get on a train going the right direction. The direction of the train is indicated by the end points. Example: The red line is referred to as Glenmont/Shady Grove because those are the end points. If you begin at Fort Totten, and want to go to Metro Center, you will take the line in the direction of  Shady Grove.
7. Change Lines. Usually there is a multilingual announcement at each stop, but many metros also have a light-up map on the wall that indicates the current location of the train. Once you get to the interchange, get off the metro and there will be signs directing you to the other lines. Example: Metro  Center will have signs directing you to the Blue line Franconia-Springfield/Largo. To go to Eastern Market, you’ll take the line in the direction of Largo.
8. Get off at Your Destination. If you find yourself at your final destination, congratulate yourself! If not, don’t panic… the good thing about the metro is that everything connects somehow. Find someone in a vest or head to the information counter and try again. You’ll get the hang of it soon.

Even when you’ve got it all figured out, sometimes the journey can be hectic. I still remember getting yelled at in German and getting pushed out at a random stop after-hours on the metro in Berlin. Ever have a metro disaster? Tell us about it on the comments below or share it with us on Facebook!