LEAF PEEPERS' DELIGHT

Leaf Peepers' Delight

  1. Autumn woods. (Kristy-Anne Glubish/Design Pics/Corbis)
  2. Autumn woods. (Kristy-Anne Glubish/Design Pics/Corbis)
  3. Autumn woods. (Kristy-Anne Glubish/Design Pics/Corbis)
  4. Covered bridge on a rural road near Kokomo, Indiana. (Robert Glusic/Corbis)
  5. Covered bridge on a rural road near Kokomo, Indiana. (Robert Glusic/Corbis)
  6. Covered bridge on a rural road near Kokomo, Indiana. (Robert Glusic/Corbis)
  7. Autumn pumpkins and gourds. (Dency Kane/Beateworks/Corbis)
  8. Autumn pumpkins and gourds. (Dency Kane/Beateworks/Corbis)
  9. Autumn pumpkins and gourds. (Dency Kane/Beateworks/Corbis)
  10. Peaks of Otter, Abbott Lake, Blue Ridge Parkway, Virginia. (Keith Lanpher/VTC)
  11. Peaks of Otter, Abbott Lake, Blue Ridge Parkway, Virginia. (Keith Lanpher/VTC)
  12. Peaks of Otter, Abbott Lake, Blue Ridge Parkway, Virginia. (Keith Lanpher/VTC)
  13. Church and commons in Townshend, Vermont. (Mark Karrass/Corbis)
  14. Church and commons in Townshend, Vermont. (Mark Karrass/Corbis)
  15. Church and commons in Townshend, Vermont. (Mark Karrass/Corbis)
  16. Water reflecting autumn leaves, Vermont. (Jim Zuckerman/Corbis)
  17. Water reflecting autumn leaves, Vermont. (Jim Zuckerman/Corbis)
  18. Water reflecting autumn leaves, Vermont. (Jim Zuckerman/Corbis)
  19. Bushels of freshly picked apples. (Darren Greenwood/Design Pics/Corbis)
  20. Bushels of freshly picked apples. (Darren Greenwood/Design Pics/Corbis)
  21. Bushels of freshly picked apples. (Darren Greenwood/Design Pics/Corbis)
  22. View of mountains in Sonora Pass, California. (MedioImages/Corbis)
  23. View of mountains in Sonora Pass, California. (MedioImages/Corbis)
  24. View of mountains in Sonora Pass, California. (MedioImages/Corbis)
  25. Vermont sugar maple. (Momatiuk-Eastcott/Corbis)
  26. Vermont sugar maple. (Momatiuk-Eastcott/Corbis)
  27. Vermont sugar maple. (Momatiuk-Eastcott/Corbis)
  28. Big Meadows Lodge, Shenandoah National Park, Virginia. (Jack Hollingsworth/VTC)
  29. Big Meadows Lodge, Shenandoah National Park, Virginia. (Jack Hollingsworth/VTC)
  30. Big Meadows Lodge, Shenandoah National Park, Virginia. (Jack Hollingsworth/VTC)

Recent Slideshows

  • 27 Awe-Inspiring Views of Earth from Above

  • 7 Products That Will Keep You Warm Outside

  • Photos: America's Most Thrilling Winter Activities

  • 5 Caribbean Islands to Discover Now

  • 21 Girl Trips You Absolutely Love—and Deals to Match

Recent Articles

  • 11 Coolest Winter Places in America

  • 15 of America's Favorite Regional Sweets

  • 12 Hot Springs Worth Traveling For

  • 12 Elevators You Need to See to Believe

  • 12 Top Tips from the World's Best Cruisers

Follow Us!

Booking Tool

Check Current Prices

  1. Hotels
  2. Flights
  3. Cars
  4. Cruises

Choose Sites

Choose Sites

Choose Sites

Choose Sites

Travel Tips

Tagged
Packing
414281

My husband and I keep the stretchy slipper-socks that some airlines provide. (We've gotten them on Virgin Atlantic in economy class and on almost all airlines in business class.) They're great to use when packing shoes: Just slip each shoe into a sock, and you'll prevent clothes from getting marked up by the soles. As a bonus, you'll have slippers to wear when you're away from home. The socks are machine-washable and can last for many years.

— Wendy Barr
Tagged
Packing
354252

Pack a travel-size shampoo container refilled with detergent and a one-gallon Ziploc bag for when you need to wash hosiery, bras, and other delicate undergarments. Put a few drops of detergent into the bag and fill it part way with water. Place the garment in the bag, close it up, and shake it around for a few minutes. Instant washing machine! For larger pieces of clothing, I've used the plastic laundry bags supplied at most hotels. Just hold on to the open end tightly.

— Erika Kumada
Tagged
Car Rentals
355261

Don't rush off the car-rental lot. Before driving away--especially in foreign countries where the controls might be unfamiliar-test the headlights and brakes, and look for the extra tire and changing tools. I once had a rental with malfunctioning brakes in Mexico and caused a minor accident--one that could certainly have been avoided had I checked them properly before leaving the lot.

— Doreen Stelton
Tagged
Transportation
352250

Carry the exact change for public transportation. In Venice, we were annoyed when a vaporetto (water taxi) ticket-taker refused to give us our change. Later, we discovered that if you don't have the exact fare, ticket agents make no promises about giving change.

— Dana Hunting
Tagged
Packing
377251

I always pack several tea lights, a small vial of essential oils, and matches. Tea lights, when placed in a water glass for extra safety, banish stale or unpleasant smells in hotel rooms. The essential oils work wonders when a drop is placed on a warm lightbulb.

— Stephanie Hartselle
Tagged
Hotels
451344

If you take an overnight flight to Europe and early check-in at your hotel isn't an option, ask the concierge if you can store your luggage until later in the day and use the hotel gym's shower. You'll be refreshed and ready for sightseeing. Pack toiletries and a change of clothes in your carry-on.

— Brian Huseman
Tagged
Planning
379258

When I'm planning a trip, I almost always call the hotel concierge before I arrive, and if my hotel doesn't have one, I call a hotel that does. Recently, I asked for advice on what to see since I only had four days in a new city. I told the concierge what I thought I should try to do, and she said I had too many things packed into four days. She gave me a list of hot spots to visit and places to avoid, and even recommended a florist to call on for fresh flowers. With her help, my trip was far more enjoyable than it would have been otherwise.

— Brian Berg
Tagged
Packing
374288

When I travel for business, I usually tack on a few extra days to do something active like hike in a nearby national park. I find that by taking two small suitcases instead of a single large one, I stay better organized and less burdened. I keep my business clothes, papers, and laptop in one bag and hiking clothes and gear in another. I leave the suitcase I'm not using at the time in the rental car and easily carry the lightweight case with the equipment and clothes I need into my hotel.

— Ellen Worthing
Tagged
Family Travel
381255

When my husband and I would stay in a hotel with our two-year-old, a full night's sleep was out of the question. The minute our son opened his eyes (at 2,3,or 4 a.m.), he woke us, thinking it was time to play. We now pack a pop-up tent and set it up in a corner of the hotel room with books, a blanket, and a few small stuffed animals. The tent folds down to a 14-inch circle and weighs about a pound. It works great! My son has his own "room" to sleep in when we vacation, and we all get to sleep through the night!

— Geri Kronyak
Tagged
Technology
536579

By starting a blog for each trip--at blogger.com, among others--you can keep your friends and family up-to-date on your adventures. All you need is an Internet café to add entries and photos while you're on the road.

— Alan A. Lew
Tagged
Packing
344286

When I go on a trip that requires me to accessorize a number of outfits, I buy little Ziploc bags and place the appropriate jewelry/panty hose/scarf inside. Then I punch a hole just big enough to slide the bag over the outfit's hanger. This way, my panty hose stay snag-free and my jewelry never gets misplaced.

— Gina Beyer
Tagged
Air Travel
372251

On a Northwest flight from Wichita to Cleveland, a piece of my luggage was delivered more than a day after I arrived. In the meantime, I had to buy some replacement items. Save your receipts! I turned in the receipts when I checked in for the return flight, and the ticket agent issued me a $50 check.(Northwest allows up to $50 in interim expenses for the first 24 hours, and $25 for each day afterward, with a maximum reimbursement of $150.)

— Phil Richard
Tagged
Air Travel
376275

When you change your clocks back or forward, be sure to check the expiration date on all your frequent-flier miles. This way they're checked twice a year. We overlooked one of the many accounts in our household and lost a free ticket when the miles expired.

— Lynda Self
Tagged
Solo Travel
553595

In areas where the majority of people don't speak English, head to an Internet café. In our experience, they're full of friendly young people anxious to practice their English.

— Christine and Duncan Orr
Tagged
Packing
361259

Take along an extra duffel bag for your laundry. As your vacation progresses, throw dirty clothes into the duffel, keeping your suitcase for fresh clothes. At the end of the trip, put a tag on the bag and check it at the airport. This will also give you space in your luggage to bring home souvenirs or new clothes.

— Susan Wiley
Tagged
Car Rentals
355264

I always have problems locating my rental car in a large parking lot. Now I bring along a brightly colored bandanna and tie it to the antenna.

— Tamara Johnson
Tagged
Cruises
453593

Most cruise lines offer certain drinks for free--juice, lemonade, iced tea, coffee, milk, tea-but you'll have to pay for soda. If you're a caffeine addict, pack a bottle or two. Unlike on a plane, you won't have to worry about paying for the added weight.

— Martha and Ken Wiseman
Tagged
Air Travel
378281

We've noticed that when booking a flight for our family under one reservation, some airlines will only credit the 1,500 bonus miles (500 for booking online, 500 each way for printing boarding passes) to the person whose name the reservation is under. This is regardless of whether the other family members have mileage accounts. To avoid this, make a separate reservation for each of your family members and then pick seats together.

— Martin Vasquez
Tagged
Technology
384299

For the most comprehensive information regarding travel by train or by ship, check out seat61.com. I've found that the site has all sorts of helpful advice for Africa, Asia, Europe, and the Middle East.

— Kay Bozich Owens
Tagged
Packing
482607

Every year, I get address labels from numerous charitable organizations. I keep them with me when traveling because it's the quickest way to provide my address to new friends, enter prize drawings at shops, sign guest books, etc. It's not only efficient; it can also help spread the word about worthwhile charities.

— Carole Wilk
Tagged
Air Travel
356266

Just before I go through airport security, to save time and to avoid leaving something important behind, I collect all loose items--change, money clip, belt buckle, pens--in a large Ziploc bag. I send the bag through the X-ray machine with the rest of my luggage. After picking it up at the other end, I put the things back in place and either toss the bag or keep it for the return trip.

— Rodrigo Fernandez
Tagged
Packing
373242

Use the shoeshine mitt often found in hotel bath- rooms to store your sunglasses. They fit nicely inside the pouch, and when you take them out, you have a soft material to clean them with. For extra protection while traveling, I store my sunglasses inside the shoe-shine mitt, fold the end closed, and then place it in my glasses case.

— Dan Coviello
Tagged
Dining
392269

Deli counters in grocery stores are great mealtime alternatives to restaurants or fast-food fare when you're exploring the United States. The food is fresh, there's a big variety (hot and cold), and economically, it's a great break. I recently had a complete hot meal, including beverage, for $3 from a grocery-store deli.

— Teresa G. Barcus
Tagged
Planning
356269

I've created files--some general (Southeast Asia), some specific (Hawaii)--for articles and clippings about places I'd like to visit in the future. I don't want all the good tips, restaurant recommendations, and out-of-the-ordinary itineraries to go to waste just because I'm not planning an immediate trip. The files don't have to be super organized--just throw in the clippings, and you can weed through them later. You'll be glad you have the information when you do get a chance to go away.

— Christine Size
Tagged
Cruises
517596

Public libraries in the ports of Alaska are a tremendous money-saver. Who wants to pay $5 a minute for Internet use from a cruise ship? During a port stop on a recent Alaska cruise, we found a city library that offered free Internet use for 15 to 30 minutes. Our only cost was a short wait in line.

— Gail G. Jenkins
Tagged
Family Travel
377282

Ever since my children were small, I've carried recent, wallet-size pictures of them when we all go on vacation, in case we get separated. Now that they are teenagers and traveling with friends' families, too, I send pictures for the other family to bring along with them. I also write my telephone numbers on the back of the pictures so they know where to reach me in an emergency.

— Ruth Ann Newsum
Tagged
Cruises
473609

Don't assume you can save a spot at the pool with your towel. Cruise lines give you one pool towel at the start of the cruise. If you don't have it (or a cleaned trade-in) at the end, you'll get charged. If you let it out of your sight, you run the risk of losing it or having it stolen by a fellow cruiser.

— Martha and Ken Wiseman
Tagged
Planning
355254

Some people think that traveler's checks aren't necessary anymore, but they really can be useful in a variety of situations. My ATM card wouldn't work on Easter Island, where most restaurants did not accept credit cards and wanted to be paid in pesos. Luckily, our hotel cashed my traveler's checks and gave me the pesos I needed. On Dominica, my purse was stolen. But because I had traveler's checks stashed away in my luggage, the vacation wasn't ruined. I always travel with what I call the "trusty four": American dollars (lots of ones and fives divided up and hidden in several locations), traveler's checks, an ATM card, and a credit card.

— Jeanette Cantwell
Tagged
Planning
380245

Turn off your fridge's icemaker before you leave home. And remember to empty the ice cube bin. The power was out for several days while I was away recently. When I got back, the melted ice had refrozen throughout the freezer compartment. It took forever to clean up.

— Mary C. Clements
Tagged
Planning
368266

Sending a flat-rate Priority Mail box costs $8.10, no matter how much it weighs or which state it's going to. After accumulating too much stuff to fit in my suitcase during a trip to Atlanta, I filled a box with laundry, souvenirs, and gifts for my grandchildren, and mailed it to my home address.

— Eleanor Waterhouse

Custom Search

Select the details relevant to your trip to see a list of articles that match your needs — it's the best way to get ideas!
SELECT YOUR DESTINATION
SELECT YOUR ACTIVITIES