Dedicating to my school and all my school buddies one this special day . . .
Saturday 11 May 2013
How To Rescue Yourself From 10 Sticky Travel Situations
They're the "Oh no" moments of travel, those unforgettable times when something unexpectedly goes wrong and you find yourself in a seriously sticky situation. Maybe you return to your rental car to find it locked in a parking garage. Or you emerge from a crowded plaza and discover your wallet is missing.
We've been there, too. So here are the play-by-plays to get through 10 sticky travel situations -- then get unstuck and get on with your vacation.
Car Trapped in Closed Parking Garage
The Sticky Scenario: You parked in a hurry and didn't check the garage's hours, and you return to a closed gate and a dark cashier booth.
What to Do: Accept that you may have to come back in the morning. But before you give up, check for information that might be posted by payment kiosks, cashier stands or the exit. You may find special instructions for after-hours exits. Some parking garages close for the night but the heavy gates still open from the inside to allow after-hours exits.
If there's no getting your car out that night, call a cab or head to the nearest large intersection. If you're in an unfamiliar city, make sure to note the name and location of the garage before leaving so you can get back to it the next day.
Silver Lining: This isn't a mistake most people make twice.
Cab Doesn't Accept Credit Cards
The Sticky Scenario: You slide into the backseat of a cab with a thin wallet but have your credit card ready, when the cab driver says, "I only accept cash."
What to Do: Ideally, you'd ask before you get in the car. But know that sometimes cab drivers saythey only accept cash -- or insist that their credit card machines are broken -- even when city laws state that taxi companies must accept credit cards. The best thing to do in this situation is to know in advance what the rules are. Cities where most cabs are required to accept credit cards includeBoston, Chicago, New York City and San Francisco. In Europe, some cabs in some cities accept credit cards. Note that even in cities that require taxis to take credit cards, independent operators may be exempt.
If you're in a city where cab companies must accept credit cards, you can push back or report the cab driver (usually by calling 311 and giving the cab's medallion number). If you do end up paying with a credit card, be sure to up the tip, as cabbies have to cover the credit card surcharge (a big part of why they prefer cash).
If paying by credit card just isn't going to fly, you can ask the taxi driver to swing by an ATM. Or better yet, keep a stash of emergency cash ($20 to $40 in local currency) folded up and tucked in a remote corner of your wallet for situations like this.
Silver Lining: Once you know which cities have cabs that must accept credit cards, you'll know when to insist on your rights.
Trip Cut Short By Family Emergency
The Sticky Scenario: An emergency at home means you need to cut travel plans short and return immediately.
What to Do: If you have travel insurance, some of your change and cancellation expenses may be covered, but it depends on both the type of travel insurance you've purchased and the nature of the emergency.
If you don't have travel insurance, you may still be able to get some of your flight change fees waived by calling the airline and explaining the situation. Be aware that airlines may require that you follow up with documentation in order to receive the discount.
As soon as it becomes clear that you have to change your flight, get online and make a note of flights that work for you. Then call the airline, explain the situation and see if you can change your flight to one of your preferred options. Depending on how fast you need to get back, the best option may be to head to the airport and see if the check-in agent can confirm a standby seat or get you on a standby list.
Hotels are unlikely to offer a refund for prepaid nights, but you might be able to negotiate rebooking at a later date for no charge. In the end, you may have to just make your peace with losing some money on the interrupted vacation.
Silver Lining: There's nothing like a family emergency to put losing some money in perspective.
Hotel Clerk Announces Your Room Number
The Sticky Scenario: The hotel's desk clerk says your room number out loud while checking you in. Add more stickiness if the hotel lobby's demographics seem shifty or you're traveling alone.
What to Do: For security reasons, most hotel staff are trained not to say guests' room numbers out loud during check-in. But if it does happen, you've got a few options. First, assess the situation. If you're in an empty lobby, it's probably no big deal (although it's still worth asking the clerk not to say your room number out loud again). However, if there are people within earshot, it's entirely appropriate to request a different room and ask the person to write the number down for you to read.
Silver Lining: By drawing attention to the behavior (rather than just letting it slide), you're doing a service for future travelers.
Lost and Don't Speak the Language
The Sticky Scenario: You get lost someplace where you don't speak the local language.
What to Do: Here's the thing about getting lost in a new city: It's probably going to happen. Since you know this in advance, you can prepare. Before setting out, make sure you have the address of the place where you're staying. If you're staying within a few blocks of something noteworthy, say, a metro station, a monument or a major intersection, make note of it. That way, if you're asking a stranger for directions and don't want to give them your exact address, they can still get you back to your general neighborhood.
Even if you've got your smartphone set to airplane mode to save on fees, it can still be a great navigator. Some guidebook apps have built-in maps, but you can also find individual city-map apps. As an added benefit, you'll draw less attention to yourself as a lost tourist if you're casually looking at your phone rather than wrestling a paper map on a street corner.
You'll also want to take some steps to prepare yourself for the language barrier. Technology is great, and we highly suggest downloading a translation app (there are lots of cool ones out there), but when it comes to getting people to want to help you, nothing beats taking the time to learn at least enough of the local language to ask if they speak English or to say, "How do I get to...?" Pointing and hand gestures can get you the rest of the way.
If you've got no phone, no map and no vocabulary, walk until you find a hotel and ask the person at the front desk for directions or to call you a cab. And if you can't find a hotel, remember that the sun rises in the east and sets in the west, so if you wait long enough, the sky will point you in the right direction.
Silver Lining: Getting lost is sometimes a great way to explore a city.
Stolen Passport or Credit Cards
The Sticky Scenario: It's every traveler's nightmare to find yourself in a foreign country robbed of your passport or credit cards.
What to Do: In this situation, the key is to remain calm, act fast and utilize all available resources. If you scanned your passport and either kept a physical copy in another part of your baggage or stored it in email or online, you're ahead of the game. The same is true if you wrote down your credit card numbers and customer service phone numbers.
Once you discover that your credit cards are gone, you'll want to notify the local police, then contact the nearest embassy or consulate to get a replacement passport. U.S. foreign offices also have American Citizens Services departments that can help you in medical and financial emergencies. Then call your credit card companies to report that the cards have been stolen. If you don't have the customer service lines programmed into your phone or written down somewhere, look them up online.
A good just-in-case measure against having your credit cards stolen is to keep one separated from the others and hidden on your person or tucked somewhere safe in your belongings. As long as you're squirreling things away, add some emergency cash to the stash as well.
Silver Lining: If you didn't like your passport photo, this is your chance to get a new one.
Locked Out of Hotel After Returning Late
The Sticky Scenario: Most hotels allow you to come and go as you please, but some B&Bs, small inns, convent-turned-hostels and other smaller accommodations impose a curfews on guests. If you come back to a locked door, you'll have to think fast.
What to Do: First, you'll need to assess how locked-down the property is. We've been there too, so we're not going to scold you and say that you shouldn't pound on the door and see if anyone comes to open it. But do remember that there are other guests inside who are likely asleep because they planned accordingly and got back in time, so temper the ferocity and duration of your knocking.
If no one opens the door for you, try calling the property, but that's not likely to yield results either. The next step is to embrace the alternatives, none of which are ideal. If you're willing to stay up, find yourself an all-night cafe or bar, or throw yourself into the local nightlife at a club. If you can absorb the cost of a second room for the night, head to a larger hotel (one whose front desk is staffed through the night). If you're exhausted and short on funds, consider going to a train station or airport, where you won't be the only person trying to get some shut-eye in imperfect circumstances.
Silver Lining: The next day, you will likely buy yourself a shiny new watch.
Overbooked Hotel Doesn't Have Your Reserved Room
The Sticky Scenario: It's been a long day, and you arrive at the hotel where you booked your reservation only to discover they're oversold and don't have a room for you.
What to Do: Airline passengers have specific rights if they get bumped off a flight, but hotel guests don't. In the United States (and in many other countries as well), the normal industry practice is to "walk" guests with reservations to another hotel and pick up the cost of the stay and the cab to get to the alternate hotel. The idea is to offer a comparable hotel experience, but often the substitute is inferior, either in location or quality.
SmarterTravel's Ed Perkins offers the following advice: Accept the fix if it's reasonable, but ask for compensation if the proposed solution falls "significantly short of your expectation." He also urges travelers not to accept a bad fix. "If the first offer is an unacceptable alternative, negotiate for something better. If the clerk or agent says 'take it or leave it,' ask for a manager." You can also find your own alternative and ask the supplier to arrange it, or, in the worst case, pay for your own acceptable alternative and submit a formal complaint after you return.
If you do need to find yourself an alternative, a last-minute hotel app like Hotel Tonight or Priceline's Negotiator can simplify the process.
Silver Lining: This is a great chance to practice your negotiation skills.
Machine Won't Accept Magnetic-Stripe Credit Cards
The Sticky Scenario: You're in a foreign country where the newer chip-and-PIN credit cards are the norm, and your card is rejected at the automated kiosk at a train or gas station. It's after hours and there's not an attendant around to run your magnetic-stripe credit card through an alternate machine.
What to Do: If this happens at a train station, you've got a couple of options. The first is to dig down to the bottom of your bag and fish around for enough cash and coins to buy that ticket. The second is to just board the train without a ticket, then immediately seek out the conductor and ask to buy one, explaining the situation. Bear in mind, though, that if you board without a ticket, you risk getting a fine. By proactively approaching a conductor on the train, you're at least showing that you're not trying to get a free ride.
Since gas station machines don't accept cash, discovering that a pump won't take your credit card at an unstaffed gas station is trickier. In this situation, you may have to hope you've got enough fuel to find another gas station -- one with an attendant who can run your card or accepts cash.
Silver Lining: More and more U.S. credit card providers are offering chip credit cards. As an added bonus, some of them also have no surcharges on foreign transactions.
Credit Card Just Doesn't Work
The Sticky Scenario: The credit card company says your card should be working, but credit card machines in your destination say otherwise.
What to Do: There are a number of reasons why cards won't work or work sometimes but not others. Credit card companies monitor suspicious activity, so if you didn't call them with your travel itinerary, the company may have put a temporary freeze on the account. But if that's not the problem -- the company tells you the card should be working and yet it's still giving you trouble -- you may have to come up with a Plan B.
A good Plan B in this case should involve a back-up credit card or two if your primary card stops working. Sure, you might not be earning the rewards you do with your primary card, but it definitely beats having to wash dishes to work off that meal. Traveling with an ATM card so you have both cash and card options is another good idea. And of course, there are always the old-fashioned standbys of bringing travelers' checks or converting currency at the airport or a local agency. And if you've only got one card and no cash, and you're going to be in one place for at least a few days, you can call the credit card company to see if they can rush you a replacement card.
Silver Lining: You'll get to practice your formal-complaint letter writing when you contact the credit card company after returning home.
We've been there, too. So here are the play-by-plays to get through 10 sticky travel situations -- then get unstuck and get on with your vacation.
Car Trapped in Closed Parking Garage
The Sticky Scenario: You parked in a hurry and didn't check the garage's hours, and you return to a closed gate and a dark cashier booth.
What to Do: Accept that you may have to come back in the morning. But before you give up, check for information that might be posted by payment kiosks, cashier stands or the exit. You may find special instructions for after-hours exits. Some parking garages close for the night but the heavy gates still open from the inside to allow after-hours exits.
If there's no getting your car out that night, call a cab or head to the nearest large intersection. If you're in an unfamiliar city, make sure to note the name and location of the garage before leaving so you can get back to it the next day.
Silver Lining: This isn't a mistake most people make twice.
Cab Doesn't Accept Credit Cards
The Sticky Scenario: You slide into the backseat of a cab with a thin wallet but have your credit card ready, when the cab driver says, "I only accept cash."
What to Do: Ideally, you'd ask before you get in the car. But know that sometimes cab drivers saythey only accept cash -- or insist that their credit card machines are broken -- even when city laws state that taxi companies must accept credit cards. The best thing to do in this situation is to know in advance what the rules are. Cities where most cabs are required to accept credit cards includeBoston, Chicago, New York City and San Francisco. In Europe, some cabs in some cities accept credit cards. Note that even in cities that require taxis to take credit cards, independent operators may be exempt.
If you're in a city where cab companies must accept credit cards, you can push back or report the cab driver (usually by calling 311 and giving the cab's medallion number). If you do end up paying with a credit card, be sure to up the tip, as cabbies have to cover the credit card surcharge (a big part of why they prefer cash).
If paying by credit card just isn't going to fly, you can ask the taxi driver to swing by an ATM. Or better yet, keep a stash of emergency cash ($20 to $40 in local currency) folded up and tucked in a remote corner of your wallet for situations like this.
Silver Lining: Once you know which cities have cabs that must accept credit cards, you'll know when to insist on your rights.
Trip Cut Short By Family Emergency
The Sticky Scenario: An emergency at home means you need to cut travel plans short and return immediately.
What to Do: If you have travel insurance, some of your change and cancellation expenses may be covered, but it depends on both the type of travel insurance you've purchased and the nature of the emergency.
If you don't have travel insurance, you may still be able to get some of your flight change fees waived by calling the airline and explaining the situation. Be aware that airlines may require that you follow up with documentation in order to receive the discount.
As soon as it becomes clear that you have to change your flight, get online and make a note of flights that work for you. Then call the airline, explain the situation and see if you can change your flight to one of your preferred options. Depending on how fast you need to get back, the best option may be to head to the airport and see if the check-in agent can confirm a standby seat or get you on a standby list.
Hotels are unlikely to offer a refund for prepaid nights, but you might be able to negotiate rebooking at a later date for no charge. In the end, you may have to just make your peace with losing some money on the interrupted vacation.
Silver Lining: There's nothing like a family emergency to put losing some money in perspective.
Hotel Clerk Announces Your Room Number
The Sticky Scenario: The hotel's desk clerk says your room number out loud while checking you in. Add more stickiness if the hotel lobby's demographics seem shifty or you're traveling alone.
What to Do: For security reasons, most hotel staff are trained not to say guests' room numbers out loud during check-in. But if it does happen, you've got a few options. First, assess the situation. If you're in an empty lobby, it's probably no big deal (although it's still worth asking the clerk not to say your room number out loud again). However, if there are people within earshot, it's entirely appropriate to request a different room and ask the person to write the number down for you to read.
Silver Lining: By drawing attention to the behavior (rather than just letting it slide), you're doing a service for future travelers.
Lost and Don't Speak the Language
The Sticky Scenario: You get lost someplace where you don't speak the local language.
What to Do: Here's the thing about getting lost in a new city: It's probably going to happen. Since you know this in advance, you can prepare. Before setting out, make sure you have the address of the place where you're staying. If you're staying within a few blocks of something noteworthy, say, a metro station, a monument or a major intersection, make note of it. That way, if you're asking a stranger for directions and don't want to give them your exact address, they can still get you back to your general neighborhood.
Even if you've got your smartphone set to airplane mode to save on fees, it can still be a great navigator. Some guidebook apps have built-in maps, but you can also find individual city-map apps. As an added benefit, you'll draw less attention to yourself as a lost tourist if you're casually looking at your phone rather than wrestling a paper map on a street corner.
You'll also want to take some steps to prepare yourself for the language barrier. Technology is great, and we highly suggest downloading a translation app (there are lots of cool ones out there), but when it comes to getting people to want to help you, nothing beats taking the time to learn at least enough of the local language to ask if they speak English or to say, "How do I get to...?" Pointing and hand gestures can get you the rest of the way.
If you've got no phone, no map and no vocabulary, walk until you find a hotel and ask the person at the front desk for directions or to call you a cab. And if you can't find a hotel, remember that the sun rises in the east and sets in the west, so if you wait long enough, the sky will point you in the right direction.
Silver Lining: Getting lost is sometimes a great way to explore a city.
Stolen Passport or Credit Cards
The Sticky Scenario: It's every traveler's nightmare to find yourself in a foreign country robbed of your passport or credit cards.
What to Do: In this situation, the key is to remain calm, act fast and utilize all available resources. If you scanned your passport and either kept a physical copy in another part of your baggage or stored it in email or online, you're ahead of the game. The same is true if you wrote down your credit card numbers and customer service phone numbers.
Once you discover that your credit cards are gone, you'll want to notify the local police, then contact the nearest embassy or consulate to get a replacement passport. U.S. foreign offices also have American Citizens Services departments that can help you in medical and financial emergencies. Then call your credit card companies to report that the cards have been stolen. If you don't have the customer service lines programmed into your phone or written down somewhere, look them up online.
A good just-in-case measure against having your credit cards stolen is to keep one separated from the others and hidden on your person or tucked somewhere safe in your belongings. As long as you're squirreling things away, add some emergency cash to the stash as well.
Silver Lining: If you didn't like your passport photo, this is your chance to get a new one.
Locked Out of Hotel After Returning Late
The Sticky Scenario: Most hotels allow you to come and go as you please, but some B&Bs, small inns, convent-turned-hostels and other smaller accommodations impose a curfews on guests. If you come back to a locked door, you'll have to think fast.
What to Do: First, you'll need to assess how locked-down the property is. We've been there too, so we're not going to scold you and say that you shouldn't pound on the door and see if anyone comes to open it. But do remember that there are other guests inside who are likely asleep because they planned accordingly and got back in time, so temper the ferocity and duration of your knocking.
If no one opens the door for you, try calling the property, but that's not likely to yield results either. The next step is to embrace the alternatives, none of which are ideal. If you're willing to stay up, find yourself an all-night cafe or bar, or throw yourself into the local nightlife at a club. If you can absorb the cost of a second room for the night, head to a larger hotel (one whose front desk is staffed through the night). If you're exhausted and short on funds, consider going to a train station or airport, where you won't be the only person trying to get some shut-eye in imperfect circumstances.
Silver Lining: The next day, you will likely buy yourself a shiny new watch.
Overbooked Hotel Doesn't Have Your Reserved Room
The Sticky Scenario: It's been a long day, and you arrive at the hotel where you booked your reservation only to discover they're oversold and don't have a room for you.
What to Do: Airline passengers have specific rights if they get bumped off a flight, but hotel guests don't. In the United States (and in many other countries as well), the normal industry practice is to "walk" guests with reservations to another hotel and pick up the cost of the stay and the cab to get to the alternate hotel. The idea is to offer a comparable hotel experience, but often the substitute is inferior, either in location or quality.
SmarterTravel's Ed Perkins offers the following advice: Accept the fix if it's reasonable, but ask for compensation if the proposed solution falls "significantly short of your expectation." He also urges travelers not to accept a bad fix. "If the first offer is an unacceptable alternative, negotiate for something better. If the clerk or agent says 'take it or leave it,' ask for a manager." You can also find your own alternative and ask the supplier to arrange it, or, in the worst case, pay for your own acceptable alternative and submit a formal complaint after you return.
If you do need to find yourself an alternative, a last-minute hotel app like Hotel Tonight or Priceline's Negotiator can simplify the process.
Silver Lining: This is a great chance to practice your negotiation skills.
Machine Won't Accept Magnetic-Stripe Credit Cards
The Sticky Scenario: You're in a foreign country where the newer chip-and-PIN credit cards are the norm, and your card is rejected at the automated kiosk at a train or gas station. It's after hours and there's not an attendant around to run your magnetic-stripe credit card through an alternate machine.
What to Do: If this happens at a train station, you've got a couple of options. The first is to dig down to the bottom of your bag and fish around for enough cash and coins to buy that ticket. The second is to just board the train without a ticket, then immediately seek out the conductor and ask to buy one, explaining the situation. Bear in mind, though, that if you board without a ticket, you risk getting a fine. By proactively approaching a conductor on the train, you're at least showing that you're not trying to get a free ride.
Since gas station machines don't accept cash, discovering that a pump won't take your credit card at an unstaffed gas station is trickier. In this situation, you may have to hope you've got enough fuel to find another gas station -- one with an attendant who can run your card or accepts cash.
Silver Lining: More and more U.S. credit card providers are offering chip credit cards. As an added bonus, some of them also have no surcharges on foreign transactions.
Credit Card Just Doesn't Work
The Sticky Scenario: The credit card company says your card should be working, but credit card machines in your destination say otherwise.
What to Do: There are a number of reasons why cards won't work or work sometimes but not others. Credit card companies monitor suspicious activity, so if you didn't call them with your travel itinerary, the company may have put a temporary freeze on the account. But if that's not the problem -- the company tells you the card should be working and yet it's still giving you trouble -- you may have to come up with a Plan B.
A good Plan B in this case should involve a back-up credit card or two if your primary card stops working. Sure, you might not be earning the rewards you do with your primary card, but it definitely beats having to wash dishes to work off that meal. Traveling with an ATM card so you have both cash and card options is another good idea. And of course, there are always the old-fashioned standbys of bringing travelers' checks or converting currency at the airport or a local agency. And if you've only got one card and no cash, and you're going to be in one place for at least a few days, you can call the credit card company to see if they can rush you a replacement card.
Silver Lining: You'll get to practice your formal-complaint letter writing when you contact the credit card company after returning home.
10 Signs You're A Terrible Traveler
You know the guy who's always holding up the plane by trying to cram five bags, a jacket, and a pillow into the overhead compartment? Don't be that guy. Read on to discover 10 warning signs that you may be a terrible traveler.
You Have an Expired Passport and You Don't Even Know It
Some countries require that your passport be valid for at least six months after the completion of your trip just in order to enter. You may think you're in the clear if your passport expires in 2014, but if you've got a trip planned for November 2013, you'd better get it renewed before then. Always research entry requirements, including visas and vaccines, and be sure your passport is up-to-date. (If you find out the night before that your passport is expired, read this simple solution to a last-minute passport snafu to learn what you can do to save your trip.)
Your Bags are Overweight (and You're Surprised)
If you're at the counter frantically repacking your checked bags to get under your airline's weight limit, you might be a terrible traveler. Invest in a luggage scale (or a bag with a built-in weighing system, like the Delsey Helium Ultimate 25-Inch Expandable Spinner Trolley suitcase) and never be socked with an overweight fee again. Always double-check your airline's weight allowances and make sure the limits apply to connections, especially if you're going from an international to a domestic flight.
You Haven't Done Your Research
Will things be open this time of year? What currency does your destination use? What language is spoken there? If you don't know (and you don't care), you might not be the greatest traveler. There's a difference between being spontaneous and adventurous and being foolishly unprepared—the former leads to exciting stories and fun possibilities, and the latter leaves you in tears and stranded without a hotel during a major festival.
You're Cutting It Too Close
Years ago, maybe you could have rolled into the airport a half hour before takeoff, but not these days. Always leave a little bit earlier than you think you need to for the airport, train station, or bus stop—you never know if security or check-in lines will be long, or if you'll need extra time due to getting lost, roadwork, etc. Better to kill a few extra minutes at the gate than to miss your transportation.
You Don't Know the Carry-on Rules
The TSA may overlook knives and other weapons on a fairly regular basis, but they'll always find that 4-oz. bottle of shampoo you've stashed in your carry-on. Moral of the story: Know your 3-1-1 rules. Triggering a search of your carry-on bag really clogs up the line behind you.
You Spend All Your Time on the Computer
"Joe Schmo has checked in at a deserted beach (with Wi-Fi!)." " Joe Schmo is living the dream in paradise." "Joe Schmo has Instagrammed 500 new pictures."When you see hundreds of real-time social-media updates from the same person on your feeds, don't you wonder if he's really making the most out of his trip? Don't view your vacation from behind a screen. Uploading pictures and editing your Facebook status can wait until you get back, so put down the smartphone and step away from the computer!
You Don't Check In Online
Did your flight time change? If you didn't check in online, you might not know. Waiting to check in at the airport also makes you more likely to be bumped if the flight's full—or even worse, stuck in the dreaded middle seat of the last row. If you want to snag the best seats and get updates on your trip, check in online as soon as you're allowed to. You don't need to be near a printer, either. Many airlines let you check in and display your boarding pass on your smartphone, and most airports offer kiosks (usually with much shorter lines) so you can print your pass when you arrive at the airport.
You Didn't Make a Packing List
Don't be the traveler begging the front desk to borrow a power converter or the guy who doesn't know how to reach an English-speaking doctor to prescribe the medicine he forgot. Consult thisultimate packing list, use an app, or simply make your own checklist. You'll be able to pack everything you need (and nothing more) for your trip, even at a moment's notice.
You Brought Too Many Carry-ons
If you're trying to circumvent the rules by bringing on an oversized suitcase plus multiple personal items, please stop. When you're blocking the aisle, trying to shove your laptop under the seat or filling your entire row's overhead compartment with your giant puffy jacket, full-sized pillow, and yoga mat, just know that everyone else on the plane hates you, you terrible traveler.
You Yell at People
The ultimate sign that you're a terrible traveler is yelling at or otherwise being rude to travel staff or fellow tourists. Don't take out your anger about a canceled flight on a helpless gate agent who is just trying to do his or her job. Likewise, it's not your fellow passenger's fault that you're stuck in a middle seat, so stop passive-aggressively sighing and trying to invade her personal space. By all means, stand up for yourself—but be polite. And if you're not getting any results, try a different approach or contact a different provider to help. Just don't stand at the hotel's front desk screaming at someone and holding up the line behind you.
You Have an Expired Passport and You Don't Even Know It
Some countries require that your passport be valid for at least six months after the completion of your trip just in order to enter. You may think you're in the clear if your passport expires in 2014, but if you've got a trip planned for November 2013, you'd better get it renewed before then. Always research entry requirements, including visas and vaccines, and be sure your passport is up-to-date. (If you find out the night before that your passport is expired, read this simple solution to a last-minute passport snafu to learn what you can do to save your trip.)
Your Bags are Overweight (and You're Surprised)
If you're at the counter frantically repacking your checked bags to get under your airline's weight limit, you might be a terrible traveler. Invest in a luggage scale (or a bag with a built-in weighing system, like the Delsey Helium Ultimate 25-Inch Expandable Spinner Trolley suitcase) and never be socked with an overweight fee again. Always double-check your airline's weight allowances and make sure the limits apply to connections, especially if you're going from an international to a domestic flight.
You Haven't Done Your Research
Will things be open this time of year? What currency does your destination use? What language is spoken there? If you don't know (and you don't care), you might not be the greatest traveler. There's a difference between being spontaneous and adventurous and being foolishly unprepared—the former leads to exciting stories and fun possibilities, and the latter leaves you in tears and stranded without a hotel during a major festival.
You're Cutting It Too Close
Years ago, maybe you could have rolled into the airport a half hour before takeoff, but not these days. Always leave a little bit earlier than you think you need to for the airport, train station, or bus stop—you never know if security or check-in lines will be long, or if you'll need extra time due to getting lost, roadwork, etc. Better to kill a few extra minutes at the gate than to miss your transportation.
You Don't Know the Carry-on Rules
The TSA may overlook knives and other weapons on a fairly regular basis, but they'll always find that 4-oz. bottle of shampoo you've stashed in your carry-on. Moral of the story: Know your 3-1-1 rules. Triggering a search of your carry-on bag really clogs up the line behind you.
You Spend All Your Time on the Computer
"Joe Schmo has checked in at a deserted beach (with Wi-Fi!)." " Joe Schmo is living the dream in paradise." "Joe Schmo has Instagrammed 500 new pictures."When you see hundreds of real-time social-media updates from the same person on your feeds, don't you wonder if he's really making the most out of his trip? Don't view your vacation from behind a screen. Uploading pictures and editing your Facebook status can wait until you get back, so put down the smartphone and step away from the computer!
You Don't Check In Online
Did your flight time change? If you didn't check in online, you might not know. Waiting to check in at the airport also makes you more likely to be bumped if the flight's full—or even worse, stuck in the dreaded middle seat of the last row. If you want to snag the best seats and get updates on your trip, check in online as soon as you're allowed to. You don't need to be near a printer, either. Many airlines let you check in and display your boarding pass on your smartphone, and most airports offer kiosks (usually with much shorter lines) so you can print your pass when you arrive at the airport.
You Didn't Make a Packing List
Don't be the traveler begging the front desk to borrow a power converter or the guy who doesn't know how to reach an English-speaking doctor to prescribe the medicine he forgot. Consult thisultimate packing list, use an app, or simply make your own checklist. You'll be able to pack everything you need (and nothing more) for your trip, even at a moment's notice.
You Brought Too Many Carry-ons
If you're trying to circumvent the rules by bringing on an oversized suitcase plus multiple personal items, please stop. When you're blocking the aisle, trying to shove your laptop under the seat or filling your entire row's overhead compartment with your giant puffy jacket, full-sized pillow, and yoga mat, just know that everyone else on the plane hates you, you terrible traveler.
You Yell at People
The ultimate sign that you're a terrible traveler is yelling at or otherwise being rude to travel staff or fellow tourists. Don't take out your anger about a canceled flight on a helpless gate agent who is just trying to do his or her job. Likewise, it's not your fellow passenger's fault that you're stuck in a middle seat, so stop passive-aggressively sighing and trying to invade her personal space. By all means, stand up for yourself—but be polite. And if you're not getting any results, try a different approach or contact a different provider to help. Just don't stand at the hotel's front desk screaming at someone and holding up the line behind you.
Nine "Free" Credit-Card Benefits You Don't Know You Have
You almost certainly know about the miles or points you get on each credit-card purchase -- presumably, that's why you chose the card or cards you use for travel. And you may know about the collision coverage most cards provide for a rented car. But many cards provide other travel benefits that you might not even know you have.
Rental-Car Collision Coverage
As I said, you probably know about this, but for those who don't, rental-car collision coverage is by far the most important travel benefit your credit card provides. If you rent with a card offering this benefit and the car is damaged during the time you rent, the card picks up whatever costs you can't first recover from your regular insurance. All you have to do is use a qualifying card and decline the rental company's outrageously expensive collision damage waiver (CDW). This benefit is worth big bucks: CDW charges can go as high as $30 per day, sometimes more than the base rental rate. All AmEx, Diners Club, and Visa cards, as well as most Discover cards and many MasterCards offer this feature.
Most card coverage is secondary, meaning it covers only what you can't first recover from your regular automobile insurance. However, all Diners Club cards and a few MasterCards and Visa cards offer primary coverage, which means the card picks up the entire cost and you don't have to claim on your regular policy. AmEx also offers primary coverage for an extra fee.
Common-Carrier Lost Baggage
If you buy an airline, bus, rail, or other "common carrier" ticket with your card and then check baggage, Visa premium cards, most AmEx cards, and quite a few others cover you if the baggage (some cards say "luggage") is permanently lost, stolen, or damaged. Typically, card coverage is secondary, meaning that you must first claim from the carrier. Coverage limits vary: The card may cap collection at a typical figure of $3,000, or the card may provide coverage of a claim that exceeds the carrier's maximum limit. Some cards cover carry-on as well as checked baggage.
The catch here is that payments on most such claims cover only the depreciated value of the items lost or damaged, not the replacement value. Many of you would have a tough time coming up with $3,000 worth of depreciated value for what's in your baggage.
Trip Delay/Baggage Delay
If your trip is delayed, a few premium cards offer a modest amount of coverage toward the cost of meals, accommodations, and various "essential items." Coverage kicks in only after a specified time, typically as long as 18 hours after the delay, and reimbursement may be net of what you can first recover from your carrier. Once quite prevalent, this card benefit is now available only on a few cards.
Roadside Assistance
Visa premium cards, most AmEx cards, and many others offer a somewhat slimmed-down version of the type of roadside assistance you can get from AAA if a car you're driving runs out of gas, suffers a flat, or experiences a dead battery. But if you're in a rental car, call the rental company first.
Accident Insurance
Remember back when many travelers routinely fed a handful of quarters into a machine in the airport lobby to buy a "flight insurance" policy for their trip? Even then, this insurance was a bad buy: It exploited the generally prevalent fear of air crashes. Fast-forward to today, when many credit cards provide up to $500,000 in "accidental death and dismemberment" (ADD) insurance for travel on any common carrier. The chances that you or your estate will actually collect anything are, as the mathematicians say, "vanishingly small." But as long as it's "free," you don't really care.
Trip-Cancellation/Interruption Insurance
Credit cards may provide a low-value trip-cancellation/interruption (TCI) benefit. The benefit is similar to conventional TCI, but when the coverage is "free," the dollar limit is low. Only a few premium cards provide this benefit "free," including Capital One World MasterCard, Chase Sapphire card, and several premium Citi cards.
Quite a few card issuers offer to sell conventional TCI policies at generally competitive prices. But that's a convenience, not a benefit.
Airport-Lounge Entry
A few premium airline co-branded cards include entry into the sponsoring airline's lounge clubs and those of its alliance partners. AmEx Platinum cards include entry into several airline as well as non-airline lounge programs. Where available, this benefit is worth big bucks. Although card-based entry privileges may be a bit below those of full members, you pay less for them. Regular memberships in big-airline programs cost around $500 per year, so even with the AmEx Platinum card's annual fees of around $450, entry privileges can actually cost less than regular membership.
Concierge Services
A few premium cards provide arrangements with local agencies that fill the function of a good concierge in major cities: They can arrange sightseeing, tickets to local entertainment, tables at famous restaurants, and such. Some years ago, a credit-card concierge program scored tickets for my wife and me to a supposedly "sold out" Vienna Opera production. Although the service is "free," you obviously have to pay for whatever the concierge arranges.
Referral Services
Many credit cards provide referrals to medical and legal services wherever you are. Also, some cards facilitate local replacement if you lose prescription drugs. As with any concierge, all you get "free" is the referral; you have to pay for the services you use.
Choosing a Card
If you travel at all frequently, it makes sense to use a credit card with a broad range of travel benefits. Start by checking the features and possible upgrade options of the cards you already use. If your current cards come up short, visit a credit-card comparison website such as LowCards (I'm indebted to LowCards' Bill Hardekopf for bringing some of these ideas to my attention).
Unfortunately, with the general exception of rental-car collision coverage, neither LowCards nor its main competitors tabulate these other benefits in detail. You can, however, compare the benefits of all AmEx cards on the American Express website and all Visa cards on Visa's comparison website. MasterCard's benefits are not as consistent as Visa's, so you have to check each card individually. Discover includes only collision and accident insurance, and overseas acceptance is limited.
Rental-Car Collision Coverage
As I said, you probably know about this, but for those who don't, rental-car collision coverage is by far the most important travel benefit your credit card provides. If you rent with a card offering this benefit and the car is damaged during the time you rent, the card picks up whatever costs you can't first recover from your regular insurance. All you have to do is use a qualifying card and decline the rental company's outrageously expensive collision damage waiver (CDW). This benefit is worth big bucks: CDW charges can go as high as $30 per day, sometimes more than the base rental rate. All AmEx, Diners Club, and Visa cards, as well as most Discover cards and many MasterCards offer this feature.
Most card coverage is secondary, meaning it covers only what you can't first recover from your regular automobile insurance. However, all Diners Club cards and a few MasterCards and Visa cards offer primary coverage, which means the card picks up the entire cost and you don't have to claim on your regular policy. AmEx also offers primary coverage for an extra fee.
Common-Carrier Lost Baggage
If you buy an airline, bus, rail, or other "common carrier" ticket with your card and then check baggage, Visa premium cards, most AmEx cards, and quite a few others cover you if the baggage (some cards say "luggage") is permanently lost, stolen, or damaged. Typically, card coverage is secondary, meaning that you must first claim from the carrier. Coverage limits vary: The card may cap collection at a typical figure of $3,000, or the card may provide coverage of a claim that exceeds the carrier's maximum limit. Some cards cover carry-on as well as checked baggage.
The catch here is that payments on most such claims cover only the depreciated value of the items lost or damaged, not the replacement value. Many of you would have a tough time coming up with $3,000 worth of depreciated value for what's in your baggage.
Trip Delay/Baggage Delay
If your trip is delayed, a few premium cards offer a modest amount of coverage toward the cost of meals, accommodations, and various "essential items." Coverage kicks in only after a specified time, typically as long as 18 hours after the delay, and reimbursement may be net of what you can first recover from your carrier. Once quite prevalent, this card benefit is now available only on a few cards.
Roadside Assistance
Visa premium cards, most AmEx cards, and many others offer a somewhat slimmed-down version of the type of roadside assistance you can get from AAA if a car you're driving runs out of gas, suffers a flat, or experiences a dead battery. But if you're in a rental car, call the rental company first.
Accident Insurance
Remember back when many travelers routinely fed a handful of quarters into a machine in the airport lobby to buy a "flight insurance" policy for their trip? Even then, this insurance was a bad buy: It exploited the generally prevalent fear of air crashes. Fast-forward to today, when many credit cards provide up to $500,000 in "accidental death and dismemberment" (ADD) insurance for travel on any common carrier. The chances that you or your estate will actually collect anything are, as the mathematicians say, "vanishingly small." But as long as it's "free," you don't really care.
Trip-Cancellation/Interruption Insurance
Credit cards may provide a low-value trip-cancellation/interruption (TCI) benefit. The benefit is similar to conventional TCI, but when the coverage is "free," the dollar limit is low. Only a few premium cards provide this benefit "free," including Capital One World MasterCard, Chase Sapphire card, and several premium Citi cards.
Quite a few card issuers offer to sell conventional TCI policies at generally competitive prices. But that's a convenience, not a benefit.
Airport-Lounge Entry
A few premium airline co-branded cards include entry into the sponsoring airline's lounge clubs and those of its alliance partners. AmEx Platinum cards include entry into several airline as well as non-airline lounge programs. Where available, this benefit is worth big bucks. Although card-based entry privileges may be a bit below those of full members, you pay less for them. Regular memberships in big-airline programs cost around $500 per year, so even with the AmEx Platinum card's annual fees of around $450, entry privileges can actually cost less than regular membership.
Concierge Services
A few premium cards provide arrangements with local agencies that fill the function of a good concierge in major cities: They can arrange sightseeing, tickets to local entertainment, tables at famous restaurants, and such. Some years ago, a credit-card concierge program scored tickets for my wife and me to a supposedly "sold out" Vienna Opera production. Although the service is "free," you obviously have to pay for whatever the concierge arranges.
Referral Services
Many credit cards provide referrals to medical and legal services wherever you are. Also, some cards facilitate local replacement if you lose prescription drugs. As with any concierge, all you get "free" is the referral; you have to pay for the services you use.
Choosing a Card
If you travel at all frequently, it makes sense to use a credit card with a broad range of travel benefits. Start by checking the features and possible upgrade options of the cards you already use. If your current cards come up short, visit a credit-card comparison website such as LowCards (I'm indebted to LowCards' Bill Hardekopf for bringing some of these ideas to my attention).
Unfortunately, with the general exception of rental-car collision coverage, neither LowCards nor its main competitors tabulate these other benefits in detail. You can, however, compare the benefits of all AmEx cards on the American Express website and all Visa cards on Visa's comparison website. MasterCard's benefits are not as consistent as Visa's, so you have to check each card individually. Discover includes only collision and accident insurance, and overseas acceptance is limited.
Foods to Order on a First Date
Have you ever been on a first date? Chances are high that you have, and reading just the first sentence of this blog may have even caused you to venture back into your mind and reflect upon your most memorable first date. You probably planned your outfit, talked to your friends about strategy and maybe even scoped out the establishment where you were going to eat -- but if there is one thing you probably didn't do, it's most likely devising your food strategy. Yes, the foods that you are eating on your date may be one factor worth evaluating. That's because the culinary creations (and nutrients that they contain) that you and your date consume may influence your mood, sexual desire, alertness and energy levels. So as it turns out, food may be more of a factor than your great outfit in terms of bringing you one step closer to planning a second date. Here are five to consider ordering!
Appetizer: Chicken Satay
If you're heading off to an Asian restaurant, you're in luck! Order some chicken satay and you'll be well on your way towards a better mood (making you less nervous), which may translate to a more attractive personality on date number one. That's because the protein in the chicken and the peanuts in the sauce will help boost your neurotransmitters, making you feel more relaxed. A 2011 study found that nut consumption helped to boost serotonin levels and increased feelings of happiness among individuals with metabolic syndrome. The protein in the chicken may make you more alert due to increases in dopamine and/or norepinephrine, making you ready for any first-date scenario!
Drink: Bloody Mary
If brunch is on the menu for your first big meeting, skip a celebratory glass of champagne and go straight for the Bloody Mary. The tomato juice is loaded with healthy carotenoids which may actually cause you to be more attractive to the guy or gal sitting across from you, as indicated in a recent a recent study in the journal PLos ONE. Researchers ran two experiments and found that ingestion of carotenoids (the components that give fruit and vegetables their vibrant color) over the course of just six weeks was associated with "healthy looking" human skin-color that was found to be "attractive" to the opposite sex.
Main Dish: Scallops With Pepper
These may just be the perfect order for the date at a seafood restaurant. That's because scallops are chock full of the zinc, a mineral that may have an effect on sexual function. Zinc can be found in oysters, shellfish, lean cuts of beef, chicken, beans and almonds. A 2010 study in the Clinical Journal of the American Society of Nephrology found that oral zinc supplementation helped boost testosterone levels in men with kidney disease. Speaking of testosterone, make sure to get plenty of sleep the night before your first date, guys. A small 2011 study in the Journal of The American Medical Association found that lack of sleep had a significant effect on testosterone levels. According to a new study, sprinkling some pepper on your scallops may help by blocking the formation of new fat cells. Why is that important? Because fat cell growth may lead to obesity, and obesity has been associated with a reduced ability to concieve in women. A 2007 study found thata subfertile, ovulating woman's chances of conceiving decreased as her body mass index (BMI) increased. Just in case the date is going well and you're planning for the future, this may be an important detail to be aware of!
Side Dish: Asparagus Drizzled With Olive Oil and Rosemary
Want to show your date that you'll be around for a lifetime of happiness? You can do it with olive oil! A staple of the Mediterranean diet, olive oil has been shown in one study to prolong life span (a factor that most would say is an important when choosing a mate). Stay away from the fats that are solid at room temperature, however (like saturated and trans fat). They'll up your risk for heart disease by damaging arteries as well as sexual organs. Asparagus is a fabulous source of folate, a B-vitamin associated with decreased levels of depression (an important component that may affect libido). Finally, why rosemary? A very small 2012 study found that aroma from rosemary essential oils actually helped to improve cognitive performance. So if your modus operandi is to knock the socks off your date via brain power, you'll want to make sure you've got rosemary somewhere on your plate!
Condiment: Red Pepper Flakes
Heading to an Italian restaurant? Think twice about sprinkling salt on your food and instead, reach for the red pepper flakes! These spicy specs contain capsaicin, a compound that dilates vessels and gets the blood flow moving, according to several studies. Plus, high intake of salt is associated with higher risk of high blood pressure, a real libido-crusher.
After Dinner... Ditch the Cigs
It's not a food, but unfortunately for way too many people, smoking can be a habit after a meal. It's a real no-no for first, second or 50th dates; that means, just don't smoke! Off the bat you'll be less desirable to the opposite sex due to breath alone, but from a physiological standpoint, chances are that your needed organs that are critical to a great sex life won't work as well due to the fact that smoking constricts your arteries and blood vessels... everywhere.
There are many factors associated with a great first date. Of all the things that can go right or wrong, it's good to know that at least you can control the food. After all, at the end of the day, choosing these foods certainly can't hurt your chances, so next time you have that big opportunity, choose your menu items wisely!
Appetizer: Chicken Satay
If you're heading off to an Asian restaurant, you're in luck! Order some chicken satay and you'll be well on your way towards a better mood (making you less nervous), which may translate to a more attractive personality on date number one. That's because the protein in the chicken and the peanuts in the sauce will help boost your neurotransmitters, making you feel more relaxed. A 2011 study found that nut consumption helped to boost serotonin levels and increased feelings of happiness among individuals with metabolic syndrome. The protein in the chicken may make you more alert due to increases in dopamine and/or norepinephrine, making you ready for any first-date scenario!
Drink: Bloody Mary
If brunch is on the menu for your first big meeting, skip a celebratory glass of champagne and go straight for the Bloody Mary. The tomato juice is loaded with healthy carotenoids which may actually cause you to be more attractive to the guy or gal sitting across from you, as indicated in a recent a recent study in the journal PLos ONE. Researchers ran two experiments and found that ingestion of carotenoids (the components that give fruit and vegetables their vibrant color) over the course of just six weeks was associated with "healthy looking" human skin-color that was found to be "attractive" to the opposite sex.
Main Dish: Scallops With Pepper
These may just be the perfect order for the date at a seafood restaurant. That's because scallops are chock full of the zinc, a mineral that may have an effect on sexual function. Zinc can be found in oysters, shellfish, lean cuts of beef, chicken, beans and almonds. A 2010 study in the Clinical Journal of the American Society of Nephrology found that oral zinc supplementation helped boost testosterone levels in men with kidney disease. Speaking of testosterone, make sure to get plenty of sleep the night before your first date, guys. A small 2011 study in the Journal of The American Medical Association found that lack of sleep had a significant effect on testosterone levels. According to a new study, sprinkling some pepper on your scallops may help by blocking the formation of new fat cells. Why is that important? Because fat cell growth may lead to obesity, and obesity has been associated with a reduced ability to concieve in women. A 2007 study found thata subfertile, ovulating woman's chances of conceiving decreased as her body mass index (BMI) increased. Just in case the date is going well and you're planning for the future, this may be an important detail to be aware of!
Side Dish: Asparagus Drizzled With Olive Oil and Rosemary
Want to show your date that you'll be around for a lifetime of happiness? You can do it with olive oil! A staple of the Mediterranean diet, olive oil has been shown in one study to prolong life span (a factor that most would say is an important when choosing a mate). Stay away from the fats that are solid at room temperature, however (like saturated and trans fat). They'll up your risk for heart disease by damaging arteries as well as sexual organs. Asparagus is a fabulous source of folate, a B-vitamin associated with decreased levels of depression (an important component that may affect libido). Finally, why rosemary? A very small 2012 study found that aroma from rosemary essential oils actually helped to improve cognitive performance. So if your modus operandi is to knock the socks off your date via brain power, you'll want to make sure you've got rosemary somewhere on your plate!
Condiment: Red Pepper Flakes
Heading to an Italian restaurant? Think twice about sprinkling salt on your food and instead, reach for the red pepper flakes! These spicy specs contain capsaicin, a compound that dilates vessels and gets the blood flow moving, according to several studies. Plus, high intake of salt is associated with higher risk of high blood pressure, a real libido-crusher.
After Dinner... Ditch the Cigs
It's not a food, but unfortunately for way too many people, smoking can be a habit after a meal. It's a real no-no for first, second or 50th dates; that means, just don't smoke! Off the bat you'll be less desirable to the opposite sex due to breath alone, but from a physiological standpoint, chances are that your needed organs that are critical to a great sex life won't work as well due to the fact that smoking constricts your arteries and blood vessels... everywhere.
There are many factors associated with a great first date. Of all the things that can go right or wrong, it's good to know that at least you can control the food. After all, at the end of the day, choosing these foods certainly can't hurt your chances, so next time you have that big opportunity, choose your menu items wisely!
Travel Tips that Surprise You
At SmarterTravel, we're big fans of "lifehacks," or MacGyver-like workarounds for common problems. From making the elevator go directly to your floor to fixing a broken zipper, these not-so-well-known tips make travel a little bit easier.
Expedite Your Elevator Trip
Here is a trick that pizza deliverymen have supposedly been using for years: If you want to upgrade your elevator to VIP status, simply press the desired floor number and the "door close" buttons simultaneously for several seconds. The elevator will override other requests and skip all other floors, whisking you away to your destination and making you feel like a big shot in no time.
(While elevator manufacturers claim that this may not work on all models, a quick bit of scientific "research" in a condo building's elevator proved that it does--much to the chagrin of my neighbors.)
Cancel for Free
This is a no-brainer, but it's something that many travelers don't think to do. If you missed the cancellation window for your hotel, restaurant, or car booking but can still change the reservation date free of charge, move your reservation back by several weeks or months. Then call back to cancel with a different representative. Sneaky? Sure. But it works, and you'll never get stuck with a lousy cancellation fee again.
Some reservation services, like OpenTable, allow the representative to see the "history" of the booking, but many pressed-for-time agents won't bother to check.
Defend Your Legroom
We've already tackled the etiquette of reclining one's airplane seat, and about 32 percent of our readers said that it was their right to tilt at will. For those passengers sitting behind the reclining ones, we have some solutions to defend your legroom from encroachment. The first is the controversial Knee Defender ($19.95), a pocket-sized plastic device that locks onto your tray table and prevents the seat in front of you from reclining. It won't win you any friends, but it is approved by the FAA for use.
The second solution? Just ask. I've had good luck with politely asking the flyer in front of me if they would refrain from reclining while I ate or used my laptop.
Fix a Broken Suitcase Zipper
It's happened to everyone: Your suitcase zips just fine when you leave, but upon packing for your return trip, it fails to close. Rather than replace your luggage, consider these quick zipper hacks. If the zipper appears to be stuck, rub Vaseline, lip balm, or bar soap on the teeth to get it moving. Zipper teeth no longer staying closed? Usually a single tooth is bent out of shape. Feel along the length of the zipper until you find the one that sticks out, and then a quick adjustment with pliers will do the trick. And if the zipper handle has snapped off from the slider completely, replace it by looping a souvenir keychain through the slider, creating a makeshift zipper pull. (An eye-catching keychain will also help you identify your bag on the luggage carousel.)
Find Free Wi-Fi (Really)
Paying for Wi-Fi access is a traveler's pet peeve, especially when stuck in an airport on an infinite layover. Never be left analog again: This handy Lifehacker article, "The Definitive Guide to Finding Free Wi-Fi," rounds up a number of ways to locate a hot spot free of charge. (Caveat emptor: Some are of questionable legality.) Our favorite (above-board) tip is to download a program such as NetStumbler, which goes above and beyond your computer's built-in Wi-Fi detector by locating "hidden" Wi-Fi networks your PC might have missed. If you're on a Bluetooth-enabled Mac, iStumbler will provide the same service. Smartphone users can get apps like JiWire's Free Wi-Fi Finder, whose directory tracks the exact location of nearly 150,000 free networks worldwide.
If all else fails, find the inevitable Starbucks. Many locations offer free Wi-Fi (and you can usually perch right outside the entrance and secure a connection).
Ask for a Free Phone Charger
Just landed, only to realize you forgot to pack your phone charger? Don't run out to replace it just yet. We've recently discovered that the number-one most-common item left behind in hotels is the phone charger. So before you buy another, check with the hotel's front desk for a spare.
And if you forgot your copy of Fifty Shades of Grey, don't steel yourself for disappointment. Budget chain Travelodge reports that they recovered 7,000-some left-behind copies last year, making it the most popular book abandoned in hotel rooms ... although whether you want to request it from the lost and found is up to you.
Check International Airline Websites for Deals
When booking international flights, don't forget to compare fares to those on the airline's foreign-language website. If the airline is running a sale in a different regional market, you may be able to score sizeable savings on your overseas flight. For example, a recent search on Polish airline LOT's English-language website found a March flight from New York to Warsaw priced at $968.75, but the Polish-language website (with help from Google Chrome's translation feature) turned up fares from 2,641.01 PLN (around $849.64)--for the exact same flight. If your credit card has a low international-transaction fee, the savings could be well worth it.
Avoid Commission Fees ... with Coffee
Starbucks addicts, rejoice! SmarterTravel Editor Caroline Costello shares a clever way to avoid having to pay a commission fee to convert that last bit of foreign cash to US dollars at the end of a vacation. First, pick up a free reloadable Starbucks Card before your international trip. Then, Costello says, "If you have leftover money in the local currency when you're on your way home, use it to reload your card at the Starbucks location in your international airport." The money you'll save on commission fees might just cover that triple-shot-no-foam-cinnamon-soy-mocha-frappuccino with extra extra sprinkles.
Smart Self-Defense Hacks
We've recommended the use of a dummy wallet before, but it bears repeating. Purchase a second wallet or money clip to carry while traveling. "Pad the wallet with some small bills and make it look more real by slipping in one or two of those sample credit cards you get with offers in the mail," recommends SmarterTravel Senior Editor Christine Sarkis. "In the scary and unlikely case of an actual mugging, it also gives you something to throw and run, buying you time to escape with your safety and your actual wallet."
And if you're concerned about safety but don't own pepper spray (or are in a destination where pepper spray is illegal), we have two words: Aqua Net. Anyone who has ever accidentally sprayed an aerosol hairspray in a confined space knows that it's just as painfully effective as pepper spray. Carry a small bottle in your purse if you're traveling alone or are in a questionable area; if the bottle is less than 3.4 ounces, you can even pack it in a carry-on bag.
Expedite Your Elevator Trip
Here is a trick that pizza deliverymen have supposedly been using for years: If you want to upgrade your elevator to VIP status, simply press the desired floor number and the "door close" buttons simultaneously for several seconds. The elevator will override other requests and skip all other floors, whisking you away to your destination and making you feel like a big shot in no time.
(While elevator manufacturers claim that this may not work on all models, a quick bit of scientific "research" in a condo building's elevator proved that it does--much to the chagrin of my neighbors.)
Cancel for Free
This is a no-brainer, but it's something that many travelers don't think to do. If you missed the cancellation window for your hotel, restaurant, or car booking but can still change the reservation date free of charge, move your reservation back by several weeks or months. Then call back to cancel with a different representative. Sneaky? Sure. But it works, and you'll never get stuck with a lousy cancellation fee again.
Some reservation services, like OpenTable, allow the representative to see the "history" of the booking, but many pressed-for-time agents won't bother to check.
Defend Your Legroom
We've already tackled the etiquette of reclining one's airplane seat, and about 32 percent of our readers said that it was their right to tilt at will. For those passengers sitting behind the reclining ones, we have some solutions to defend your legroom from encroachment. The first is the controversial Knee Defender ($19.95), a pocket-sized plastic device that locks onto your tray table and prevents the seat in front of you from reclining. It won't win you any friends, but it is approved by the FAA for use.
The second solution? Just ask. I've had good luck with politely asking the flyer in front of me if they would refrain from reclining while I ate or used my laptop.
Fix a Broken Suitcase Zipper
It's happened to everyone: Your suitcase zips just fine when you leave, but upon packing for your return trip, it fails to close. Rather than replace your luggage, consider these quick zipper hacks. If the zipper appears to be stuck, rub Vaseline, lip balm, or bar soap on the teeth to get it moving. Zipper teeth no longer staying closed? Usually a single tooth is bent out of shape. Feel along the length of the zipper until you find the one that sticks out, and then a quick adjustment with pliers will do the trick. And if the zipper handle has snapped off from the slider completely, replace it by looping a souvenir keychain through the slider, creating a makeshift zipper pull. (An eye-catching keychain will also help you identify your bag on the luggage carousel.)
Find Free Wi-Fi (Really)
Paying for Wi-Fi access is a traveler's pet peeve, especially when stuck in an airport on an infinite layover. Never be left analog again: This handy Lifehacker article, "The Definitive Guide to Finding Free Wi-Fi," rounds up a number of ways to locate a hot spot free of charge. (Caveat emptor: Some are of questionable legality.) Our favorite (above-board) tip is to download a program such as NetStumbler, which goes above and beyond your computer's built-in Wi-Fi detector by locating "hidden" Wi-Fi networks your PC might have missed. If you're on a Bluetooth-enabled Mac, iStumbler will provide the same service. Smartphone users can get apps like JiWire's Free Wi-Fi Finder, whose directory tracks the exact location of nearly 150,000 free networks worldwide.
If all else fails, find the inevitable Starbucks. Many locations offer free Wi-Fi (and you can usually perch right outside the entrance and secure a connection).
Ask for a Free Phone Charger
Just landed, only to realize you forgot to pack your phone charger? Don't run out to replace it just yet. We've recently discovered that the number-one most-common item left behind in hotels is the phone charger. So before you buy another, check with the hotel's front desk for a spare.
And if you forgot your copy of Fifty Shades of Grey, don't steel yourself for disappointment. Budget chain Travelodge reports that they recovered 7,000-some left-behind copies last year, making it the most popular book abandoned in hotel rooms ... although whether you want to request it from the lost and found is up to you.
Check International Airline Websites for Deals
When booking international flights, don't forget to compare fares to those on the airline's foreign-language website. If the airline is running a sale in a different regional market, you may be able to score sizeable savings on your overseas flight. For example, a recent search on Polish airline LOT's English-language website found a March flight from New York to Warsaw priced at $968.75, but the Polish-language website (with help from Google Chrome's translation feature) turned up fares from 2,641.01 PLN (around $849.64)--for the exact same flight. If your credit card has a low international-transaction fee, the savings could be well worth it.
Avoid Commission Fees ... with Coffee
Starbucks addicts, rejoice! SmarterTravel Editor Caroline Costello shares a clever way to avoid having to pay a commission fee to convert that last bit of foreign cash to US dollars at the end of a vacation. First, pick up a free reloadable Starbucks Card before your international trip. Then, Costello says, "If you have leftover money in the local currency when you're on your way home, use it to reload your card at the Starbucks location in your international airport." The money you'll save on commission fees might just cover that triple-shot-no-foam-cinnamon-soy-mocha-frappuccino with extra extra sprinkles.
Smart Self-Defense Hacks
We've recommended the use of a dummy wallet before, but it bears repeating. Purchase a second wallet or money clip to carry while traveling. "Pad the wallet with some small bills and make it look more real by slipping in one or two of those sample credit cards you get with offers in the mail," recommends SmarterTravel Senior Editor Christine Sarkis. "In the scary and unlikely case of an actual mugging, it also gives you something to throw and run, buying you time to escape with your safety and your actual wallet."
And if you're concerned about safety but don't own pepper spray (or are in a destination where pepper spray is illegal), we have two words: Aqua Net. Anyone who has ever accidentally sprayed an aerosol hairspray in a confined space knows that it's just as painfully effective as pepper spray. Carry a small bottle in your purse if you're traveling alone or are in a questionable area; if the bottle is less than 3.4 ounces, you can even pack it in a carry-on bag.
Foods To Avoid While Traveling
For many of us, eating is one of the best parts of traveling. But this thing we do three (or more) times a day comes with the inherent risk of illness, especially in places where food and water is more likely to be contaminated with bacteria, parasites, or viruses. So we've compiled these tips to help you outsmart Montezuma, keep Delhi away from your belly, and fend off the much worse things that can hitchhike their way into your system during mealtimes.
Tap Water 101
Contaminated water is one of the world's leading causes of illness. The pathogens that cause travelers' diarrhea (TD), rotavirus, cholera, and a host of other diseases tend to infect humans through water (and food) contaminated with human or animal feces. This sort of contamination is particularly common in regions without adequate water sanitation and hygienic water storage. As a traveler, drinking water shouldn't be a "when in Rome" situation, since locals may be able to stomach pathogens that would knock you out because your immune system is totally unprepared for them.
What to Do: Research your destination in advance to find out if water safety is an issue. When in doubt, stick to clean, sealed bottled water (when in doubt, ask a fellow traveler or someone at your hotel to recommend a reliable brand), bottled juice, canned soda, beer, wine, and tea and coffee made from boiling water and served steaming hot. Since melted ice and the condensation on the outsides of cans and bottles may be contaminated, wipe cans clean and let them dry before opening. Avoid brushing your teeth with tap water as well.
The Risks of Ice
Since the pathogens that make tap water dangerous aren't killed by freezing water, ice carries the same risks as tap water. In places with unsafe water, ice should be consumed only if it's made from bottled, boiled, or treated water. Realistically, though, when you're out and about, it's hard to know where the ice in your drink came from.
What to Do: Unless you can verify that your ice was made from safe water, skip it. Steer clear of ice-blended cocktails as well. If you're craving a cool drink, opt for a refrigerated canned soda or bottled beer or water.
Shoo Flies
When flies land on food, they contaminate it in a variety of unsavory ways: First, their legs carry traces of everything else they've recently landed on, often including feces and rotting trash. They also regurgitate previously consumed food onto whatever new delight they've landed on, all while leaving their own fecal matter behind. That's not only gross, it's also a way that pathogens move from things you would never dream of putting in your mouth to the food you eat.
What to Do: Prepared food—particularly buffet and street food—is prone to flies, so if you're considering food that's sitting out, make a quick bug scan part of your decision-making process. If the halo of flies around your prospective meal is reminding you of the Charlie Brown character Pig-Pen, seek food elsewhere.
Hand-Washing Matters
Hand washing is one of the most effective ways to prevent the spread of many diseases, but in many places it's still not a standard practice in food service. More and more countries have hand-hygiene campaigns, but widespread adoption of new habits takes time, especially in places where safe water is scarce.
What to Do: Seek out restaurants and vendors where the people touching your food have clean hands. If you can't tell just from looking, check for other signs of good hygiene, such as soap in the bathroom, servers wearing relatively clean clothes, and food handlers who aren't wiping their noses or coughing into their hands. And don't forget to wash your own hands regularly. Need a refresher on the proper technique? Check out this incredibly detailed illustrated guide from the World Health Organization.
Like It Hot
Freshly prepared, thoroughly cooked, piping-hot foods are not pathogen friendly, and that's just the kind of antisocial behavior you want from your meals. Foodborne bacteria multiply rapidly in cold foods not kept below 40 degrees Fahrenheit and cooked foods not kept above 140 degrees Fahrenheit, so if the food you're eating is supposed to be hot, make sure it actually is before you dig in.
What to Do: Seek out establishments that make food to-order, and make sure any hot food you order arrives piping hot (too hot to put into your mouth immediately).
Sun Warning
Controlling food temperatures is a key part of keeping food safe to eat. Food not kept hot or cold has about a two-hour window for safe consumption, and that drops to an hour if the air temperature is higher than 90 degrees. Food left in direct sunlight can get even hotter, and that means you can count the length of time during which food is safe to eat in mere minutes.
What to Do: Stay away from food left out in the sun. The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) estimates that more than 200 diseases can be spread through food, and since the heat of the sun hastens bacteria growth, it's wise to exercise care at picnics, when eating street food, and in situations in which food is exposed to the heat from direct sunlight.
Raw Deal
Fruits and vegetables are great for you, but in places where the water isn't safe to drink, raw produce is best avoided. Crops are often watered with tainted water, and raw ingredients are often cleaned with unsafe tap water. While cooking kills off pathogens, salad ingredients and other raw fruits and vegetables don't have that layer of safety.
What to Do: In places where the water isn't safe to drink, abide by this rule: Boil it, peel it, cook it—or forget it. Avoid salads and other raw fruits and vegetables, except those that can be peeled (and that aren't then exposed to tap water), since the peel protects against contamination.
Tap Water 101
Contaminated water is one of the world's leading causes of illness. The pathogens that cause travelers' diarrhea (TD), rotavirus, cholera, and a host of other diseases tend to infect humans through water (and food) contaminated with human or animal feces. This sort of contamination is particularly common in regions without adequate water sanitation and hygienic water storage. As a traveler, drinking water shouldn't be a "when in Rome" situation, since locals may be able to stomach pathogens that would knock you out because your immune system is totally unprepared for them.
What to Do: Research your destination in advance to find out if water safety is an issue. When in doubt, stick to clean, sealed bottled water (when in doubt, ask a fellow traveler or someone at your hotel to recommend a reliable brand), bottled juice, canned soda, beer, wine, and tea and coffee made from boiling water and served steaming hot. Since melted ice and the condensation on the outsides of cans and bottles may be contaminated, wipe cans clean and let them dry before opening. Avoid brushing your teeth with tap water as well.
The Risks of Ice
Since the pathogens that make tap water dangerous aren't killed by freezing water, ice carries the same risks as tap water. In places with unsafe water, ice should be consumed only if it's made from bottled, boiled, or treated water. Realistically, though, when you're out and about, it's hard to know where the ice in your drink came from.
What to Do: Unless you can verify that your ice was made from safe water, skip it. Steer clear of ice-blended cocktails as well. If you're craving a cool drink, opt for a refrigerated canned soda or bottled beer or water.
Shoo Flies
When flies land on food, they contaminate it in a variety of unsavory ways: First, their legs carry traces of everything else they've recently landed on, often including feces and rotting trash. They also regurgitate previously consumed food onto whatever new delight they've landed on, all while leaving their own fecal matter behind. That's not only gross, it's also a way that pathogens move from things you would never dream of putting in your mouth to the food you eat.
What to Do: Prepared food—particularly buffet and street food—is prone to flies, so if you're considering food that's sitting out, make a quick bug scan part of your decision-making process. If the halo of flies around your prospective meal is reminding you of the Charlie Brown character Pig-Pen, seek food elsewhere.
Hand-Washing Matters
Hand washing is one of the most effective ways to prevent the spread of many diseases, but in many places it's still not a standard practice in food service. More and more countries have hand-hygiene campaigns, but widespread adoption of new habits takes time, especially in places where safe water is scarce.
What to Do: Seek out restaurants and vendors where the people touching your food have clean hands. If you can't tell just from looking, check for other signs of good hygiene, such as soap in the bathroom, servers wearing relatively clean clothes, and food handlers who aren't wiping their noses or coughing into their hands. And don't forget to wash your own hands regularly. Need a refresher on the proper technique? Check out this incredibly detailed illustrated guide from the World Health Organization.
Like It Hot
Freshly prepared, thoroughly cooked, piping-hot foods are not pathogen friendly, and that's just the kind of antisocial behavior you want from your meals. Foodborne bacteria multiply rapidly in cold foods not kept below 40 degrees Fahrenheit and cooked foods not kept above 140 degrees Fahrenheit, so if the food you're eating is supposed to be hot, make sure it actually is before you dig in.
What to Do: Seek out establishments that make food to-order, and make sure any hot food you order arrives piping hot (too hot to put into your mouth immediately).
Sun Warning
Controlling food temperatures is a key part of keeping food safe to eat. Food not kept hot or cold has about a two-hour window for safe consumption, and that drops to an hour if the air temperature is higher than 90 degrees. Food left in direct sunlight can get even hotter, and that means you can count the length of time during which food is safe to eat in mere minutes.
What to Do: Stay away from food left out in the sun. The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) estimates that more than 200 diseases can be spread through food, and since the heat of the sun hastens bacteria growth, it's wise to exercise care at picnics, when eating street food, and in situations in which food is exposed to the heat from direct sunlight.
Raw Deal
Fruits and vegetables are great for you, but in places where the water isn't safe to drink, raw produce is best avoided. Crops are often watered with tainted water, and raw ingredients are often cleaned with unsafe tap water. While cooking kills off pathogens, salad ingredients and other raw fruits and vegetables don't have that layer of safety.
What to Do: In places where the water isn't safe to drink, abide by this rule: Boil it, peel it, cook it—or forget it. Avoid salads and other raw fruits and vegetables, except those that can be peeled (and that aren't then exposed to tap water), since the peel protects against contamination.
Foods to Add to Your Diet in 2013
2013 has arrived and with it, my yearly list of foods you may want to consider adding (or have more of) this year. All of them have been around for ages but -- like clothing, music, and celebrities -- certain foods come and go in terms of popularity. Here are 13 that may help you improve your health, assist your weight-loss efforts, or just give you the chance to give your taste buds something new!
Black Rice
If white rice is a staple in your diet, you're missing out on a whole new rice world. Black rice has been around for thousands of years, but only now getting the attention it deserves. Evidence suggests that black rice may have more cancer-fighting antioxidants than blueberries or blackberries. It's also loaded with fiber and B-vitamins.
If white rice is a staple in your diet, you're missing out on a whole new rice world. Black rice has been around for thousands of years, but only now getting the attention it deserves. Evidence suggests that black rice may have more cancer-fighting antioxidants than blueberries or blackberries. It's also loaded with fiber and B-vitamins.
Apricots
Orange is in, and the orange in these tasty treats come from beta-carotene, a powerhouse carotenoid that converts to vitamin A in the body. A recent study found that low levels of beta-carotene are associated with dementia.
Orange is in, and the orange in these tasty treats come from beta-carotene, a powerhouse carotenoid that converts to vitamin A in the body. A recent study found that low levels of beta-carotene are associated with dementia.
Soy
Soy has remained one of the most controversial foods of the past few years but, the truth is, it really shouldn't be! That's because the overwhelming amount of evidence for soy shows beneficial, as opposed to adverse, health effects. Soy may play a role in lowering blood pressure, early intake of soy in life appears to play a protective role against breast cancer, and some studies now indicate that consistent soy intake may actually help to decrease the recurrence of breast cancer among certain patient populations. They key, however,in attaining these benefits is to focus on whole soy foods such as miso, tempeh, tofu and soybeans. That means your soy chips and that soy energy bar may not cut it!
Purple Potatoes
If you think all potatoes are the downfall to your weight-loss plans, think again! A recent study in the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry found that eating a moderate serving of purples potatoes twice a day helped to lower blood pressure in obese individuals without causing weight gain. Additionally, the more color a fruit or vegetable has, the better it is for you. That's because vibrant hues in whole foods are created by powerful phytochomeicals that help to reduce inflammation and overall disease risk.
Soy has remained one of the most controversial foods of the past few years but, the truth is, it really shouldn't be! That's because the overwhelming amount of evidence for soy shows beneficial, as opposed to adverse, health effects. Soy may play a role in lowering blood pressure, early intake of soy in life appears to play a protective role against breast cancer, and some studies now indicate that consistent soy intake may actually help to decrease the recurrence of breast cancer among certain patient populations. They key, however,in attaining these benefits is to focus on whole soy foods such as miso, tempeh, tofu and soybeans. That means your soy chips and that soy energy bar may not cut it!
Purple Potatoes
If you think all potatoes are the downfall to your weight-loss plans, think again! A recent study in the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry found that eating a moderate serving of purples potatoes twice a day helped to lower blood pressure in obese individuals without causing weight gain. Additionally, the more color a fruit or vegetable has, the better it is for you. That's because vibrant hues in whole foods are created by powerful phytochomeicals that help to reduce inflammation and overall disease risk.
Tortilla Chips
Do you often find yourself looking for something crunchy and savory midway through the afternoon, but don't want to have yet another fat-free snack that fails to fill you up? Tortilla chips may be just what you're looking for! They are 100 percent whole grain and a good source of fiber, but perhaps the most impressive fact about this simple snack is that they are, in a word, simple! That means many tortilla chip options at the stores have only two or three ingredients, a far cry from some of the competitive chip offerings on the shelf that can contain more than 10 ingredients. If you are a dip-lover, pair it with salsa or hummus for extra nutrients without the aging fat that other dips (think French onion, cheese, etc.) tend to supply.
Do you often find yourself looking for something crunchy and savory midway through the afternoon, but don't want to have yet another fat-free snack that fails to fill you up? Tortilla chips may be just what you're looking for! They are 100 percent whole grain and a good source of fiber, but perhaps the most impressive fact about this simple snack is that they are, in a word, simple! That means many tortilla chip options at the stores have only two or three ingredients, a far cry from some of the competitive chip offerings on the shelf that can contain more than 10 ingredients. If you are a dip-lover, pair it with salsa or hummus for extra nutrients without the aging fat that other dips (think French onion, cheese, etc.) tend to supply.
Horseradish
Looking for a condiment that will give kick to your food while kicking cancer risk as well? Then turn up the heat in 2013 by adding some horseradish to a sandwich or salad dressing. The horseradish plant is from the same family as cancer-fighting superstars broccoli, cabbage, kale and cauliflower.Two studies in 2012 found that horseradish contained high amounts of glucosinolate, a natural compound that has been found to be a powerful dietary ally in cancer prevention.
Looking for a condiment that will give kick to your food while kicking cancer risk as well? Then turn up the heat in 2013 by adding some horseradish to a sandwich or salad dressing. The horseradish plant is from the same family as cancer-fighting superstars broccoli, cabbage, kale and cauliflower.Two studies in 2012 found that horseradish contained high amounts of glucosinolate, a natural compound that has been found to be a powerful dietary ally in cancer prevention.
Blackberries
Move over blueberries, blackberries may have you beat! Blackberries have been found in one study to be higher in antioxidants than their blue counterparts. While both berries are fabulous in terms of fighting off disease, blackberries are often the understudy to blueberries. This year, why not make them center stage? Their anti-inflammatory effects not only may help to prevent cancer, but may do wonders for your skin, as well!
Move over blueberries, blackberries may have you beat! Blackberries have been found in one study to be higher in antioxidants than their blue counterparts. While both berries are fabulous in terms of fighting off disease, blackberries are often the understudy to blueberries. This year, why not make them center stage? Their anti-inflammatory effects not only may help to prevent cancer, but may do wonders for your skin, as well!
Black Beans
So many fabulous nutrients stored in such a small little bean. This plant-based source of protein is high in fiber and iron -- giving new meaning to the term "nutrient density," and making it a dream food staple for individuals hoping to shed a few pounds!
So many fabulous nutrients stored in such a small little bean. This plant-based source of protein is high in fiber and iron -- giving new meaning to the term "nutrient density," and making it a dream food staple for individuals hoping to shed a few pounds!
Bran
Bran -- it's not just for the constipated! Brans of any kind (corn, rice, wheat and oat) are loaded with fiber (about 12 grams per serving) and if you thought fiber was only good for cleaning out the digestive pipes, you're missing out on a lot more benefits! Studies have shown that fiber may help to reduce the progression of prostate cancer in mice, promote gastrointestinal health, and reduce your risk of heart attack and stroke by helping in the fight toward lower cholesterol. Mix bran into muffins, yogurt, or even soups to get a fiber boost!
Bran -- it's not just for the constipated! Brans of any kind (corn, rice, wheat and oat) are loaded with fiber (about 12 grams per serving) and if you thought fiber was only good for cleaning out the digestive pipes, you're missing out on a lot more benefits! Studies have shown that fiber may help to reduce the progression of prostate cancer in mice, promote gastrointestinal health, and reduce your risk of heart attack and stroke by helping in the fight toward lower cholesterol. Mix bran into muffins, yogurt, or even soups to get a fiber boost!
Pears
With new and exciting super fruits being introduced to the market, sometimes it's easy to forget that some simple fruit staples are still some of the best. Pears are high in fiber and vitamin C and may be a perfect snack if your New Year's resolution is to reduce your risk of cancer. A study in 2009 found that pears may help reduce the incidence of gastric cancer by decreasing bile acids in the intestinal tract.
With new and exciting super fruits being introduced to the market, sometimes it's easy to forget that some simple fruit staples are still some of the best. Pears are high in fiber and vitamin C and may be a perfect snack if your New Year's resolution is to reduce your risk of cancer. A study in 2009 found that pears may help reduce the incidence of gastric cancer by decreasing bile acids in the intestinal tract.
Onions
Onions are not only a great way to add taste to your meals, but may also help to reduce your risk of stroke as well. A 2012 animal study in the Journal of Clinical Investigation found that a flavanoid known as rutin (found in fruits, vegetables and teas) helped to reduce the formation of blood clots.
Onions are not only a great way to add taste to your meals, but may also help to reduce your risk of stroke as well. A 2012 animal study in the Journal of Clinical Investigation found that a flavanoid known as rutin (found in fruits, vegetables and teas) helped to reduce the formation of blood clots.
Roti
Love Indian food but don't love the fact that you typically eat three pieces of white flour naan at your favorite restaurants? Next time choose a better and healthier Indian bread -- roti. Found at all Indian restaurants, roti provides something that's hard to find when you're dining out: a 100 percent whole-grain bread option. Enjoy roti over the white rice to soak up those delicious Indian sauces. You'll get lots of health benefits and may avoid the after-meal bloat, as well!
Love Indian food but don't love the fact that you typically eat three pieces of white flour naan at your favorite restaurants? Next time choose a better and healthier Indian bread -- roti. Found at all Indian restaurants, roti provides something that's hard to find when you're dining out: a 100 percent whole-grain bread option. Enjoy roti over the white rice to soak up those delicious Indian sauces. You'll get lots of health benefits and may avoid the after-meal bloat, as well!
Black Pepper
A few sprinkles of black pepper not only adds great flavor to your foods -- it may also help to block fat! A 2012 study in the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry found that a compound in pepper, known as piperine, helped to block the formation of fat cells in the body. If you're going to spice up your food, why not choose something that will help you keep weight down, as well!
A few sprinkles of black pepper not only adds great flavor to your foods -- it may also help to block fat! A 2012 study in the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry found that a compound in pepper, known as piperine, helped to block the formation of fat cells in the body. If you're going to spice up your food, why not choose something that will help you keep weight down, as well!
Habbits that Keep you Up at Night
Lack of sleep is a serious problem for business. Dr. Michael Breus, author of Good Night: The Sleep Doctor's 4 Week Program to Better Sleep and Better Health (Dutton, 2006) says sleep can cause you to make bad business decisions. "The more sleep deprived you are, the more emotional your decision-making becomes, the slower you react and the slower you think," says Breus.
Researchers from Harvard Medical School found one-third of American workers aren't getting enough shut-eye to function at peak levels and this chronic exhaustion is costing companies billions of dollars in lost productivity. Being a smart sleeper is just as important as being a smart entrepreneur, but lack of sleep often goes undiagnosed. While you may think you're getting enough sleep, if you answer yes to any of the questions below, chances are you aren't reaping the benefits of your slumber.
Are you in asleep as soon as your head hits the pillow?
"If you fall asleep in less than ten minutes, this is a sure sign you're significantly sleep deprived," says Breus. Sleep is a process that takes approximately 30 minutes for the body to complete. "Sleep is not an on/off switch. It's more like pulling your foot off the gas and slowly putting it on the brakes. There's a process that needs to occur and the body needs time to shut down properly," says Breus.
Do you enjoy a drink before bed?
"Alcohol is a muscle relaxant," says Breus. While alcohol may help you hit the pillow faster by calming you down, it has a negative impact on your quality of sleep. Alcohol is also a diuretic, so it may wake you in the middle of the night to go to the bathroom and keeps you out of the deep stages of sleep (REM sleep), causing multiple awakenings and leaving you feeling fatigued the next day.
Do you exercise right before bedtime?
While it's true people who exercise sleep better than those who don't, Breus recommends completing your workout at least 90 minutes before bedtime. "That's how long it takes for your body to cool down," he says. Exercise raises your core body temperature, which needs to drop to signal the brain to release melatonin --a hormone that signals your body to shut down for the night.
Do you have coffee in the evening?
While you may be able to fall asleep after drinking a cup of coffee, your body will feel caffeine's stimulant effects into the night. "The average person metabolizes caffeine in about eight to ten hours," says Breus. Drinking coffee late in the evening disrupts the body's natural sleep patterns and leaves you feeling sluggish the next morning.
Read more: http://www.entrepreneur.com/blog/225581#ixzz2T0aw0gzA
Google I/O 2013
Google I/O 2012 would be hard to top: Skydivers wearing Google Glass broadcasted live video from the devices as they jumped from a blimp over San Francisco, landed on the roof of the Moscone Convention Center, and performed bike stunts while making their way to the keynote auditorium.
Now that Glass is a real product and is being distributed to the developers who signed up to be Glass Explorers last year, execution matters more than publicity. Google will probably present a polished video about someone using Glass in a socially conscious or inspiring way.
[ Will Internet-connected glasses mean the end of manners? Read Google Glass Etiquette: A Work In Progress. ]
But if I/O 2013 offers less in the way of spectacle, that might mean more in the way of substance. Here's what we could see:
The Marriage of Android and Chrome?
The most interesting thing about Google I/O this year might be hearing what Sundar Pichai has to say. Pichai was recently tapped to take over management of Google's Android operating system, in addition to his duties overseeing Chrome and Apps.
Android and the Chrome browser both have been huge successes for Google. Chrome OS, Google's browser-based operating system, hasn't done as well. If Google wants to sell notebook hardware outside the education and business markets — and producing prestige products like the Chromebook Pixel suggests it does — it needs to find a way to make Chrome OS hardware more useful and better integrated with its growing Android installed base.
Google could create code that allows Android apps to be executed on Chrome OS devices, using its NaCL technology. Whether it will do so remains to be seen. But at the very least, we should expect the ability to edit Microsoft Office files in Chrome browsers and on Chrome OS devices using Google's QuickOffice technology, acquired last year. Google already has integrated QuickOffice into Chrome to allow Office document viewing. It might finally be ready to announce the ability to edit Office documents in Chrome.
Hangouts Gets Babel
Google has been working on an integrated cross-platform instant messaging and communication application. Referred to internally as Babel, it's now expected to be rolled into Hangouts, currently a video collaboration and broadcasting service. The new Hangouts is expected to integrate Talk and Messenger, with Voice to be added at a later date.
Nexus 7 HD
To compete with the iPad Mini Retina tablet expected from Apple, Google is reportedly upgrading its Nexus 7 tablet with a high-resolution screen and faster processor. Although not an earth-shattering development, an upgraded mini tablet certainly will be welcomed by Android fans.
App Engine Adds PHP
Google has acknowledged it will be adding support for another programming language to App Engine. The only question is what it will be. Over at Reddit, there's a convincing case being made that it will be PHP, a language that doesn't get much respect but remains widely used. I'd have preferred JavaScript and node.js.
Google Playground
Apple has Game Center as a communal center of gravity for iOS and OS X games. Google doesn't have an equivalent, yet. The company recently hired game-industry veteran Noah Falstein as its chief game designer. And the .apk code for the recently released MyGlass app suggests Google Play Services are being developed.
Maps Redesign
A revamped version of Google Maps was spotted recently. Whether this is simply an aesthetic change or was undertaken to accommodate new services or devices isn't yet clear.
Google Now, Everywhere
Google Now, the company's mobile predictive search tool, could find a place in desktop browsers, or perhaps just in Chrome. Google apparently has been testing code that would allow this.
Google Compute Engine Restrictions Removed
In April, Google made Compute Engine available to customers paying $400 per month for its Cloud Platform Gold Support service. Compute Engine, which competes with cloud services such as Amazon EC2, previously had been available by invitation. Google I/O would be the logical time to announce unqualified public availability.
Android 4.3
Android watchers remain convinced that Android 5.0, otherwise known as Key Lime Pie, has been delayed. Instead, they expect to see an incremental upgrade, Android 4.3. Notable features are said to include support for Bluetooth Low Energy and OpenGL ES 3.0. Delaying Android 5.0 has the advantage of allowing Google to respond to iOS 7, which presumably will be revealed in June at Apple's Worldwide Developer Conference.
Glass Partnerships?
Glass just got a software upgrade so it seems unlikely Google will have much to announce. Perhaps we'll see a partnership with Warby Parker for fulfilling custom lenses or the announcement of distribution events for winners of Google's #ifihadglass contest. Or we might see some interesting third-party Glass apps debut.
What We Probably Won't See
Google is believed to be working on a streaming music service is similar to in concept to Spotify, though the reported launch date isn't until the third quarter of the year. Google was reportedly working on a physical Google Wallet card, but that apparently has been cancelled. Google TV persists but hasn't gotten much attention recently. Don't look for that to change. And after the debacle of the Nexus Q audio system last year, it seems unlikely Google will revisit music hardware, at least until it has a functioning streaming music service as a tie-in. Motorola's XFON may or may not make the cut. We'll have to wait and see.
The latest open source movement aims to be the platform of choice for hybrid clouds -- and the anti-VMware. Also in the new, all-digital OpenStack Steps Up issue of Network Computing: With all the noise around the "what" and "how" of software-defined networking, many people forget the "why." (Free registration required.)
Friday 10 May 2013
Successful Blogging tips
Are you keeping up with the newest developments in blogging?
Whether you are new to blogging or you have been blogging for years, you will find insight in this article.
It covers 26 blogging essentials, in an A–Z tour of the blogosphere.
Each one has a full explanation, along with a link to further reading in case you want to know more.
Note: For simplicity’s sake, I assume you’re using WordPress as your blogging platform. Many of these essentials, though, apply to other blogging platforms as well.
#1: Akismet: Anti-Spam Plugin
One problem that every blog faces is spam. Shady Internet marketers will attempt to promote their products through spam comments and trackbacks, which create a poor impression for your readers. (Imagine seeing a building covered in graffiti and scrappy posters: it wouldn’t give you much confidence in the company that owns the building.)
Some hapless bloggers spend hours every month deleting a never-ending stream of spam. But Akismet, a powerful anti-spam plugin, will do all the hard work for you. By stopping spam comments and trackbacks, Akismet ensures that your blog comments section always looks attractive and welcoming to readers. As they explain:
Akismet monitors millions of blogs and forums, watching the methods and tricks used by spammers in real time. We know all about their spambots, comment factories, buffer sites and social engineering tricks.
Akismet: How it works.
If you run a personal blog, Akismet is free to use. If you have a business blog (one where you’re making or aiming to make money), it costs $5/month.
Here are just a few of the many spam comments caught by Akismet.
Further reading: How to Identify and Control Blog Comment Spam.
#2: Bloggers: Build Relationships
One of the most powerful factors influencing your online success is whether you have support from other bloggers. Instead of seeing other blogs in your niche as competitors, see them as potential allies.
Fellow bloggers can help you by:
Linking to, retweeting or sharing your posts
Providing advice when you’re stuck (ask around on Twitter, Facebook or blogging-related forums if you have a problem you can’t solve)
Being supportive and encouraging – this can make a huge difference when you’re having a bad blogging day
Social networks are often a great place to begin building a relationship with fellow bloggers, and virtually all bloggers will have a presence on Twitter or Facebook. You may also want to reach out by leaving thoughtful, valuable comments on their posts.
Further reading: 14 Ways to Build Strategic Relationships With the Who’s Who of Social Media.
#3: Comments: Cultivate Relationships
Your blog’s comments section is a great place to foster strong relationships with your readers, and to receive crucial feedback. If you receive lots of in-depth, positive comments, that’s a good sign your content is resonating well with your audience.
Jeff Goins of GoinsWriter says in his post, Six Easy Ways to Get More Comments on Your Blog Now:
“Eventually, I learned that if I wanted to get responses to my blog posts that I was going to have to shift my focus. I was going to have to write first for other people. I was going to have to add value. And you will, too, if you want to maximize your potential for blog responses.”
To encourage comments, get into the habit of asking a question at the end of every blog post. Something as simple as “What do you think?” or “Do you agree?” is a great way to invite readers to join in a conversation.
Further reading: 19 Ways to Build Relationships With Blog Comments.
#4: Design Elements
You might think that the only thing that matters in blogging is the content: the words on the screen. Strong, engaging content is hugely important, of course – but if your post looks hard to read, or if your blog’s design screams “amateur,” then visitors may not even get to the first line.
Even if, like me, you have the design ability of a stone, you can still do a lot toimprove the look of your blog.
For instance:
Bump the font size up to make your text easier to read. (Tip of the hat toDaniel Scocco for this advice, in Reduce Your Bounce Rate in One Second.)
Get rid of the clutter in your sidebar. Only keep widgets that are really offering value, not ones that you installed way back because you thought they looked cool.
Consider paying a designer to create a header for your blog – that’s the big image along the top. Many themes will let you install your own header, and this is a simple, easy way to customize your blog’s look.
Stick with a clean, simple design, rather than running the risk of creating something garish. Your blog doesn’t need to look super-slick to impress: it just needs to look professional and easy to engage with.
If your blog ends up looking anything like this, you definitely need to work on your design. Screen shot from ronoslund.com.
Further reading: 7 Essential Design Elements for Great Business Blogs.
#5: Email and Social Media
Unless you’re blogging in a techie niche, your readers will probably prefer to subscribe to your posts by email instead of by RSS. After all, email is a familiar technology and readers will almost certainly have an email address already.
The Social Media Examiner email sign-up box.
You can use FeedBurner to allow readers to receive your blog posts by email. Once you’ve got your FeedBurner account up and running, log in, then:
Click on the name of your feed
Click the Publicize tab
Click Email Subscriptions
Click Activate
Copy and paste the Subscription Form Code (or Subscription Link Code, if you prefer) into a text widget on your blog
As well as offering your blog posts by email, you may want to create a weekly or monthly email newsletter (or a series of auto-generated emails) to further engage with your blog readers. AWeber and MailChimp are both great services for this.
Further reading: Email and Social Media Marketing Integration: What You Need to Know.
#6: Formatting Your Posts
Good formatting helps readers follow your posts easily. Reading on-screen is more tiring than reading print, and most people will skim through posts to find the information they want. You can help them by using:
Subheadings (Header 2) to break up your content and provide signposts so readers can jump to the section that’s most relevant to them.
Bold text to highlight key sentences. Don’t overdo it, and avoid using bold text to highlight individual words, as this can look choppy.
Add bullet points for lists, rather than putting the whole list in one paragraph. The extra white space that this creates helps readability, and bullet points are easy for the reader to take in at a glance.
Use blockquote formatting for any quotes (e.g., if you’re discussing a post by another blogger). In addition to making your post more visually interesting, this formatting clearly indicates that a piece of text is a quote, not your own words.
Further reading: A Comprehensive Guide to Formatting Your WordPress Posts and Pages.
#7: Gravatar Image
WordPress (like many other blog and forum platforms) uses Gravatar to display avatars alongside readers’ comments.
You can sign up for a Gravatar account for free; then, whenever you leave a comment, your Gravatar photo, logo or icon will appear alongside. (You need to comment using your Gravatar email address for this to work.)
Gravatar images showing up alongside comments on Social Media Examiner.
By attaching your face (or logo) to your comments, you help other bloggers – and blog readers – to make a connection with you. You also look like an established blogger, rather than a newbie, which will encourage people to click on the name alongside your comment to find out more about you.
Further reading: What Is Gravatar and Why You Should Start Using it Right Away.
#8: Headlines Are Critical
The headline, or title, of your blog post is critical to that post’s success. Often, the only thing that people will see before deciding whether to read your post is the headline – in a retweet, for instance.
In How to Write Magnetic Headlines, Brian Clark of Copyblogger says,
“On average, 8 out of 10 people will read headline copy, but only 2 out of 10 will read the rest.”
Great headlines need to grab attention. That means you should:
Use numbers where possible – “7 Social Media Tips” is more compelling than “Social Media Tips” as it makes a specific promise. To see numbers in action, take a look at the headlines on the front cover of magazines.
Use adjectives to add interest – “7 Easy Social Media Tips.” Words like easy, simple, quick and straightforward appeal to our desire for instant wins. You can also try words like powerful, or ones that hint at something new – perhaps secret orlittle-known.
It’s often worth coming up with several possible titles for a post, so that you can choose the strongest. You may even want to ask blogger friends for some feedback before you settle on one.
Four powerful headlines on Social Media Examiner.
Further reading: How to Create Headlines That Go Viral With Social Media.
#9: Images to Enhance Your Posts
Good images – whether photos, screenshots, illustrations or cartoons – will enhance your posts. You can use them to:
Draw the reader’s eye (and attention) – usually at the beginning of a post.
Set the tone for the post – this can work especially well for humorous or inspiring pieces.
Break up long posts – placing images either between or alongside paragraphs.
Add extra information – screenshots and photos can really enhance “how-to” style posts. You can add arrows, circles, text or underlining to help your readers, too.
A screenshot with key areas highlighted, by Stephanie Sammons.
It’s important that you have permission to post any images you use on your blog. Never simply search through Google to find a photo or illustration that you want – instead, use Flickr to find images that are licensed for “Creative Commons” use.
If your blog makes money, or if you intend to make money, you need to find images that are licensed for commercial use too. Normally, you’ll need to attribute the image – this means providing a link back to the image’s creator.
Of course, you can use photos that you’ve taken yourself, or illustrations you’ve drawn. You can also buy stock photos from sites like iStockPhoto and Fotolia. You’ll need to pay for these images, but you don’t need to provide any attribution to the image’s creator. See their terms of use for full details.
Further reading: 26 Tips for Using Images to Engage Fans and Followers.
#10: Jetpack Plugin
Jetpack is a plugin for self-hosted WordPress blogs that gives access to the features that hosted WordPress blogs have automatically. It’s currently free, so even if you only want one or two of its features, it’s worth installing. Note that you’ll need a WordPress account (which is free) in order to use the plugin.
Just some of Jetpack's many features.
As Jerod Morris puts it:
“What makes Jetpack such a powerful and essential plugin is that there are multiple features that every WordPress user can take advantage of. Think about how many plugins or file customizations it would take to perform all of the functions of Jetpack.”
Jetpack includes After the Deadline (previously available as a stand-alone plugin), which offers spelling, grammar and style checking for your posts. You can see all the Jetpack features here.
Further reading: 6 Reasons You Should Install the Jetpack Plugin for WordPress Today.
#11: Keywords to Reach More Customers
A keyword is a word or phrase that people use when searching the web, such as “social media tips” or “best blogging advice.”
When a search engine, such as Google, returns a list of results, the ones that come top of the list will be those that use the keyword in question. Google puts the keyword phrase in bold (or each word from the phrase, if it’s split up), and when readers are deciding which link to click, these bold words are a visual cue to them.
The top Google search result for "social media tips."
When you’re planning your posts, it’s a good idea to have a particular keyword in mind that you want to optimize for. You’ll use this keyword in the headline (title), and perhaps in subheadings too, as well as in the content of the post. Google Adwords’ Keyword Tool is a great place to explore possible keywords related to your core topics.
Don’t overdo it with keywords, though; you no longer need a particular keyword density, and using keywords too repetitively will start to look unnatural to your readers.
Further reading: 6 Ways to Optimize Your Blog for Search Engines.
#12: Links for SEO
Along with keywords, links are a powerful tool for search engine optimization (SEO). Essentially, the more links you have coming into your site, the more important your site will appear to Google. Links from big sites like Social Media Examiner count for more than links from your friend’s blog about his cat.
You can get links from other sites when you:
Ask for them! Be polite and respectful with this, though. Don’t pester a major blogger to link to your posts. Before requesting links, make sure that (a) your post really is link-worthy and (b) you’ve already established a relationship with the blogger in question.
Write a guest post. Many large sites won’t respond to link requests, but they will be glad to publish excellent content – and they’ll give you a bio, with at least one link, in return. You get to choose the link text and URL.
Produce great content consistently. Natural, spontaneous links will come from people who read and enjoy your posts – and the better those posts are, the more likely it is that your readers will be motivated to link to them.
Keep in mind that some links will be harmful rather than helpful for your blog. Google has cracked down on spammy links, such as those from dodgy directory sites.
Further reading: The Professional Guide to Link Building.
#13: Mobile-Friendly
Reading blog content on a mobile phone. Image credit: byrion
More and more readers are consuming blog content on their phones (or tablets) rather than on a full-size computer screen. If they have to wait ages while your header and sidebar images download, or fiddle around to zoom in on your teeny-tiny text, they may well surf elsewhere.
To make your blog mobile-friendly, you can use a plugin like WPtouch to create a fast mobile theme without affecting your site’s regular theme.
You’ll also want to ensure your writing style is clear and concise. Readers using mobile devices can’t scan straight down through three boring paragraphs to get to the meat of your post, and may well click away without scrolling their screen.
Further reading: Writing for Mobile Blog Readers.
#14: Name Your Blog
What do you call your blog? There is the potential for several different names:
Your domain name, such as “www.socialmediaexaminer.com”
The site name in your header, such as “Social Media Examiner”
The name you use to refer to the blog, which might simply be the site name in your header, the word “blog,” or something like “online magazine”
It’s a good idea to make your domain name as similar as possible to the site name in your header, otherwise readers can get confused.
If your domain name is your own name, but your blog is called something completely different, readers may struggle to remember where to find you.
When you refer to your blog, you might prefer not to use the word “blog,” as that can come across as a little techie or geeky for many audiences. Think about what will resonate best with your customers.
If you need to differentiate between your site as a whole and the blog, you might use a word or phrase like “the updates section” or “the articles” – or even just “the home page.”
Further reading: How to Choose a Blog Name.
#15: Opening Introduction
The opening (or start, or introduction) of your blog post is almost as crucial as the headline. A great opening will seize the readers’ attention, setting up their expectations for a valuable post. A poor opening will have readers yawning and clicking away.
Some good ways to open your post are:
Ask a question – this gets readers engaged instantly. It also helps your blog sound friendly and inviting, as though you’re talking directly to the reader.
Write a powerful fact or statement – this excites the reader’s curiosity.
Ask “why” – if you’re writing a tutorial or how-to, readers may need to know whythis is important, so that they have an incentive to read on.
Further reading: 11 Ways to Write an Irresistible Intro to Your Blog Post.
#16: Plugins for Your Blog
Plugins allow you to add new features to your WordPress blog. Some work behind the scenes (think of Akismet, tackling spam). Others change the look and feel of your site for readers – for instance, the CommentLuv plugin adds a link to each commenter’s most recent blog post.
Many plugins are free. Others cost money, but offer extensive new functionality: the Premise plugin from Copyblogger, for instance, allows you to create slick landing pages and even turn your blog into a membership site.
Plugins do have a couple of drawbacks, though. Outdated or badly coded ones can cause security problems for your blog, potentially letting hackers get in. Also, the more plugins you install (however reputable they are), the slower your blog will become. For both of these reasons, it’s important to deactivate and delete plugins that you’re not using, and to regularly update those you do use.
Two plugins that need updating.
Further reading: 11 Essential WordPress Plugins to Get Your Blog in Motion.
#17: Quotes from Experts
When you include quotes from established experts (or up-and-coming ones), you add authority, value and interest to your blog posts. Sometimes, you may well find that a blogger or author has given a concise summary of something you wanted to explain to your readers. Quoting from them is more efficient than attempting to rewrite their words as your own.
You can also use inspirational, provocative or funny quotes to get readers’ attention. These can work well at the start of blog posts or on Twitter and Facebook.
When you include a quote that’s longer than a sentence, it’s usually a good idea to use blockquote formatting to make it stand out:
Blockquote formatting in use on Copyblogger, in a post by Melissa Ng.
Further reading: Elevate Your Writing by Using Well-Positioned Quotes.
#18: Reputation Matters
In any form of business, your reputation matters. If you ran a local store and ripped off customers or provided shoddy goods, your community would quickly learn about it, and avoid you. Hopefully, of course, you’d offer quality products at a good price, with a smile – and customers would tell their friends.
Online, the word-of-mouth effect is massively amplified, which can make or break a business. Even a whiff of a poor reputation can turn potential customers away.
Google your company name (or your own name) and see what comes up on the first few pages. If you get links to your blog, Twitter profile, Facebook Page or positive articles about you, you’re fine. It could also be a good idea to establish a presence on several social media sites, as these typically rank highly for your company name on Google.
If there’s anything negative showing up prominently, you’ll want to take action. Depending on the situation, that could mean:
Leaving a comment to explain, or apologize, to a person who’s had a bad experience with your company.
Emailing someone (politely) to offer to make amends.
Contacting a review site like TripAdvisor to ask for a false negative review to be removed, if you suspect it’s been placed by a competitor.
Further reading: 3 Tips to Manage Your Social Media Reputation.
#19: Sales for New and Existing Customers
We all love bargains – blog readers are definitely no exception! Whatever line of business you have, running a sale on a particular product or service can be a great way to tempt prospective customers to make their first purchase from you. It’s also a powerful technique for prompting existing customers to buy again.
When you run a sale through your blog:
Make sure you advertise the sale through all of your social media channels, including your newsletter or mailing list (if applicable). Not all readers will follow your blog on a regular basis.
Consider making a special landing page just for the sale. This page can be separate from the rest of your blog, and you may want to design it without the navigation, sidebar and footer, so that readers aren’t distracted. (Premise is a great way to create landing pages like this.)
Create a sense of urgency. Don’t do this in an artificial way, though. It looks silly to say that you only have 100 ebooks to sell, as readers will know that an extra copy of an ebook takes no time to produce. In almost every case, a time limit will be appropriate – people are used to sales only lasting a few days.
If you don’t want to discount your product or service, think about other promotions you could run. For instance, you might sell your usual service at the usual price, but bundle it with something extra like an ebook or a series of videos.
Further reading: How to Convert Blog Readers Into Customers.
#20: Theme for Your Blog
Your blog’s theme – sometimes called a template – is what makes it look the way it does. You can change the theme and keep all of your content (your posts, pages and comments) intact, though they might end up looking very different.
The Copyblogger Theme by Chris Pearson, shown in a WordPress blog's Manage Themes page.
Many themes are free. Premium themes are ones that you pay for – typically around $50–$100. These have extra features, and may well allow for quite a bit of customization without you needing to touch any CSS code. You can also pay a WordPress designer to create a unique theme for you, or modify your existing one.
If your blog is still using the default theme that it came with, or if you picked a theme more-or-less at random, you might want to look for something that’s suited to your brand or your blogging needs.
Further reading: How to Select the Perfect WordPress Theme for Your Blog.
#21: Unique Content
The content that you post on your blog should be unique. That means that you shouldn’t reuse your posts elsewhere – for instance, as guest posts or on article marketing sites.
Why? Because Google frowns upon “duplicate content” – the same text repeated on multiple sites, or even in multiple places on the same site. When it comes to guest posting, big blogs will almost invariably ask for your content to be 100% unique and never-before-published.
Rae Hoffman explains that unique content doesn’t just mean rewriting someone else’s post in your own words. Instead, it should be:
“Something that either no other site has, something that you’ve written to be better than the current information that is available or something that uses what is already available, but with a twist to make your version either more interesting or add value to the original concept or topic of the ‘article’.”
Most bloggers are aware that they shouldn’t repost other people’s content, but just to be clear: it’s not okay to republish someone’s post on your blog without consent, even if you attribute it to them and link back to the original. It’s fine to quote a short passage from their post, though, if you want to discuss it on your blog.
Further reading: When Unique Content is Not “Unique.”
#22: Value to Readers
In the blogging world, you’ll often hear people talk about giving “value” to readers. This means providing content that offers something genuinely useful for your audience – not just content that exists to boost your SEO or promote your products.
To deliver more value, you could:
Run a survey to find out exactly what your readers are struggling with.
Spend time and discover who your readers are by engaging with them in the comments, or even emailing them individually.
Write an in-depth tutorial on a beginner-friendly topic – this is pretty much guaranteed to go down well with your audience.
Look for ways to help readers implement your advice with action steps, learning points or even “homework” at the end of your posts.
Further reading: Why No One Is Reading Your Company Blog.
#23: Widgets for Your Blog
In WordPress, a “widget” is a little block that sits in your sidebar. It might be a Facebook Like box, a Twitter Follow button, a list of your five most popular posts, a snippet of information about you… or almost anything else you can imagine.
There are plenty of handy widgets built into WordPress, and you can install plugins to extend the basic widget functionality. You can also use the Text widget to add any HTML code you want (for instance, you could use this to add your Feedburner email subscription code).
Some of the available widgets in the WordPress dashboard.
Further reading: WordPress Tips: Exploring the WordPress Text Widget.
#24: eXamine Your Metrics
It’s important in blogging to regularly assess how things are going. Instead of continuing on with the same routine that’s suited you for months or years, look at what’s really working and what isn’t. Some of the metrics you might consider are:
How many comments you’re getting – and whether certain types of posts tend to attract more comments.
How many tweets, likes and +1s you’re getting on your posts – again, think about which types of posts are receiving these.
How many new customers you’ve gotten as a result of your blog.
How your traffic is growing and which posts are bringing in the most traffic.
Whether your bounce rate is especially high on particular posts or pages. (Darren Rowse has a great post on finding and fixing this: Bounce Rates High? Why?)
Aim to get into a regular routine of examining how your blog is performing. By regularly making small tweaks, you can see a dramatic difference over time.
Further reading: 5 Simple Metrics to Track Your Social Media Efforts.
#25: YouTube Video
Many people prefer to watch a video instead of reading a blog post, and video content is also a great way to build stronger connections with your existing readers. It can be tricky to get video files onto your blog (they’re too big to upload with the media uploader, so you need to use FTP). This is where YouTube comes in handy.
You can easily embed a link to your YouTube video – or anyone else’s video that you want to share – in WordPress. Simply start a new line in your post editor and paste in the link to the video’s page on YouTube, such as:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kP-OCD2-CvY
The video will automatically appear in your post.
Another advantage to this is that some people use YouTube as a search engine: they may find your video of great tips on YouTube and subscribe to your channel.
It’s definitely worth having a link to your blog in the notes for your video (and perhaps in the video itself) so you can encourage people to connect with you outside YouTube too.
Further reading: 8 Ways to Track YouTube Video Performance.
#26: Zeitgeist
The word zeitgeist means “the spirit of the times” – what are people concerned with, talking about or taking an interest in at present?
In 2012, topics like the Olympic games in London, Hurricane Sandy hitting New York and the Mayan Apocalypse – not to mention Gangnam Style – all had people’s attention.
While it can get gimmicky to tie every post on your blog into a current event or talking point, posts that link with what people are already interested in do have an instant advantage. You might want to think beyond news stories or major world events to look at points of local interest, or at what’s being talked about among a particular online community that relates to your business topic or niche.
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