Hands-on how-tos for your home, your hobbies and the road.
Topic · 108 guides · Page 3
Whether you own TSA-approved locks or standard built-in models, the process of assigning a personal code involves specific mechanical steps. This guide walks through the procedures for both TSA locks and Samsonite-style push-button locks.
A Pennsylvania E-ZPass is a radio-frequency transponder mounted in your vehicle, enabling automatic toll payment at collection points on roads, bridges, and tunnels. It works with toll agencies across more than a dozen states, spanning from northern Illinois to New England. The device charges your account as you pass, eliminating the need for cash or coins.
Glass, plastic, aluminum, and paper are among the materials used to package food and beverages. For both consumers and producers, each material brings its own set of pros and cons.
Heys USA Group makes travel gear and resettable locks, which come with many bags and are sold separately. Different models like hardside, softside, graphite frame, TSA, ePac, and built-in locks have unique layouts but follow a similar reset method.
The Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority issues reusable plastic Charlie Cards that can be used to pay fares on its bus and rail services. Those who ride often may find these cards help them save both time and money. A card comes with an initial stored value when first obtained. Once that amount is used up, the cardholder can top it up either via a computer or at a fare vending machine. Checking the current balance is only possible at one of these machines.
Many airlines allow passengers to buy tickets electronically, either straight from the carrier or via online travel agencies like Expedia, Orbitz, or Travelocity. This approach lets you compare options from home to find a good price. After buying an e-ticket, you need to go through a few steps to confirm your flight details.
Freight trains play a key role in transporting goods across the country. If you've ever waited at a crossing and wanted to know when trains come through, you can learn their schedules to plan around them. This guide outlines how to gather the necessary details and use online tools to track freight trains.
Hotels sometimes overbook, leading to a situation called "walking a guest," where a guest with a reservation is relocated because no room is available. This can stem from unforeseen maintenance problems, a surge in room demand, or the hotel's effort to offset no-shows. To lower the chance of being affected, you can arrive earlier in the day and verify your booking on your scheduled arrival date.
After building up frequent flyer miles over time, you may be ready to redeem them. Knowing your current balance is the first step, and there are several methods to obtain that figure, including airline loyalty program tools.
United Airlines discourages paper tickets by charging a $50 fee for requesting one, whether at booking or later, as stated on its website as of March 2010. Travelers can instead check in and obtain a boarding pass for their E-ticket through multiple methods provided by the airline.
Not every premium cabin is created equal — the aircraft type and age can affect how much space and comfort you get. Travelers who want the best experience should consider where their seat is located and what kind of long-haul product they are booking, from recliners to fully enclosed suites. Modern premium cabins also tend to include a wider range of onboard perks.
When bad weather keeps you indoors or you simply want a low-key evening away from crowded sights, turning to games can transform your hotel room into a hub of fun. From team-based scavenger hunts to improvised basketball with a wastebasket, these activities offer amusement, unwinding, and shared family moments. Options range from active hallway races to classic board and card games, ensuring everyone stays engaged.
Delta Air Lines' frequent flyer program, SkyMiles, lets members exchange miles for accommodations at select hotel partners. These miles can cover rooms for the member or for someone else, such as family members on a trip. Because the number of rooms available for award stays can be capped, early booking is recommended during high-demand travel periods.
Misplacing rental car keys can trigger extra fees and complicate your trip. Enterprise Rent-A-Car advises calling its roadside assistance line or a local branch when keys are lost. Replacement costs vary by key type, and optional insurance usually does not cover lost keys. Ask about fees and request a spare set if you still need to drive.
Misplacing a passport before an international trip means you must act quickly to get a replacement, since airlines won't let you depart without valid documentation. Fortunately, the replacement process itself is not complicated.
If you're preparing for a first visit to New York City, the subway offers an affordable and dependable way to reach all parts of the city. For those who haven't used it before, the system may appear daunting or puzzling. Studying a subway map ahead of time can make your travels smoother. With some advance planning, you'll be navigating the subway comfortably in no time. The Metropolitan Transit Authority provides a free map of the NYC subway system that you can either download or ask to receive by mail.
Wind, water, ice and waves all wear away the planet's surface at different speeds, and the results of that wear can be dramatic. From a vast canyon in the American Southwest to a sandstone formation in Arizona and a peak in the Swiss Alps, these natural processes have produced distinctive landforms both along coastlines and far inland.
Pod seats, which can recline further than standard seats and often convert to flat beds, are available on certain long-haul and transatlantic flights. These seats are typically found in first-class and premium cabins, with different airlines providing varying degrees of recline and configurations.
