Hands-on how-tos for your home, your hobbies and the road.
Topic · 108 guides · Page 5
A rolling suitcase with a telescoping handle is a common sight in airports, and when that handle refuses to budge, travel becomes frustrating. This guide walks through opening the handle housing, identifying what is blocking the mechanism, applying dry lubricant to the poles, and putting the housing back correctly so the bag rolls smoothly again.
Older vehicles commonly used mechanical fuel pumps that relied on a rubber diaphragm to draw gasoline from the tank and deliver it to the engine. When that diaphragm is compromised, the pump may stop working correctly or stop entirely. Electric fuel pumps, by contrast, are usually installed inside the gas tank or along the fuel line in modern cars.
Priceline car rentals can come with significant savings, yet refunds may be difficult to secure when plans change. The platform provides two booking paths—Name Your Own Price and location-specific retail service—and the cancellation process varies according to which one you used.
The SmarTrip card, issued by the Washington Metro Transit Authority, is a contactless, chip-based debit card for public transit riders. Users tap it on readers to board buses, rails, or subways. Because it works like a debit card, a positive balance must be maintained. Riders can manage their SmarTrip account online by creating or logging into an account, then viewing the balance and usage history. Family members' cards can be combined under one account.
Guatemala's passports have a five-year validity, and applications must be made in person. The office you apply through varies based on where you live. Once you apply, it can take up to three weeks to receive your passport.
If you no longer have your car—or you're not driving it anymore—you'll need to hand back your license plate and formally close out the registration with the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV). Completing these steps lets the DMV know the vehicle is no longer yours, so you won't be responsible for related taxes and charges.
The resort stretch of Virginia Beach is raked clean each morning, so shells are scarce there. Head to the north end on foot or drive south to Sandbridge for a better chance. Even more rewarding: a car trip to one of the state's premier shelling destinations, located anywhere from five to a hundred miles away from the crowded tourist zone.
After you buy a ticket from Southwest Airlines, the carrier emails you an itinerary that includes a confirmation number. That number is required when you check in or modify your booking before departure. Should you misplace the confirmation number, Southwest's own website offers a way to look it up again.
An unattended newspaper pile can alert criminals that a home is empty, potentially inviting a break-in. To prevent this, you can arrange for your newspaper service to be temporarily stopped while you are on holiday. This involves contacting the newspaper a week ahead, specifying your travel dates, enlisting a neighbor to keep an eye out, and managing the restart of delivery upon your return.
Losing the key to a rental car creates a tricky situation because your own auto insurance won't help and a dealership won't provide a replacement. Handling it incorrectly may break your rental agreement, cost you your deposit, and lead to extra charges. The cost of a new key varies by car type, but the steps to get one are straightforward.
U.S. passport forms collect details that verify who you are and whether you qualify for a passport. Eligibility is limited to American citizens and non-citizen U.S. nationals from the Pacific territories. Political and religious ties, along with past travel, are not part of the questionnaire. Every answer must be honest, since deliberately making false statements on a signed federal document may result in a fine, jail time, or both.
Unlike people who live on land, crew members aboard cruise ships use the vessel as their residence for months at a time—often nine months or more when they sign on for another contract. While the ship is docked, crew can briefly go ashore, but they have to be back on board within hours to resume their duties. Here is how to get mail to someone working on a cruise ship.
A Delta Airlines ticket number, which consists of 13 digits, serves multiple purposes, such as completing online check-in and earning mileage credit through Delta SkyMiles or a partner program. If you need to locate this number, Delta's customer service team can assist you.
Even though Greensboro sits about 200 miles inland from the Atlantic, residents and tourists can still reach a range of coastal spots. This guide covers three beach destinations—Wrightsville Beach, Kure Beach, and Nag's Head/Outer Banks—with details on distances, drive times, and what each place offers.
Flying home with fresh fish is possible on commercial airlines when the catch is packaged and sealed correctly. Depending on TSA rules, you can bring seafood in the cabin or check it in, letting the airline handle the rest.
Finding an address that sits off the main drag in a residential neighborhood can be challenging, and the same goes for rural route addresses in smaller communities or apartment complexes in large urban centers. In New York City, taxi drivers rely on a simple mathematical method to determine the closest avenue for a given street or the reverse. Beyond the Big Apple, a reliable county highway map or a thorough atlas might be the preferred tool. Numerous no-cost online mapping platforms also let users identify a specific address and then look at adjacent streets.
Passengers flying out of Hartfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport must follow Transportation Security Administration regulations for carry-on and checked baggage, in addition to whatever policies their specific airline enforces. Being aware of these rules ahead of time can help travelers avoid delays and unexpected fees when packing.
Expired U.S. passports, whether book or card, remain valid for up to 10 years. When renewing, you must submit your old passport for identity verification, and it will be returned with the new one. Some individuals keep old passports as mementos, while others opt to dispose of them. Shredding is the most straightforward and secure method for destroying canceled passports.
