September 8th, 2012 
Emily 
We’re traveling for the next several weekends, so I’ve had travel on my mind (and in my internet browser). I hope you enjoy these links about travel, tipping, and easing marital spats.
Creative New Ways to Board an Airplane- I always get frustrated during the plane boarding process. Why are there so many people hovering in front of the boarding area? Will there be room for my bag in the overhead compartment? Why aren’t people boarding with their assigned group? This blog post offers humorous alternatives to the traditional airplane boarding process. My favorite is boarding by pee frequency- those with small bladders sit in the aisle seats!
When You Can’t Travel: How to Genuinely Enjoy Your Partner Traveling Without You- As many of you know, my husband travels frequently for work, and I don’t usually get to join him. Since my coping skills are less than ideal, I thought I’d share this article, which has great advice for how to make the most of the time when your partner is away.
How Much to Tip (and to Whom)- I have a hard enough time figuring out how much to tip for various services in the U.S., let alone in foreign countries. The author of this article compiled advice from numerous websites to create this comprehensive guide to tipping in the U.S.
GetGoing Introduces the Surprise Element to Air Ticket Bookings- GetGoing is the newest travel website to use the “blind booking” approach (think Priceline’s name your own price- where you select the price you are willing to pay without knowing the exact hotel you will stay at.) GetGoing lets you compare two trips to two different destinations before you book. This article includes an overview of GetGoing and an interview with the company’s CEO.
How a Squirt of Oxytocin Could Ease Marital Spats- This in-depth article from Time Magazine describes the findings from two recent studies on the hormone oxytocin. In one study, couples who were given a dose of oxytocin before a tense discussion had improved conflict resolution. The other study suggests that oxytocin might help people read social cues more accurately, which could affect autism treatment.
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Great links, Emily! I especially love the one about oxytocin easing marital spats…might have to try it sometime! While reading that, I also came across another great article about what to eat before and after a run. Thanks!
About the oxytocin- I know…me too.
Glad it led you to another good article!
Emily – Thank you for the tipping guide! I need it! Last year when my hubby and I got to spend a weekend away at a fancy hotel, I had NO idea what to tip the staff. I had to tell the nice man behind the reception desk- “really, you need to give me a number”. I also have a lot of friends with husbands who travel for work, and I’ll share that link with them. Happy traveling to you!
I’m glad you found it handy, too! It’s so hard to remember all the different people you are supposed to tip, and how much you are supposed to tip them. I wish someone would make an app for that.
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