Couch Surfing seems to be all the rage these days. Here are 8 tools that will help you embark on your Couch Surfing career.

Caretaker’s Gazette

(http://www.caretaker.org)

By joining this service (annual membership is approximately US$30), you will gain access to a classified system of people looking for caretakers in exchange for rent-free living. The opportunities vary widely in scope from ranch hands, to organic farm workers, campground hosting, motel management, nursing for the elderly, to just plain house sitting. Locales for your next potential gig could be anywhere in the world, from numerous U.S. locations, to Australia, to Europe and even Micronesia.

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1. Less worry, less fatigue
A lot of flight fatigue comes from unconsciously (and often consciously) worrying about things that might occur during flight - where your passport is, can you get your connecting flight and so forth. Much of this worry can be alleviated by keeping all flight essentials in one place so you know where they are at all times. One tip which helps is to keep a special over-the-shoulder bag which only gets worn on flights - your mind automatically comes to associate this storage place with flying, and you easily form the habit of returning your passport or tickets there every time they are handed back to you.

2. Arrive in plenty of time.
Those looking to make the most of every moment might try to time arriving with minutes to spare, but with experience, you soon come to know that the aggravation and worry that comes from standing in a check-in queue wondering if you will get there before it closes just isn’t worth it. You can easily think of something productive to do once you are safely relaxing in the departure lounge.

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This might not be the sort of list you want to see a few days before you have to join the holiday crowd heading back home after the new year… or maybe it is. I dunno. I guess it all depends on your luck. Are you heading to one of the good airports or one of the bad ones?

The following lists come from Travel + Leisure, and the rankings are based upon percentage of flights delayed.

For the first eight months of this year, one in four flights landed at least 15 minutes late and cancellations are en route to smashing the record set in 2000.

Sounds great right? If you’re ready to roll the dice, the 10 best and worst airports in America… (more…)

(1) Charge up all available cell phones before you leave.
Even the one you keep in the glove box just so you can dial 911 in a pinch. Get them all charged up, so that you reduce the potential variables that would keep you from being able to call ahead about emergencies and call family and friends to let them know what’s happened with you. The technology is available - use it.
(2) Keep an extra set of clothes or two available to you inside the interior of the vehicle. If you’re in a situation where you have to get out of the automobile for some reason, more layers of clothes are better. Make it as easy as you can for yourself to access these extra clothes. (more…)