Don’t Forget to Pack Your Carabiner: 7 Uses for This Humble Clip

The first time someone suggested I travel with a carabiner, I rolled my eyes.

If you’ve read my travel content before, then you might know how suspicious I am of adding little gadgets like this to my packing list. While I love a handy item that simplifies the act of traveling, I’ve seen more duds than breakout products recommended over the years.

Let me tell you—I have been wrong about carabiners.

Around a year ago, I added a mini-carabiner to my packing list. Since then, I’ve used them for just about everything—and I keep discovering new use cases. From avoiding pickpockets to attaching bags together, they’re a deceptively impactful item.

Want to know how a carabiner can change your travel outlook? Here’s how I use my carabiner, along with suggestions from other travel buffs.

Before we start… which type of carabiner should you focus on?

There are three main types of carabiners that casual travelers should know about: large, small, and locked. I’ve had great luck packing one single small carabiner—it doesn’t have to get much more complicated than that when it comes to solo travel.

There are even mini-carabiners that are only slightly larger than a penny, in case you’re into micro-solutions.

However, feel free to experiment with a large carabiner, especially if you’re traveling with kids or a partner. One carabiner should do the trick for the whole crew when it comes to the functions listed below.

I don’t use a locked carabiner because it complicates things a bit. However, if you’re really concerned about security, a carabiner with a lock might be a good fit for you.

7 carabiner functions to simplify travel

Bungle pickpockets

One of the best ways to keep your purse, backpack, or day-pack secure in congested areas is with a little carabiner.

Simply clip the carabiner to your bag’s outermost zipper, then secure it to another part of your bag. For my cross-body fanny pack, I attach the carabiner to my zipper, then the strap. Sometimes, it might be easier to attach both zippers together.

Check out this introduction from Instagram’s Jeff and Lauren Show. If you’re interested, they have some solid travel hacks along with tons of suggestions for DIY projects at home.

Attach packs together

I also use my small carabiner to attach multiple bags and packs together, which simplifies transportation. Even at the airport, I secure my backpack or tote bag to my carry-on using a carabiner; it prevents stretching out those straps.

This has proved incredibly helpful for me over the last year—especially when it comes to rushing through an airport. If you’re one of those travelers who struggles to keep track of everything, consider using a carabiner to streamline the journey by securing your packs and bags together.

Hang anything, anywhere

One of the first travel products I recommend buying is a toiletry bag with hooks. Those hooks are important because—for whatever reason—sink size in bathrooms is shrinking at private rentals around the world.

I’ve been on airplanes with more sink space than the last two Airbnbs I stayed at.

In most cases, you can use a carabiner to hang up your toiletry bag in the bathroom—no sink space needed. Aside from finagling a toiletry setup, I’ve also used carabiners to hang up coats during winter stays and doggy supplies when traveling with my chihuahua, like a leash and a collapsable bowl.

Bring along a water bottle

I don’t usually bring a reusable water bottle with me when I travel—even though I hate plastic water bottles. Reusable bottles are simply heavy, hard to pack, and even harder to empty when it’s time to dump out supplies.

Having a small carabiner makes it easy to attach a reusable water bottle to backpacks, totes, duffels, and more.

Add extra storage space

Let’s build on that last idea. A carabiner lets you attach reusable water bottles to your bag easily—and that’s just the tip of the iceberg.

Carabiners come in great handy when you’ve run out of packing space because they let you strap something straight to your backpack. While I can’t promise gate agents will let you board with a second bag attached to your main bag with a carabiner, it’s still a solid solution when it comes to other forms of transportation.

Over the last year, I’ve used a carabiner to attach my winter coat to my duffel, making it easier to lug it around with me.

Organize those cords

Small carabiners are great for organizing cords—and figuring out what to do with those cords should be a priority.

Keeping track of cords helps you get through security faster, prevents unneeded wear and tear, and makes it easy to find what you’re looking for when that Low Battery signal turns on.

Using a small carabiner, you can clip together wound cord bundles however it works best. It’s not quite as functional as cord clips, but it’s been working fine for me. Just keep in mind that large carabiners are too big to organize cords.

Secure your bags on busses, trains, & more

Ever been on one of those busy trains or busses and felt the need to keep an eye on your bags? Maybe you’re worried about someone stealing your bag—or maybe you’re worried that your wheeled carry-on will slip out of place and then go sailing down the aisle.

Regardless, a carabiner is a great way to keep your bag in place. It’ll give you some extra time to step in if a thief gets involved while also ensuring your bag doesn’t get in the way if the journey gets bumpy.

Bonus tip: Fix broken zippers, buckles, & other bag-problems

When it comes to cheap fixes while on the road, few items beat a zip tie. Zip ties are truly dynamic—and they’re disposable, which makes them convenient.

That being said, a carabiner performs many of the same functions while being sturdier, reusable, and easier to handle. In particular, I’ve found small carabiners to be really helpful when bags malfunction while on the road.

Once again, they can secure your bag to keep it closed and safe from pickpockets. But even if you’re just dealing with a broken zipper tag or buckle, a carabiner will save the day.

How to Read Hotel Reviews: Find the Perfect Room Every Trip

Want to avoid disasters when booking your next hotel?

Read the reviews. Specifically, I recommend sticking to one-star, three-star, and five-star reviews. They should give you a pretty well-rounded view of what went right and what went wrong for other guests.

But that’s a very basic tip—one that’s easily complicated when you start shopping around for hotels that have hundreds of reviews.

After all, what if two hotels have similar ratings and types of reviews?

Which reviews should you listen to?

If you want to cut through the noise and learn how to read hotel reviews reliably, I’ve got a few tried-and-true pieces of advice that’ll help you grade any spot quickly and accurately.

How to read hotel reviews like a pro

Reviews are one of the most reliable ways to gauge how good a hotel is at its job.

That being said, it’s easy to get turned off from a perfectly great stay based on one or two extreme reviews. Here’s what I’ve learned over the years about ranking hotels based on reviews.

Best practices:

Ignore hyper-extreme comments—whether they’re good or bad. Of course, it’s great to read through one-star and five-star reviews, but I suggest taking overzealous reviews of any type with a grain of salt.
Count managerial responses. If a guest leaves a terrible review and the hotel’s management offers a thoughtful, genuine reply, I’m a lot more forgiving. After all, mistakes happen—and companies can learn a lot about their primary demographic when they listen to those negative reviews.
Timeliness is important. Don’t get hung up on reviews from five years ago… or even a year ago. Generally speaking, stick to reviews that are within the last six months. They’re going to be the most reflective of the experience you’ll have on an upcoming trip. Or if season is a big part of your trip, look for reviews from the same month as your vacation.
If a review is really high-impact (for good or worse), consider digging deeper. You might even want to look at the reviewer. If it’s their only review, or if it looks like they created an account to spread negativity, the account might not be legitimate—and those reviews aren’t worth your time. You can even use an AI program to help weed through the fakes, if this is really important to you.
Search strategically for issues that are close to your heart. For me, that’s noise—so I always use a filter search or a keyword search when combing through reviews. Safety is another big one for most travelers, along with family-friendly amenities.
If a hotel has fewer ratings, it could swing either way. Hotels that have fewer ratings are harder to study—meaning your stay could tilt in either direction. If you’re an optimist like me, that’s not a problem. If you’re more conservative in your decision-making, stick to hotels with at least 70 reviews.
What about the overall rating? Generally speaking, I suggest sticking to hotels that have an aggregate of more than 70% approval on one website. That being said, it’s normal for hotels to have different ratings on various platforms, such as TripAdvisor compared to Booking. So long as the hotel has a hearty stamp of approval somewhere, and you’ve read and approved those reviews, you don’t need to stick to 5-star stays.

Tips on getting more out of your review-trawling

I glossed over the main points of how to read hotel reviews above—but now I want to lean further into my own tactics. Maybe they’ll work for you, too.

Here are my three bonus tips:

Be judgy with reviewers—some of them don’t know what they’re talking about. For example, if someone travels to Barcelona and leaves a poor review of a hotel because it didn’t have elevators or its rooms were too small, that’s not a problem with the hotel. That’s a complaint from a traveler who didn’t actually research their destination.
Consider seasonality. I’ve also seen reviewers complaining about Tulum because algae deposits washed up on the shores of their beachfront hotel. Again, that’s not a problem that the hotel has any control over. In fact, a little research would have told you that sargassum seaweed is basically a guarantee from June to October.
People coming back to a hotel is the biggest stamp of approval I’ve yet to find. It’s also my own stamp of approval. If guests are coming back, then that’s a golden seal in hospitality.

The Ins & Outs of Living on Cruises Full-Time

Once upon a time, I visited London and stayed in one of its largest, coolest hostels. (Hi, Clink261!)

I made friends at the local pub, went on too many Jack the Ripper tours, and got lost in a few crooked old bookshops. I also chatted it up with other hostel-goers, trading stories and tips.

During one chat, I realized not all guests were staying for a short period. In fact, I met multiple Londoners who had decided to save on rent by living full-time at the hostel.

They had all of their belongings stored in a small locker in a shared room with at least twenty strangers. Day in, day out. That was my first glimpse at alternative lifestyles related to lodging—one that piqued my curiosity.

While chatting about the full-time hostel life, someone at the hostel mentioned that it couldn’t be that much different than living full-time on a cruise ship. They had an aunt who had lived exclusively on commercial cruise ships… as a formal retirement plan, nonetheless.

Turns out, living full-time on cruises isn’t just a creative and thrilling approach to retirement. It’s a fully-fledged lifestyle for thousands around the world.

FAQs: Living full-time on cruise ships

Do travelers usually own homes/apartments, too?

First and foremost, living full-time on a cruise looks different for every person.

Some people live full-time on cruise ships designed for long-term residency (more on this below.)

For others, full-time cruising means stringing together itineraries from different cruise companies, and then jumping on and off ships according to their interests.

In both cases, full-timers might still own property in the US. From condos to large homes with plenty of land, these properties run the gamut. That being said, living full-time on cruises isn’t exactly a budget lifestyle, so some might make the decision to sell their assets to fund their life at sea.

Are there specific options designed for full-timers?

Today, there are cruises designed for long-term living—and specifically for retirees who might need extra care. But this is a relatively new concept in travel, retirement, and alternative living.

In the early 2000s, the concept began to take shape. The World by Residences at Sea first set sail in 2002 and is still one of the top choices for upscale, residential cruises.

Since then, full-time cruises have popped up from mainstream companies. Some ships sell apartments and condos for full-timers, specifically.

For example, MV Narrative from Storyline Cruises and MS Utopia from Utopia Residences will set sail this year. The MV Narrative offers one-to-four-bedroom condos that guests can buy outright or rent for up to 24 years. Uniquely, the company also focuses on sustainability.

Aside from long-term cruises designed for full-time living, you can also find world cruises that explore the globe for months on end. They’re a popular choice for full-timers—and they’re diversifying all the time.

In fact, MSC Cruises will launch a World Cruise in 2027 that runs for 121 nights.

What’s the lifestyle like—and who usually ends up living full-time on cruises?

Once again, every full-timer has their own outlook and motivation.

Many are retirees who want a more dynamic way to spend their golden years. But as digital nomadism becomes more prominent, there’s also a younger demographic that’s setting sail for the foreseeable future.

If you’ve been on cruises before, you know that every vessel and company specializes in a different type of experience.

That means the lifestyle that cruisers enjoy is pretty diverse—and they can avoid feeling stagnant simply by hopping onto a different cruise when the time is right.

Generally speaking, full-timers have access to plenty of entertainment, along with opportunities to relax. From outdoor pools on massive decks to nightly live performances, there’s rarely a dull moment.

But the cherry on top is the ability to explore new places. Every cruise docks in a different port, meaning those who cruise all year round have plenty of opportunity to continue exploring the world.

Is it cost-effective?

Generally speaking, living full-time on cruises isn’t a way to save money like living full-time at a hostel like Clink261.

Living full-time on mainstream cruises like Carnival and Royal Caribbean will still cost upwards of a million dollars over ten years—without any assets appreciating in value.

The deal is a little bit better on certain residential cruises. While luxury residential cruises like Somnio will cost upwards of $11 million over a ten-year period, more affordable leases like those from Victoria Majestic might only cost $600,000 over ten years.

Still, it’s a pricey, complex game to play—even for retirees with ample savings.

On May 7, the US Will Require Real IDs to Fly—Here’s the Down-Low

2025 is panning out to be a wild one for air travel.

First, because it looks like the Department of Transportation is going to backtrack on the newly released Fly Rights program. Second, because—as of May 7, 2025—the United States will require all domestic passengers to show a Real ID to board the plane.

What’s a Real ID, you might be asking? How do travelers get them? And why doesn’t a standard-issue state ID mean anything anymore?

While news of the requirement hit news waves almost a year ago, there’s still plenty of confusion surrounding the topic.

Let’s wander down the rabbit hole to answer the most pressing questions for American travelers.

What’s a Real ID and why are they going to be required?

The first mention of this new type of identification came back in 2005 when Congress passed the Real ID Act. In a post-9/11 world, the Department of Homeland Security sought to boost its identification techniques.

So, the goal of this legislation was to regulate and streamline how state’s provide formal identification.

Fast forward twenty years and the first actual purpose of a Real ID will be to standardize the type of identification used to board airplanes—and also enter secure federal facilities like courthouses.

A Real ID can be issued state by state for citizens who provide proof of identity and proof of residence at their local DMV. Although it is not required to show proof of social security to obtain one, you do need to know your social security number when applying.

How can citizens get their REAL ID?

As mentioned above, Americans can get their Real ID after showing proof of residence and identity at their local DMV, similar to getting a driver’s license.

In some states, including California, you can expedite the process by applying online and then picking up your ID at the DMV.

Sounds similar to a driver’s license, right? Unfortunately, the TSA (as a federal entity) won’t accept standard driver’s licenses once that May 7 date arrives. However, some states offer ‘enhanced licenses’, including Washington, Michigan, and Vermont. These types of IDs will be accepted as Real IDs.

Aren’t sure if your ID counts? Look in the top right corner of your ID card. If there’s a star, then it’s a Real ID.

What counts as a substitute?

If you’re anything like me, you might be panicking reading through this article. However, there’s one huge silver lining: passports can be used as a substitute for a Real ID.

As long as your passport is up-to-date, you don’t need to bother with a bonus trip to the DMV.

A passport is also valid for accessing federal facilities, from courthouses to statehouses. Additionally, children under the age of 18 don’t need a Real ID to fly. They’ll rely on their parents’ information like normal.

So, if you already have a passport or a star in the top right corner of your driver’s license, you’re good to go. If not, contact your local DMV to figure out how to get the ball rolling—or stay stuck at home once May 7^th comes around.

Resort Safety 101: How to Stay Safe on Your All-Inclusive Vacation

From the outside looking in, all-inclusive resorts seem like the safest choice for travelers.

That’s because all-inclusive options function like insular little worlds.

When it comes to features like outdoor pools, restaurants, nightclubs, spas, and even shops, all-inclusive hotels and resorts go above and beyond to hand travelers all the tools they’ll need for unmatched downtime.

Even a smaller boutique resort might have up to 450 suites spread across the grounds, along with features like private beaches, 24-hour room service, and specialized programs for guests.

That being said, all-inclusive resorts have their own unique set of rules—especially when it comes to staying safe. Though many Americans flock to the Caribbean each year to return to their favorite resorts, we tend to forget about security, from the explicit rules to the unwritten advice.

Want a crash course in resort safety? Here’s what you need to know.

The down-low on danger

There’s no easy way to write about the dangers of travel—especially when generalizing about an entire country, region, or city.

Let me phrase it this way: it feels a little odd to warn Americans about danger when traveling abroad when the US is actually pretty high on the list of conflict-ridden countries.

In other words, I won’t throw any stones when I come from a very glass house.

But I will give you a blunt down-low on traveling to all-inclusive resorts in the Caribbean. Many options frequented by Americans are located in the region’s poorest countries in terms of GDP, including Jamaica, the Dominican Republic, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, and Saint Lucia.

All-inclusive resorts employ tens of thousands of locals across the islands; they’re important economic hubs in many cases. On top of that, it’s not uncommon for non-resort-workers to make a little money as a side hustle, offering things like party favors to resort guests and taking them out on excursions.

Here’s my point: All-inclusive resorts offer opportunities to many hard-working people, and they’re dedicated to keeping guests safe—but people with bad intentions are also aware that these resorts host wealthy guests.

How to stay safe off the resort

Overwhelmingly, advice on how to stay safe when leaving the resort circles back to this: Don’t leave the resort until it’s time to go to the airport.

That’s a very sterile way to experience a country, in my opinion. And it does a disservice to the many locals who take pride in their work and their country, and want to show it off.

So, while staying at the resort is the best way to stay safe while visiting an all-inclusive hotel, I’m going to move into more helpful territory.

Here’s how you can leave the resort to take advantage of those great tours and experiences without feeling overly nervous:

Plan off-resort activities through your resort. Nobody is more invested in keeping you safe and giving you a great experience than hotel staff. If they give you advice on what to do and what not to do, follow it to the letter. Locals are the top authority on safety.
Research your immediate area beforehand. In times of conflict, it might actually be too dangerous to leave the resort. If you’re worried about recent news, speak with the concierge about whether or not it’s a good idea to take off-resort tours.
In addition to researching conflict, also look into cultural norms. You’re going to stand out as a foreigner no matter what, but putting in a little effort to blend in can go a long way in keeping you off a Bad Guy’s radar.
Leave the jewelry and pricey items at home—even if they only look high-end. Enough said.
Don’t get drunk. Also, don’t let strangers get you drunk. Women are pretty familiar with this rule, even at the local dive bar—which means some crooks have made a steal off getting men drunk and robbing them blind. Get drunk on the resort and nowhere else.
Speaking of not being drunk, also stay aware of your surroundings. No need to go full Jason Borne, but if you hear a fuss and see a commotion, don’t stick your head in the sand.
Read resort reviews looking for keywords related to crime. Nothing is more reliable than first-hand experiences from other guests. If they’ve had a bad experience, you can learn from it.

How to stay safe at your resort

If you’re getting robbed at the resort, blame karma. Just kidding.

Like I mentioned above, some Bad Guys have a side hustle of robbing vacationers… sometimes even on the resort.

To stay safe at your resort, follow these tips:

Research and seek out resorts that are known for their safety. Again, you’ll see negative reviews if any guests were compromised while at the resort.
Don’t accept drinks from strangers, especially if it’s off-brand or unlabeled alcohol. Once again, don’t get drunk with strangers in foreign countries. It’s really that easy.
Keep an eye out for any lingerers. Tell resort staff if you see any suspicious activity, like a non-hotel guest hanging out in the common areas or wandering through the hallways.
Watch the water warnings when you go to the beach. Not all dangers come from people. A strong riptide might be even more dangerous than a criminal.

Luxury Travel Vocab: 6 Fancy Words Used at Fancy Hotels

Want to know one of the wonkiest concepts in luxury travel?

If a company labels itself as ‘luxury’, it probably isn’t. My experience with truly opulent travel brands has taught me one thing: real luxury is very subtle and hard to define.

It’s not the number of amenities available but the sense of discernment they leave you with.

That being said, there are a few mundane topics that first-time five-star travelers might not be familiar with. From the vocabulary used to the practices at play, it can be an exciting but slightly confusing experience.

Especially if you’re formerly a budget traveler.

Want the low-down on refined travel vocabulary? Here are a few of the phrases you might hear being tossed around in luxury travel circles.

Five-star vocabulary: phrases used in luxury travel

Turn-down

Turn-down service is when hotel staff sneak into your room and prepare it for bedtime. They physically turn down the sheets, which is where the name comes from, along with fluffing the pillows, closing the curtains, and tidying up.

Many also leave out a sleep menu for guests. (More on this below.) The idea is that guests should be able to sleep into bed and into sweet dreams when they return from dinner and drinks.

Sleep menu

A sleep menu is an actual physical menu that includes specialized offers for bedtime. That might be a range of pillows, from firm options to over-fluffed down pillows to specially scented pillows.

Beyond the scope of pillows, sleep menus might also include options like a sleep-oriented tea, a place to listen to sleep-centric audio, and more.

Baby-moon

Baby-moons are an increasingly popular travel trend in the luxury sphere. These trips are for expecting parents (usually their first child) who want to get away before Little Mary arrives.

While these aren’t exclusive to the ultra-lux travel space, I really can’t imagine the average American deciding that six months into a pregnancy is high time to charge a vacation onto their credit card. (Or am I disconnected?)

Bell captain

Whether the average porter assistant is called a bellboy or a bellman, they all report to a bell captain at a luxury hotel. A bell captain is simply the porter who is in charge of all concierge services related to luggage.

Concierge

You’re probably already familiar with a concierge. This term applies to all staff who help hotel guests make appointments, book services, and fulfill similar needs. But at a five-star hotel, every guest (usually) has their own specific concierge.

This concierge has also been prepped to serve specific clientele. If guests have stayed there before, the hotel will have kept notes on their preferences. If not, guests have likely already communicated their expectations and needs, which a personal concierge will see to.

Sabering

Sabering is the art of lobbing off champagne corks with an actual saber. Don’t know what sabers are? They’re cavalry swords with a one-edged, slightly curved blade.

While we’ve all seen someone de-cork a bottle of champagne with a knife, sabering is an even flashier way to get that bubbly. And while it’s not a standard throughout the five-star travel world but has made a comeback over the last decade.

Apparently, it’s a nod back to the old days of glamorous hotel stays in Europe.