There are nail clippings everywhere. There are tiny hairs on everything. It’s all covered in a layer of semen. Trust me, I reviewed the Dirtiest Hotel in America.

Wash your hands often, wear slippers or sandals when you walk around your room and resist the urge to lick the TV remote.

People are connected more than ever before. Between Twitter, Facebook, foursquare, Flickr and all of the other social networking sites out there, you no longer need to leave your house to interact with friends and strangers (looking at you, Chatroulette). Social networking sites are also becoming key tools for travelers as they both plan and enjoy their trips.

However, like any new medium, there have been growing pains. Anyone who has seen their Twitter feed clogged by constant foursquare check-ins knows that some people overuse social networking. These sites (and the new ones that are launched nearly everyday) are here to stay and are valuable resources for travelers. That said, we all need to help the medium mature so that we can stop being so annoyed by people who are oversharing and start engaging in constructive, entertaining and educational dialogue.

With that goal in mind, I compiled a guide to using social networking as a travel tool. This should eliminate any confusion and help quiet down those who are abusing their newfound connectivity. Check it out now on Gadling.

Social Networking and Travel: Do’s & Don’ts

Currency. Weights. Distances. You’re going to be doing a lot of math on the road. Speed limits may be posted in km/h. How many dollars did that 14 dinar dinner cost? You bought how many kilos of peanuts? Probably too many.

Take note of conversion rates. Bring a calculator with you. Perhaps pack one of those Mead folders with conversion charts. Whatever it takes to justify carrying around your Trapper Keeper.

Seeing where food comes from can be both an educational and harrowing experience. When you travel, tours of fish markets, breweries and other stops in the consumption chain make for amazing learning opportunities.

Tsukiji Fish Market was a highlight of my trip to Japan. Checking out Brooklyn Brewery just over the bridge from where I live was a great afternoon. Seeing how food and drink go from raw ingredients to our plates is not just great for travel memories, it’s also worth knowing for your own health.

What foods and drinks have you seen from beginning to end in your travels? Share your experiences in the comments.

Some people love beach vacations. They go to all-inclusive resorts, sip fruity drinks with umbrellas, get their hair braided and return home with drunken, hazy memories of how they got those awkward tan lines. Others ride horses along the shore or camp in the sand. And while some people may knock beach vacations as “inauthentic travel” or an activity for “tourists” and not “real travelers,” the beach is a beautiful place.

You can take a beach vacation and still experience culture, explore new places and, yes, sip fruity drinks while getting uncomfortably sunburned. So, don’t eschew the beach or let anyone put it down as frivolous. Just be sure to put on some sunscreen.

America has given us Wal-Mart, Kmart, Home Depot, Costco, BJ’s and countless other big box, all-in-one stores. And while they keep prices down, they have destroyed family-owned specialty stores. Thankfully, those types of locally-owned specialized shops still exist all over the world.

Take advantage of those stores – and the experts who own them – by shopping in them whenever you can. I’ve visited a neti pot shop in Stockholm (featuring an abnormal number of phalluses), a knife shop in Kyoto and a whip store in Australia’s Northern Territory just to name a few. In each place, I spoke with an expert in the field who took the time to share his expertise. That’s something you just won’t find in massive chain stores.

What specialty shops have you visited on your travels? Have you pulled the trigger on any purchases? Share your experiences in the comments.

In the States, fast food is a cheap alternative to “real food.” It’s processed. It’s unhealthy. It makes us fat. In the rest of the world, fast food is often just as delicious as anything that you’ll find in corner bistros and cafes.

In Japan, MOS Burger is the second-largest fast food chain in the country (after McDonald’s). It’s also delicious. They make their buns from rice. They have delicious fish cakes. The give you actual glasses for your beverages and cook your food to order.

In Australia, I fell in love with Red Rooster. Their Crispy Chicken Fillet sandwich (be sure to pronounce the ‘t’) may be made of crack.

I’m not saying that you should eat tons of fast food when you travel. But if you need a quick snack or a roadside meal, it’s certainly a worthwhile option. And it’s unlike anything you’ll find at American fast food chains.

Have you eaten fast food overseas that was delicious and natural? Share your favorite international fast foods in the comments.

It’s easy to get carried away when partying during a trip. You’re not worried about work, schedules or being a functional member of society. You want to impress your new friends in the hostel or be a gracious guest with your host who is plying you with strange and intoxicating liquids.

But losing control on the road can be dangerous. Medical care varies in quality outside of the United States. Few of us learn to say, “My friend has alcohol poisoning,” in foreign languages. And hangovers make travel nearly unbearable.

Have fun on the road but do so responsibly. Take care of yourself and live to fight another day.

Exploring cities is exciting, but nothing beats getting back to nature. Grab a friend, some water and a bag of trail mix and go for a long hike. Between the fresh air, the chirping birds and the fact that you can pee anywhere you want, hiking is pretty much the best way to spend an afternoon.

The world won’t adjust for you. You have to make yourself comfortable. Wake up earlier than you’re used to. Take off your shoes before you enter someone’s home if that’s what they ask you to do. Eat vegetarian meals if that’s all that is available. You may just learn that you enjoy doing things differently. And you may just evolve into a unique character.