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A frequently-updated collection of helpful tips and practical travel strategies

Stay Near the Action
If checking out the local nightlife is part of your itinerary, you’d be smart to book a hotel room within walking distance of your destination’s gay scene. Historical sites and pristine beaches are easily accessible by public transportation during the day, but haggling with shady cabbies at the end of your evening can be a sobering experience.
Aaron Michael Caramanis, via e-mail

Bye-bye Backache
A new and very welcome discovery for economy-class travelers is the 1st Class Sleeper, a blow-up device (quick to inflate) that assumes the contours of your body. It supports your lower back and has side wings on which to rest your head while you’re sleeping —instead of slumping it forward on your chest. Deflated, it’s compact enough to store in the outside zipper compartment of your carry-on. You can find it at TravelSmith.com.
Alex Trudeau, Denver

Riding the Rails
If you have firm travel plans, it’s definitely easier, less frustrating, and cheaper to buy European train tickets in advance. Rail Europe, the folks that bring you a dizzying array of rail passes, has recently upgraded its Web site (www.raileurope.com) to make it easier to find and purchase point-to-point tickets in Europe. Still, if you don’t find exactly what you are looking for, it’s a good idea to check the European rail Web sites—such as www.ns.nl (Netherlands), www.sncf.com (France), and especially www.bahn.de (Germany)—for detailed information about routes, stations, amenities, and local rules. Remember, even if you purchase a pass, many trains (including sleepers and all high-speed trains) require supplemental tickets.
Clay Doyle, Los Angeles

Go the Extra Mile
Blackout dates make it hard to redeem frequent flier miles. Some programs allow miles to be used to buy nontravel items, like magazine subscriptions or restaurant coupons. But keep in mind that you’ll be spending more than the actual cost of the item. An even better way to use up any extra miles is to donate them. The Red Cross uses donated miles to transport volunteers and staff to global spots in critical need, and Operation Hero Miles helps to fly home soldiers stationed in Iraq or Afghanistan.
Sarah Bower, Wellington, New Zealand

Call, Don’t Crawl
I always keep the reservation number of the airline on which I’m flying on my cell phone. That way, in case a wing nut breaks on the airplane and there’s the dreaded announcement that my flight is canceled, I can immediately call and get booked on the next flight instead of waiting in a long line and hoping for a miracle. I’ll already have a seat by the time I reach the overworked clerk scrambling to find seats for the rest of the pissed-off customers.
Bob Smith, Los Angeles

Spray Away
I’m always shocked when people don’t know about this: Pack a small empty plastic spray bottle and fill it upon arrival at your destination. Use it to lightly spritz out wrinkles on your tightly packed wardrobe items. It truly works wonders!
Jane Allen, Ann Arbor, Mich.

Packing Particulars
I always pack at the last minute. It keeps me from overpacking. Too much time equals too much stuff. Bring only your favorite jacket—be it sport or casual—and only two pairs of shoes (and one them has to be the pair you wear on the plane). And only two pairs of jeans, no matter what. Basics travel best, but avoid light colors. Dark basics are easy to repeat…and you can easily get way with it. It’s practically impossible to call a “rerun” on a black button-up and classic jeans. It’s appropriate for 99% of all situations, and if you didn’t skimp, you’ll always look great. For extended trips (30-plus days) I’ve been known to bring my own bedding, which pretty much negates everything I just said. Oh, one last thing: You never know when you’re going to need swim trunks…because it’s not always appropriate to be naked.
Levi Elder, Salt Lake City

Make Yourself the Star
Photos are the best travel souvenirs. So when snapping shots in your locale du jour, don’t just point and shoot—get your partner, your friend, or yourself into the frame. It sounds obvious, but this makes for a much better slide show when you share the pictures with friends back home. I mean, come on, we know what the Eiffel Tower looks like!
J. Roberts, Lexington, Ky.

Double Duty
Dryer sheets—those hardy combatants of static cling—work extra hard on the road. Placed in suitcases, they’ll keep clothes and shoes smelling fresh. (And urban legend has it that if you rub them on the body, the fragrance wards off mosquitoes.)
Joel Dossi, Syracuse, N.Y.

Euro Cash
Winding up that grand tour of continental Europe on British shores? Don't convert all those unspent euros back into dollars before your flight. Despite the United Kingdom's resistance to ditching the pound in favor of the communal currency, many High Street British stores--including quintessential department store Marks and Spencer, Waterstone's bookshops, and even market stalls in Camden Lock--quietly accept euro notes and coins (which are unwelcome at most bureaux de change). You won't get a competitive exchange rate--a 50¢ tabloid newspaper could cost up to 1 Euro--but it's a good way to get rid of those coins loading down your pocket.
Paul Clements, London

One Less Line
As a frequent business traveler, I've seen that figuring out a way to remove one more glacially slow queue from the airline boarding process is the difference between insanity and mere aggravation. I was thrilled when I found out that more hotel chains are offering services that allow travelers to check in for flights and print boarding passes from the hotel lobby (Marriott is even rolling out automated check-in kiosks). As long as you don't have to check luggage, you can bypass the ticket counter and go straight to security. Even if your hotel doesn't offer this service, many airlines allow you to check in 24 hours before your flight via their Web sites. Just have the concierge print out your boarding pass before you leave the hotel.
David Ruiz, Albuquerque

Kiss the Chef
If I'm in an unfamiliar restaurant and want to make the most of my dining experience, I throw myself at the mercy of the chef (not the servers on autopilot who report their own favorites or what's most popular--neither of which usually represents the kitchen's forte). I send a message to the chef that I've only got one night to discover what's dazzling: Choose for me and send it my way. He's thrilled to be asked and often sends a little extra “surprise course” for someone that passionate about food.
Carla Waldemar, Via e-mail

Buckle Up and Go Bronze
Apply a mix of half facial moisturizer and half self-tanner to your face before you go to sleep on a long-haul flight (be sure to wash hands well afterward)--it's fabulous to wake up tan and walk off the plane and into the arms of your lover, or into an important business meeting, looking like a million bucks.
Andria Mitsakos Delray, Beach, Fla.

Keep a Spare Passport
Die-hard travelers who frequently apply for visas to multiple countries must often reschedule their trips because a bureaucrat in one country might not return their passport in time for them to get it stamped by a bureaucrat in another country. The U.S. State Department does allow exceptions for Americans to have duplicate passports. Call the State Department's passport services line at 877-487-2778 for more information, and if you can justify your case, you can apply for a duplicate passport that's valid for two years. It's also handy for emergencies on trips where you lose your passport and cannot apply immediately for a new one.
Miguel Largo, New York City

Save the Speech
I've traveled 50,000 miles by plane this year. On a long flight, if you happen to sit by somebody you might want to talk to, wait to unleash your verbal volleys until the last 45 minutes of the flight. You don't want to be stuck in endless forced conversation the whole flight if that person turns out to be annoying.
Jed Hunter, Atlanta

Gotta Go?
I recently traveled across the country alone by car, and the best thing I did for myself was drink a lot of water. Not only is it important to hydrate, but drinking water will require you to make many stops (and it helped keep me awake longer). When you do need to relieve yourself, stop in towns that are just off exits. It's more interesting than the highway rest stops, and the bathrooms are better. The frequent stops (about every 175 miles) helped me average an additional 200 miles a day.
Brian Orter, New York City

Gourmet to Go
Sick of airline food? SkyMeals (866-759-6325) allows you to order fresh gourmet meals 24 hours or more before a trip. The company will deliver to your home, your hotel, or even right outside your airport terminal. The food is great too—no $5 snack boxes or peanuts—we're talking shrimp and asparagus farfalle and grilled chicken Caesar salads! Currently you can get the meals only if flying from Los Angeles International, Long Beach, Orange County–John Wayne, or Burbank–Bob Hope. It's an L.A. thing.
John Jacobs Laguna Beach, Calif.

Scent Memories
Nothing brings back a memory as powerfully as a scent or fragrance. I've learned in my various travels to always purchase something particularly pungent, fragrant, or just evocative of a place. In China, I bought some sandalwood incense. In Las Vegas, I indulged in some Jo Malone cologne. In Bali, I bought coconut-scented candles. I take home these goodies and just one whiff, spark, or spritz and I am transported back: to the bustling hawker street in Shanghai, the happy jingle of slots in Vegas, and the sun-kissed serenity of Bali.
Jules Dacanay Manila, Philippines

Shrinking Violet
I recently moved to Paris and was at a loss to figure out how to cram a year's worth of clothes into two suitcases. Then I remembered those dorky infomercials for "space bags"—basically giant Baggies in which you stash your stuff then squeeze or vacuum out the air so they compress pancake-thin. I took a deep breath, swallowed my pride, and tried them out. When I got to Paris I opened the bags, the air rushed in, and my clothes fluffed up beautifully. Whew!
Lisa Valentine Minneapolis

Textual Healing
Use your mobile phone to send text messages to yourself when you're at the airport. Usually, I'll text myself the location of my car in the parking lot and instructions for placing calls and accessing voice mail using my mobile phone's international roaming features when abroad.
Richard Johnson Chicago

Conquer Homeo-phobia
Two absolutely effective homeopathic remedies for staying healthy on the go: No-Jet-Lag, available at all health food stores, helps you feel a lot less draggy when you arrive overseas. Simply chew a little white pill at takeoff, every couple of hours while in flight, and upon landing. To ward off intestinal bugs, try GSE (grapefruit seed extract) liquid concentrate, also available at health food stores. Just take several drops in a little bit of juice or soda (orange Fanta seems to mask the terribly bitter flavor the best) before every meal you eat. You must be vigilant for it to work! My girlfriend and I have eaten food from some of the diciest taco stands and street vendors throughout Mexico and have never had any stomach trouble.
Laura Huffington Washington, D.C.

Pest Control
If you're traveling somewhere tropical, where shoddy (or no) screens in your hotel room coupled with mosquitoes could spell disaster, take a travel mosquito net with you. Repel makes a very light model with a tiny aluminum frame that you set up just like a mini dome tent and position over your head and shoulders when you sleep. A light blanket takes care of the rest.
Jason Gruff Portland, Ore.

Ship It or Ship Out
I'm a flight attendant for a major airline and I see all the mistakes people make. If there is a doubt that the airline will accept an oversize package, have it professionally packed and shipped. Something to keep firmly in mind is that airlines are in the business of shipping people, not that wonderful original oil painting you bought on the banks of the Seine in Paris. If an item won't fit into the overheads or under the seat in front of you, we cannot accept it in the passenger compartment, no matter how expensive it is. Paying for professional shipping and insurance is the best way to protect an investment.
Louis Haskins Philadelphia

On the Menu
How can you tell an authentic local restaurant from a tourist trap? The menu is almost always a sure giveaway. Use the following scale: Translated into English and other languages? Avoid at all costs. Translated into English? Probably not worth going to but could be better than nothing. Printed menu in native language? Pretty good sign. Handwritten menu in native language? Now weíre talking. No menu at all? You've hit the jackpot!
Aaron Hamburger, Rome

In the Zone
When trotting across several different time zones to reach your destination, it's easy to arrive with a befuddled internal clock. To fight jet lag, never do the math. As soon as your plane departs (or in mid flight), reset your watch to the local time of your destination. Forget about your home time; it doesnít exist. When you land, your watch will already reflect the correct time. Be a local. Stay on local time' wherever you may be!
Joan Maurer, Los Angeles

Sharing Is Caring
When traveling with your boyfriend or girlfriend (or other trusted companion) divide your wardrobe and other necessities evenly between your respective suitcases. If the airline loses one of your bags, you may lose your favorite pair of pink panties, but at least you wonít be forced to go au naturel (or worse: pay for overpriced wares in stores with jacked-up tourist prices).
Leon Smith, West Long Branch, N.J.

Debit Double Up
Make sure to carry a spare ATM card with you on your travels (most banks allow you to order additional cards). If an errant ATM gobbles up your card (this happened to me on a trip to Thailand), youíll still have another card to fall back on and wonít find yourself cashless for an extended period of time. Keep the spare plastic in a safe place within your hotel room just in case your wallet is swiped.
Ernie Stewart, Portland, Ore.

Incognito Americano
Want to avoid looking like a stereotypical tourist and an easy mark for pickpockets? Rather than whip out your guidebook on the street, simply tear out the relevant pages and consult those. There’s no need to keep your guidebook in pristine condition as they quickly become out of date and you’ll probably never consult them after your trip anyway. Also, instead of wearing a telltale U.S. backpack, get a shopping bag from a local store and carry your stuff in that instead. And flip-flops or cargo shorts scream “Yankee” louder than Roseanne Barr belting out our national anthem.
Aaron Hamburger, Rome

Overhead and Out of Mind
Ever gotten to the back of a booked flight and been unable to find room for your baggage? Remember this next time: You may have a seat assignment, but your carry-on bags do not. The overhead compartments are a free-for-all! Put your bag in the first available spot you see while boarding the plane. By doing so you not only ensure a space for you bag but you’ll have an easier exit when disembarking.
Adam H. Graham, New York City

One-way Wardrobe
I have found that my faded T-shirts, worn socks, and shoes that are at the end of their run look positively elegant in foreign trash cans. I always pack to toss, knowing that I can buy those high-fashion togs in distant lands because there will be plenty of room in my luggage—since most of the things I brought with me got there on a one-way ticket.
Douglas Lindeman, Berkeley, Calif.

The Incidental Tourist
Incidental charges are a hassle. Many hotels temporarily suspend and lock various amounts of money on your credit or debit card, sometimes up to $200, and often up to a week after you’ve checked out. If you don’t plan on using these services, inform the front desk upon check-in and they’ll usually comply by removing the options from your room.
Lisa Reynolds, Columbus, Ohio

Lighten Up
On longer trips—anything over a week or two—it’s so much easier to pack light and buy what you need when you hit the ground. This alleviates dragging 80-pound luggage on cobblestone streets looking for your Italian pension at 3 a.m., plus you get to shop and dress like the locals and go home with useful souvenirs.
Jon Bush, Los Angeles

Zip It
I’m a pretty bad packer when it comes to wrinkles, but I do have a couple of things I try to remember to do: I always pack lotions and colognes in zip-lock bags in case they break so it doesn’t get all over everything in the bag; I also put glasses and my cell-phone charger in my shoes to avoid breakage.
Gregory Gentile, Los Angeles

Q-tip Tip
When traveling on a plane, make sure you have Neosporin and Q-tips. Put some Neosporin on the Q-tip and swab both inner nostrils to keep germs from getting inside—and you from getting sick. This really works and keeps your sinuses moist.
Gregory Wein, New York City

Baggage Weighing You Down?
Either leave the extra Prada pumps behind or have your luggage picked up from your home or hotel before you go to the airport (you can even check-in to your flight early) with Baggage Direct.

Take Direction From Your cell phone
Send a text message from your cell phone to GOOGL with, for example, “Girls Room, New York” and it will text back the address and phone number of the East Village lesbian bar. You’ll never use 411 again!

Ice, Ice, Baby
Following the recent bombings in London, the British Ambulence Service launched a campaign to get people to store the word “I C E” in their mobile phone address books. They’re encouraging people to enter the name and phone number of the person they want to be contacted “In Case of Emergency.” Not a bad idea--no matter which continent you're traversing this year.

Hotel Room Haggling
Don’t have hotel reservations? If you walk into a hotel between 4 and 6 p.m. and start bargaining at the front desk, you may end up with a great deal. The hotel would rather give you a low rate than let a room go empty for the night. (A word of caution: You really shouldn’t risk showing up with no reservations unless it’s the off-season.)

No Papers, Please
Before you leave for vacation, set up a free web-based email account, and email yourself all your important information--passport number, flight numbers, credit card numbers, traveler's check numbers, phone numbers, etc.--any information you may need if your belongings are lost or stolen. You can simply log on at an Internet cafe to retrieve the info. Of course, you may want to check the encryption security of the email provider before you send this vital info over the net.

Coughing in Coach?
Your chance of avoiding a cold or flu on your next flight increases the closer you sit to the front of the plane, where the air is cleanest.

Security Line Savvy
Enter your departure city and terminal number at www.tsa.gov/public to get maximum and average security checkpoint wait times for your specific flight.

Bill Me Later
Worried about giving your credit card information to a third party travel booking engine? Many sites, including Hotels.com, now have “Bill me later” buttons where you can make an online purchase without giving away your digits. After running a quick credit check (you provide date of birth and part of your social security number), your reservation will be confirmed and you’ll get an invoice in the mail.

Track a flight in the air from your computer
Type an airline and flight number, like "United 69," into Google for a link to a map of that flight's progress in the air.

Keep your clothes from wrinkling on the road
Roll your clothes instead of folding them to avoid wrinkling. Also, pack your button-ups unbuttoned. You can also try placing plastic dry-cleaning bags around your finest threads to minimize wrinkling.

Stay out of global trouble spots
Traveling off the beaten path can be exhilarating, but there may be things you don't know about your destination. At the U.S. State Department's Web site, you'll find a list of places they warn you not to go. Don't worry, those secretive beaches on Mykonos are still safe.

Stay healthy overseas
For people with concerns about their health overseas, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention provides an efficient site that cross-references regions, diseases, and recommended vaccinations. This is a valuable tool for individuals with compromised immune systems--and a virtual encyclopedia for hypochondriacs.

Find the best seat on the plane
Want to find that one row of seats with extra legroom? Looking for the most unobstructed view of the in-flight entertainment? SeatGuru.com combines detailed seat map graphics of every major carrier, in-depth remarks and observations, a color-coded system to help identify superior and substandard seats, and icons to denote amenities such as laptop power and audio/video entertainment.

Find pet-friendly accommodations
Want to bring your prized poodle to Paris? Check with the Convention and Visitors Bureau in whatever city you plan on visiting for pet-friendly lodging options. You can find contact information at Tourism Offices Worldwide.

Do a quick workout in your hotel room
The Suitcase Shoulder Press is a "hotel" variation of a standard gym exercise that works the shoulder muscles and the triceps muscles of the arm. How to do it: If you have a duffel bag, this is a one-hand exercise; if it's a large, hard case, use both hands. Start from a seated position with the bag in your hand(s), arms straight up. Then slowly lower your arm to near shoulder height. Repeat. Tip: Be careful of the weight and size of the bag. Smaller, easily handled bags are better. Using a very large, very heavy suitcase here may end up not building your deltoids but conking you on the head!

Want to share a great travel tip? E-mail us at leon@alternativetravel.co.za