InsideFlyer Magazine
 

Subscribe to and STUDY Insideflyer magazine every month to ensure that you are not missing out on bonuses and other offers that will maximize your point/mile gathering.

SWA Web Checkin
 

If flying Southwest, use the online check-in feature. You can print your boarding pass starting at 12:01am local time the day of your flight. This will guarantee you an "A" group BP...

Igo Juice is your back's friend
 

Lighten your load: The Igo Juice 70 is an all in one power supply. It will run off of AC, Car and Airplane, and with multiple power "tips" can power all the devices you carry (laptop, cellphone, camera, mp3 player, and more). Eliminate all of the extra power adapters from your carry-on and save your back!

Download all the nearby hotels, car rental agencies, etc into your cell phone or palm for every connecting airport on your flight. Should something happen, the weather turn bad or whatever, while everybody else is heading for that hotel board in the baggage claim area with it's one telephone, you can just start dialing and get a room without ever leaving the gate area.

Always bring a government-issued ID.

Be Static Free
 

knock the static out of your clothes (or hair) with an anti static dryer sheet.

Small, cheap, light weight and easy to pack - keep one folded inside a zip lock bag in your luggage. De-static yourself by running the anti static dryer sheet across the statically charged area.

be your own drug store
 

Carry a supply of common cold remedys, analgesics, etc. There's nothing worse than realizing you need a cold medication or something for aches and pains and having to try to hunt it down while traveling.

A blister pack of the 2 or 3 remedies you most commonly use at home should fit easily in with your toiletries and allow you to take care of yourself easily.

Saves time and money while traveling.

No matter where your travels take you in this big, wide world of ours, being courteous to others takes such little effort and the rewards can be bountiful.

To borrow a motto from another organization: be prepared! Photocopies of important identification, such as passports, should be carried on every trip just in case and can greatly speed up having temporary documents issued at the embassy or consulate overseas should they be lost or stolen. I also carry a list of emergency phone numbers for the various CC companies, medical travel insurance, etc. should they be required. I've also left a duplicate set at home should they be required.

Camera's, watches, underwear is all just stuff and can be fairly easily replaced but losing your identity while abroad is a much more serious situation, especially in the heightened security concious world post 9/11 we live in.

Travel Tips...
 

Save Giveaways and Old Clothes for gifts on trips to Developing Countries:
Many of us parade through endless conferences picking up innumerable pens, pads, flashlights, t-shirts, and other "give-aways." These make great gifts when visiting developing countries in Asia, Latin America, or Africa. The pens, calculators, time pieces, and other office items make great school supplies for children who may not otherwise be able to afford them. It is much better to save them and give them away than to throw them away. Just fill an inexpensive bag with the items and check them through to the end. Hopefully you can give away the bag also!! Clothes items bound for the trash or garage sale also make good give aways overseas. Just wear that marketing tshirt instead of your nice one and give it away when you are done. There are lots of people in need who would be very appreciative.

Try Shopping At a Local Grocery Stores for Souveneirs:
Tired of overpriced, uninteresting, tourist souveneir junk? Try shopping in a local grocery store. Even countries like India, China, and Sri Lanka now have large supermarkets. These are often full of wonderful local products. In Europe look for cheeses (aged ones will keep), liquor, wine, canned gourmet items, dried fruit, and condiments. In Asia and Latin America, be on the look out for spices, salsas, teas, soaps, chocolate, and other local products. When you get home it is a wonderful way to relive your adventures and share your trip with family and friends. These items also make great gifts! (Try to keep to packaged goods though to avoid problems at customs.)

Buy Prescription Drugs Overseas:
Prescription drugs in Asia are still an amazing deal. The key is to shop at a reputable, name-brand store (there are Boots Pharmacies even in Bangkok). Just bring your drug bottles or prescription so that you can get the correct item. If you have any questions regarding authenticity of a particular drug, most companies have websites where you can check serial numbers.

Try for Wireless
Outraged by overpriced internet charges in big hotels? Just try to lobby or near a window. These days, there is a free wireless network almost everywhere; you just have to turn on your PCs wireless search and try to find it.

Eat Yogurt
Especially when travelling in developing, eating some yogurt every day will help to keep your stomach and digestive track happy and healthy. Packaged and processed yogurt is available fresh and safely from stores in almost every country. This is especially important if you are taking antibiotics that may kill the good flora in your stomach. Try it... you will be amazed at how rare travellers diarehea becomes.

Travel light!
 

Not the most revolutionary advice, but carry as little as possible with you. In other words, check your luggage. Afterall, you are paying the airline to carry your stuff anyway. On the subject of how much to bring.... ONE suitcase and ONE carry-on max. Leave the laptop at work by staying at hotels with business centres and carrying your data on one of those datafobs/memorykeys. You don't really need to work on the plane, so bring a book. Ralax a bit... life is too short to always be thinking about the office and the last bit of advice, bring a picture of your family to put bedside in that city far from home 'cause its always nice to think about the finer things in life.

Visit FT forum While On the Road...
 

So you can keep up with all the "current" events, of course, assuming you manage to go online with your laptop . ;)

Pre-paid Phoncards for international trips
 

Before your trips, research and get some inexpensive pre-paid phonecards with local access number, so you won't be burned by the outrageous hotel phone bills or cell roaming charges. If you want to know the decent phonecard deal I found, PM me. :)

For guys: When a strange but good looking women comes up to you in the hotel bar, smiles demurely and says "buy me a drink", RUN AWAY as fast as you can!!!

For ladies: When a strange but good looking guy comes up to you in the hotel bar, smiles demurely and says "can I buy you a drink", please, please don't punch me.

And now for a practical, serious technology tip for international travelers. Sign up for a Internet Softphone service. You can download the software based phone on your PC and call anywhere in the world for pennies or free in many cases. Check out Vonage, Skype or there are more such services coming soon. You can not only call other internet users, but you can call normal phones from your PC too.

This saves not only outrageous hotel charges, but even if you use a calling card internet phone calls are much cheaper. The quality may or may not be as good as a normal phone, but the cost savings can be huge.