When planning your holiday, let your travel agent know well in advance. Specials can come up very quickly that last a limited amount of time. If your travel consultant knows your dates and destinations, she can act quickly to give you a promotional fare.

Passport: Make sure your passport does not expire within 6 months of your date of travel. A large majority of countries insist that your passport be valid for at least that time period, and some of them even insist on it being good for a year. Make a copy, in case you lose it while on vacation (or it gets stolen), so you can send the copy to your Embassy.

Why not ask the locals, before you visit a city? They live there; they come up with good tips.

Pick out a book for "fun reading" set in the country you are about to visit. Your fictional journey through the country will put you in the mood to enjoy the sights and experiences to come.

Use a compartmented kit that has a hook for hanging cosmetics, medications, razors, tooth brushes, toothpaste, soaps etc. These are sold at travel stores. They make handling many different small items a breeze. I keep mine ready to go with minimal restocking between trips so that the next time I travel I don't find out that something important has been forgotten.

When traveling by car, make sure to have extra supplies such as road flares, lights, food and water (to last a couple of days at least), etc. Even if you don't use it on your trip, you can use the food later and save the little flares and signs and whatever for later.

Be cautious about buying travellers' cheques, as the issuers are increasingly refusing refunds for 'lost or stolen' checks.

Always use travel books like 'eyewitness' or 'Fodor's'. Carry them with you to know all the best spots, cheapest restaurants, best food, places to stay, and hundreds of insights about your destination

You can save a bundle of money when calling home from a hotel, pay phone, or cell phone if you have a toll-free number that rings to your home. Toll-free service is available from many carriers for no set-up cost, with no additional monthly fee, and billed as low as 8.9 center per minute.

Photocopy the itinerary of your trip destination and dates. Put inside each piece of luggage. If luggage is lost or picked up by mistake, it will increase the chance of finding you while traveling.