Hi Peter,

I am a Management Consultant and have been traveling almost every week for the past 15 years. Just like you, I have lots of gadgets and processes for packing and living on the road.
The very best suggestion I have for people who travel a lot though, is to just stay calm and pleasant. I tell myself this when a plane is delayed, I have a problem with a connection, the hotel room isnt quite right, the cab is horrible, etc….I find that staying calm and working things out causes ME far less stress than yelling and getting upset at someone. The people who are helping me (gate agents, Admirals Club, hotel desk clerks, etc) for the most part, will also respond positively and are willing to get the problem solved.
I end up feeling less frustrated, stressed and tired. Most people think they have to cause a scene to get problems resolved, but this type of behavior just makes everyone crazy and doesn’t resolve anything.

Oh, and one more: smile and be nice to everyone, everywhere. When there’s a problem and only a limited number of solutions, you have a much better shot.

Shel Horwitz, FrugalFun.com and FrugalMarketing.com

Lots of great tips! For me, avoiding the incessant inane chatter of news, announcements and people is key, so I always have some kind of music with headphones. As long as I’m near the gate and have the volume tempered so I can hear my name if I need to, I’m good.

The other one is a whole slew of related tips to stay hydrated. I tend to get DRY skin while traveling, so I load up on moisturizer ahead of time. Time permitting, I shower, exfoliate *well*, and lotion up at home, then put on lots of lotion ahead of the TSA checkpoint, focusing on hands, feet, arms and calves. The amounts that they let me take through on a carry-on never quite cut it, so this helps me to be a lot less cranky. I combine it with:
- carrying through an empty water bottle to refill at the water fountains
- avoiding caffeine as much as I can
- bringing grapes or apple slices (coated in orange juice to avoid icky browning)
and it usually does the trick.

Add a dose or two of Kaopectate to your on-the-go medicine chest, and I think you’re there, my friend. You only need to need that stuff once to remember to pack it for the rest of your life.

Great tips everyone! Below are the top 10 travel tips I could think of on the spot:

1.) Instead of packing both brown and black shoes, belts, purses, etc. – try to coordinate your clothes and accessories by just brining one color. You’ll tremendously cut down on the amount of items you pack/weight of your luggage and you won’t constantly be switching your credit cards, passport, medicine, etc. from bag to bag, upping the chances of something being misplaced and saving yourself time.

2.) Women will benefit from a good, oversized pashmina. It can be used as a blanket on the plane, as a shawl for chilly weather or to make an outfit more modest, and can also be used as a scarf in cold destinations. They are lightweight and can be worn when you travel so it doesn’t take up space in your luggage/carry-on(s).

3.) Before I lived in NYC, I would always save my parking section and row information in the notes program on my phone. I never had to worry about not being able to find my car when I returned home. Also, if your main airport doesn’t have a lot of long term parking lots – automatically drive at least one third – halfway back in the lot before looking for a spot. The shuttle has to go all the way around the parking lot anyway, so you aren’t losing any time. I always found it easier and more convenient to be closer to shuttle stop than to be at the front of the lot.

4.) Several people have mentioned packing extra Ziploc bags, which I always do. They are great for packing carry-on essentials so you can see what is in each bag without having to open it and everything is not floating around your bag … i.e. medications in one, make-up in another, etc.) I also pack my shoes in plastic grocery/drug store bags (no need to spread germs to my clean clothes!) so I throw an extra one of those in just in case. Also, I find carrying a trash bag is perfect for packing your dirty laundry in for the way home. It weighs virtually nothing and takes up less room than a laundry bag. Added perk – if any of your clothes are wet – i.e. a bathing suit or you got caught in the rain – the trash bag will prevent the rest of your belongings from getting wet as well!

5.) In addition to or instead of hand sanitizer, I also like to carry antibacterial hand wipes – they can clean your hands and are safe to use on your face. They can also be useful to sanitize armrests, airplane trays, the phone in your hotel room, etc. I also carry Garnier’s face cloths – they can replace a face wash in a pinch and are great for removing make-up. If you won’t have time to freshen up once you land, these work wonders for making you feel refreshed and ready to go before you land!

6.) There have been lots of posts about snacks. Unless you have an allergy to nuts, I find them to be the best snack for traveling. They aren’t covered in sugar (don’t buy the honey roasted ones!) and you can buy lightly salted or unsalted ones so you don’t feel more bloated after flying. Since they aren’t full of sugar and carbs, they will keep you satiated longer and are better for you!

7.) I’ve recently realized how amazing the perfume samples you inevitably get a million of every time you buy a perfume actually are! They don’t leak, they are tiny and have plenty in them for your trip – much more practical than taking one or two large bottles of perfume!
8.) Even if you detest the shampoo/conditioner in your hotel bathroom. Save the containers. Once you return from your trip fill them up with your regular products at home. It will save you tons of money since you won’t have to keep buying the over-priced travel sized products at the store! Plus, you’ll be helping the environment by recycling the containers! It’s a win-win situation.

9.) For those that travel by car frequently, consider buying a small cooler. You can take sandwiches, fruits, veggies, etc. with you. You’ll be thankful you have something nutritious and delicious with you when your only options seem to be the choice between three fast food chains.

10.) Whenever I travel internationally, especially to a country where I don’t speak the language, I keep the phone number and address of where I am staying as well as other important phone numbers on a piece of paper separate from my wallet, passport and phone just in case something is stolen. If your passport happens to be stolen, you will really be thankful you have the U.S. embassy’s number so you can immediately start the process of getting new documents underway!

Outstanding tips from everyone — but I still haven’t seen anything regarding circulation issues or those of us with short legs who struggle to sit comfortably on a plane, train or bus.

A solution that works beautifully for me in these travel environments is the Redema Ottoman Footrest. It fits nicely under even an economy seat with one chamber inflated, which will take the pressure off the back of the legs and help you sit back instead of forward. You’ll be able to rest, read or work more comfortably. Think of it as the neck pillow for your legs and feet.

The Redema has a carrying strap, large tote pocket to hold a travel blanket, sweater or book, and it looks great, too. It looks like it weighs a lot with its soothing microsueded surface, but it is practically weightless when inflated. It has also doubled on many occassions as a mini-desktop for my laptop during layovers, or provided support for that nap that is so needed wherever you may be — airport, hotel room or just being somewhere waiting.

I use my Redema everywhere I go now after searching for years for a solution to provide personally selected comfort and support for my often swollen, but always short legs. I’ve loved having it especially for long international flights — it may be a lifesaver for some of us to assist with circulation concerns, too, as it offers four different levels, with the highest being at or above chair-level. You can enjoy that almost-armchair feeling anywhere, and turn any chair into an easier chair.

You can now always travel in style and comfort, even if you do have short legs or circulation concerns.

Great suggestions! I’ll add three more…

Started carrying the silk Cocoon (http://www.designsalt.com/inde.....eName=home) from my backpacking gear when I traveled frequently to small towns with hotels that were a little sketchy (read: no stars), but now I find it essential pretty much everywhere I go. Hotel sheets: Ewww.

Staying connected at home is essential, so we have multiple webcams. Ours are Panasonic, and they generally work well, but not on BlackBerrys. Logitech has written software to allow its customers to access cameras with Verizon BlackBerry devices. (Hello, Panasonic…??)

Finally, here’s a tip to avoid the slow-speed road rage and TSA grumps at the kiss-and-fly area: Take time to find the “super-secret” entries at your favorite airports. For example, at my home airport (IAD), underground walkways leading to daily garages also offer a couple of sets of elevators and stairways to the hourly surface lots across from the main terminal. Even on the most crowded travel days, these walkways are deserted, well-lit, climate-controlled, etc. Parking is abundant where the elevators come up in the hourly lots and free for the first 30 mins. Ya, you’re going to walk a little farther, but it’s a better overall experience for traveler and driver. I even think it’s worth it to pay the higher hourly rate to park here when leaving my car for day trips. Sweet.

Great tips…and funny, too. Some of these tips I’ve not heard of, so I’ll have to try them out. I use Mack’s Pillow Soft Earplugs and Mack’s Eye Shades when I fly. Along with a good pillow, I sleep the flight away and arrive at my destination refreshed and ready-to-go.

WoW! This is great stuff everyone! so much to read, and so little time :)
Here is a courtesy tip from me, for whomever you are sitting beside, to avoid an elbow in the eye.
If you receive a bun with your meal, whether soft or hard crust, don’t saw at it with your knife. Insert the tines of your fork all the way around; give it a little twist, like you are unscrewing a lid; and voila! no messy crumbs and an instantly flat surface you can butter; no bruised neighbors! Hope this helps someone (or someone else heehee)

A space-saving tip is to simplify the toiletries you carry as much as possible. I have found that one small container of shampoo can be used on the hair and body, as a shaving cream (for women’s legs/underarms — I can’t vouch for man-stubble, although my husband had used a nifty shaving oil that comes in a tiny bottle, or you can even make your own; just Google it), and shampoo can even work as laundry soap in case you need to wash dirty clothes midway through the trip.

I never travel without earplugs, noise-canceling headphones, and an inflatable travel pillow; I find I feel ten times as rested when I land and have not subjected to the roar of the engines for the entire duration of the flight, and if you end up in a hotel on a loud street, all of those items can help you get some rest. I also always pack a pretty shawl to use as a blanket, a wrap, a pillow in a pinch, and to drape over something to dress up a drab, unfamiliar room.

A travel-warrior friend of mine also insists it pays not to travel in your comfiest, grubbiest sweats/jeans, even if you don’t have an appointment right away at your destination. Dressing well says you take yourself seriously, and if you have to negotiate with anyone, you will be taken more seriously as a result.

I bring my little tripod with my point-and-shoot camera, too, in case I want to put myself in a picture and there’s no one around to snap it for me.

And last but not least: A few safety-related tips: You road warriors may think you know every plane’s exits and safety info, but always, always take the time to: 1. Read the airplane safety card. (When traveling with my daughter, we now have a “tradition” of taking a photo of her reading the safety card on every flight, which serves two purposes: It makes us look at the card, and it gives me a picture of her in her travel-day outfit, in case we somehow get separated from one another and I need to show someone what she looks like and what she’s wearing. 2. Count the number of seats between yours and your nearest two exits. 3. Check under the seat to make sure the inflatable vest is really in its proper place, if applicable (on one flight, I found only empty space where the packaged vest was supposed to be and the flight crew corrected the situation immediately. Even though I didn’t need it, I felt better knowing it was there, for me and all future occupants of that seat.) 4. Study the exit map on the door of your hotel so in an emergency you know where to go, even if you are half asleep or corridors are filled with smoke. 5. Beware of requests made when there’s a lot going on around you. A friend told me that just as the plane pulled up to the gate and everyone started unbuckling seat belts, her row neighbor asked if he could borrow her cell phone. She was distracted, said “Yes” reflexively, and later found he had called Venezuela! It’s great to be nice, but first and foremost you must protect yourself.

Thanks for the great ideas! I recently started using a hanging travel cosmetic bag for all my cords when traveling. It allows you to store the all in one place so you are not scouring all the pockets in your luggage. It easily fits in a carry on, you can see all the cords (label the pockets of organizer if you are really anal), and when you arrive you just hang it up at your destination.

Many Blackberry’s work as modem at no extra charge if your plan has data. You can hook up to a connection anywhere you have mobile phone coverage at no added expense if you have a data package.

See if there is a USB charger from your electronics. Only need one outlet if you can hook up to four USB chargers to your computer (cell phone/Blackberry, iPod, camera, Bluetooth). USB chargers are usually more compact the AC chargers for packing too.

I always bring a stash of multiple sized ziptop bags. They pack flat, weigh nothing and not only keep moisture in the bag when you want it but also keep moisture out when you want the contents to stay dry. Great for dirty laundry and wet bathing suits.

Keep your Frequent Traveler account #s for all the airlines, hotels and car rentals in your contacts with their phone #. You never know when they are having co-promotes. Having those #s handy can score you an extra 500+ miles (or loyalty points).

Wash out the glasses in hotel rooms before using them or use paper cups. While not green, I have seen too many of those hidden cameras on Dateline, 20/20 & 48 Hours.

Email yourself a copy of your itinerary including hotel/car rental/airline names and confirmation numbers. If you accidentally lose your smartphone or pda, you can go online and look up the information from almost anywhere.

Bring small bills for porter tips. Much easier than asking a porter for change for a $20.

Throw in 2 energy bars for the flights. Nowadays food is a rarity on flights. Make sure it is easily accessible in your carry on bag.

Download an audio book to iPod or mp3 player. A flight is a great time to get lost in a book.

Thanks for all your tips, hopefully mine will help out a few people too.

Hi Peter. I think you’ve just completed my Christmas list for the next two years. I don’t get to travel too much, but I hope your travel tips will be of much help to me in the future. ;) I definately need to get those Ogio bags.

Some cool tools

I been a customer of Scott-e-Vest since they started. I do have to say though, while the design is great, a few things they changed recently are annoying. The hand pockets now open all the way to the back which makes you have to reach all the way in and towards your back to find the item. They need to close off the hand pockets and replace the back pocket instead. Also the zipper quality has definitely declined. I had to send back a jacket because the arm zipper broke when unzipping and would not reattach and my hand pocket zipper misaligned and will not zip any longer.

Chicago O’Hare international is as bad as Newark. Long taxi lines on the weekend but fortunately there are other ways to get downtown like hiring a Chicago limo service or taking the EL.

Great article – you’ve got a lot of really good tips! Thanks!

The best bluetooth headset case by far is the one for the Xbox headset. It’s so nice not having to be chained to your controller. I like to leave the room sometimes but still keep up a conversation with someone. That makes it possible.