1) Check out the local cars and trucks in each place you visit and take a ride in at least one of them

2) Pillow- I need my own because hotels rarely have the kind I like, so I carry mine in a purple satin pillowcase. Because it’s purple housekeeping won’t mistake it for a hotel pillow and put it away somewhere, and I won’t forget it.

3) Best to get up EARLY in places like Cambodia, Masada or when on safaris or doing touring of monuments to avoid the rush of people and beat the heat. We were at both Masada and the Cambodian temples by 5 AM and it made for amazing, peaceful experiences.

4) Dive into the local cuisine. If you’re in Spain, find a great tapas restaurant. If you’re in Thailand, try the coconut lemongrass soup and pad thai. You can have pizza anywhere and eat at familiar chain restaurants when you get home.

5) Get a reputable tour guide who your hotel recommends, especially when you don’t know the area or speak the language. It’s worth it.

6) Don’t give big money to children without asking your guide first. We learned in Cambodia when giving money on the street that the children will then expect this and beg tourists. I couldn’t help giving a little, but we were advised to use discretion when doing it. Maybe find a program in that area you can support and donate to it instead. After falling in love with the Cambodian children, we visited the local orphanage and gave to their program.

7) Bring extra camera cards and batteries. We never delete the best shots from the camera cards in case something happens to the laptop while  traveling. The cards fill up fast, and you don’t want to miss a photo opp!

8) Ask locals permission before taking a photo of or with them. We  represent Americans and don’t want to be seen as presumptuous and rude, but rather polite and respectful of others and their culture.

9) In the airport security lines, try to follow men with a briefcase, rather than women with a lot of belongings and/0r children and strollers. They are generally quicker through the line and have far less stuff. If I was a simple traveler or in a hurry, I would not want to follow me! Too many bags and items…

10) Bring snacks!!! Not just for children or those who are hypoglycemic. Snacks come in handy for everyone. You never know how long it will be before you can get to food, and a quick snap will be satisfying and help you enjoy the experience. We recommend dried fruits, nuts, a piece of fruit and healthy power bars.

11) Drink WATER. Soft drinks and juices are full of sugar and are dehydrating. Water is best! You will feel much better if you drink at least 15 ounces of water per hour, especially when walking and hiking.

12) Hygiene in hotel rooms. Send the bed comforter to the floor, keep  toothbrush away from toilet (the flush spray may land on it) and where house keeping may accidentally spray it when cleaning…clean the bathtub one more time before sitting in it and wear the slippers they often provide or flip flops in the room. I also disinfect all hotel room handles, phones and remotes. Have you seen the TV special on bodily fluids seen through a UV lamp in hotel rooms? It’s pretty scary!

13) Steer away from the touristy areas when you can and try to find the boutique-y hotels, restaurants and shops. In our opinion they are more interesting, will generally be less expensive and will show you the native way of life.

14)  If you are traveling on a red eye or international flight, you will generally be arriving in the AM. Make sure you have the hotel reservation starting the day prior to arrival or the hotel offers early AM check-in so that you aren’t making the lobby couch your bed for  six or more hours while you wait for the room to be ready. We learned this one the hard way!

15)  When checking into the hotel, make sure every family member has the hotel business card, a room key and a taxi phone number. In case you are separated you will know how to get back. I once lost my traveling companion when at Oktoberfest in Germany and had forgotten where I was staying! And Ilya had the Roman police and helicopters searching for him and a friend on a high school trip when they couldn’t find their way back, having forgotten the hotel name.

16)  If you and your spouse have different last names, always make sure both names are on the hotel reservation!

17) Leave your passport in the safe when you don’t need to carry it in case your purse or wallet is lost or stolen.

18) Get in the habit of asking yourself when leaving a taxi, public place or your hotel room when checking out “Do I have everything?” Camera, wallet, passport, jewelry etc…Make it a ritual to check the safe as well.

19) Leave long distance calls for Skype, which is free! When traveling internationally, purchase a cheap local phone and SIM card or use calling cards. You can also make plans with your home service provider for data roaming packages.

20) Try not to wear your fancy jewelry or watches when traveling, especially in 3rd world countries. Leave those valuables at home or in the safe. Don’t even wear costume jewelry that may look real to a thief.

21) Fill out the VAT forms on larger purchases and arrive at the airport a little early to reclaim those tax dollars. They add up!

22) Stay clear of the hotel mini bar! Purchase water, wine, sodas, fruits nuts, all of the things you like…at a local market where they are much less expensive.

23) Put the Do Not Disturb sign on the door when you have valuables laying around the room that you didn’t have time to put away. And attempt to hide them on your way out. For instance, a house keeper is unlikely to go digging for your valuables, but it’s easy to grab a pair of sunglasses on the way out the door.

24) Don’t carry fancy umbrellas! They typically get lost. Just buy a cheapy one when you get to where you’re going, or wait until it starts  to drizzle and grab one then. Most convenience stores and newsstands have them for a few dollars.

25) Always password protect your laptop and phones…if they are stolen people will not be able to access your private photos, videos and documents.

26) Before leaving home make check lists that you can refer to prior to every trip. This will save so much time and worry.

27) It’s best not to let your house look vacant when you’re away. Have a neighbor or someone grab your mail, leave an outside light on and stop by periodically. Homes that look unoccupied are a target for thieves.

28) Don’t wear the I Love Cancun or New York t-shirt when traveling in those cities! …or anywhere for that matter! “I went to Cancun and thank goodness I didn’t get that lousy t-shirt!”

29) Keep your passport and money separate, so that in the horrible case that a thief demands your wallet or purse you can give it up without  the tremendous inconvenience of having to replace your passport while traveling.

30) I like to pack my bags so that shoes and cosmetics are in one, casual  clothes, swimwear and lingerie are in another and evening outfits are in another. This helps keep me organized.

31) Always have a toothbrush, deodorant, a razor, the cosmetics you can’t live without and underwear in your carry on. I’m sure each one of us has encountered the experience where a bag is lost. At least you can freshen up a little bit.

32) In places where they despise Americans, forget the patriotism and say you’re Canadian. This sounds funny, but it could save your life.

33) Make the hotel room your own with fresh flowers from a local market, travel candles to make it smell nice, bath oils, and even a photograph or two. You’ll feel a little closer to Home Sweet Home.

34) Be as energy conscious as you are at home. Turn off lights when you leave the hotel room, take quick showers, don’t flush for #1 and try to reuse towels and linens as much as possible.

35) Take advantage of Duty Free at the airports. It’s a tremendous way to save money on things you buy anyway, like cosmetic, perfumes,  colognes and alcohol. I always wait and buy my favorite items duty free.