• Pack light. Experienced travelers always offer this advice, but rookies seldom heed it. Even if you’re staying in the same hotel for three weeks, packing light can prevent headaches. My father-in-law brought six bags for our three weeks of travel. He overpacked. Within days he had to pay to ship things home. Even I took too much: a small suitcase and a knapsack, both of which were crammed with stuff. In the future, I’ll take the knapsack, but when I use it as a carry-on, it’ll only have the essentials: a change of clothes, a book, and my iPod.
  • Pack smart. Take items that serve double duty. Don’t carry stuff you can buy at your destination. (You can buy shampoo in London, you know.) Leave room in your bag to bring home things you purchase while on vacation. Don’t neglect your sanity — there are a few items I like to have with me at all times: earplugs, an eyemask, my iPod (with noise-canceling earphones), a book, and comfortable shoes. Armed with these essentials, I can be happy almost anywhere — even when stuck for eight hours in an airport terminal.
  • Manage your money. Know which money source is best for each situation. I didn’t understand this, and was dinged with unnecessary fees. For example, you should know that Visa charges a 1% overseas usage fee regardless of whether you’re using debit or credit. Some cards waive this fee. If I had understood my accounts better, I would have used my credit card for most transactions — I would have received the best exchange rate and avoided a common fee. But because my credit card charges 3% to withdraw money from an ATM, I should have used my debit card to obtain cash. Some of this you learn with experience, but it never hurts to review your account policies before making a trip.