1. Keep an index card of your frequent flyer numbers. Be sure to give the number to the airline at check in. This will help insure you receive proper credit for the flight. Always retain your boarding passes until you confirm receipt of your mileage.

2. A simple $1 cotton bandana has many uses on the road. Use it to dry your hands, as a napkin or a placemat for a picnic, cover your mouth in the dust, dry off a seat, wrap a sandwich or (heaven forbid) make a tourniquet. They wash easily in the sink and are dry in the morning. Take two!

3. Enlarge photocopies of your credit cards, both front and back. The back is important because for the emergency contact numbers for loss or theft. Enlarging it makes it easy to read the fine print.

4. When traveling across many time zones, take a couple granola bars or packaged snacks. You stomach may take a few days to acclimate to the new time zone and this will nourish you when you may need a meal at an inconvenient time or place.

5. Use a wallet or change purse with several compartments to keep your foreign currencies separated.

6. Make yourself a currency conversion chart on an index card. Put US dollars on one side and foreign currency on the other. It will make converting easy until you get the hang of it. Do you know that computation skills are some of the first to go when jet lag strikes? So it is not because you are bad at math.

7. Luggage policies differ between carriers and change frequently. For proper information, check with the airline directly.

8. Do not travel with anything you are not willing to lose. This means in carryon or checked bags. It is not worth the risk.

9. Mark checked bags with a unique tag or stencil to set it apart from others on the luggage carousel.

10.Take your own insulated coffee mug. Fill it in the hotel and use it as a take-out cup. It also keeps cold drinks cold around the pool.