Travel Tips and advice from The Tipsbank

Copies of your Travel Documents. Scan your travel document details then e-mail them to yourself. You can then retrieve them if the originals get lost or stolen. Do the same with the relevant pages on your passport. -- Umma, Germany

Fake Wallet: If you are heading for a city or country where there is a high risk of street robbery then you should consider having a fake wallet, fill it with credit cards which have expired and other impressive cards along with some cash, possibly low value foreign currency. See also the article on Security

Taking Liquids on a Plane: Here in the UK there is a limit to the quantity of liquids and gels to be taken on board an aircraft in pesonal baggage. Sometimes it is nice to travel without the delays and inconvenience of large suitcases that will need to be consigned to the aircraft hold. Muji, a High Street chain of shops sells hundred millilitre screw top containers, exactly the amount allowed, so shampoos, conditioners etc can be brought along. The store is worth a visit for other reasons; innovative Japanese designed goods can be acquired at surprisingly good prices. Many neat and useful items ~ Roxy E www.muji.com

Your Passport Should Be In a Body Belt or Similar. I like the idea of one of your contributors; she suggested that you email scanned copies of the relevant pages so that in the event of loss you can download them and at least prove who you are and that visas have been issued to you. -- Derek Naismith

When you are going abroad two luggage tags on your suitcase are better than one. One with your home address and the other with your destination, however if you are leaving your home empty you may reconsider the second label.-- Edmund Budkeiwicz

Avoid DVT: DVT or Deep Vein Thrombosis is a risk that you run on longer flights and one which can be reduced dramatically if one takes simple advice. Get up out of your seat and walk about once an hour or so. Be sure to take a couple of aspirin tablets before and during the flight. KEEP A PACKET WITH YOUR PASSPORT. That way you will not forget them. DVT is much more common than the airlines would like you to believe. -- Mertash Wesali Milton Keynes

Spot your Suitcase: Tie a small strip of brightly coloured piece of fabric round the handle of your suitcase. As soon as it comes on to the carousel it is immediately visible. - Big Zookeeper

Flying.

When packing your shaving foam make sure that you have it in a place where it can do no damage should it leak. At the very least have the top on!!! -- Tim White -

Ear Popping. Avoid flying if you have cold, flu, or serious hay-fever. If you have to fly take an oral decongestant before and after landing. For babies letting them suck a bottle or dummy will help them reduce earache. Popping ears: To prevent ear popping when travelling by air suck sweets, sip drinks, swallow, chew, or yawn when problems start to occur. – Scott E.

Ear-Popping. I recommend using ear plugs, put them in 30 mins before take-off and take them out after landing. A good brand is "Ear-planes" which is specifically designed for this. Dan. (Daniel Penny)

Air-sickness: Sit above the wing where there is least turbulence – Scott E 1998.

To find ways of getting to that holiday or business destination without flying there you can find alternate transport via www.seat61.com -- Graham Peck Dallas Texas

Insects
Biting Insects. To make yourself less appealing to insects wear light colored clothing. - Anon. A shower immediately before you go out will also help, -- Ed

Insect Bites. To relieve an insect bite apply an ice pack or ice cube for 1- minutes. Let the skin dry, and then add an antihistamine or hydrocortisone cream. - Maryam Husseini, San Diego, CA

Unwanted Insects: Avoid wearing yellow anywhere where there are annoying and biting insects as it attracts insects. --Scott Ed.

France
On holiday in Brittany last year we were constantly caught out trying to buy bread mid-day and in the early afternoon. Stock up in the early morning or early evening -- Rouhi Peck Wimbledon

Insurance
If you buy a package holiday don't be bullied into buying from the agent - odds are you'll be paying nearly double the price you could pay online. You aren't legally obliged to buy from them - stuff like having to sign disclaimers so they aren't responsible for your misfortune are just pressure tactics.

Another tip. Things like 'kids travel free' are now just about a standard practice in online travel cover - so if you're being charged more for the pleasure it's likely you are being 'done'. Nick Garner SureUK

Security
To avoid a burglary when you are away on holiday, your luggage tags should show the destination address only -- Dave Ed

Rambling. - Rucksacks: When camping and walking where it may be wet, line the inside of your rucksack with a bin bag, and tie it to stop the contents getting wet. – J Whittaker.

Matches can be waterproofed by dipping the heads in candle wax. A box of matches can last twice as long by slicing each match lengthways in half. – Anon.

Cold Weather
Walkers and climbers, wear a warm hat, as 30% of the heat is lost through the head. – Scott Ed.

In a really cold environment use mittens rather than gloves. Frozen fingers can be identified and remedial measures taken before frostbite sets in -- Jimmie Stewart Dunfermline Scotland

Cold weather survival. Someone who had been on a course led by an SAS soldier told me that they stressed that you should pack your rucksack so that there is easy access to the materials for making a hot drink. Hypothermia can be avoided by a cup of tea -- Des Vine

Tummy Bugs
If stricken with tummy bugs, starve yourself preferably for two days – resume eating non-protein foods such as fruit or chips. When the problem has finally gone a suitable protein source to start eating again is chicken. Consult your Doctor on your return from holiday. -- Uncle Ben

If suffering from heavy vomiting due to food poisoning/tummy bug/etc. fizzy drinks such as Coke and Pepsi help to re-hydrate and relieve the discomfort from vomiting -- Afrooz Kaviani, Iran, Jul 96.

Holiday
When in a new city for something different visit the courthouse – Graham Pelck Wimbledon UK

Dentists
When overseas be firm about avoiding amalgam fillings. I was pressurised into having them and it cost me a fortune to get them out when I returned to the USA -- Graham Doble Colton CA

Neat site. Here is a site for your Heath and/or Travel Links -- www.flat-d.com The device is for eliminating the odor from gas, farts or flatulence. It really works, I have one. The device is used for people who care about the odor of their gas. I used it for travelling with my family, we were confined in the car and hotel rooms. I was not embarrassed by my gas odor. The device is used for health reasons also, view their success stories. Just thought you might like to link to them. I love your site. Frank Frank Morosky 18 Dec 2002

Shoe and Clothes sizes
If you need to convert between American, British and European clothes and shoe sizes use our clothes conversion chart

Travel Links:

http://.www.lonelyplanet.com	This is by far the most useful site we have found for travellers and backpackers.
http://www.1000tips4trips.com	A site that resembles ours but travel tips only
http://bettystravelkiosk.tripod.com/	Betty's Travel Kiosk. Lots of good stuff here
http://www.connectedtraveller.com	A brilliantly visual site
http://www.thetropicalwinds.com	Be the envy of everyone else on a windy beach