1. Save your airline socks
My husband and I keep the stretchy slipper-socks some airlines provide. (We’ve gotten them on Virgin airlines economy class and on almost all airlines in business class.) They’re great to use when packing shoes: Just slip each shoe into a sock and you’ll prevent clothes getting marked by the soles. As a bonus, you’ll have slippers to where when you’re away from home. The socks are machine washable and can last for many years.
Parker Carveth, Encino, Calif.
2. Best Western hotels can be free Wi-Fi hotspots
While working out of my car for more than a year, checking email was always a problem. One day I found out that all Best Western properties in North America offer free Internet access, often with Wi-Fi in public areas. That meant I could write all the emails I needed to and store them in my outbox. Then when I saw a Best Western sign, I just pulled up off the highway, parked next to the lobby, turned on my computer and sent the emails and received any new ones.
Parisa Chico, Bridgewater, Va.
3. There are lots of uses for wet wipes
I don’t go anywhere without individual packets of antibacterial wipes. I slip some in my carry-on or daypack, and shirt pocket. They’re very convenient when you can’t find any running water with which to wash your hands. And because they’re antibacterial, they’re also great for cleaning cuts, and the alcohol from the wipes helps stop the itching when you rub them on insect bites.
Monica Chun, Alsip, Ill.
4. Pack a scale
Few hotel rooms are equipped with scales. So bring your own—the portable kind that fisherman use—and you can weigh luggage before you get to the airport.
Michele Clancy, Richmond, Calif.
5. Kids can have fun and learn on long road trips
In order to keep my children entertained on a long journey, I bought each of them a plastic pencil box and a clipboard to stick in the seat pouches of our car. Before we left home, I filled the boxes with machine washable markers and attached games and puzzles (all free online), to the clipboard related to where we were traveling.
Meredith Cockerham, Rio Rancho, N.M.
Got you’re own travel tip to share? Leave it as a comment below…
Sharon Clay
When my kids were small I always took along a rectangular cake pan that had a lid (usually a slide-on lid). In this I stocked books, puzzles, markers, games, pencil(s) and anything else that would fit. The pan lid provided a write-on surface, and I often rotated the supplies inside. The pan fit into a tote bag and went to doctors appt’s, friends, anytime we were going for a ride. (NO TV’s or DVR’s at that time).