Shopping

33. Visit small neighborhood markets instead of big, flashy shopping venues. That artisan tapestry or handmade jewelry will cost less, and you'll support local businesses and have a more authentic shopping experience. And don't underestimate the markup on items sold in those big shopping centers. Items for sale on Paris's Champs-Elysee, for example, are reliably more expensive than the same item at a different location.

34. It may sound funny, but if you see a picture you like, take a picture of it. Copies and prints sold to tourists are often overpriced and don't pack well (they get bent, torn, or permanently tube-shaped). Instead of paying for an expensive print-out, take a digital picture. When you get home, you'll have a souvenir that you can make your desktop background, send as an e-mail postcard to friends, or print out and frame on your wall. This trick works for any trinket you want to remember but just can't afford to buy or carry with you.

35. Consider bringing home local candies and sundries as novelties to share with friends; they're more intimate and cultural than costly souvenirs, and your friends will get a sense of local life. Who wouldn't want a box of Classic Dark Chocolate Tim Tams in favor of an overpriced Australia fridge magnet?

36. Avoid public restrooms located in stores—the temptation and pressure to purchase items once you've entered is often too strong to deny. Instead, keep your eye out for free municipal toilets, such as those in Paris, where visitors can make a mid-street pit stop sans guilt.