On Holiday

29. Feel Like a Kid Again

Remember the days before cell phones, when your mother would lose you in the grocery store and you'd hear your name over the loudspeaker? Traveling with friends can sometimes be like that, minus the easy loudspeaker access. If you're vacationing with others but getting into the city independently, have at least the first night's hotel booked and plan to meet there. That way, even with delayed planes, missed connections, and no cell phones or PA systems, you can be certain of a rendezvous in a safe, comfortable place (much better than trying to find each other in crowded airports, train stations, or city streets). And follow you parents' example—any time you enter a crowded museum or bustling square, decide on a meeting spot in case of separation.

30. Ride Guide

Taking a cab from the airport to your final destination is convenient, but it's usually expensive. Save money with the two-prong approach: Take the subway, train, or a shuttle bus into the general city vicinity and from there hail a taxi. Research transportation before arriving at the airport; airport websites often post links to bus routes or subway maps, if not detailed descriptions of ground transportation options.

31. Risk Factor

If you're headed to a destination in the off-season and you're willing to risk it, show up with no hotel reservations. Walk into a hotel between 4 and 6 p.m. and start bargaining. They'd rather have you pay a low rate than let a room go empty for the night.

32. Foreign Travel Etiquette

Prevent embarrassing miscommunications and familiarize yourself with the cultural faux-pas of your destination. When traveling in countries where English is not the first language, learn how to say these five expressions: hello, goodbye, thank you, please, and pardon me. It's amazing how far these words will get you when spoken in a person's own language, even if he or she knows the English equivalent. It also helps to have the words written down in a small notebook along with other key phrases—that way you can make sure you're saying them correctly. Adding new words as you go is a great way to increase your vocabulary in a new language. Respectful efforts to speak the local language are almost always heartily welcomed, and show residents that you are eager to immerse yourself in their culture and customs.

33. Safety on the Road

Travel is an improvisational art: Hope for the best, but be prepared for complications. Always carry your passport, and bring along photocopies dispersed throughout your luggage—in some countries, hotels hold your passport during your stay. Keep all trip information (reservation numbers, itinerary, and telephone numbers, including that of the local U.S. Embassy) as well as relevant health information (a list of medications, allergies, blood type, and an emergency contact number) with you at all times. Blend in by dressing like the locals. Watch your pockets and purse, and keep cameras, computers, and other gear concealed and close at hand. Carry enough local currency for cab rides, and regardless of what country you're visiting, always keep $100 hidden in your wallet or security belt for emergencies.

34. Asking for Directions

"Ask more than one person for directions," says Lonely Planet editor Don George, in a twist on the old tailor's rubric: measure twice, cut once. "In certain cultures, particularly in Asia, it is impolite for a local to say 'I don't know.' It can be a cause of embarrassment to a local if he can't provide an answer for you, so his natural response is to say something, anything, even if it isn't correct.

35. Protect Your Plastic

Use a credit card for big-ticket items like jewelry, rugs, and artwork—or whenever there might be a problem. Credit card companies won't cover buyers' remorse, but will protect against unauthorized charges, billing errors, and misrepresentation with proper documentation (e.g. certificate of authenticity, signed description from retailer). Expect one percent currency conversion fees from Visa and Mastercard and two percent from American Express on purchases. Read the fine print: Some banks add a surcharge of up to three percent of the converted amount. And to avoid the hold some banks might place on your card for unusual spending activity, tell your bank your travel plans ahead of time.

36. Cheap Thrills for Drama Queens

Try not to pay full price for tickets to art events such as plays, musicals, and operas. In New York City, for instance, half-price day-of-show tickets are available at the Times Square TKTS kiosk. San Francisco and London have similar agencies. For spontaneous theatrical adventures while traveling, pick up a local English-language newspaper and make your plans on the spot. In Prague, for example, buy a copy of the Prague Post and check out the opera and concert listings. Then stop by the box office (prices here are often half of what consolidators charge) or stand at the theater around showtime. Even if a concert claims to be sold out, just wait: Ticket touts will find you.

37. Light Eating

At resorts, where meals can be pricey, consider spending extra money and booking a club-level hotel room. Amenities usually include a breakfast buffet (with juice, danish, fruit, cereal), midday refreshments and snacks (cookies, fruit), and hors d'oeuvres and cocktails in the evening, which might just save your bottom line in the long run. You'll also have an opportunity to mingle with other guests on your floor. If you want to try a fancy restaurant, the breakfast and lunch menu will be cheaper than at dinnertime; or in large cities, ask the tourism office for dates of restaurant weeks, when some eateries offer deals on prix fixe lunch and dinner menus.

38. Think Smaller, But Still Go Big

Yosemite, the Grand Canyon, and Yellowstone: America's most striking natural wonders are also among its most crowded. The National Park Service is working to increase awareness of the 57 national parks and reduce the negative impact of overuse on the biggies. Visit nps.seeamerica.org for maps, itineraries, and links to deals on parks. Another underutilized resource: the 192 million acres of national forest, mostly in the West, where natural resources are protected and managed. Visit the website of the U.S. National Forest Campground Guide for recommendations.

39. The Tipping Point

While you'll never make an enemy by leaving a big tip, it's not always necessary or expected. Generally, tips reward good service. While in the U.S. a tip is an expected part of a server's income, in many other nations tips are small grace notes underscoring your appreciation. In America, of course, it is customary to tip 15-20 percent (of your untaxed total bill) at restaurants, bars, and in taxi cabs. In Germany and France, service charges are included in restaurant checks (verify this with your server), and tipping becomes more of an ad hoc gesture—consider giving five percent of your bill, or simply rounding up the total of your check to the nearest full euro. Bartenders receive small change or none at all. Tipping is generally not expected in Japan and other Asian countries. Some general tipping guidelines: Assess the state of the local economy, determine the local currency equivalent of $1, and tip freely. Tip bellhops and porters $1 per bag; hotel maids should get about $1 per day of your stay. A concierge receives a tip of $5-10 for each request, with an additional gratuity for special services or favors. If your tour guide and driver have been especially helpful, offer $2-5.

40. Shopping Savvy

Buy items that the area or city is noted for but make sure they are authentic. For example, in Oaxaca, Mexico, purchase handmade pottery; in Hong Kong, buy custom-tailored clothing; in Florence, bargain for leather goods. Compare prices in several locations before you buy, and avoid shops near train stations and in heavily touristed areas. For more tips, see our Authentic Shopping Guide.

41. Waterborne Bugs on Tap

There's no end to the trouble that a little dirty water can cause you. Among the common bacterial illnesses that can be transmitted by drinking water are cholera and E. Coli infection; viruses can include hepatitis; and parasites such as giardia and amoeba can lurk in a sparkling glass of water, too. Fortunately, the water in most cities is chlorinated—but why take the chance when traveling in a country with poor water quality? Always buy bottled water (ideally not from your hotel: Some hotels charge as much as $5 a bottle—which might not be made clear until you check out). As an extra precaution, buy fizzy water whenever possible—some vendors sell tap water in bottles, and carbonated water is failsafe insurance that it the water is not home-bottled. Remember to brush your teeth using bottled water. When at a restaurant, ask whether the table water has been purified and if uncertain, pay extra for fizzy water (you could be paying later if you don't). And reconsider anything on the rocks—ice from bad water can carry bacteria, too. Beer or bottled sodas might be your best libations. Steamed vegetables are safer than raw vegetables and salads. Fruits you have to peel—oranges, bananas, mangoes—are safer than fruits that don't need peeling.

42. Videoconference from your Hotel

With newer laptops weighing only a few pounds a pop, travelers are increasingly opting to bring theirs along, making instant messaging, sending e-mails, and even talking in real time as easy as finding wireless Internet. Many hotels now offer wireless, and inner-city Wi-Fi is usually painless to track down. Consult Wi-Fi Free Spot for a directory of free access areas in the U.S. and abroad. Travel Post has compiled a very handy list of airports with free Wi-Fi. Free downloadable software like Skype uses a laptop's internal microphone and webcam (if available) to build a teleconference between two users, each on their computers. Both users must download the free software and register, but once registered the service is simple, reliable, and best of all, free.

43. Go to the Library

Public computer services are often easy to find. Internet café (a directory can be found at http://cybercaptive.com/) usually offer rates by the quarter hour. To save money, check local libraries for free Internet facilities. Edinburgh City Libraries in Scotland, for example, offer free computers with Internet in 26 locations across the city. The computers are available by the hour, and individuals must bring a passport, driver's license, or ID card. Make sure to log out of all secure pages when you're finished, and try not to enter any information you wouldn't want the next user to have. To be extra safe, clear the private data from the browser (usually Menu/Tools/Clear Private Data) before leaving.

44. Phone Home

If phones are your preferred method of communication, international calling plans from U.S. providers such as AT&T One Rate Global Plus cost a monthly fee plus per-call surcharges, but guarantee competitive rates from international destinations and streamline fees on your monthly phone bill. Prepaid calling cards have set limits of talk time and are widely available at newsstands in Europe and Asia. They're easy to use and cheap, though you might have to call from a pay phone. Some U.S. cell phones, like the Verizon Blackberry, operate internationally; check with your provider to find out if yours works internationally and if so, what fees are required to use it abroad. If yours doesn't, you can rent a local cell phone at many international airports.