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45. Check It Out

Examine your hotel bill carefully before checking out to make sure you were billed the quoted rate, particularly when your stay spans both a weekend and weekday, which are often billed at different rates. Having a print-out of your quoted rate, which many hotels are happy to provide over e-mail, will save you both money and frustration when hotels charge a different rate than promised; it also helps when there is a language barrier, as having a written number reduces the stress of each side trying to get their point across. Mistakes are common (which is a good reason to avoid the express checkout service).

46. Customs Shortcuts

Know the restrictions of bringing home goods such as produce, food products, and cigars from other countries. Some rules of thumb: Fresh produce is usually not allowed, but dried and preserved fruits are no problem. Salami and sausages are prohibited, although vacuum-packed meats are sometimes okay. Soft cheeses like Camembert are generally a no-no; harder varieties such as cheddar and Stilton are welcome. Tip: "Don't buy expensive food, because there's always a chance it will be taken away," warns U.S. Customs manager Janice Mosher. Cuban cigars are prohibited no matter what country you bring them from and will likely be confiscated. For a complete list of customs restrictions, visit the U.S. Department of Homeland Security online.

47. Shop 'Til You Drop

Duty-free shopping has its perks: reduced taxes, convenience, and a good way to use leftover currency. While actual bargains are few, smart shopping can get you the best deals. Major luxe retailers often price an item based on a country's income level. "I priced a Hermès watch in various airports over a year and bought it duty-free in Prague where it was less expensive than in Paris," says Suzy Gershman, author of Frommer's Born to Shop series. In most cases, you'll save on an item in its native country—buy Swedish glass in Stockholm and hard-to-find electronics in Singapore. Check out airline duty-free too; low overhead often makes it less expensive.

48. Get Your VAT Back

Travelers to Europe can recoup a percentage of purchase price on goods—ranging by country from 7.6 percent (Switzerland) to 24.5 percent (Iceland)—in the form of a value-added tax (VAT) refund. A minimum purchase (which also varies by country) is required, but the real reason travelers abandon millions in refunds each year is that securing a refund can be troublesome. But it's worth the effort. Travelers must have their refund request, including original receipt, stamped by a customs official upon departure. Typically this request is then mailed back to the store, which is required to send a refund check (in foreign currency). A better solution is to look for a Global Refund outlet at the airport; this processing agency gives out cash refunds immediately (sometimes a commission is taken based on a percentage of the total price of the item).

49. Just One More Day

Plan your itinerary to include a day at home of restful regrouping before racing into a frenzy of work and activity. "I try not to tell people the exact time of my return so that I can ease back into life at home," says international development worker Kyeh Kim. "I like having a day to unpack, do laundry, go grocery shopping, edit trip photos, and reflect on my vacation. The purpose of a vacation is to mellow out, so why undo your holiday cool as soon as you get home?