Mobal Member, Marjorie sent me these 3 tips:

1. How To Guard Against Catching A Cold When Traveling

Carry Zicam, either the nose gel or the spray and use it anytime you're around anyone who even sneezes, or anytime you feel the slightest tingling in your nose or throat. It clears up any sign of a cold immediately. I like it a lot better than Airborne. I also carry some echinacea or vitamin C, although I buy those along the way as well.

2. How To Ignore Your Snoring Husband On The Plane

I rely a lot on earplugs, especially if my hotel room is facing the street. They're great on the plane and for snoring husbands as well:)

3. How To Deal With Jetlag Before And After Your Trip

OK - one more tip, this time about jet lag. I ignore it by setting my watch to my arrival country's time immediately on board the plane. I sleep as much as I can on the plane, and when I'm at my destination I check into my hotel and just go. I go as long as I can, even if it's only until 6 or 7 in the evening, and then go to sleep. Usually I've managed a full day of activity. When I come home I don't really care that much about jet lag because I take a couple of days extra off from work - I LOVE that travel tip - to relax, unpack, get groceries, etc.

Marjorie

Mobal Member, Greg Kempson sent me this tip:

4. Why You Should Avoid That Relaxing Glass Of Wine On The Plane

Aloha:

I love wine and enjoy drinking it at appropriate opportunities. But this one travel tip is THE BEST tip anyone ever gave me, and it is 100% true. No matter what, never, never, drink alcohol on an airplane flight over a few hours and never ever drink if you need to feel vibrant -- even after a short flight. I used to have just a glass or two with dinner on overseas flights in business or first class, and always felt tired when I deplaned. When I stopped drinking, even one drop, I felt 100% better. That is the number one travel tip from someone who flies hundreds of thousands of miles per year... And it works... Save that glass for after the flight and enjoy it even more!

Thanks,

Greg Kempson

Mobal Member, John Laborn sent me this tip:

5. How To Beat The High Prices Of Soft Drinks In Europe

BEAT THE HIGH COST OF SOFT DRINKS IN EUROPE
I know that it is a sin not to be a wine or beer drinker while in Europe
however I am not and I have endured the outrageous cost of soft drinks in
restaurants for years often just refusing to buy them. On my last trip I
took along a supply of "Crystal Light" in the small, slim packages. Now I
order mineral water with gas and enjoy a variety of flavors without the high
cost. It took some experimenting but I finally decided that it is best when
the water is poured into a glass and then add the CL.

John Laborn

For many people, summer means cooling off at a pool, lake or the beach. But what should you do if your cell phone accidentally gets dunked? U.S. Cellular's wireless experts offer tips to improve the chances that your phone will survive a dive.

* Power down: If your phone doesn't turn itself off when it gets wet, power it down right away. Once the power is off, remove the battery.

* Dry off: Grab a towel or napkins to get as much excess water off the phone as you can. Remove any skins, covers or faceplates. If you have a flip phone, you should open it up, so air can reach the keypad.

* Just a little patience: Now comes the hard part. You should leave a wet phone powered off for a day or two to give the internal circuitry a chance to dry out.

* Moment of truth: Once you replace the battery, push the "on" button. If the phone turns on, you can breathe a sigh of relief. However, check your keypad. Keys that stick or don't work all the time are signs of permanent damage. U.S. Cellular's phone doctors say it will likely get worse with time. If you have phone insurance, most policies require you to report the damage within 90 days of the incident.

* Get technical: U.S. Cellular service technicians might be able to help. You should bring a wet phone to a service technician as soon as possible.

* Don't lose your contacts too: If your phone can't be revived, your old phone's address book can be easily loaded onto your new phone if you have My Contacts Backup, a free service offered to easyedgeSM customers.

This article was originally in the Chicago Herald Tribune

In no particular order, here's what you never leave the country without. Some are hightech, others very simple, but they all help your travels run more smoothly...

Underwear

Micro fibre underwear – Tom Hansen

Compass

I have found that a magnetic compass is essential. Especially in old
towns where on a cloudy day your sense of direction can be fooled.
If it was not for my compass, I could still be roaming around
Padua.It looking for the train station. Beware of maps that do not
have North at the top. Look for the "Compass Rose".

James Ford

Cell Phone Charger

Battery-operated cell phone charger, don't have to worry about finding an outlet

Gretchen Edgren

Digital Camera

There are a number of gadgets I travel with but the most important, for me, is my digital camera. In Switzerland, this last June, I got a beautiful, late afternoon, picture of the Matterhorn while in Zermatt. I never leave home without the camera.

Parker L. Phillips

Safety Pins And Nail Clippers

1) safety pins
2) nail clippers

In that order.

Linda Johnson

Electronics

In no order

laptop
camera
iPod

Bill M

Cell phone

Norman Cleary

Digital SLR Camera And Travel Scrabble

Going to Southeast Asia....I MUST have my digital slr.

Other parts of the world....travel Scrabble.

Judy Guffey

Wind Up Alarm Clock And Penlight

There are two items I always carry on my trips. One is a wind-up alarm clock so that I don't worry if the battery powered clock should die in the middle of the night and cause me to miss a flight.

The second is a penlight so I can see when I getup at night to use the restroom. Also it's good to have if the hotel's power goes out during the night.

No name given

Portable GPS System

I rent a lot of cars, so I take my portable GPS with me whenever I travel. The GPS enables me to drive stress free especially to and from the airport and my accomodations while at a location I'm not familiar with or haven't visited in a long time.

jK

Leatherman

Leatherman

Bill Zolbert

Leatherman pocket tool. It helps keep everything else operational!

David A. Lieberman
Senior Vice President for Business & Finance Emeritus
University of Miami

XM sat radio

XM sat radio

AL B. Moore

Alarm Clock And Flash Light

Michael: I never travel without a small alarm clock with a face that lights
up (with fresh batteries) because sometimes the "wake up" call does not
come.

Also, I always have a small flashlight (with spare batteries) both
for getting up at night to find the bathroom and in case of power outages.

Regards,
Bob Christofk

Clothespin

My travel gadget of choice is the humble clothespin!

When the hotel's curtains don't close tightly, and they let in too much light, a simple clothespin won't hurt the fabric and does the trick.

I clothespin my just washed clothing to the curtains ~ as high as I can and they are dry by morning ~ usually the air conditioner or heater is just below the curtains as well, so your clothes get blown dry ~ and even jeans will dry overnight.

Donna

Alarm Clock And Heating Pad

It is my combo alarm clock/sound machine.

Next is my small electric heating pad with a long extension cord

Dona J. Jones

Noise-Reducing Headphones

Noise-reducing headphones!

Pat Burns

Swiss Army Knife

I never, ever, ever travel without my little Victorinox Swiss Army knife. Never. This isn't a big, cumbersome model with nuclear-tipped cruise missles and a hacksaw, but the climber's model (I think). It has the large and small blades, plus and minus screwdrivers, can and bottle openers, cork screw (all important for France and Italy), leather punch, and scissors. It's the size of a normal pocket knife, and carries well. Of course, I have to pack it in checked luggage for a flight, but it never leaves my pocket otherwise. I've had this one since 1995 and it has a lot more miles on it than my car, and has served me well all over the world.

Michael P. Martin
Attorney and Counselor at Law

Toothbrush

Michael:
The world is still a simple place. A toothbrush works for me. I can live without my Blackberry for a bit.
Jan D'Angelo
Senior VP, International Sales
Adam Aircraft

Watchband Compass

In all my years of traveling, the one item I never go without is actually pretty low tech. It's a very small compass that attaches to my watchband. With that, and a good map, I can find my way around in most any city.

Bud

Pizza Cutter And Hand Sanitizer

When I go to Italy, my pizza cutter !! When I go anywhere else, hand sanitizer, small, cone-shaped tooth brushes and, of course, my Mobal phone !!!!!

Ray Schwartz
Memphis, TN.

Umbrella

I never travel anywhere without an small lightweight umbrella about 14"x2"x3/4". Has come in handy a number of times.

Leigh Lingard