While traveling in a multiage group of parents and kids, everyone will rise to the occasion and do something they don't want to do if they know they will get a chance to pick an activity later. Everyone will melt down at least once, but that's okay.
Geese, no matter how pretty they look on a pond, will bite, even if you are a confused dog, or a small child who has been trying to feed them bread crumbs.
No matter what those #$%! signs in the London Underground say, the stairs are not your friend when you've got a big, unwieldy suitcase. Stay on the train and pick a stop with an elevator.
When using a service like Travelocity to make flight arrangements, always check to make sure you are coming/going from the same airport. It's not fun to drive to Dulles only to discover on the way home that you are arriving at Reagan.
Disconnect the battery from your camcorder before packing it.
San Francisco is cold on July 4th. Bring a scarf and gloves.
If your digital camera battery dies mid-picture, take it out, warm it up in your hands, do a little dance and chant, and it will take at least five more pictures before dying for good.
Before you decide to go on a vacation with a friend and share hotel rooms, find out just how bad the snoring is.
They have Webcams all over London, and you can stand in front of one and call a friend and they can look online and watch you waving.
Always be nice to the ticket and gate agents; they can upgrade you if they feel like it.
It is better to spend more on a decent hotel room than to skimp too much and be scared when walking back every night. Skimp on lunch instead.
Wear flip-flops on every flight. Even if you're flying for business, there's time to change your shoes after the flight, and it saves a lot of time and energy from taking off your shoes and potentially walking barefoot through security.
If you find a good hotel deal on one of the main sites like Orbitz, Expedia or Travelocity, don't forget to check the hotel site directly. If you qualify, the AAA or AARP rates are often even lower.
Don't take a long trip abroad with someone you've just broken up with.
If you can go, you should go.
For a regular dose of travel tips, check out the section's regular weekly chat, held most Mondays at 2 p.m. (but not tomorrow!) on www.washingtonpost.com. You can participate live or submit questions in advance. For an archive of past chats, go to www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/liveonline/travel/traveltalk.
