Postcard view
When I visit a new place I make a beeline for the nearest tourist shop and have a quick look at the postcards. This gives me a good idea of the best attractions and places to see.
Paul Lejeune

Find your feet
Always take a pair of flip-flops with you. They take up no room in your backpack, look trendy as outdoor footwear and are essential for wearing in the bathrooms/showers of hostels that are less than hygienic.
Emma Sullivan

Sound advice
I recommend that you always take earplugs, the small foam types often used in industry. Take several packets, as they tend to be less than spotless after several sessions in your ears.
Sean Daly

Photo opportunity
Carry a few photos of your family, your house, your home town and yourself when much younger - they are always of great interest when meeting people in distant parts.
Geoff Smith

A dose of culture
If you are in a country/region for the first time, it can sometimes be good to have a local yoghurt or similar, as this will give you a small dose of local bacteria and will give you a better chance of avoiding stomach upsets.
Paul Hayes

Power nap
When flying long haul where there is a stopover to change aircraft and a great time zone difference between departure and arrival, try to take a later second flight giving a stopover of at least four or five hours. Airport hotels will often rent you a room at an economical rate, especially at weekends for a shower and a couple of hours' sleep. This very short break will considerably reduce jet lag at your final destination.
David Hughes

Health
For the menstruating female traveller, use a product like the Keeper or the Mooncup, which are reusable cups that collect the blood. They save a lot of money and time spent fruitlessly hunting for pads or tampons in a place that might not have any in stock, or trying to discreetly dispose of used products. The cup also takes up very little space in a rucksack.
Catherine Wing

Smart move
If you're going out to a fancy restaurant or hot night spot, just because you're on the road doesn't mean you have to be a sandal-clad hippy since it's also unlikely you'll get in to the most fashionable venues. Bring some decent shoes or at least a good pair of trainers so you can blend in with the local in-crowd. You wouldn't wear flip-flops to a disco at home, so why do it abroad?
Robin Newbold

Hang-ups
A string and some pegs can make that sweaty shirt or clean but wet underwear wearable the next day. Also, they're always handy to tie, hold or close items while travelling.
Núria Barrachina, Barcelona

Kitchen sink dramas
Always carry a small but solid rubber ball if staying at backpackers' or budget hotels. They will replace any shape or size of the unavoidable missing sink plugs.
Peter Roos

Safety
When I'm walking alone at night or in an isolated area, I try not to allow anyone to get me between them and a wall (or for that matter, the entrance to a side-alley or niche). In really dodgy situations, the old "walk down the middle of the street" has been a life-saver.
Maranda St. John Nicolle

Between stops
Want cheap accommodation? Most train stations have comfy seating in waiting areas for legit passengers. Buy the cheapest one-way ticket from the station and settle down for the night.
Thomas Smith

Flat rate
In many places hostels are expensive, for example Rio. If you are staying more than a week in one place (usually a big city), renting an apartment is a good alternative if you're travelling with a relatively big group of friends (more than three). It's cheaper and you can cook, so that can reduce your expenses.
Felipe Ortiz

Ritual packing
Try a modern adaptation of an old Innu ritual. On return from a hunting trip, the tribesmen undertake an inventory of their "luggage", making three distinct piles: things they used practically every day; things they used only once in a while; and stuff they never used at all. On future trips they packed without deadweight, just as important in the frozen Arctic as it is on a Thai beach!
Marc Carrier

Insurance
Always leave details of your insurance policy at home with someone in case you lose the policy while you're aboard.
Vicky Gilbertson

Luggage liability
When you get off the plane, remove all the airline luggage stickers from your backpack; it's obvious enough you're from out of town but there's no need to advertise it. And in a new city, try to avoid staring up at the buildings too much; this is a dead giveaway you're a tourist.
Melissa Keeping

The price is right
Never be ashamed to negotiate prices with anyone. On a recent trip to Barcelona we ended up knocking on youth hostel doors at 11.30pm to find a room for the night. Many of these were dreadful and asking £30 per night. So we went into a four-star hotel, were quoted a reasonable figure and negotiated it down to £23 per night! Don't pass a hotel because it looks expensive without enquiring.
Suraj Halai

First aid
Stung by a jellyfish and don't fancy peeing on yourself? Get a banana, mush it up and rub it on. Stops pain and redness in minutes.
Elaine Hutton

Clever cash
Carry a spare wallet, containing a little cash plus expired credit cards and one or two other cards (blood donor cards, expired phone cards, etc). If you are ever mugged, the thieves won't stick around long enough to check the expiry dates of the wallet you have just handed to them.
Rhys Williams

Happy hours
This tip is the one that has helped me the most on the road: SMILE! Nothing warms, disarms and crosses a foreign language like a good smile.
El-Branden, Brazil

Flag a car
When you're hitchhiking, stand out from the crowd by making yourself more identifiable to get that next lift. I hitched all round Europe for years with a postcard-sized, cotton union flag which I attached to my kit bag with snap-on poppers (so I could remove it when inappropriate). In general the further from home, especially off the beaten track, the more hospitably the locals view you - in which case a recognisable symbol like the flag can sometimes help.
Eugene Gallagher

Upgrades
When taking short haul flights in Asia (for example Sri Lanka to southern India), the cost of upgrading to first class can be very affordable. If the flight is full this may be the best way to get a seat. It also allows you to use all the facilities of the first class lounge and indulge in all the lovely complimentary food and drink which may be on offer along with comfortable sofas.
Martin Hogan

Space busters
Use your old camera film tubes to keep your toothpaste / sun-cream / insect bite cream in. It'll save a lot of space in your luggage.
Colin

In the bag
Get hold of some plastic ziplock bags in various sizes. When packing clothes just fold them, put them in the bags, close the zip almost all the way, suck the air out through the gap as you compress the clothes inside, and close the seal. Your clothes will be packed as tiny as possible and will be much easier to locate in your rucksack. You can also separate dirty clothes and other items, keep documents and electrical stuff bone dry, prevent potential bottle leakage disasters, and keep your toothbrush clean as a whistle. Sweet.
Troy

First in line
If you're going to have to negotiate your way through immigration when you land, then ask for a seat near the front of the plane. You'll probably be one of the last on the plane but you'll be first off it at your destination and first in line for immigration control. Also, choose a line with a female immigration officer. They tend to be more friendly and easy going, especially if you are likely to be asked lots of questions about your travel plans.
Vasiliki

Flight woes
If your flight has been cancelled or delayed for some reason, don't hesitate to approach the customer service desk or the nearest airline agent. Most employees are more than happy to help you find new flight times on any of the airlines that service that airport, even if the flight you want is not offered by the company you're currently flying with. Customer service agents also often have free phone cards and meal tickets to hand out to customers who have had their flights delayed or cancelled.
Kyle Malin

Language dilemmas
Try writing out in a notebook the basic words and phrases. This "personalised" phrase book will be much easier to use and learn from. Also, when opening a conversation, start in their language with: "Do you speak [English]?" If they do, great! If not, then you both know you'll be struggling. If you start out in your language, it's like saying they ought to know yours, and you don't need to know theirs. If you start in theirs with a carefully-crafted question, they will think you are fluent, and answer in the same language. And then you have to start over again, in the midst of confusion.
Russ Redding

Saving time
Phone the airport to check the time of flight departures. I have sat in an airport for hours due to flight delays.
Lynn Barbeau

Bear necessities
Whenever you travel, and for whatever length of time, pack a miniature teddy bear. They can be a wonderful reminder of home, especially if they were bought by a child or loved one and they weigh next to nothing and only take up tiny amounts of space. Photos get creased and torn, but a battered bear only gains in charm and memories.
Ben Furey

Dogged companions
When hitchhiking on the west coast of Ireland, don't allow an incredibly, mangy pair of dogs to become attached to you as you will be unable to get a lift and unable to lose them (for a number of counties).
Edward Walgate