I always pack dryer sheets when I travel, for several reasons:
If your hotel room has a mini-bar, check to make sure that all the bottles are sealed as soon as you arrive.
Some guests drink the beverages and refill the bottles with water or tea to avoid the high charges. If this goes undetected by hotel staff until after your stay (they do check for it, but aren’t necessarily always diligent about it), the items will be charged to your credit card.
If you find unsealed bottles, report it to the front desk right away.
The simplest and cheapest way to do your souvenir shopping is at a supermarket.
Almost anyplace you travel, there will be a traditional food, like “Vermont maple syrup” or “Scottish shortbread.” Great supermarket gifts include a specialty bottle of oil and vinegar, a local bottle of wine or alcohol, exotic spices, teas and coffee — and don’t get me started on snacks like chocolate, dried fruit, and nuts.
Your friends will be delighted to receive a box of cookies from a foreign country, and you’ll remember your trip every time you prepare some hot chocolate you purchased in Switzerland.
Traditional methods for clearing “flier’s ear” include yawning, chewing gum, and using special earplugs for flying. However, there are other methods for preventing this painful condition, including this unusual, but effective, one:
You’ll get a few weird looks, but it may help. (A pack may last a couple of flights if placed in an airtight bag after use.)
Before you leave, use a printable checklist of items you need to pack, and where you’ll be packing them (carry-on or checked luggage.) Include all your frequently-forgotten or last minute items: batteries, cell-phone charger, toiletries, etc, and leave blanks for the specifics about clothes, shoes, and other valuable items.
But here’s the most important part of this list: Keep a copy of the list with you. If your checked baggage gets lost, you won’t have to try to remember what it contained, and you can share the list with the airline.