Over the past two decades, I've had the opportunity to visit seven foreign countries on two continents, as well as most of the continental United States and the District of Columbia. At one point, I was traveling nearly 200,000 miles per year and really pissing off my wife. Oddly enough, even the most experienced traveler learns something new every few miles. I've included a few notable tips below and will continue to aid to this list as things pop up.

Links to more of my travel tips on other websites
1. How to Avoid Crowds on Clearwater Beach
2. How to Call the U.S. From France
3. How to Avoid Holiday Travel Nightmares

Airports and Planes
1. Even if your friend assures you that he'll watch your stuff, avoid napping in an airport waiting area.
2. Airplane bathrooms are not soundproof. Enough said.
3. Asking for an entire can of soda will only piss off the flight attendant, so consider bringing your own drinks.
4. The heavily armed security guards at the Belfast Airport ARE going to search you. Be sure to use deodorant before leaving for your flight.
5. Finding a blanket or pillow in coach class is almost impossible these days. Consider packing a travel pillow and lightweight blanket if you are planning to nap during your flight.
6. Ask about food and beverage options near the gate before you go through security. Many airports don't offer much more than concession stands or vending machines past the security checkpoint.
7. Although the FAA does allow you to carry a parachute as carry-on luggage, they don't allow you to wear it during the flight.
8. Use plain saline mist frequently during your flight. This will help keep your nasal passages from drying out during the flight and will also flush out a lot of the germs and dirt that you're breathing.

Hotels
1. Avoid ice machines, even if you don't see any children or drunks lurking about.
2. Asking for a room upgrade isn't begging for a handout and can sometimes lead to a nicer bed.
3. If there is bulletproof glass between you and the desk clerk, ask him for an explanation. There might be a funny story there.
4. No matter the circumstances, never eat room service food left in the hallway.
5. If you want a quiet room, ask for one at least three floors above the street and away from the elevators and ice machines.

Restaurants
1. Cabbies and hotel doormen can usually offer some good dining tips, but be sure to tip them.
2. Local eateries will give you a better taste of local cuisine than a chain restaurant. Be brave.
3. Never order something that you can fix a home. Ask the waiter about his/her favorite menu item.
4. Ask about daily specials for something different.

Rental Cars / Trains / Buses / Donkey Carts / Bicycles
1. When the agent tells you that you can't take the rental car into Mexico, consider that there might be a good reason behind this rule.
2. Leaving a rental car idling in the drop off lane at the Dallas/Fort Worth Airport will result in a $75 fee added to your credit card. They aren't really flexible on this one.
3. Check with your credit card company about automatic insurance options when you use a their card to reserve your rental. This can avoid extra insurance charges from the rental agency. *As a side note: Like many of you, I never considered the possibility of damaging a rental car either. So far I've wrecked or damaged rentals in Michigan, California (twice) and Ireland. For my defense, not all of these incidents were my fault......entirely.