lastminute.com/smartstuff

**LASTMINUTE.COM** - When booking a holiday on Lastminute do a comparison on "package holidays" versus "flights + hotels" for the same destination you wish to travel to as there may be a vast price variation. e.g It is cheaper to go to St Lucia using the flight + hotel option than the package deal!!
in Before travelling

**INCENSE** - Take a few sticks of incense with you just in case when you arrive at your holiday accommodation it turns out to be more 2 star than 4 star. Air freshener may not get rid of that musty/damp hotel room smell which you may have to put up with for the duration of your stay, if the hotel refuses to let you move rooms. Just don't burn down the room with it!!!
in Before travelling

**UNITED AIRLINES** - If you are travelling with UA to America and their service turns out to be dire - e.g delays,etc, they may try to fob you off with airport vouchers to use at restaurants. Using your poshest British accent explain how distressing and stressful you have found the whole experience to be and ask to speak to a airport manager/supervisor. Ok this may sound like overkill but you'll probably get an upgrade. I got one all the way back to the UK!
in At the airport

**MINI WASHING MACHINE** - If you are going camping or caravaning buy a mini washing machine. They are only about £27.00 on places like ebay. Saves you having to come back to a whole lot of dirty washing! Also if you have a teenager off to university you can lend it to them too!
in Before travelling

**SCREEN SCRAPER** - Use a screen scraper such as skyscanner [http://www.skyscanner.net/] which is like a flightprice comparison website which will do all the searching for you [in terms of cheaper air costs]!
in Before travelling

**EVEREST** - Don't climb it.. trek to it...BASECAMP EVEREST that is.... You will need to spend about 3 months getting yourself fit due to the altitude but it will be well worth it! The trek takes about 17 to 20 days [the route is shown in the picture below] and starts in Lukla [you can fly there from Kathmandu in Nepal]. You have to obtain a trekking permit beforehand which I believe may be free for the Everest region. Check out [http://www.visitnepal.com/trekking/area_permits.php] Just copy and paste the link. Furthermore, you can book cheap flights to Nepal {Kathmandu] via [www.cheapflights.co.uk] where they start at just £429 return and of course, Nepal is an incredibly cheap destination to visit! Also check out [http://www.greatwalks.net/itineraries/Everest%20Base%20Camp.pdf#search='route%20from%20lukla%20to%20basecamp%20everest'] which has very useful info.
in Unusual holidays

**VIA FERRATTA** - Are footpaths found at high level in the Alps.They have fixed cables along the routes and you clip in as you make your way along. They are very safe and great fun for kids to get involved in. Check out [http://www.needlesports.com/advice/viaferrata.htm]
in Unusual holidays

**CLIMB MONT BLANC** - Seriously.. they run guided climbs up to the highest mountain in Western Europe. You will need to get yourself fit beforehand but you do not need climbing experience as you would be guided up the Gouter Ridge route [simpler route]by experienced guides. You can fly into Geneva very cheaply with Easyjet and then either hire a car or go with a pre-arranged taxi service to Chamonix in France. Check out [http://www.chamonix.net/english/mountaineering/mt_blanc_climb.htm
in Unusual holidays

**DVT** - To avoid Deep Vein Thrombosis whilst flying: (a) Exercise your legs every 2 to 3 hours whilst seated as well as taking periodic walks around the cabin (b)Drink PLENTY of water both before and during the flight (c)Consider wearing compression socks (d) Avoid alcohol before/during the flight (e) If not allergic to Asprin take the recommended dose before travelling (f) Avoid crossing your legs whilst seated to enable blood circulation... and other than that have a great flight!!
in Before travelling

**SMOKING** - Book a longhaul flight preferably to Australia or New Zealand. You of course, will not be able to smoke on the plane and if you can go without a fag for the full 24 odd hours of flight time then you can use this as an opportunity to try and give up! BTW I'm a horrible smoker and am going to try it myself next time I board a plane.LOL
in At the airport

**ICE HOTEL** - Take a short trip to Sweden to stay at their ICE HOTEL - [http://www.icehotels.co.uk/faq.htm] Just copy and paste the link. The hotel is completely unique it is made entirely of ice. It thaws out in summer and is then re-built in Winter and is kept at a constant temperature of about minus 5 degrees but the hotel offers extras warm clothing for all of its guests. This hotel is surprisingly popular and they have an Ice Hotel in Canada as well.
in Unusual holidays

**IPODS** - Invest in some Ipod speakers so that whilst in your hotel room you, your mates or family can all enjoy the music! They range from £7.99 to about £60. Go to [http://www30.shopgenie.co.uk/search/quicksearch.html?motcle=cheap+ipod+speaker&kpartnerid=8907313]to compare prices. just copy and paste the link. Make sure you have the necessary travel plug as well!
in Before travelling

**AIRMILES** - If you are travelling on longhaul flights enrol on their airmile programmes. This can be particularly effective if you are travelling to places like Australasia, Asia and the Americas where you will gain even more airmiles due to the distances involved. I was upgraded to business class enroute from Alaska to London and so gained even more airmile points which I subsequently used to travel to Europe. Don't dismiss them.. the moment you book your longhaul flight go online and sign on!
in Before travelling

**HOLIDAYS TO THE CARIBBEAN AND ASIA** - As well as checking online, consult specialist ethnic newspapers such as the Asian Times, the Voice and The Caribbean Times where flights to these destinations may work out cheaper as they use specialist companies catering specifically to these destinations!
in Saving up for hols

**CHEAPER FLIGHTS** - If it is just the destination that you need to get to check to see if package holidays to that destination will work out cheaper. Example - You want to fly to Florida but it's £499 for the flight but the package holiday is £399. So buy the package holiday instead. When you arrive at your destination just don't use the hotel!
in Saving up for hols

**EBAY AND PAYPAL** - If you plan to sell things on ebay to raise money for your holidays BE EXTRA, EXTRA CAREFUL. I recently sold a £260 multimedia player and was contacted today by ebay/paypal to be told that someone had hacked into the ebayer's paypal/ebay accounts and email address and accessed their credit card details! Having spoken with Paypal I will now have to pay back the money PLUS I have lost my goods!!!! Needless to say I personally won't be using both their services again due to the fact that their systems are not secure!
in Saving up for hols

**TRAVEL** - Remember that travelling over the weekend - Friday, Saturdays and Sundays can often work out more expensive than if you were to get a mid-week flight. Same applies if you are travelling by coach or train!
in Before travelling

**MONEY SECURITY - PART 2** - Bras with removable inner pads are great to carry/hide your cash. Remove the pads and put your cash in then put back the inner pads.
in On arrival

**EGYPT** - Despite the fact that Egypt is a very cheap country to travel to, expect or rather anticpate A LOT OF HASSLE AND REQUESTS FOR TIPS. It will be constant and often neverending.We stayedin 5 star hotels and it even happened there. The security guards asked us for money and whne I returned to England the hotel manager had passed on my details ot people who wrote and emailed me asking me for money to repair their boats, etc. It spoilt our holiday but if you come up with strategies to deal with this beforehand it may make the experience a little bit more bearable.
in Before travelling

**HOME SECURITY** - Probably common sense but when you are going away plug out your telephone. A phoning ringing for long periods of time and going unanswered is indicative that you are not it!
in Before travelling

If you burn yourself, peel the inside skin out of a raw egg shell and cover the burnt area, it immediately soothes the pain, forming a second skin and avoids burn marks
Posted by tanyammiller in Top sick notes

Have permanent make up such eyeliner, lip colour and eyebrow enhancements applied before you go on holiday and leave your make up behind for good! . email queries to pushingink@talktalk.net
Posted by permanentmakeup in Smart beauty tips

Don't splash out on expensive tooth whitening over the counter products, as all they do is give the gums a slight blueish tinge, try a blue based lipstick, or mix a little bicarbonate of soda with your regular paste. Makes thoses pearly whites sparkle!!
Posted by beaumonde in Emergency beauty

Always mark your bag with something distinctive, so you can recognise it quickly when you see it on the baggage carousel.
Posted by sdvp12 in Before travelling

Shove a sock in your child's mouth before taping it shut. This will prevent them swallowing their tongue when you give them a wallop.
Posted by Arridon in Quieten the kids

To deter burglars - hang some old (but not too old) washing on the line will make it look like you're still at home
Posted by bothered in Before travelling

Are you sick of smears on sunglasses">sunglasses or your goggles steaming up when skiing...well not anymore! Rub some vaseline on the lenses (both inside and out) and polish off with a cloth for smear and fog free viewing!
Posted by kingdicky in Before travelling

If you want to try flying between nearby Caribbean islands i.e. from St Lucia to Barbados don't buy in the UK - a one way flight can add up to £100. Either book once you are there in the Caribbean or book online with one of the local Caribbean airlines i.e. Liat. A cost of an one way journey will be about £20.
Posted by Urbanbridesmaid in Big journeys, small prices

To get rid of tired or puffy eyes immediately keep a spoon in the freezer and apply to eyelids for a few minutes, this eases the redness and will help stop your eyes looking so puffy.
Posted by sbrunette in Smart beauty tips

Take a photo of the towns' name ie: on a sign, a poster, shop name, drain covers usually have them as well etc - when you first arrive somewhere to help you remember exactly where you where when you took each batch of photos.
Posted by Shellstar23 in Better photography

carry a fake wallet with fake cards and a few notes or monopoly money in case you are mugged!!
Posted by miripip in A week or more away

PACKING - if going with partner , pack some of yours in theirs and vice versa so if a bag goes missing you will have clothes for each of you
Posted by miripip in More

When traveling abroad carry your wallet in the front left pocket. Most people are right handed so pick pockets will tend to direct their activties to the right pocket. Also in areas that lend themselves to theft I often will use an old wallet in the back pocket with nothing in it as a decoy.
Posted by funnyholiday in More

If you are buying a bottle of water when abroad - turn it upside down before you pay for it, If it leaks, it may have been refilled and is being resold.
Posted by emmajk42 in On arrival

Research has shown that catnip oil is 10 times more effective at repelling insects than DEET. But you may have to deal with an influx of mangy moggies writhing in ecstasy in the vegetable patch
Posted by smartstuff in Summer gardens

After cooking, bake orange peel to leave the kitchen smelling fresh
Posted by smartstuff in Summer gardens