Read Traveller Reviews

User-review sites have changed the way most people plan their travel, giving us an enormously useful tool for evaluating hotels, restaurants, tourist attractions and the like. TripAdvisor.com is the big kahuna, with more than 20 million reviews, mostly of hotels — but also less traditional lodging like B&Bs, villas and private homes — as well as restaurants and attractions. TravelPost.com is another, owned by Kayak.com and recently relaunched; like its airfare-aggregating parent, TravelPost.com collects reviews from various websites, such as Citysearch.com, Yahoo! Travel and IgoUgo.com. Check out Yelp.com for locals' takes on restaurants, shops and other businesses, or OpenTable.com, which guarantees that reviewers have actually eaten at the restaurants they rate.

User reviews are helpful but not foolproof, so keep in mind the following tips:

• Read between the lines, asking yourself if the writer shares your mind-set, or if a negative review is the result of a persnickety traveller or a singular bad experience. As a rule of thumb, the more people have contributed, the more valuable overall ratings become.

• Always see how recent the post was. Establishments are quick to change, move or close.

• Always look at photos posted by users; you may find them more telling than words could ever hope to be.

Planning

• Read Traveller Reviews

• Join Travel Forums

• Suck Up to a Blogger

• Update Your Status

• Don't Snub the Bus

• Use Your Miles

• Spend Credit, Earn Miles

• Buy Insurance

• Pack Light

• Five Must-Haves

Booking

• Start with Kayak, Expedia, Trivergo ,Online travel agencies

• Check Airport Websites

• Compare Fares

• Get on the A-List

• Search a Day, Plus or Minus

• E-Track Your Fare

• Ax the Middleman

• Do Your Own Math

• Shop After Purchase

• Getting Credit

Flying

• Try Coach-Plus

• Reserve a Seat

• Pick a Boeing-777

• BYOE

• DYOE

• Add Up the Extras

• E-Babysitters

• Strategic Boarding

• Snap a Picture

• Eke Out Space

• Snooze Through It

• Five Flight Tips

Lodging

• Join the Club

• Ask Around First

• Negotiate

• Alternative Dwellings

• By-Owner Rentals

• Rediscover Priceline

• New or Nothing

• Don't Prepay

• Bedbug Alert!

Cruising

• Free Parking

• Book Last Minute

• Tip Generously

On the Ground

• Car-Rental Clubs

• Advance Tix

• Souvenir Shopping

• Bypass the Concierge

• Call Home for Pennies (or Free)

• Maximize Your Phone

Flight attendants can spend many hours on duty for domestic service -- and many more for international routes. 

Step 1

Wear comfortable clothes. Avoid tight, binding waistbands, belts and bra straps. Check the cuffs of your socks, too, and the edges of your underwear for anything that chafes or pinches; it will be a long time before you can find relief. You can consider support hose or socks for extra comfort and health. Good wardrobe choices include sweatpants and, yes, pajamas.

Step 2

Exercise. Get up from your seat often to move around the cabin. Do this when the aisles are clear of food and beverage carts, of course. This helps prevent sluggish circulation and reduces bloating. It also reduces the risk of a very serious and sometimes fatal condition known as deep-vein thrombosis, when a blood clot forms in your legs and travels to your lungs, potentially causing a pulmonary embolism.

Step 3

Pack snacks. It's easy to find yourself suffering hunger pangs at an inconvenient time. This is especially true nowadays with airlines cutting back on their food service options. Throw some protein bars and fruit such as apples or oranges in your carry-on, or perhaps carrot and celery sticks. Nuts, dried fruit and trail mixes are also good choices. A good-quality chocolate bar may not be the healthiest choice, but it's easy to pack and high in comfort food points.

Step 4

Hydrate. The air on planes is extra-dry, and that means that your body is losing moisture from the moment the doors close. Don't rely on the airline's beverage service to keep you hydrated. Buy a bottle of water from one of the vendors once you pass the security checkpoint. Avoid alcohol, caffeine and carbonated beverages; these dry you out more. You can also drink juice or electrolyte-replacement drinks.

Step 5

Moisturize. All that dry air takes its toll on your skin, too. Pack a travel-size bottle of lotion in your toiletries case and use it on your face and hands as needed. A spritzer or mister for your face can be handy, too. Make sure your bottles are under 100 ml or 3.4 ounces, and keep them in a see-through zip-close bag or pouch.

Step 6

Pack a neck pillow and other sleep aids. If you're worried about carry-on space, find an inflatable model. Good neck support prevents cramping and discomfort and helps you sleep. You can also consider tucking a sleep mask and/or earplugs in your carry-on for extra comfort and sleep assistance.

Step 7

Take entertainment. Your worst enemy on a long-haul flight is boredom. Make playlists for your MP3 player, load videos on your tablet or computer and pack a few paperbacks in your carry-on. Podcasts are another good choice for whiling away the hours and so are electronic games. Angry Birds may just save your sanity on that next flight to Asia.