• Dump that hard-sided carry-on. A soft-sided bag has some give, so it can be crammed into tight spaces, but a too-big hard case will have to be checked.

• Put a unique marker on your suitcase so you can recognize it easily when it comes around on the baggage carousel.

• If your neighbor won’t stop talking, pretend to sleep.

• Stock up on zip-lock bags. You can use them for snacks, as doggy bags and as leak-tight carriers, and to protect important documents.

• Join the airline’s frequent traveler club even if you don’t plan to fly on that airline ever again.

• Cross-pack. On a cruise once, I watched one poor woman run the ship in a bathrobe for days because the airline had lost her luggage. Had she cross-packed with her travel companion, she would have had half the clothes she needed for the week.

• Never place any important document in the front seat pocket — especially not your passport!

If you have any travel tips or tricks that you would like to share, please send them to me at frankmorgan@amttravel.com. If I post it in my monthly email, I'll  send you a coupon for $100 off your next cruise or tour of 7 days or more.

If you have any questions about your next vacation, please give one of our vacation specialists a call at 800-999-2599. We will be glad to answer your questions.

See you soon,

-Frank