1. When arriving at an airport alone I often find people interested in my 'travel arrangements'. I always tell them that my husband is coming on a later flight so that in case there is an air accident, the children won't be left orphaned. This has saved me from a lot of problems and unwanted attentions, especially from taxi drivers.

2. I always bring an extra change of underwear, a children's toothbrush (doesn't take as much space as a big one), a small toothpaste-tube, and a fold-together brush (you can get those with a brush in one end and a mirror in the other end) in my purse. Then I will be prepared if I get stuck somewhere during vacation, with cancelled flights, a broke-down car, or something like that. 

3. Lancome's Bienfait Totale is a cleanser, toner, and make-up remover in one, so its perfect for travel ... you use it with a cotton ball, tissue, or toilet paper if need be! It's fantastic, and if you have sensitive skin, it'll be more suitable for you than those facial wipes that have come on the market. If you're budget minded, buy a good reasonably priced liquid eye makeup remover like L'Oreal's and use it the same way you'd use Lancome's Bienfait Totale.

4. For those 'girl's only' weekend getaways: decide who is going to bring what. I was recently in Las Vegas with three friends and we all shared one room to save money. Among the four of us we had hot curlers, curling iron, blow-dryer, clothes iron, etc., with each girl bringing only one or two necessary items and sharing. Works great and saves space.

5. Before your trip go into any department store (does not have to be A-1 quality, a store such as Target will do). Buy a cubic zirconia wedding ring set. They are relatively inexpensive and you don't have to fret if you lose your rings or if they are stolen. Also an added plus if you are traveling alone, are single, and really are traveling for work-related purposes only.

6. Oil of Olay Daily Facials cleansing cloths are wonderful! They are dry and you can put as many of these practically weightless squares as you need in a enclosable plastic bag. They remove makeup, cleanse, and moisturize without taking separate cleansers, makeup removers, washcloths, etc. Just wet one, lather and wash, and then throw it away!

7. When traveling alone and checking into a hotel, make sure that the person at the desk does not state your room number aloud. Anyone standing nearby will have already heard that there are 'no other guests' for your room. If this does happen, quietly pass the key back to him/her and politely request that they reassign you and that they not state the room number aloud.

8. Pack make-up pads soaked with your favorite toner in a small zip lock plastic bag. The pads stay moist for weeks, there is no fear of toner bottles (even plastic ones) breaking, and it saves precious space.

9. If you are traveling alone and find yourself stuck in male company which is intent on trying to 'party' with you, tell them you are pregnant and could vomit at any moment. Minimal language skills are needed - signing something about a big belly and holding your hand up to your mouth while looking actively nauseous is almost universally understood. In my experience, you are then usually left alone.

10. Take the time to plan plan your outfits before you even start packing. The more time you spend planning, the less hassles you'll have with your clothes while you're away ... and you're guaranteed to look better too. Prepare like a pro ... do what fashion editors do to prepare for photo shoots. Lay all the pieces of each outfit together on your bed and coordinate everything for each 'look', including underwear and accessories.

11. When two women are traveling together, each of you should put one complete outfit in the other's suitcase in case one suitcase is lost or delayed. It doesn't hurt to carry a change of underwear and socks in your carry-on, either. It can make all the difference during a delay of any kind.

12. I feel that most people, especially women, become so concerned with the fear of being taken advantage of - in any way - that they forget health safety. Wearing pantyhose in an airplane in flight is extremely dangerous! If there were to be a fire on the flight, pantyhose will literally melt onto your legs and create severe burns. Also, wear leather men's style shoes - in a plane crash or boat accident they will stay on your feet while trying to escape. Some shoes slip off, while plastic or rubber sneakers will simply melt. Never wear shorts on board, but wear thick jeans and a sweater (to help prevent burns). These important safety measures might sound a little bit strange, but it's a lot better to be safe than sorry.

13. Instead of lugging bulky, breakable perfume bottles, soak some cotton balls in your favorite scent and stuff them into empty film canisters. Then just use them one at a time - the airtight canisters keep the fragrance fresh!