1. Instead of using liquid washing soap for your laundry, try detergent tablets. Tide makes single use packets that include 2 tablets. You can throw them in your bag and not worry about leaking bottles and soapy clothes. 

2. Pack a small antibacterial hand gel (kills germs without water) in your purse or carry-on bag so that you can clean your hands before eating your finger snacks on the airplane. Think of all the individuals who handled your ticket and your ID card enroute to your seat on the plane ... 

3. Bar Shampoo - It is now possible to buy shampoo in a bar form, like you would soap. It's one less bottle to worry about exploding, and it lasts for 40-50 shampoos. 

4. When traveling from Canada or the U.S. always take your own pop, powdered juices etc. They are very expensive in other countries. Then you have empty space to bring home your souvenirs. 

5. If you're trying to pack light and want to have extra room on your way home for souvenirs, consider buying bulky items like towels at your destination. Use the towel during your stay, then chuck it when you're about to leave. This works especially well with people traveling on longer trips for several weeks or months. 

6. Many hotels charge extra for a room with a small fridge. I found a very nice collapsible cooler from a camping supply store. When folded, it fits in the large outer pocket of my suitcase - and when opened it holds water bottles and snacks and a large amount of ice (usually found on every floor of a hotel). 

7. Essential oils are versatile and so tiny they take up virtually no room! I brought and used these on a recent trip: lavender - on insect bites, on pillow as sleep aid; lemongrass - on tissue tied onto room fan as insect repellent; eucalyptus and peppermint - on tissue shoved into car air conditioner  vent to ease tropical heat and humidity; ginger and peppermint - on tissue and inhaled for dizziness. 

8. When going overseas, particularly I found in Rome, there is a severe pick pocketing problem. I suggest bringing a neck pouch, which will hold money, credit cards, and valuables under your clothes to avoid being robbed. Look in the luggage section of most department stores. 

9. Always bring a small fold-up paper fan for those times you're stuck outside in the heat or inside a stuffy location (e.g., waiting in long ticket lines for events or museums, at the post office, on the tarmac while your plane is in that long takeoff line and the air conditioning shuts down). I carry my $.59 Chinese fan from Cost Plus everywhere with me, at home or abroad. 

10. I hate not having enough water coming from the shower head. RoboGrip or ViceGrip pliers allow you to remove the shower head and pluck out the flow restrictor. 

11. One thing I wish we had during our stay at a Walt Disney World Resort was an INSULATED COOLER. We could have easily checked it with our luggage, as well as using it to bring a coffee maker or toaster. You will find that a lot of time can be saved by having milk and juice (as well as some nice cold beer!) in your room. A quick bowl of cereal, (bought the night before in the food court), and a carton or glass of juice can be a nice quick breakfast. Also, a small soft-sided cooler can be filled up with cold juice boxes and beers for your afternoons at the pool. It's a big money saver as well as a convenience! 

12. Pack mirror with folding base. Comes in handy when 2 or more need to use mirror when getting ready. 

13. Use shampoo/conditioner 2-in-1, in a trial size bottle (save some money by refilling the bottles) - it works just as well, and saves time too! 

14. Pack a door-stop. I've been in too many hotels where the same key fits more than one hotel room! Simply put it under the door and sleep in peace ... 

15. Pack screw-top containers - these are ideal for liquids (shampoo, ironing spray, water). If you use a 'pop' top similar to shampoo containers, you run the risk of messy spills. Traveling at altitude or under the weight of other luggage, pop tops are not very reliable. 

16. Always carry a palm-size plastic mirror when traveling. Other than vanity reasons, a mirror can be a rescue tool. Lost at sea, just flash it. Lost in a jungle, use it to set up a bonfire or to flash for rescue. 

17. Taking a box of baby wipes or alcohol- based gel hand cleaner along on a trip to clean and sanitize without water is very handy!!! 

18. We all know that towels are bulky and can't be packed while wet. For an alternative, pack a swimmer's shammy; it's light and dries quickly. Also take a sarong. It has multiple functions - e.g. a towel, a sheet, clothing etc. 

19. It usually becomes necessary to do at least one hand wash during a trip. By including a small 'swimmer's towel' which you can purchase in a sports equipment store, you can cut your drying time in half. Roll the wet laundry in the towel, push down hard on the roll, and your washed item is half dry. This is important when you're leaving the next morning! The swimmer's towel can be wrung out and reused for the next item. It holds a tremendous amount of water! (You can pack the swimmer's towel in a zip-lock bag). You can pre-dry heavy items, like jeans, with a brief session with a hair dryer. Also, a Woolite packet is best for washing, but you can always use a little shampoo as substitute detergent. (Use a small amount because it can get too sudsy!). 

20. A clothespin can be very handy to close those hotel drapes that never quite close completely! 

21. A small, travel-sized corkscrew is handy if you like to purchase wine while traveling. Safety pins are a must for on-the-go clothing repairs and to keep your pockets theft-proof. 

22. Instead of packing bottled perfume (which could break), pack a small travel-sized bottle of perfumed lotion in your favorite scent. You can get these at places like Bath & Body Works, The Body Shop, etc. They are inexpensive and come in all kinds of fragrances, including some gears towards men. The fragrance in lotion lasts longer (perfume evaporates), plus you get the added benefit of moisturizing your skin. 

23. When wanting to travel light, simply buy everything in trial sizes. Any pharmacy will have a shelf full of products that are very small and easy to pack - from deodorant to toothbrushes - and the majority only costs about 99 cents each. 

24. Take your own pillowcase, or a very large t-shirt to put over top of the pillow to make it feel cleaner. 

25. When traveling long bus, train or air journeys, pack a small zip-up cushion cover (doesn't take up much room) and stuff with a jumper, sarong or whatever to use as a pillow. Keeps your pillow all together and not all over the floor!