11. Scotch guard When I travel with small children, I always bring along a roll of Scotch tape. When we get to our hotel room, I cut small strips of tape and cover the electrical outlets. Karen Fitzpatrick, Palo Alto, Calif.

12. Don't get tied up I've found elastic shoelaces that convert shoes into slip-ons. Mine are Lock Laces (locklaces.com), but there are lots of brands—buy them online or at sporting goods stores. At first I just used them for airport security, but they're so great that I now wear them nearly every day. Marlon Maus, Berkeley, Calif.

Clean getaway (Illustration by Jon Cannell) [enlarge photo] DOWNLOAD THIS • Tip 15: A wallet card to inform hotel staff that you don't need clean linens (PDF)

13. Slumber party! When we go on a cruise with our two toddlers, we usually book a cabin with four twin beds (two lower and two upper). None of us are comfortable in the upper bunks, so we push the two lower beds together and sleep sideways. That way, the four of us fit comfortably. One parent sleeps at the bottom edge of the beds, acting as a bed rail to prevent the kids from rolling off. Jimmy Kung, Brooklyn, N.Y.

14. Sweet and rough Those little sugar packets can make a great exfoliating scrub. Mix the sugar with a dollop of lotion, and then rub it onto your hands and feet. Rinse with water, pat dry, and voilà—soft hands and feet! Florem Hill, Lake Elsinore, Calif.

15. Tell 'em about it When a hotel doesn't provide cards that give the option of reusing towels, I put out my own. I always bring preprinted notes that ask the staff to leave my towels for the next day. At first, I had the cards in just English and Spanish, but I've discovered that it helps to have them in Russian, too. Alyse Ford, San Diego, Calif.

16. Standby dining If you want to go to a premium restaurant on a cruise but haven't made a reservation, show up an hour early and ask about cancellations. This has worked for me several times. Melinda Drew, Arlington, Mass.

17. Animal refuge Some hotels put people with animals in smoking rooms. If you have a pet and you're asthmatic, or if you have an older animal or a bird (their lungs are very delicate), you may want to specify a nonsmoking room. Valerie Silensky, Mount Rainier, Md.

18. A bounce of prevention My husband and I keep our dirty clothes in a pillowcase when we travel. To keep our luggage from smelling like dirty laundry, I put a sheet of fabric softener in the pillowcase before we leave home. Priscilla Beaver, Osceola, Ind.

19. Save for the future On a trip to France, my wife and I couldn't get cash from the airport ATM. We had to charge train tickets to Paris before we could find an ATM that took our cards. To prevent this frustration in the future, I withdrew €100 at the end of our trip so we'll have starter cash next time we go to Europe. Ken Broman, Seattle, Wash.

20. Pocket protection Keep your business card in the pocket of your coat. If you leave your coat on an airplane or at a restaurant, or if someone takes it by mistake, your information will be right inside, so you'll be easy to find. Patricia S. Beagle, Williamsville, N.Y.