1. If you don't need it, don't take it
2. If you really need it, take two; if you only have one it will get lost or broken
3. If losing it would ruin your trip, don't take it
4. If you take something off, put it in your pocket; if it is too big for your pocket, put it in your pack
5. It takes incredible luck or a lot of time to find real bargains; negotiate and then lie about what you really paid for it if you have to 
6. What the shopkeepers describe as “the artistic traditions of centuries” reflect the buying habits of the tourists who were here last year.
7. If you pay too much or it falls apart in your suitcase, it still has value as one of your travel stories.
8. If there are functions on your camera you don’t use very often, you will forget how to use them when you need them the most.
9. If there are functions on your camera that you have never used, they will somehow become engaged and create problems at the worst possible times.
10. If someone tells you something will happen in 5 minutes, 6 hours or 7 days, it may just mean “not now.”
11. If someone tells you something is very near, just a short walk or won’t take long to get there, it may just mean “not here.”
12. There are no rewards for fashion; there are personal rewards for comfort and function.
13. Never buy new boots to wear on a trip
14. Don't use your ATM card unless the branch bank is open; if the machine eats your card and the branch is open, you may get it back.
15. No matter how high you go, someone has gone higher and the water is already polluted.
16. Give gifts to children as you leave; giving gifts too early causes the number of begging children to multiply at a geometric rate. 
17. Of course things are different, if your want home cooking, stay home.

Updated December 14, 2004