1. Use hangers for in-room laundry

Instead of bringing one of those bungee cables to hang-dry my delicates and socks, I pack a couple of mini plastic hangers—the ones that bras and panties come on when you buy them.  They take up very little room in my luggage and can be thrown away at the end of the trip.

Danne Prendergast, Huntington Beach, Calif.

2. A small key ring will thwart prying fingers

A padlock zipper tells thieves there’s something in your bag worth stealing, but a key ring is much less obvious.  Best of all, you’ll never have to worry about forgetting your combination.

Cynthia Rainer, Cape Coral, Fla.

3. The ideal toiletry bag is a lunch box

After years of looking for years for the perfect toiletries bag and being frustrated by many that were less than ideal, I’ve finally discovered one that is just right: a soft-sided lunch box I bought at the supermarket.  It has an outer-zipped pocket with small compartments and lots perfect for often-used items like toothbrush and toothpaste.  There’s a small removable zipper pouch inside for those smaller hard-to-find items like nail files and pill bottles.

Space inside is just the right size for larger items like shampoo and hand lotion.  Other helpful features include both a small handle and shoulder strap, and a waterproof, easy-to-clean interior.  This lunch box was designed for children, so I know it’s going to last.

Cynda Ramos, Brooklyn Park, Minn.

4. Enjoy your coffee anywhere on the cruise ship

Bring a travel mug for early-morning coffee fill-ups at the buffet.  Your coffee stays warm, and travels well around the ship—the mug specifically designed to stop spillage—and you don’t have to linger in the restaurant after you’ve finished eating breakfast.  When you return to your room or your favourite deck chair, you’ll have a fresh cup.

Chris Reed, Union City, N.J.

5. You can suspend more than your newspaper when you’re away

On several occasions, DirecTV has agreed to pit my account on hold while I was away traveling, without penalty, additional fees reconnection charges or the like.  So, instead of having a monthly bill of $65, I have mine protracted, without fail.

Cheryl Rounsefell, Chicago, Ill.

Got a travel tip to share? Leave it as a comment below…