Packing & Luggage

The Annual Frommer's Travel Gift Guide

We combed this year’s best offerings to find travel gadgets and inventions that actually improve the way we go places—for every budget.

A skier catches up to the rest of the family on a ski trip.

Packing Tips for Ski Vacations and Winter Getaways

By Kara Murphy

Lighten your load by knowing what weatherproof gear to take, what to leave behind, and what equipment you can rent at the ski resort.

First of all, the good news: Norovirus is very rarely deadly. It's more like a rotten hangover marked by a few days of nausea and, in some people, vomiting. The biggest risk, mostly to the eldery and infants, is dehydration. Norovirus can break out wherever people gather and mingle—schools, dorms, nursing homes—and ships with spotless cleanliness ratings can still fall victim to an outbreak.<br><br>It's also extremely common—only the cold is more prevalent. The <em>Explorer of the Seas</em> (above) set a record for the number of cases, but keep in mind that it's one of the larger ships afloat—when it was launched in 2000, it was in <em>the</em> largest class of cruise ship afloat—so there are more people cooped up and more to make queasy.

How to Avoid Getting Sick on a Cruise Ship

By Jason Cochran

What can you do to avoid the norovirus? How can you tell if a ship is dirty? And should you cancel your trip if your ship had an outbreak?

Defend Against Travel Mishaps with These Safety Products

By Jason Cochran

For the paranoid traveler on your gift list, there's a new batch of gadgets and ideas to ward off travel disaster in its many forms. Do you think these products will protect them? Safety first!

Frommer's Travel Gift Guide: Presents Mostly Under $100

By Jason Cochran

No matter your budget, we've got the travel gift for you—everything will make your trips smarter, cheaper, easier, or more fun.

Luggage with Lifetime Guarantees

By Jason Cochran

Lots of luggage manufacturers promise lifetime guarantees—but does it cover everything? Turns it out doesn't. Here are the major baggage brands that do offer true lifetime warranties and will fix or replace your damaged bag for years to come.

Clever Tricks that Fix Common Packing Problems

By Ashley DuBois

Useful travel hacks and tips for when you forget things at home, want to keep your stuff safe and organized, and just feel like keeping traveling easy—without spending a small fortune on random gadgets and duplicate purchases.

How to Pack 100 Items in a Carry-On, London's 24-Hour Tube Starts, and More: Our Daily Travel Briefing

By Jason Cochran

A roundup of travel news from all over

Frommer's Ultimate Travel Packing List

By Jason Cochran

Bookmark it, download it, print it—use our free comprehensive packing list and you'll never forget anything on vacation again. Just click it for a downloadable version. Bon voyage!

How to Beat the High Prices of Best Buy's Airport Kiosks

By Jason Cochran

When you learn how easy it is to slash the high prices of Best Buy's electronics vending machines at airports, you may not be afraid to use them anymore.

Gotcha! What Delta Doesn't Tell You About Its Late-Bag Delivery Fees

By Jason Cochran

When a bag doesn't make it onto a flight and has to be delivered to a hotel, passengers are charged—but no one at the airline is warning them how much it will cost.

Can I Bring Alcohol on a Cruise Ship?

By Polina Myagkov

You’re cruising through the Mediterranean, and you stop in Nice. In a wine shop, you see a gorgeous bottle of French rosé, and immediately picture yourself sipping some on your veranda while the ship pulls out of port later that evening. As you reach for your credit card, you wonder — are you even allowed to bring alcohol on cruise ships? The answer: It depends. Alcohol policies vary widely from line to line. In addition, many lines charge so-called corkage fees if you want to drink your purchase in a public space, including dining rooms, specialty restaurants, or lounges. There is always the option of sneaking alcohol onboard to get around these policies, but if you want to play by the rules, here’s our handy line-by-line cheat sheet:

Do I need a passport to cruise?

By Thomas Faddegon

In light of heightened border security and thorough Transportation Security Administration (TSA) searches, it seems like a given that you need a passport to go on a cruise. Surprisingly enough, the cruise industry has a loophole that lets American passengers soak in the beautiful beaches of the Caribbean and other destinations without a passport on “closed-loop” sailings out of U.S. ports.

7 Rookie Mistakes First-Time Cruisers Make

By Heidi Sarna

If you’re new to cruising, don’t fall prey to these potential pitfalls. Here are the top nine mistakes cruise newbies make and how to avoid them for smooth sailing, from the minute you walk up the gangway for the first time to the moment you disembark:

How to Navigate Airport Security Without Losing Your Liquids -- Or Your Mind

By Janis Turk

With airlines charging for checked baggage, more travelers are carrying luggage on board. To learn how to speed up the line, we turned to a TSA expert for advice.

Pauline Frommer's Spend Less, See More Tips for Family Travel

By Pauline Frommer

In this series of monthly tips, you'll find some terrific tips to help you make the most of every trip. This time around, get insight about planning for family vacations.

21 Packing Rules for Traveling with Kids

By Heidi Sarna

First rule of traveling with kids: You'll be better off when you face the fact that your own needs and preferences have nothing to do with packing for the family's vacation.

Free Techno-Gadgets For Your Trip To Japan!

By Sascha Segan

Fifty Tips for Planning an Affordable Trip to Australia

By Marc Llewellyn & Lee Mylne

Can't believe you can really travel and stay comfortably around this huge country for as little as $50 a day? It can be done.

Hassle-Free Holidays: Frommer's Tip List for Traveling Without a Worry

By The Frommer's Staff

Procrastinators will find sky-high air and rail fares for the turkey week right now, and Christmas and New Year's down the pike. There are a ways to reduce stress while saving time and money on these mandatory trips. Here are our tips for your holiday surviving travel.