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1. Buzz off Before we travel in buggy or malarial areas, my husband and I treat all of our pants and shirts with Permethrin (available in a concentrate from travel-supply companies). We dilute it in a spray bottle, spritz it on the clothes, and let them dry. (Never spray it directly on your skin.) The treatment lasts through six washings. More than once, we remained bite-free at jungle locations while other guests were suffering. Marci Fuller, San Benito, Tex.

Buzz off (illustration by Jon Cannell) [enlarge photo]

2. Switch your lid If you're packing a container that has a pump or a flip-top cap--like the bottles that hold lotion or sunscreen--replace the top with one from a 20-ounce soda bottle. It's almost always a perfect fit, and you won't have to worry about leaks. Emily Butler, Mechanicsburg, Pa.

3. Water, water anywhere I often notice travelers trying--without much success--to give their pets water from a cup or a plastic plate. The FlatOut bowl by Tupperware is a great solution. It's made from plastic with accordion-like ridges, so it collapses easily. Keep it flat while you're traveling, and expand it and fill it with water when your pet needs a drink. Sandra Mehl, Centennial, Colo.

4. Take your pick I use an empty Tic Tac box to carry a supply of toothpicks. It's exactly the right size and closes easily--and I can always find a toothpick when I need one on the go. Judy Woodward, Lebanon, Pa.

5. MacGyver would approve I bring a golf ball and a roll of duct tape when I travel. The golf ball can substitute as a drain plug for a sink or tub (check the size of the drain first!). The duct tape has a number of uses. If I don't have space in my suitcase for a whole roll, I cover the inside of the bag with strips of tape. Pamm McFadden, Boulder, Colo.

6. Put a cork on it When you pack scissors, stick the points into a cork. Dolores Calamari, Hilton Head Island, S.C.

7. No outlet Bring a pack of plastic electrical-outlet inserts if you're traveling with small kids. We used these in hotels, cabins, and non-baby-proofed houses when our daughter was young, and they brought us much peace of mind. Robin Hemenway, St. Paul, Minn.

8. Hot rod Since ships' cabins are notorious for having minimal closet space, we always pack a tension rod. We set it up between the TV stand and the wall by the porthole, window, or balcony door, and voilà--we have a second closet! Lisa Palumbo, West Orange, N.J.

9. Soothe with salt While I was in Colima, Mexico, I ate a hot chili and really enjoyed it, but my lips were burning afterward. The waiter told me to rub table salt across my lips. Sure enough, my lips were back to normal almost immediately. Larry Wilson, Anthem, Ariz.

10. Drier goods The next time you accidentally leave your cell phone in your pocket when you wash your pants or soak your iPod while you're jogging in the rain, don't open, start, or plug in the gadget. Instead, bury it in gel-type kitty litter for 24 hours. The litter will absorb all of the moisture and dry out the device. Barbara Dunn-Alfinito, Fishkill, N.Y.

11. Picasa at su casa My family and I used to struggle with our pictures being too bright or out of focus--especially when we were using our cheap camera--but now we edit them with Google's free Picasa software. When we transfer our pictures to a folder on the computer, Picasa automatically detects and displays them, and we use simple buttons to crop, sharpen, or adjust the lighting in the photos. The editing process is so simple that our kids often have it done before we unpack from the trip. Vic Singhal, Fords, N.J.