I booked a flight and hotel package with Expedia for April 19-26, 2007. I did this several months before departure and opted to include the Expedia Package Protection plan, which was good because I had to use it only three hours before my flight for a very unexpected reason.

I live on the 24th floor of a highrise condominium. A week or so before my trip, we were warned that there would be an elevator shutdown for a few hours on the day of my flight. I finished some last-minute...

On a trip to Morocco, Dec. 20, 2006-Jan. 4, 2007, I arrived in Casablanca with only a hotel reservation and some ideas but no firm plans. I had read articles about Morocco in ITN, checked the Internet and had referred to Lonely Planet and Footprint guidebooks as well as several fine pamphlets (“Imperial Cities,” “Museums,” “The Kasbah Trail,” “Casablanca,” etc., published by the Moroccan National Tourist Office (Orlando, FL; 407/264-0133, www.visitmorocco.org).

I also arrived without...

I am a 55-year-old woman who does a lot of international traveling alone. The issue of where to keep my money and passport is always a problem. Although I am somewhat hesitant about the in-house safes, in so many countries where pickpocketing is a regular job, we almost have to use the hotel safes. I do two other things.

I always put the “do not disturb” sign on my door when I leave. I don’t care if I get that extra towel or not. If I stay at a hotel for three days or more and I want...