H

aving all the answers is not just a tall order to achieve; it's also next to impossible. When it comes to travel, a multitude of factors come into play, most of them running their course without problems — most of the time anyway. It's the eventualities that we dread and stash away at the back of our mind, that we invest in short-term travel insurance policies for, and sometimes, for most of us, simply take for granted. Here we compile the many aspects of travel (and actual experiences, too) that need careful consideration. It's a growing list, so please visit this page from time to time.

1. 101 Travel Tips — We start off with the
   SC 101 Travel Tips
   that we actually consider from the get-go — from preparation to picking flights and hotels, to packing your stuff and passing the time midair, to paying tips to pronouncing foreign words and phrases correctly — whew!


2. Turning Down Touts — Aggressive and persistent, touts probably won't settle for a no so soon. We made a mistake in 2005: on our way to Angkor Wat we couldn't get rid of touts — friendly pre-teens, fluent in English by Cambodian standards, lugging knockoff travel books, shabby postcards, bottled water, and whatnot — fast enough, so we said, "Maybe later." After a few hours inside the temples, we walked back to our rental, all set for the hotel and ice-cold beers. The kids suddenly reappeared, and when we repeatedly said we weren't buying, they went ballistic. Inside the car we could still hear them screaming, “Liar! Liar! Your mother is a %*$#@!” Lesson learned: say no upfront firmly, politely. It might prove helpful everywhere else.


3. Taking Good Photos — It'd be a shame to come back from an enjoyable, well-rounded, and enriching holiday with no good photos to show for it. Whether you use an iPhone, a basic point-and-shoot, or a high-end DSLR camera, it pays to have some photography skills to be able to give your memories some justice. See
   Travel + Leisure tips
   for starters.