Travel Tips from Seasoned Travelers
Traveling Light
Experienced travelers know the value of traveling light, and that the best way to avoid countless potential problems and hassles, is to avoid checking luggage by using carry on luggage. Doing the latter has save many a business deal, and avoided ruined vacations & holidays. 
Those who've yet to master the whole "lighten the load" thing, should check out our secrets to traveling light. The problem people have is by far, failing to plan ahead by visualizing their trip. Not taking this one step means they by default will load up with tons of stuff to be sure they have covered all contingencies.
Another reason folks take along too much is that they take the wrong things. If you're going to travel, then it makes sense to acquire and utilize items that are travel friendly. That basically means finding things that are more compact or fill multiple needs. the end result is reducing both the number and volume and what you lug along.
Passports
If you don't have one - get one. Most of the world is used to the idea that international travel requires a passport, but up until recently, U.S. citizens could travel throughout North America and the Caribbean with a drivers license and birth certificate.
With changes made by Homeland Security, those days are gone. Check out out the rules on the U.S. Department of State website, or read the bottom line facts below.
Entry Requirements for the United States changed effective December 31, 2006 -- All air & sea travelers, including U.S. citizens, to and from the Americas, the Caribbean, and Bermuda must have a valid passport or other accepted document that establishes the bearer’s identity and nationality, to enter the United States.
The U.S. Departments of State and Homeland Security announced Friday, June 8, 2007, that U.S. citizens traveling to Canada, Mexico, Bermuda or countries in the Caribbean region, who have applied for, but not yet received passports, can re-enter the United States by air. This accommodation will end on September 30, 2007.
The federal government is providing this grace period for air travel due to longer than expected processing times for passport applications in the face of record-breaking demand. This accommodation will expire at the end of September, and beginning October 1, 2007, all U.S. Citizens traveling outside the United States will be required to present a valid passport to enter and depart from the United States.