In this article: Laura McKenzie's tips Kimberly Lisagor's tips Everett Potter's tips Pack these 3 things Win a "volunteer" vacation!

SUMMER TRAVEL

Secrets of travel insiders

Our three pros offer 26 tips to make your trips easy.

"I think I have my finger on the pulse of what's good."

How many times have we wished we had brought a secret-decoder ring -- one that would detect and resolve our travel frustrations -- when we go on the road? Something that would whisk us through those interminable airport security lines or keep us from booking the hotel with the four-star reputation that puts us in a room with paper-thin walls, next to the ice machine and elevator.

Unfortunately, such a decoder ring is not in supply. But we at USA WEEKEND found something better: three of the top experts in travel to dish on their greatest secrets. Taking part: our two TravelSmart writers, Everett Potter and Kimberly Lisagor, and our friend (and cover subject) Laura McKenzie, of the syndicated TV show "Laura McKenzie's Traveler." Each has a specialty -- Everett's is general travel, Kimberly's is eco and nature travel, and Laura's is international travel. All three of them swear by packing light, and Laura and Kimberly follow detailed checklists before they take off.

"I think travel tips are like driving in Los Angeles," says L.A.-based McKenzie. "You learn by making mistakes because the signs aren't very well marked." So consider these tips the results of a few wrong turns our pros have made along the way so that you won't have to.

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Laura McKenzie's tips

Blend in
Europeans joke that you always can tell Americans by their white sneakers. Blending in will help you avoid being targeted by pickpockets and unethical taxi drivers. You also should keep valuables in your front pockets or in a security pouch, and choose a cab with a meter (and make sure it's running), or set the price before you get in.

Check your passport
Some countries won't let you in if you have less than two empty pages. Also, check the expiration. Many countries require that it be valid for six months after your return date. You can find out a country's entry requirements by going to travel.state.gov and clicking "Travel Information by Country."

Review hotel guidebooks
To find a reliable European hotel, read guidebook reviews, look at pictures online, and ask to see the room before you check in, as sizes often vary in the same price category. On arrival, it often helps to ask, "Is that the best room you can give me for the money?"

Read the fine print
Check to see if the travel insurance plan you're considering simply transports you to the nearest hospital (not a good plan on safari). Medjetassist.com is one company that will fly you to the hospital of your choice in a medically equipped private jet from anywhere in the world. And if you're renting a car, check if your credit card company pays only for secondary insurance, after you exhaust your own car insurance.

Know about the VAT refund
It's amazing how many shoppers don't spend 10 minutes to get their value added tax refunded from other countries when they leave. Ask for a "de-tax" form from the shop when making large purchases, read the instructions, and allow extra time at the airport to get your sales tax refunded.

Resist the lure of designer knockoffs
As tempting as the fake Louis Vuitton luggage set looks in the flea market, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (cbp.gov) can seize counterfeit copyrighted and trademarked articles when you come back into the United States.

Call your credit card companies
Imagine being told that your credit card is no good on your third day in Shanghai. On a frantic call, the representative tells you it's been frozen for suspected fraudulent use because "someone in China has been using it." Let them know before you go.

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Everett Potter's tips

Visit the TSA website
If you're dreading the wait time in an airport security line, find out what's in store by visiting the Transportation Security Administration website (tsa.gov), which offers wait times at major airport security checkpoints for each hour of the day. If you're flying out of JFK at 8 a.m. next Friday, the TSA's website can tell you the average wait over the previous four weeks.

Take an earlier flight
If you want to take a flight earlier than the one you've booked, don't call and rebook it yourself. Instead, call to see if there's a seat available, then go to the airport and try to get on the earlier flight. That way, for domestic flights, you won't be charged a $100 (or possibly higher) change fee. Although US Airways now charges a $25 "move-up" fee if there's a free seat available, most carriers do not.

Get bumped on your terms
More than 158,000 fliers opted to be bumped because of overbooking by the 18 major carriers in the first three months of 2007. But don't jump at a carrier's first offer, and always try to negotiate for more. Will the airline pay for your meals, a hotel room and ground transportation should you have to stay overnight? And how about a pass to enter the airport lounge while you wait for your new flight? As for compensation, opt for a dollar voucher over a "free ticket," which can be highly restricted.

Look for the exit
Exit-row seats have more leg room than other seats in coach, but most airlines won't release them until shortly before departure. So get to the gate as early as possible to request one. Northwest now makes the seats available 24 hours before departure for an extra $15 fee, which is a lot cheaper than an upgrade.

Be loyal
Hotel loyalty programs don't just earn you points for future stays. In some cases, they can guarantee late-checkout privileges. If you join Hyatt Gold Passport, for example, you'll have until 2 p.m. to check out.

Skip the car-rental extras
Collision damage waiver (CDW) and loss damage waiver (LDW) are options that eliminate responsibility for damage to or loss of a rental car. Liability insurance pays for damages to the other guy's car. Chances are, you don't need these because your car insurance or credit card has you covered.

Follow the 3-1-1 rule
Nothing seems to hold up a security line more than the confusion over liquids that can be taken onboard. So make sure you're following the TSA's 3-1-1 rule (3-ounce containers; a 1-quart clear plastic zip-top bag; one bag per flier), because most TSA checkpoints make a bigger deal of this rule than almost anything else these days. If in doubt, put your liquids in your checked luggage.

Maximize connection time
Make sure you have enough time to connect to your next flight. Many airlines will give you as little as 30 minutes to connect. But given today's rampant airline delays, that's often cutting it too close. The problem can be compounded if you are switching terminals at some of the country's largest hubs, such as Atlanta, Denver, Chicago or Dallas-Fort Worth. If you can allow yourself about 90 minutes to get to your connecting flight, you'll take a lot of stress out of your next trip.

Use your phone, not your feet
Stuck in the airport when your flight is canceled or severely delayed? Rather than stand in a long line at the customer service desk, use your cellphone to reschedule a flight or to get wait-listed.

Ship your gear ahead
Had it with baggage delays and baggage loss? Companies such as Sports Express (sportsexpress. com) and Luggage Free (luggagefree.com) will pick up your bags or golf clubs and ship them to a hotel or resort before you leave home.More travel tips, next page V

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Kimberly Lisagor's tips

Take the interpretive tour
Many national, state and regional parks offer free, naturalist-led interpretive tours. The knowledge you will pick up in these brief introductions enhances everything else you do. Bonus: You will be able to impress friends with such trivial tidbits as, "Did you know red alder trees are nitrogenfixers that help the forest nourish cedars and spruces?"

Consider shoulder season
Plan your national park vacations during a shoulder season, like late spring or early fall. The weather is milder, lodging rates are cheaper, and crowds are much lighter. Fall rates at Yosemite's Tenaya Lodge (tenayalodge.com), for instance, are around $100 less compared with the summer rates.

Reserve ahead at campgrounds
If you're traveling on weekends, holidays or during a busy season, use the advance reservation system at campgrounds and parks. It's worth the extra few bucks to arrive at your destination knowing you'll have a place to pitch your tent. On off-season weekdays, you can save those dollars and be more flexible with your travel plans. This may not apply at destinations that are packed year-round, like major national parks. Call in advance for advice.

Protect your toiletries
If you're traveling by plane, pack your toiletries in a zip-lock bag so they won't explode onto your clothes as the air pressure changes. If your toothpaste cap or shampoo top pops off mid-flight, it's much easier to rinse out the bag than to start your vacation with a trip to the laundromat.

Consider volunteering on your vacation
Volunteer vacations are a great way to immerse yourself in a new place and turn an ordinary trip into a meaningful, memorable travel experience. Organizations like idealist.org, Earthwatch Institute (earthwatch.org) and GlobeAware (globeaware.org) organize short-term and long-term opportunities, such as studying sugar plantations in Hawaii, working on a school garden program in San Francisco or cleaning up rivers in Jamaica.

Learn about your eco-friendly options
Find out about green travel options, like the trip-planning services of the Better World Club (betterworldclub.com), which offers route maps, roadside assistance for drivers and cyclists, and discounts on hybrid car rentals and hotels. For more green ideas, consult the International Ecotourism Society (ecotourism.org), Sustainable Travel International (sustainabletravel.com) and the "Green Hotels" Association (greenhotels.com).

Choose public transportation
Instead of renting a car when you're on vacation, try using public transportation, renting a bike and/or exploring on foot. You'll get to know your destination in a way that drivers can't, you'll work up an appetite for those decadent vacation meals, and you'll help contribute to cleaner air. Most cities now have their bus, subway and bike routes available on the Web, so make sure to check before you go.

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Cover photograph by Robert Sebree for USA WEEKEND
Styling by Jennifer Azoulay, Crystal Agency; Laura McKenzie's jacket by Armani, top by Kenneth Cole; giraffe courtesy Fiesta Toy