TRAVEL TIPS: Avoid Baggage Fees: What Not To Pack

With most major airlines now charging for checked bags, many travelers are striving to pack more efficiently and fly with only a carry-on. The goal is simple: to visit your destination without running out of clean socks or overstuffing your suitcase. But it's not that easy. If you've struggled over whether you need a raincoat for your trip to Cairo (just in case) or wondered how many guidebooks is too many, you're not alone. Packing for a trip is often a struggle to distinguish what we want to bring from what we need to bring.

Here are five tips from IndependentTraveler.com, a leader in online travel information, to help achieve this goal:

1. Rethink the Wardrobe

Stick to wardrobe essentials. Choose clothes in neutral colors that can be mixed and matched and pack a travel-size packet of laundry detergent to wash clothes while traveling. Bring no more than two pairs of shoes: one to be packed and one to be worn on the plane.

2. Simplify the Beauty Regimen

Don't lug an army of beauty products across the globe. Instead, use hotel toiletries or pack products with multiple uses, such as a moisturizer with SPF or a combination shampoo/conditioner. To meet security requirements, pack products in containers of 3 ounces or less in a quart-size, zip-top, clear plastic bag.

3. Pick One Favorite Guidebook

Don't weigh a suitcase down with books. Pack one comprehensive guidebook and use Internet cafés as necessary to look up additional information on the road.

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4. Leave the Crown Jewels at Home

Leave all valuables at home. Fancy watches and jewelry are targets for thieves and can prevent travelers from fitting into the local culture.

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5. Forget the Gizmos

Pack only indispensable electronic gadgets. Skip the toothbrush sanitizer, ocean sound machine and other extraneous items.

To help travelers pack more efficiently, The Independent Traveler offers an interactive packing list (www.independenttravelercom/packing). featuring more than 100 commonly packed items. This online tool lets travelers create a personalized packing list to save, print or e-mail to friends.

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Packing for a trip needn't be a struggle once you distinguish between what you need and what you think you need.

Your Money: What You Can Do To Fight Fraud

MANAGING YOUR MONEY

During tough economic times, some might get desperate enough to start illegal activity to stay afloat here are some tips to keep your cash and identity safe.

The few minutes you spend reviewing your bank statement could save you hundreds of dollars and help protect other consumers.

That's because scammers make big money applying small charges that can really add up.

The Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC), which regulates all national banks, helped several banks put a stop to one scam this year that had charged hundreds of unknowing consumers small amounts without authorization.

"Crooks like these know that most people don't check their bank or credit card statements regularly, and they're betting that people will overlook small charges with irregular amounts," said Larry Hattix, the OCC's Ombudsman.

According to experts at OCC, consumers can fight fraud by doing three simple things:

1. Check bank and credit card statements monthly and report errors or unauthorized items.

2. If you can't resolve the issue by contacting your bank directly, contact your bank's regulator. National bank customers can call the OCC at (800) 613-6743. The agency's consumer Web site, www.HelpWithMyBank.gov, provides information on banking.

3. Report your complaint to the Federal Trade Commission online at www.ftc.gov/sentinel, and if you suspect the fraudulent charges originated on the Internet, report it to the Federal Bureau of Investigation's Internet Crime Complaint Center at www.ic3.gov.

Scammers use a number of methods to get your account numbers and personal information. The FBI estimates that 500,000 to 700,000 Americans become identity theft victims each year. OCC experts say the best way to prevent identity theft is to always safeguard all sensitive information, such as personal identification numbers, account numbers and your Social Security Number; use trusted vendors; shred documents with account numbers; and verify any requests for your personal information.

If you suspect that you may be a victim of identity theft, take these additional steps:

1. File a police report.

2. Notify the fraud department of the three major credit bureaus: Equifax at (800) 525-6285, Experian at (888) 397-3742 and Trans Union at (800) 680-7289.

3. Report the issue through the FTC's toll-free identity theft hotline at (877) IDTHEFT (438-4338).

For banking questions, visit www.HelpWithMyBank.gov.

There are easy steps you can take to prevent the fraudulent use of your bank account.

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The Best-Kept Secrets Of Online Shopping Plus Coupons Now

With gas prices near all-time highs and purse strings tighter than ever, we're all looking for ways to save. But you don't have to go to every store in town to compare prices or drive hours to an outlet to find deals-you can find amazing sales, comparison shop and still save money, time and gas with the use of (did you guess?) the Internet. Online averse? Not totally tech-savvy? Here's an easy guide that will make online shopping on a budget as easy as a click of the mouse:

1. Look for special "online only" offers. Even brick-and-mortar retailers are offering incentives to encourage customers to shop online. Many will have items for sale exclusively through their Web sites or special clearance sales where savings can be found-sometimes up to 75 percent. Keep an eye out for special promotions and offers of free shipping to make online deals even sweeter.

2. Use a shopping search engine to comparison shop. Web sites like Shopping.com and BizRate are especially useful if you have a specific category in mind. Simply select a category, then a subcategory, and you're on your way. Some shopping engines even offer merchant and merchandise reviews to help inform your decision.

3. Use a secure payment system. Look for logos from companies such as PayPal or VeriSign to know if a seller is offering a safe checkout process. On eBay, for example, buyers should look for PayPal Buyer Protection, a free program that offers increased security by covering up to $2,000 for nondelivery of items, or products that are delivered not as described.

4. Be careful to check return policies. Most reputable online merchants maintain a "satisfaction guaranteed" return policy. However, some charge a restocking fee and most require customers to pay return postage. Some items, such as CDs and DVDs, can only be returned if they're unopened. Be sure to read the fine print before you complete your purchase.

5. Use tools such as PayPal to store all your personal information. With PayPal, you just have to enter your shipping and billing information once and it saves it for every point of purchase when using your PayPal account. This cuts down wasted time in the checkout process so you can complete your purchase quickly and safely. Another bonus? PayPal never shares your personal financial information with merchants, so all of your info is secure.

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Choice Hotels Lets Guests Elect to Earn Triple Points* at Economy and Extended Stay Hotels

Earn extra points this fall with Choice Hotels!

Consumers will like the outcome of at least one election this fall. Choice Hotels
International, Inc. (NYSE: CHH) is helping its guests make their vote count
with the "Elect to Earn Triple Points" promotion for its MainStay Suites,
Suburban Extended Stay Hotel, Econo Lodge and Rodeway Inn brand hotels -- a
total of over 1,200 properties.

Starting September 1, Choice Privileges members who book their stays
online at choicehotels.com or by calling 800.4CHOICE will receive triple
Choice Privileges points, starting with their second qualifying stay.
Members who book their stays using another method will earn double Choice
Privileges points, starting with their second stay. The promotion is valid
for qualifying stays at MainStay Suites, Suburban Extended Stay, Econo
Lodge and Rodeway Inn brand hotels with arrival from September 1 until
November 30, 2008.

"With the election season on everyone's mind, we thought we'd give our
members a chance to elect to earn triple points," said Greg Brown, vice
president of Choice Privileges for Choice Hotels. "This is a wonderful way
for us to give back to our guests and provide them with a great added
value."

$30 off with 5 night booking!

"With over seven million members, the Choice Privileges program
continues to grow, and we are continually looking for ways to offer members
special opportunities like this," said Bill Carlson, senior vice president
of marketing for Choice.

Choice Privileges is the Choice Hotels rewards program where membership
is free and members earn points towards free nights, Airline Rewards, gift
certificates and more while staying at Comfort Inn, Comfort Suites,
Quality, Sleep Inn, Clarion, Cambria Suites, MainStay Suites, Suburban
Extended Stay Hotel, Econo Lodge and Rodeway Inn brand hotels throughout
the U.S. (including Hawaii), Canada, Europe (excluding Denmark, Estonia,
Finland, Iceland, Latvia, Lithuania, Norway and Sweden), Mexico and the
Caribbean.

For more information on the Choice Privileges rewards program, visit
choiceprivileges.com .