Traveling across the pond?

On our way to the hotel in a famous London taxi cab.

Pack light

Airlines are already charging extra fees for more luggage, so it makes sense to trim your suitcase. Pack what you think you need, then take about half of it out. I had to move a lot of my belongings from my checked luggage to my carry on to avoid additional fees.

Keep essentials, and breakables, handy

Pack a change of clothes in your carry-on bag as well as your wallet, passport and any fragile items like a camera or laptop. On the flight home, my carry-on bag was too large, so I was forced to check it in a hurry. Flustered, I kept my laptop, teacups, ornaments and glass jars of jam in that bag, which was nothing but a padded duffle bag. Once I got home I discovered my laptop screen cracked, costing me nearly $600 to repair. The other fragile items didn't fare well either.

Spend money wisely

The pound has decreased in value since I visited, but that doesn't mean it's time for a shopping spree! Keep in mind everything is more expensive anyway, from taxes to bottled water. And don't get confused: Most items are the same numerical price. For instance, a latte in the States is $3 and is ₤3 in England. But with the conversion, you're really paying about $4.72.

Mind the gap

The London Underground, or the Tube, is by far the best way to get around. But the saying "Mind the gap," which was started by the British government in 1969 isn't smattered on T-shirts and keychains for the heck of it. They mean it. The gap between the station platform and the train can be pretty big, so please, mind the gap.