Practical travel tips from backpackers

- Just in case, photocopy your documents and passport (just the page with your photo on, of course) and keep in a separate place. It will make it a great deal easier to sort out, should you lose anything. Rachel Ricks

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- If you arrive in the airport and the tourist info is shut, the car rental agencies usually have free guidebooks and maps to hand out. - Memorising your passport number saves a lot of hassle when filling out the numerous immigration forms and hostel guestbooks. Also handy if you lose it! Jenny Claxton

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- Courtesy of Tom’s: ‘Before you go’ and my top tip - make a list of all your important details; e.g. flight information, bank details, hostel details, insurance details, and any other things you think are important and give your parents and most trusted friend a copy. If you forget anything (I kept forgetting my internet banking number) or you need the info in an emergency, you simply phone them up and hey presto! Jon Brown

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- Email yourself all your useful contacts and important info. It is very difficult to lose this. - Film canisters filled with chilli powder and mixed herbs can make all meals bearable. Tom Griffiths

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- I heard that if you put a can of coke/beer inside a wet sock and suspend it from your tent/a tree, it will cool your beverage, regardless of the hot climate?! Louisa Hill

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Click here >> if you've got any practical tips and post them on the messageboard. We're always on the look-out for travel tip gems - it's great to learn from the wisdom of others.