1) Drink bottled water especially if you are in a country where tap water is not drinkable. Most hotels provide complimentary bottles in rooms, so make use of them.

2) Purchase travel insurance as you'll never know when you might need it

3) Learn the local language. Even if its simple phrases such as "Hello" or "Good Morning", it will make things easier.

4) For some countries such as Thailand and China, prepaid SIM cards are cheap and widely available. Frequent travellers should use them instead of global roaming service. The savings could be in the range of thousands of dollars.

5) Remember to ask for some small change at the money changers when changing into local currencies – you will need them everywhere, from tipping bellboys to making small purchases such as a drink. Merchants are not always honest.

6) Local food galore! Street food is looking good but how do you know your stomach won’t suffer from it later? It depends on the region you are going and your personal health history, really. You will need to be more careful if you are particularly prone to stomach upsets.

Observing how the street vendors handle their food will help you make a better decision. Do they leave their food out for a long time in the warm summer? Or it is freshly fried, barbequed or piping hot when the vendor hands it to the customer? If it is something you never had before, it would also be wise not to gobble down too much at one go.

In another word, be adventurous, be cautious. (Ok, two words.)

7) In Shanghai, you can bargain for cheaper taxi fares after midnight. Ask for a 20% discount off the total post-midnight fare. If it is difficult for the driver to pick up his next passenger from your destination, he might be reluctant to offer you the discount or he might agree to 10% discount only. Of course, the success rate is almost 100% if you speak the Shanghainese dialect. (But you wouldn’t be reading this if you do, right?)

8) Excited for a Japanese onsen (hot spring) experience? If you have a tattoo on any part of your body, you are probably barred from most of the traditional Japanese onsens, as they are associated with Yakuza. Thus you should check the rules and regulations of the onsen you are planning to visit, before making the hotel reservation.

9) Be particularly careful about personal belongings at crowded places – handbags for ladies should be tucked under the arm and wallets should never be placed in the back pockets. Many thefts occur when the victims are busy bargaining at a busy market or too engaged in a conversation.

10) Traffic rules (or the state of no-rules) can be very different from your home country. If crossing the road is challenging, following the locals is your best bet. Remember to look in all directions, including up and down.

11) Many of the medications which you are familiar with might not be available in the country you are travelling to. Bringing a small personal medicine pack and a basic first-aid kit is a good idea.

12) Most importantly - Have Fun!