Money
If you live in the UK the best bank account is undoubtedly the Nationwide Flex account. Fee free withdrawals from any Visa ATM in the world with the base Visa exchange rate. I was using mine to with draw £10 a time on my last day in Thailand as I was shopping and buying souvenirs and it would have cost me £2 a time with any other bank. You have to be in credit and it would be bad if you lost it or were robbed, but you can have a e-savings account attached to hide the majority of your money.
Check this example:
Nationwide $600
| 16 October 2007 | Cash Bank of Americ/*622 Mass CAMBRIDGE. 600.00USD at 2.040 | £294.02 |
Lloydstsb $600 1 minute later
16Oct07 DEB BANK OF AMERIC/*622 MASS
US 600.00 XR 1.98144 £302.81
PLUS
16Oct07 DEB
CASH CHARGE £4.50
so its £307.31 instead of £294.02, thats a £13 charge on withdrawing the maximum ammount you can per day! In this case I needed cash fast to buy my minivan so didn”t have a choice. You do. Join Nationwide.
Safety
Buy a travel smoke alarm and put it somewhere high in your room.
Phones
Take a picture of the guidebook map when you’re in a new city, then you dont have to carry it around and it will help you get back to your hotel.
Get a ebook reader for your phone if your screen is a reasonable size, there are plenty of free classics available as well as more modern literature, you can take a whole library with you in your pocket and always have something to do when waiting for that train.
Taxis
When travelling in taxis alone the best place for you and your bag is on the back seat. That way you can pay, open the door and get out with your bag. Otherwise you might find the taxi driving off with your bag in the boot.
Theft
Get a credit card sized pouch and wear it around your neck with your nationwide card.
Carry a muggers wallet with a expired credit card (swiped with a magnet and the chip smacked with a hammer) and a wad of impressive (but worthless) cash from another country. (hint: not a neighbouring country). If confronted, throw it past them and run the other way. Dont panic…. it will make a good story 
Bargaining
Try to bargain when there aren’t many other tourists to spoil your fun, many asian people think the first sale of the day is lucky so you can use that to your advantage. If there is something you really want, try starting off with asking about some other item first, the one you want might be offered cheaper. Think about whether you really want it, or are just attracted by a cheap deal. Try to get presents for people that they really want, not just more junk they will throw in their closets. Haggling should be fun, make it a game and don’t get stressed over a few cents. In the same vein don’t get taken for a ride and just throw money around, there are poorer tourists coming after you. Be polite and remember you can always walk away, it might get you your ‘last price’. If it doesn’t, you can always go back and pay their ‘last price’.
Packing
Squeeze the air out of your plastic containers. Bury anything valuable not in your hand luggage in the middle of your pack. Make your backpack look as dirty and tatty as you can, thieves will concentrate on more expensive bags, roll it around in the dirt. Use a plastic pack liner inside if you think you will be doing any walking in the rain with it.
Technology
Buy a AA maglite and wrap a couple of meters of duct tape around it, its handy for repairs, holding things together and now you can hold your flashlight in your mouth if needed.
Fun
Flights
Insurance
