Thirteen uses for a zip-lock baggie?

Have you ever wondered if twist ties, film canisters, newspaper's plastic bags, or extra contact lens carriers can be useful while traveling?

The Smart Traveler's Passport: 399 Tips from Seasoned Travelers

offers helpful ways to use all of these things, and more, while on the road. Erik Torkells, editor-in-chief of

Budget Travel

magazine, has compiled reader tips on ways to avoid the pitfalls of vacations, and I must say, many are really quite useful.

For instance, you'll discover how to use dental floss as measuring tape, a plastic bag as a greenhouse, a key ring as a lock, and a digital camera as a guidebook. Can you believe there are 13 different uses for zip-lock bags, from storage to rain protection? The book also provides tips on how to plan, pack, dine, sightsee, and navigate in destinations all over the world.

If you're still not convinced, you can watch an

interview

with Torkells on CNN.com discussing some of his favorite tips. You can also read more about how the book came to be on

Budget Travel online

.

This book is filled with the personal experience of real people offering ways you can learn from their mistakes, victories, and ingenuity. It's a fairly invaluable tool, even just for the few tips you may apply to your next trip, and it's a fun read as well. As for me, I've already started working on a master packing list, which I will keep on my computer for whenever I travel.