bookhall

A half-decent Swiss Army Knife has a can-opener (and scissors) as a couple of the tools.

Just remember to pack it in checked luggage, both going and coming.

suze

roadlesstraveled- Because they take up too much room and I rarely would need them since I travel in summer-time to europe or in winter to tropical destinations. Also because I live in Seattle and never use them here -lol!

roadlesstraveled

Suze, that it explains it. I am a mostly spring time traveler who lives in Southern CA. When it rains here, even a little bit, the news stations report the rain as the top story. Now that you mention it, I have noticed people in rainy climates don't carry umbrellas, it is alway the tourists.

gomiki

I have a pop-up lighted magnifying glass. It is just slightly larger than a credit card. So handy for maps, fine print and bad light.

k

Ok...Depends on if we're going for a weekend or Int'l flight
Wknd: I always keep a robe & nightie(nice one) and swim suit in my weekend bag. I always repack my makeup and toiletries bag when we get back so it's ready to go. Buy nice containers at the "Container" store. I can pack for a weekend trip in 20 minutes. Wknd trips, collapsible cooler and we have a small duffel "snack" bag with corkscrew, pair of wines, tumblers etc and power bars, snacks...
Int'l: Duct tape for sure, address labels/business cards for new friends we meet include email address. WET WIPES I ALWAYS wipe my tray table and arm rests on the plane before I use them. We keep a ziplock bag (lots of ziplocks...packed with slippers, ear plugs, eye shades and blow up pillows. EEW to those arline pillows and blankets. Gotta find me one of those cashmere blankets someone was talking about. We always take a couple of those knock off Pashminas to cover up. Extra copy of itinerary credit card and passport. . Just bought really nice super light umbrellas. But we do have cheap umbrellas from every major city in the world!

suze

roadlesstraveled- yes that's a local joke in Seattle that you can tell the tourists by those people carrying umbrellas. natives are peverse and perfer to just get wet
;-)

amaclise

bookmarking

mscarls

My girlfriend and I each take a small battery-powered reading light with us. It has several uses:
1. to substitute for the hotel bed lamps, which often aren't bright enough to read. Also, because it is more directional, it is less likely to disturb the other person if one wants to read and the other wants to sleep.
2. to serve as a flashlight, especially to get to the bathroom at night.
3. to use in the bathroom at night, so as not to disturb the other person who might be sleeping.

microdol

a nightlight you plug into the wall.
duct tape when staying in high-rise hotels.
a 'shaker' flashlight.
plastic eating utensils.
spare change.
dental floss (can double as string/rope).
AA charger.

Waterpik showerhead and cheap pliers (because I hate water reducing shower heads that extremely limit water pressure).

DebitNM

topping for more ideas.