Spill the beans... on your holiday tricks

I pack to bring less back - so just enough shampoo to last the holiday, etc. Saves weight going out & weight and bulk on the way home, allowing me to carry pressies I've bought on holiday.

Likewise I take old underwear that I'm prepared to ditch when I pack to come home.

But make sure the locality will dispose of things properly - recycling where possible.

Pack a couple of small resealable freezer bags in your hand luggage, there is always someone at the airport who has forgotten, and they will be eternally grateful to you for saving them at least £1 to purchase one from a machine. Always purchase supermarket drinks and snacks to keep in your room and have a quick party before going out to eat - this avoids too many expensive drinks in restaurants. Pass on the expensive desert and buy an ice cream as you stroll around the locality, or enjoy a pre-purchased cake with a drink on your own balcony - take a couple of citronella tealights to add to the ambience. Ladies save weight in your case by packing one pair of black evening trousers or skirt, one pair of heels, one wrap or cardigan and several lightweight tops to ring the changes. Forget expensive trips and use local buses if you are confident enough, do some internet research first to make things easier.
Always picnic at lunch times, many supermarkets keep drinks in a fridge so just buy as you need. Pack a camping set tool which includes a tin opener and knife, and a couple of plastic bags for picnic supplies. Always take your own travel kettle and tea/coffee, long life milk is usually reasonably priced and will keep 2/3 days even without a fridge. Take your own brand of sunscreen as these are generally more expensive in resorts and unheard of in more remote areas. If you are concerned that your luggage may be overweight on your return put small heavy items in your jacket pockets.
This will save enough to splurge on something really important, like new shoes or a handbag!!

I have not yet achieved a travel kettle, as I am afraid of blowing up the sockets in hotel rooms eg in France. Does anyone know about this? I bought one that could be attached to a car battery, but on reading that it would take about 30 minutes to come to the boil, I returned it. It is good that many French hotels have begun to supply their own kettles in bedrooms, but we need to take lots of teabags and milk and big mugs (lighweight), as the tiny cups and delicate little French teabags just don't satisfy a big morning thirst.

Apart from that kettle problem, I already do everything you have suggested, right down to enormous family evening picnics in our room (carefully cleared up) to avoid depressing and timeconsuming discussions in restaurants about what everything is and who doesn't like it.... We love restaurant meals in small groups, but big families make the whole thing hideous (unless forced into pizza place or.....MacDonalds).

I have even taken a flat gas burner and a big frying pan etc for cooking outside in good weather.