Tips for female travelers

A tour company is offering a free copy of a new booklet called "101 Tips for Women Travelers."

Overseas Adventure Travel vice chair Harriet Lewis says the booklet draws on advice offered by hundreds of guides, employees and women who've traveled with the company. There are sections on packing, health and hygiene, safety, going solo, communications, digital photography and more, including foreign phrases and an international time zone chart.

A few of the tips:

—Use dental floss to hang laundry or string broken jewelry; wrap duct tape around a pencil so you'll have the tape handy for emergency repairs of anything from a suitcase to a shoe.

—Bring cash, a debit card and a credit card, but stash them in different places, some in a money belt, some in a wallet.

—When water is suspect, keep yourself from ingesting while showering by putting mouthwash in your mouth.

—Carry a whistle to blow in case you need help.

—Bring a large scarf. The booklet lists 25 uses for scarves under the heading, "Bandanarama," including cold compress, sleep blindfold, pillow cover and accessory.

To order a free copy of the booklet, visit http://www.oattravel.com/101-tips .