Never mess with a shark!

When asked to reveal their best travel tips, over 1,500 keen Destinations Show travellers offered ideas from practical packing advice to quirky cures for itchy insect bites and scams to watch out for at different destinations.

Suggestions included ‘Never mess with a shark’ and ‘Remember you are not invisible so don’t try to wrestle bears. Ever!’ The most common pieces of advice however included; ‘email passport details to yourself,’ ‘share belongings between suitcases’, ‘separate money and carry a fake purse’, ‘pack a sarong’, and ‘separate your clothes in air-tight bags’.

A panel of representatives from Destinations Show, Trailfinders and Rough Guides awarded two runners up for the following recommendations; ‘When bitten by a mosquito and unable to get to a chemist for cream to relieve the itch, rubbing the area with the inside of a banana skin, will relieve the itch and reduce the swelling.’ and ‘When using public transport get off a stop early or late; it is surprising what you discover.’

The winning piece of advice came from Paul Allen from London, who has won a luxury holiday for 2 staying at Atlantis, The Palm Dubai, opening Autumn this year for his suggestion; ‘Try something you've never done before, every day of your trip. No matter if you want to or not, or if you feel sick, bored or depressed. The experience may surprise you and you may never have the chance of such an experience again.’

“From great practical tips to the completely insane, every entry was worth reading but the winning tip summed it all up for us, if you try something new, you can't go wrong on your travels!” said Louise Maher, Rough Guides.