In our travels, we’ve sometimes been where streets are full of noisy people because of a festive holiday or the local sports team had just won a tournament.

Other gatherings were more dangerous, such as angry political, religious or social protests. Unfortunately, stories about dangers of uncontrolled street violence seem to be in the news almost every day.

It Happened In London: At a Piccadilly restaurant one night recently with other senior tourists, we heard shouting. We went outside to see what was happening. Lesson 1: Not a smart idea. A large group of foreign students marched by with signs and banners to protest increased tuition at the nearby British university.

Some demonstrators rushed along the sidewalk handing out printed material to bystanders. In his eagerness, one ran into and knocked me down. Startled, he reached to help the old guy up. Suddenly, two London bobbies appeared and dragged the student away. I yelled it was an accident, but they were gone. Lesson 2: When things may become violent, older tourists should seek safety.

It has happened to us on flights several times over the years, and similar incidents are in the news almost daily. Someone in a seat near you is suddenly hysterical, waving, screaming and frightening everyone. Too much booze, over-medication or whatever the cause, what can you do about it?

Your immediate response may be to tell the person to shut up. Unfortunately, that could make the situation worse and put you in physical danger. When a disturbance begins, get the flight attendants pronto. They’re trained for such situations, and if restraint is necessary, they have the equipment.

Unfortunately, even if the episode seems calmed down, the pilot may opt to land at the nearest airport. You’ll be upset, knowing it will make you late to your destination or miss a flight. Try to control your frustration and understand that passenger safety is always the most important aspect of every airline.

Dragging along heavy bags when flying is necessary on some long overseas flights, extended cruises and group excursions. However, you don't always need luggage that must be checked every time you board plane, ship, bus or train.

Savvy seasoned travelers bring along just one wheeled carry-on. They never lose luggage, nor wait at airport merry-go-rounds after each flight hoping nothing was missing. Today's cost of a checked bag is $25 and going up, and record of lost and pilfered bags is from 5 to 12% per flight.

Is it worth it? Here are tried and true tips on making traveling less stressful, cheaper and no lost bags:

Do A Wheelie: Get bags made of flex fabrics within size limits for carry-ons. Be sure they have outside, zipper-closing pockets for quick access, and see-through webbing inside. If necessary, also take a backpack that fits under an airline seat.

Pack Less: The day before departure, lay out clothing, footwear, meds and other stuff considered absolutely necessary. Put it in nice neat piles. Then go through and take away 25%. You won't regret it, and the truly necessary stuff should fit nicely into your carry-on. If you've mistakenly left out any vital items, such as over-the-counter meds, you can always buy them at airport and hotel shops.

Wash & Wear: For trips longer than two or three days, take washables. Every night take items worn that day into the shower with you. Dry thoroughly with your towel and hang close to the room heat or outside air source.

Use 'Em & Toss 'Em: Take well-worn undies, shirts, socks, sneakers and other items. Trash ‘em after a day’s wear for a much lighter load on homeward trip, or more bag room for souvenirs.

With the usual summer price hikes, plus escalating problems in the Middle East, U.S. drivers can expect the already grossly inflated cost of gas at the pump to continue to rise. However, there are smart ways to save on driving costs.

Shop Gas Stations: Before filling up, check online for the best current prices in your area through such websites as www.gasbuddy.com. Also, because gas sign listings may change daily, fill up on Mondays and Tuesdays, because prices are often bumped up for weekends.

Car pool: Whether on a vacation trip or quick drive to the market, get together with neighbors, friends and/or nearby family members. At first it may spoil your lone driver freedom, but after getting used to it, enjoy the companionship.