Q: Could you please let women know that short dresses plus reaching into the overhead compartment do not mix? A girl in front of me flashed half the plane retrieving her bags because she was wearing a flouncy little slip dress.

A: Consider it done. (And while you're at it, wear pants you can bend over in without exposing yourself. You too, guys.)

Q: I took an "Adventure Island Tour" cruise excursion. One of the participants couldn't handle the exertion (it was mostly hiking, and it was hot). A guide needed to stay with him the whole time, and we had to skip the last stop on the itinerary. It was very clear in the brochure that it wasn't an easy tour. This guy ruined things for the group because he wasn't realistic about his physical condition. Shouldn't people only sign up for excursions they're positive they can handle?

A: Yes, that's the polite thing to do. It's not cool to make other people get less than they signed up for because you overestimated your ability to hike in hot weather. That said, though, everybody makes mistakes. If you find yourself on a tour that's too difficult, talk to the guide and ask if you can sit out a particular activity or -- if you're totally exhausted -- if you can head back early. Guides also should be prepared to step in and deal with the situation, if necessary.

And remember, this can apply to a tour's subject matter as well as the physical exertion it requires. If you have a toddler who's easily spooked, avoid that Ghosts and Graveyards tour so he doesn't ruin it for others. If you're hesitant, skip it.

Q: Couldn't we agree that putting on headphones is a universal signal for "No offense, but I don't feel like talking to you"? I was on an interminable flight seated next to some guy who just wouldn't stop talking to me, even though I was clearly listening to music and doing work.

A: Well, I agree that's how everyone should take it, but some people just can't take hints. If your seatmate keeps trying to talk to you, take your headphones off and say, "I'm sorry, I couldn't hear you. I need to finish this presentation before we land." Then when he repeats what he said, you should respond politely, then say something like, "I'd love to talk more, but I really can't. I need to concentrate. If I don't finish this my boss will have my head!" (Of course, this doesn't work if you're playing "Bejeweled." If you're the sort of person who just doesn't like chatting on planes, it's a good idea to have something with you that could plausibly be work.)

Q: How loud can you talk in a bed-and-breakfast (in your room, with the door closed, at midnight)? The guest in the room next door to my wife and me complained to the innkeeper. She said she's a light sleeper and we kept her up. We were just having a normal conversation!

A: Most B&Bs are converted houses. So sound carries in them the same way it would in your own home. If you had a guest staying with you, how loud would you talk if you knew they were sleeping in the next room? That's the volume you should shoot for in a B&B.

But by the same token, if you know you're a light sleeper, think hard before staying at a B&B. Unless you know its walls are 2 feet thick, or you have the world's best earplugs, you might be in for a bad experience.

Q: I recently stayed at a budget hotel. It had a small gym with an elliptical machine and free weights. Yesterday when I went in to work out, the elliptical was covered with sweat. Isn't it kind of gym etiquette 101 to wipe up your sweat?

A: Absolutely. Even if it's not a swanky hotel gym with attendants handing out bottled water and towels, you have to clean up after yourself.

Q: Do you have any etiquette tips for bringing a baby on a cruise? My son will be 8 months when we sail.

A: My family took a cruise when my son was 7 months old, and we had a blast. Basically, just be considerate of other passengers. If your son gets fussy during dinner, take him out of the room until he calms down. If the ship doesn't allow kids who aren't potty-trained to use the pool, don't try to sneak him in. Bring a small stroller. Cruise-ship elevators are often packed, and it'd be inconsiderate to take up half the space in one with a jogging stroller as big as a Jeep.

Avoid long group excursions -- It's not as if you can easily make your own way back to the ship if your son's having a rough day. Or ask the bus driver to stop so you can change his diaper. Taking a taxi to a beach near the port or booking your own private tour gives you more flexibility (and we found private tours weren't all that much more expensive than the official excursions).

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