I have never heard of the second myth. The first one however is true. I wouldn't just stop taking it, because that can really mess your body up, and you could have a period that lasts longer than a week in efforts for your body to catch itself back up. If I were you, I would stay on it, but just continue to take the next pack of pills without taking the placebos, and you won't have a period.

I guess what I meant was, say you are taking the pill and instead of taking the very last week just stop earlier so I get my period sooner rather than later?
I just don't want to take the pill at all as I have my tubes tied, but I am just trying to do this so when I am down south I don't have a period. The things us women have to go through to have no period while travelling.
Any other thoughts on this of people who have tried either way I would love to hear....

It's perfectly safe to skip the sugar pills or "inactive" pills and start a new pack immediantly. I ask my doctor about this before I went to the beach one summer because my period was due that week. He told me I could skip my period that month and begin taking the new pack on the week I was suppose to be taking the sugar pills. The only problem I had was that the insurance company wouldn't pay for the pharmacy to fill them that quickly. Some pharmacys only require the doctor to call in and say it's ok that they are filled early. If your desperate enough like I was, you can just say screw the insurance company this month and get the doc's ok to the pharmacy and pay for them out-of-pocket!