With so many travel guides available, it can be hard to sift through thousands and thousands of brochures, guidebooks, and well-meaning advice. The following tips are selected to help you plan ahead for your next vacation so that it can be as enjoyable as possible.

Be very cautious while using public computers on a trip. Avoid using them for things like online banking or your credit card account. There could easily be a keylogger installed that is capturing information about your life, then being used for someone else’s gain.

When planning your trip, be flexible with your destination. Although returning to a favorite place is always nice, it might be even better to discover something new and more memorable. Also, picking new destinations can be a money-saving technique.

When you travel to foreign countries, watch the taxis you enter. You want to ensure it is a real taxi. Anyone can put a sign that says “taxi” on a vehicle; you have no way of knowing who the person is or where you might end up.

Furry Friend

If it’s too hard to leave your furry friend at home, bring her along. There are many pet friendly hotels and vacation sites now. You will find that while many chain hotels allow pets, you can even take them to some Las Vegas casino hotels and on some cruises. Don’t hesitate to bring you furry friend along, just check that they are allowed ahead of time.

Look at the alarm clock in the room when you check in. The worst thing that could happen is to be startled by an alarm clock when you’re fast asleep that a previous guest had set to early. Make sure you check the clock and see if it’s set for a time that is good for you; otherwise, you might find yourself off to a terrible start on your vacation.

Don’t forget to check the actual flight carriers’ website for deals before booking your flight. Sometimes they have the best price.

Make sure you keep a matchbook, business card or some other small item from the hotel when you’re going out. If you are out on the streets of a foreign city and find yourself lost, this small item will be very useful when trying to get directions from a taxi driver or a local on the street. It is very important, especially if you are unsure of the local language.

If you are taking a road trip with kids, take along a couple cookie sheets. Your children can use them to play games or color. If your children are very little, you can pack magnetic numbers and letters for some educational entertainment.

Prebook your parking at the airport if you plan to leave your car there. If you book parking on the day of your flight it will usually be much more expensive. If the airport is not too far away from your home, it may be less expensive to pay for a taxi to take you to the airport instead of paying for parking.

Erase Marker

Bring a dry erase marker, and make little notes on the mirror to help you remember things. It’s easy to lose track of a small note written on paper, but much harder to ignore a big message on your mirror. You can easily clean the dry-erase marker with toilet paper, which makes this approach convenient and simple.

Without taking the time to actually prepare and plan for your vacation, it can turn from a dream come true into a horrible nightmare at the first sign of a problem. Look online for reviews from travelers that have been to the location. Their experience could help in avoiding a seedy hotel or a dangerous town to stay in.

Traveling to far away places is not the only way to have a wonderful quick get-away or enjoyable day trip. There are plenty of vacation spots in your state or perhaps one that is close by. Staying local allows you to save money while benefiting your own local economy. You could be pleasantly surprised when you uncover a local gem.

Take an early flight to avoid a delay in your flight. Airports are very busy places. Once one plane is held back, more are sure to follow. The very first morning flight should not have many reasons to delay.

Make sure you create copies of all your important documents before you leave. Keep the copies of your documents in a safe place that can be accessed in the event of an emergency. Check with your hotel for any resources that may be available. Avoid keeping document copies and the originals together. Otherwise, you can lose everything, and your precautions will be futile. You could also leave a copy of everything with a friend or family member as a backup.

Get insurance to cover emergencies if you’re traveling to a remote or exotic location. The farther you are from civilization, the better off you are to have insurance of this kind.

Travel in a group if possible. Many destinations provide discounts if there is a large group. Group rates can be a real money saver if you are traveling with other individuals. Speak with the people closest to you and see if they are interested.

Whenever you plan to hike, be it on a camping or other trip, make absolutely certain that you carry area maps with you. You should always have a compass or GPS with you to help you if you get lost in the wild.

You need to be informed of what documentation and visas you will need in transit to your vacation destination. You have to understand that obtaining a visa does not necessarily give you the right to enter a country; there are many different types of visas. To figure out which visa you need, consult your travel agent or even the country’s embassy website.

Now you can enjoy your vacation in style. Pack up your bags, get your rest and prepare yourself to travel.