No matter what type of trip you are planning, it pays to put in the time and effort on the small details which can make or break your trip. This article is designed to help you have a pleasant and smooth trip.

Make sure you leave extra valuables at home. Bringing too many valuable items on a trip just increases the chance that some of them will be lost or stolen.

Most people live and die by reserving the seat next to the window; however, you should consider one on the aisle. Being in a middle seat on a long plane trip, or in a noisy room in a hotel can quickly zap any aspect of pleasure in your trip.

When traveling, keep the bags light by just bringing the essentials. This will help you avoid having anything lost. Do not take too many shoes, because they are bulky and unwieldy.

Tip the bell boy and housekeeper when staying in a nice place. The typical tip is a dollar per bag of luggage and anywhere from two to five dollars per day for housekeeping. Doing this will not only show that you appreciated the work they did, but it will also foster a good relationship with them.

When traveling by air, wear lightweight, comfortable shoes that can be easily slipped on and off. You will have to remove them for security checks. When traveling, comfort is everything. Most of the time during air travel is spent sitting, not walking, so you don’t need a lot of foot support. Sandals or flip-flops are footwear that is ideal for air travel.

Credit Card

Ask to see if your credit card company has insurance coverage for traveling abroad. For example, you might be covered for flight cancellations that you charged with your credit card. It pays to conduct some research before leaving.

Although you should try and avoid it, you could possible wind up in an inferior hotel. Bring a doorstop with you when staying in a hotel that makes you uneasy. You can put this under the door so no one comes in. While intruders can easily break the lock or chain, getting into the room is next to impossible with a door stop firmly lodged beneath the door.

The newsletters of major airlines are great sources for travel deals. With these newsletters, you get special discounts and last minute offers that people do not get if they have not subscribed. Although these emails can add to the clutter in your inbox, you can always filter them, only opening them when you need to snag a deal on airfare.

Rental firms typically require customers to be at least 18 years old, and some even have a lower age limit of 25. If you’re under that age, you may need to pay a higher rate with a credit card. Senior citizens aren’t allowed to rent cars in some cities. Make sure that you know this in advance.

Jet lag can cause problems during long flights. You can’t avoid it completely, but you can try sleeping more in the days prior to your flight to help lessen any of the expected effects. Additionally, sleep during the flight as much as possible.

The use of travel agencies has declined for a reason; everyone books trips online because it is so convenient. Travel websites require little effort from your part, when it comes to planning your trip. You can take care of plane tickets, car rentals, hotel bookings, and more, all without looking up from the screen. You can even review pictures and critiques of hotels online. Many travel sites even guide you toward finding discounts.

Bring non-liquid snacks on plane rides. Fresh snacks will be better on your plane ride than the food they offer. Not only will it save you money when it comes to pricey airport fare, it can also be a conversation starter as travel neighbors see your goodies.

Consider alternate modes of travel, such as trains, buses and subways. Buses aren’t like they once were. You can get great deals on clean buses, and some of them even have free Wi-Fi and other perks. Some bus lines offer passes or discounts that can take the pain out of getting around your destination, so be sure to inquire about these discounts before you leave home.

Extra Passport Photo

When you travel overseas, take along an extra passport photo. If you manage to lose your passport, you will lose time trying to replace it. An extra passport photo is the quickest way to help the process along. Photocopies of all your documents could really come in handy in case yours are lost or stolen.

If you are traveling to a country with low water quality, don’t forget to pack bottled water. Unfortunately drinking water in most countries will cause you to get sick because it is not purified. Even when you brush your teeth, do it with bottled water. The tap water where you are staying is very likely contaminated.

It doesn’t matter where you are traveling, there are steps to take so you can enjoy it. You can make use of all the information you learned here and have the best times of your life.