Traveling is enjoyable and exciting, even when you’re traveling for business. Spending a lot of money is a sure way to ruin the fun of traveling. Keep reading to discover ways to save money on your travel expenses without sacrificing the quality of your trip.

If you are in another country, get money from the ATM. Banks will get better rates for exchanging currencies than you would be able to get. Dong this can help you save quite a bit of cash over time.

Always keep important information on hand when you travel abroad. Keep copies of your travel documents with you, and make sure that you always have all the contact info for the US embassy that is located in the areas you will be traveling. If you have issues when traveling abroad, this will be the first location you must contact. They can help with any problems that arise.

Making travel arrangements far in advance can help keep your trip affordable. While there are many ways to spend money when traveling, they are virtually all less expensive the sooner you buy them. By reducing the number of last-minute purchases, your travel budget will go further.

Depending on where you travel, there may be some medical requirements before you are allowed entry. If this is the case, ensure that you have the proper documentation stating that you have been treated for all possible illnesses that they claim you should have received a shot for. You may need it when you leave or enter the country, and possibly when you are traveling between cities. Without that paperwork, officials have no means of verifying that you’ve actually been vaccinated, and that can cause delays or even a quarantine.

Be wary of people who tell you that they are police offers or government officials when you are traveling in a strange city. Never hand over your original passport, as you might not get it back. If an officer or official asks you to come to their office, do so on foot. Do not get in a vehicle with a local who you don’t know.

If you absolutely cannot leave “Fluffy” at home, find a vacation that will let you bring her! An increasing number of accommodations are available for those traveling with pets. These may include care for your pets. Find out where you can take your pets and feel free to do so.

When you check into a hotel, see if the alarm is set. Whether the previous occupant was a very early riser, or the kids thought it would be a fun prank to set the alarm to scare the next occupant, you don’t want to be rudely awakened. Waking up at the time of your choice is ideal for your vacation.

Bring a rain coat. You never can predict what the weather will do. Not only that, but a rain slicker can serve as a windbreaker when it gets cool, and possibly a bath robe if you need one at the hotel.

When you cross time zones, you’re likely to suffer from jet lag. While it is impossible to avoid it altogether, you can minimize the effects by sleeping a bit more during the days leading up to the flight. Also, you should try to sleep during your flight as much as possible.

Booking online is a great way to start your vacation planning. You will find that your itinerary will be much easier to plan with the aid of a travel site. Make the most of your travel budget by booking air travel, rental cars and hotels online. Reviews and photographs of hotels are available on the web. Even better are the deals that you can get through the use of online coupons.

Schedule an early flight to try and avoid delays. Airports tend to be at full capacity, so one plane delay creates a chain reaction throughout the day. Thus, the earliest flights will suffer from the fewest back-ups.

Tip generously. As you enter the cruise, give the steward a $20 tip. You’ll probably have the same crew members for the entire cruise, and if they get the feeling that you’re going to be kind to them, they will likely make sure you’re well cared for.

Enjoy your road trip by bringing along a killer iPod playlist, your favorite CDs, or if your car is old-school, bring along those old cassette tapes. Often your radio signal will die as you drive from town to town, but you can avoid that by having your own music with you.

Get insurance to cover emergencies if you’re traveling to a remote or exotic location. The farther away from civilization you’ll be, the more peace of mind this insurance will give you.

Do not trust emails advertising great travel deals. Avoid opening traveling emails unless they are from a business you are using.

When going hiking, be sure you bring a map of the area in which you are hiking. You should carry a compass, or even a GPS, so you can navigate in unfamiliar territory. Make sure you know how to use them!

If you travel wisely and apply these tips, you will be able to avoid some of the common inconveniences faced by inexperienced travelers. No matter where you’re going or how you get there, thinking about how much money you’ve saved will add to your travel enjoyment.