No matter where it is you are going it can be great fun. You can have a trip that is stress-free if you soundly plan it. Before you leave, make sure you take important documents like passports and visas, and try using these tips along the way.

Be aware of people pretending to be officials in a foreign country. Be sure your passport is in your possession at all times, and never give it to anyone. If you are advised that you need to return with them to the police station or another office, travel with them only by foot. Never ride in a vehicle with a stranger, no matter how nice they are.

Have a door stopper to use during your hotel stay. Sometimes, especially in areas of higher crime such as developing countries, you may want a little extra security for your hotel room. If the hotel room door does not have a chain or deadbolt, use the doorstop by wedging it under the door and leaving it there while you sleep.

Place your contact information inside your luggage as well as on the luggage tag. Luggage tags on the bags’ exteriors can get lots along the way. This increases the chance you will have it returned.

The markup on these small products is ridiculous. Try simple folding and packing tricks to expand your luggage space instead. Doing this can give you a surprising amount of space in your suitcase.

Join forums and social websites that are travel-centric. Looking for fellow travelers that you can share your time with and talk to is a great way to prepare for your trip. You can meet people and share experiences to help you avoid mistakes or miss seeing an important sight at your destination.

Check the dates on when your passport expires. You may find that different countries have different rules and regulations regarding your passport. You may not be allowed into their country if your passport is expiring in a certain amount of time. Normally, this range is between three and six months, but it can even be eight months to a year.

Dry Erase Marker

If you tend to forget things in your hotel room when you are traveling, try writing down reminders to yourself on the mirror with a dry erase marker. This helps should you forget things from your room. A dry erase marker will erase easily with a little tissue or toilet paper, making it a convenient choice.

Every road trip starts with a lot of planning. Outline all of the important stops and service stations along the route. When you’re on road trips, often you may find long stretches of road that don’t offer much car service if you need it. Make sure you take a good close look when planning your trip and locate places when you realize that you might run into one of those types of stretches. You need to also make note of phone numbers for any repair businesses or nearby motels in case you need to make a call for assistance or stay somewhere overnight while repairs are made.

It is easy to get bored on a road trip; this is why you ought to plan out some activities. This can break up the boredom that you may experience. Provide children with a list of stops you plan to make.

Look into all kinds of transportation. You may find a bus is to your liking. Not only are buses clean and cheap, but some even have outlets and WiFi. Some lines offer package deals.

When traveling by air, always seat your child away from the aisle, if possible. Make sure they are on the inside. Kids are curious and could get hurt if their arm is sticking out. They can’t run off as easily if you are blocking the aisle.

When you have small kids and are taking a car trip, take snacks for them. Pack more than you think you should. This will prevent your children from going hungry. Even a little junk food won’t hurt just this once.

If you plan to take a very remote trip, think about purchasing insurance to cover any emergency evacuation, rescue or search costs. You’ll be happy you have it if you are stuck far from civilization and need rescuing.

For foreign travel, avoid exchanging your money at the airport. Since it is easily accessible for exchanging currency, the rates can be quite high. Before traveling, find banks nearby that exchange currency, since they will typically offer better rates.

If you’re traveling with a group of people, you should try splitting up the personal belongings in each bag. This is done in case one person’s luggage is lost. This will ensure that everyone has a few articles if something is stolen. Another great idea to help offset any lost luggage experiences is to always have an outfit of clothes on you with your carry-on bag.

Consider the bus to save to avoid these high luggage fees. Buses do charge small feels of bags that are over-sized or overweight, but it is typically much less than the airlines charge. You can also use them to ship packages.

The road is always full of plenty of temptations along the way. Rather than checking out the buffet, check out the gym. This will make you feel great too.

A little research before hand about the laws and customs of the place you are visiting, can save you from a possibly embarrassing situation. Even if you don’t think it’s an issue, you could get into trouble for something considered unlawful or offensive. Respect the local authorities when traveling.

Keeping cords labeled is important during travel. If you have many cords for different electronics, like your cell phone or laptop, they can be difficult to manage. If you label the cords, you won’t have any problems. You can also create a list of which cords and colors that you use for the items.

Traveling can be so much fun as long as you know what you are doing. Use the advice in this piece to have the smoothest possible journey. Now, sit back, relax and enjoy your vacation. There is an entire world waiting for you to explore. Open it!