Many people will travel at least once. Whether you have traveled near or far, there is much to learn about travel still. You will find some great advice in this article if you plan on traveling.

After choosing a destination, spend some time learning more about where you plan to travel. Look over different points of interest you may want to visit. Becoming familiar with the environment ahead of time will make it easy to navigate once you get there.

TIP! Be wary of people who tell you that they are police offers or government officials when you are traveling in a strange city. You must not give anyone your original passport; it may be gone for good if you do.

Pack lightly when traveling. The less items you have, the less risk of having valuable items stolen or lost. Take only a few shoes, as they add unnecessary weight to your bags.

Join a price watcher for travel. This feature offered by many websites lets you enter in destinations you travel to frequently and it watches them for you. You will receive a notification if a hotel or airline reduces the price to your desired amount. This way, you won’t have to constantly check the site.

To enhance your personal safety in hotels, bring along a doorstopper. When visiting underdeveloped parts of the world, it is wise to maintain tighter security during the evenings in your room. If you don’t find a chain or deadbolt on the door, put a small doorstop beneath the door at bedtime.

TIP! As you plan your trip, pick a digital camera that really suits your needs. Rechargeable batteries won’t work on a camping trip, for example.

Make sure to tip the bell station and the housekeeper appropriately. For these services, a good tip for housekeeping would be from $2-$5 per day, and $1 per bag of luggage. You can almost guarantee that you will have a pleasurable stay by doing so.

Make sure your passports are up-to-date by checking the expiration date. Different areas of the world have different rules regarding passports. If it expires within a certain time frame, they will not allow you to come into their country. The limit on expired passports can range up to six months; some countries may go up to a year.

If you will be leaving your car at the airport, make sure that you book airport parking in advance. It will be more expensive to book a space on your departure day. If you live near the airport, a taxi can be much cheaper than airport parking.

National Park

If you are going to vacation at a National Park you should get a National Park season pass. Each pass costs $50. They are good all year and can be used at any national park.

Are you securing a rental car? Know what is in your car insurance policy prior to heading out of town. Rental car agents will try and sell you additional insurance, but they don’t care if you actually need it or not. Your car insurance could protect you while in the rental. Read your policy prior to leaving home; it might save you money overall.

TIP! When flying, never assume that the airline will tend to your every need, even on lengthy flights. Be sure to bring a blanket, headphones or pillow if you think you’ll need them.

Any time you plan to travel, ask the hotel if they’ll give you the same rate as given to ‘locals’. Sometimes, hotels have a special rate for local residents just to help increase their occupancy. If you know anyone who lives where you are going, ask them if they can help you get a discount. You may end up saving some money if you find the right deal.

Think about different transportation modes. Buses are different than they used to be. Most of these forms of travel are now updated with small perks like WiFi and other amenities for comfort. Many bus lines offer packages that can make travel planning much easier.

If you tend to wake up at the slightest sound, earplugs are something you should consider. Sometimes hotel walls seem tissue paper thin. Earplugs can block noise and help you to be able to sleep, whether you invest in one good pair or buy disposable earplugs.

TIP! Give a copy of your travel itinerary to a loved one. This is a great tip because it ensures that a non-traveler is always aware of what you are doing.

Bring a pillow and blanket with you. A comfortable pillow and blanket is always something that can make a trip more pleasurable. Airlines usually provide them, but they can run out. Bringing your own along gives you peace of mind.

Stretch your legs once per hour or more when you’re on a long flight. You can do this by walking to the restroom, even if you don’t have to go. Sitting for too long could cause blood clots and actually harm your muscles.

Traveling is quite a popular pastime that most people will participate in at some point in their lives. The more information about traveling that you learn, the more prepared you will be, no matter what circumstances you may be in. Print this article for a reference, you never know when you will need it!