This collection of advice on traveling safer and smarter is a great starting place for new travelers to start planning a trip of their own. This article has tips that will help you travel smarter.

When traveling by air it is important you have a plan. It can take much more time then expected to get to airports in major cities because of traffic. Make sure to have your luggage packed and waiting on the night before you leave. To reduce your pre-flight anxiety, prepare for your trip well in advance. If you miss your flight, you will have to take a later one. This might create problems with your itinerary.

TIP! Aisle seats can allow you to have more options. Window seats can be very restricting in terms of bathroom access and overhead storage access.

Upon arrival, check your hotel room’s alarm. You don’t want to be woke up too early because of an alarm that was set by the person that stayed there before you. Turn the alarm off, or set it when you want to get up, if you want your vacation to start in a relaxing way.

If you have a toddler on your trip, you must be prepared with activities to keep him or her engaged. Try to bring along a few favorite toys. Try buying a new toy for your trip since this can keep their attention for long periods of time.

When traveling by air, be sure to wear lightweight and comfortable shoes. You want the shoes to be easily removable as well. When you are boarding a plane you will need to remove your shoes during the security check. Comfort is paramount. While flying and navigating airport terminals, you will spend more time sitting than walking, and therefore you do not need tremendously supportive shoes. Flip-flops or sandals are ideal air travel footwear.

Contact Information

Place your contact information inside your luggage as well as on the luggage tag. A tag hanging from your luggage may easily fall off during transit. Place your contact information and itinerary in your luggage in case it gets lost.

If you have the right license, think about a motorcycle as a great way to take day trips or longer road trips. The quick movements, efficient gas use and overall enjoyment will give the trip a great start. You can have a real adventure when you travel by motorcycle.

TIP! When deciding on a camera to take on your trip, consider your needs. For example, if you will be spending a lot of time outdoors, you probably don’t want a camera that has a rechargeable battery.

When going on a long trip, pack a raincoat with a lining. You don’t know what will happen with the weather. Also, the rain coat can double as a windbreaker in cold weather or even a bathrobe while you are in your hotel room.

Take sleeping pills if you need helping sleeping through a flight. People often have difficulty sleeping on planes due to small spaces, aircraft noises, and fellow passengers. To get through your flight as painless as possible, take a sleeping pill to help ensure you can fall asleep. However, do not take the pill before takeoff, just in case there is a problem or delay that requires the plane to return.

Sometimes you will end up at a poor hotel. If you dislike the area you are stuck with, bring a rubber doorstop. In addition to chaining and locking your door, you can slide it under your door for extra protection from intruders. Burglars will be able to break the door’s lock, but entry will be extremely hard if you have such a doorstop engaged.

TIP! When visiting a foreign country, use caution when taking a taxi. Ascertain the taxi you’re taking is actually legitimate before stepping inside it.

Prebook your parking at the airport if you plan to leave your car there. The cost of parking is higher if you don’t pre-book. If you don’t live far from the airport, consider whether taking a taxi would be cheaper than paying for parking.

It is a good idea to double-check your car insurance if you plan to rent a car when you travel. Rental agencies want to try to get you to buy additional insurance that you may not even need. Most auto insurance includes coverage for a third party vehicle. Check your policy before you leave home, it could save you in the long run.

Because road trips can be quite boring, it is a good idea to plan things to do along the way. Relieve the boredom with fun and games. Make an itinerary for your kids so that they will know what to expect along the way.

Do not forget important medications. When preparing for a trip, many people forget important items such as medicine. You won’t be able to get the meds you need.

If your plans include renting an automobile with young ones in tow, always bring along their car seats. The car seat that you own is probably better than the one a rental company would supply, and your seat is one that your child is comfortable with.

Make sure that the alarm in the room is not set. You never know if the alarm has been set and you definitely wouldn’t want to be woken up in the middle of the night.

TIP! Consider buying bottled water once you arrive or melt the hotel ice to get filtered water for making coffee. Tap water is not always the best tasting option, so fill up the ice bucket with lots of ice to melt overnight.

Minimize the amount of clothes you bring when packing for your trip. An entire week’s worth of outfits should easily fit into your suitcase. Bring clothes that can be used for many purposes and easily match with other clothes. If you will be staying for more than seven days, you can wash your clothes instead of packing too much.

Check in early for your flight. When you do the check in, confirm and record your flight numbers. Check on your plane status for delays or even cancellations a few hours prior to your slated departure time.

Hopefully, these travel tips were just what you were looking for. These tips will help you plan and travel safer and smarter than before.