There is more to travel than boarding a plane and going somewhere. Travel can prove to be an exciting experience. There are a ton of travel options and a wide variety of adventures to take. Do you have what it takes? The ideas in this article will get you started in planning a fantastic vacation.

One you know where you are going, learn about it. Buy a decent city or regional map of where you are going to be, and take time to look it over to find museums, environs, and big sightseeing areas. Memorize the major streets and landmarks, too.

TIP! Leave your additional valuables at your home. You don’t want to have to keep track of these valuables at all times, and even worse, they could get stolen.

Only bring the absolute essentials when you travel. You won’t have to drag around as much weight or keep track of as much stuff. The less you bring, the fewer things you are likely to lose or have stolen. Try not to pack too many shoes, as this tends to be the heaviest item.

Are you heading to a small airport? Look at the website to understand which airlines operate there. Smaller airports will often feature charter airlines. These airlines may not show on the travel sites, but can often offer great deals versus the big airlines.

Get a good workout in before leaving on a flight. Long flights are hard on your body. In addition, having to sit in one spot for hours can cause your back and legs to severely cramp up. If you workout or stretch before the flight, the probability of getting cramps is greatly reduced.

TIP! Always keep a picture of your child on you. Losing a child is traumatic for any parent.

When traveling overseas, it is important to know what types of insurance credit card companies offer you. An example would be if you had a cancelled flight, how would the charge be reflected on your card. Engaging in a bit of consumer research beforehand can really pay off.

When making coffee in a hotel room, you should use melted hotel ice. Rather than making do with tap water, let the ice melt in the ice bucket. You can use it to make coffee.

When traveling abroad, prepare in advance for emergencies, including the possibility of losing your passport. The U.S. Dept. of State has a website at usembassy.state.gov that has contact information fro the US Embassy our consulate in foreign country of your destination. Take this important stuff along with you on the trip. Many times, you can get a replacement passport within a few days.

Many people get jet lag when they travel to different time zones. Begin your journey well rested. You should also try sleeping during the flight.

Spend some time conversing with your fellow passengers at dinner when you are taking a cruise. Ships tend to place you at tables with strangers. Try to spark conversations with people at all times. You will see them each day, and you might learn quite a bit about them or the ship at the same time.

If you want the best vacation experience possible, it is worthwhile to plan thoroughly before embarking on your journey. Look at online reviews from those who’ve already traveled to your destination. Their experience can help you avoid bad places.

TIP! In some countries, criminals will pose as the authorities to get the jump on you. Never give someone your passport, because they might not give it back to you.

If you don’t want to encounter flight delays, do your best to take an early flight. There will be a little chance of overbooking on the early flights. Very few things usually delay the first morning flight.

When you are going to another country, take bottled water with you. Unfortunately drinking water in most countries will cause you to get sick because it is not purified. Don’t forget to use bottled water when brushing your teeth either. Using tap water can get you sick, no matter how you use it.

Make sure you tip well. Tip the steward $20 when you board a cruise. You will most likely have these same crew members during the entire cruise, so if you are generous up front, then they will be more likely to take great care of you.

TIP! When flying on a plane, you should plan ahead because an airline won’t always be able to meet your basic needs, even when the flight lasts for many hours. Because of cutbacks, many airlines do not provide pillows, blankets or headphones, so bring your own if you will use them.

Be sure to give your itinerary to someone you trust. Put the names of where you’re going and people that you’re going to see, along with addresses and phone numbers. Leave copies of your passport and tickets, too.

When traveling, and sitting for long periods of time, get up about once every hour to stretch out your legs. If on a plane, go to the restroom even if you don’t need to. Sitting for too long could cause blood clots and actually harm your muscles.

Do not schedule your trip down to the minute. An extra 5 or 10 minutes won’t wreck the plans or ruin your trip. This will help ease any tension on your trip.

Always have a contact case handy when you are out and about. The case sizes make excellent containers for any creams you may want to take with you.

Traveling is much more than just getting to your destination. You need to plan right so you can enjoy the experience. The tips provided in this article should give you a good idea of what your next step is going to be.