Traveling isn’t always easy. Vacations can become a hassle if you do not do your homework. The following tips will teach you how to properly plan for your next excursion.

Leave your valuables at home. You are taking the risks of having everything stolen from you if you do bring valuables with you.

Be sure to keep a list of important information on your person while traveling. Include embassy contact information. You will need to contact the embassy if you have any trouble. They can assist you with any issues.

When traveling to a country that requires certain vaccinations, be sure and carry the paperwork indicating you’ve had them with you. It is not recommended to take this suggestion lightly as it can create the situation where you are detailed between destinations until they get the proof they require. If you don’t have proof, they cannot verify you have received any vaccinations and you may be quarantined.

Luggage Tag

Be sure to put identification information inside your luggage in addition to the normal luggage tag. It’s easy for a luggage tag to fall of if it’s hanging off your luggage. Put your ID inside your luggage so it can be returned to you if it is lost.

When booking a hotel reservation, ask if renovations will be underway on those dates. There are few things more annoying than waking to the sound of construction equipment while you are enjoying a vacation. Because the resort staff will not be able to remedy the problem for you, it is smarter to just stay away during those times.

You can join forums and websites that are focused on travel. Communication with others who have the same traveling interests can help you plan your trip. Not only will you make new friends by sharing your travel experiences, but you will also learn new things and may even learn about a hidden gem you check out while on vacation.

Try taking a mild sleeping aid during your red-eye flight. People often have difficulty sleeping on planes due to small spaces, aircraft noises, and fellow passengers. If you want a surefire way to make it through your flight, try taking a sleeping pill in order to relax, calm down and sleep through it. Never take sleeping pills before your plane is up in the air, there may be a delay or some other unforeseen problem.

Always prepare for an emergency when going to a foreign country. This includes coming up with a plan for losing your passport. The United States The State Department offers a site that gives instructions on contacting the Consulate or Embassy in countries you may be visiting. Carry this information when you go on the trip. Many times, you can get a replacement passport within a few days.

Don’t forget to check your passports’ expiration dates. Review passport rules for the country you are visiting. Some of them have very strict guidelines that must be followed. You may not be allowed into their country if your passport is expiring in a certain amount of time. As long as the passport is not set to expire within the next six months, you should be fine for most countries; however, certain countries require eight months, or even up to one year.

If you can be forgetful when traveling, consider writing yourself some reminder notes. Paper notes can be lost easily, but those written on mirrors are hard to forget or lose. You can do this because dry-erase markers will easily wipe off of mirrors with just a little bit of tissue paper.

Force yourself to stay awake at least until early evening in order to acclimate better after you change time zones. Even if you feel like you must go to sleep, avoid going to bed too early when you travel across time zones. If you do, you may prolong your jet lag as your body will not have adjusted to the new time. So adjust as fast as you can to the new time zone, so you’ll get over being jet lagged faster.

Although travel is supposed to be a relaxing experience, if you aren’t fully aware of simple tricks to follow, it can be quite the opposite. Use what you’ve just learned to make your next adventure easy and fun.