Even the most experienced traveler can feel nervous or excited about visiting a new continent, country or city. Read these travel tips prior to going on a trip to help make your trip more pleasurable.

Carrying an excessive amount of valuables can put you at risk for theft or interrupt the fun of your trip if they are lost or damaged. An excess of valuables will make you an obvious target for theft.

Always plan ahead when traveling by air. Airports located in large, unfamiliar cities can be difficult to find. The traffic around airports can also create serious delays. Pack your suitcase the night before. It is crucial to have everything planned out in advance. Missing your flight is something you do not want to experience.

Keep a photo of your children on you at all times, in case they become lost. The idea of losing your child likely scares you, but not being prepared is worse. Unfortunately, children get distracted and wander off or something else happens. Carrying a picture of your child with you, so that you can identify them if you become separated, can make a difference in terms of a speedy reunion.

When traveling abroad, be on the lookout for criminals who may be posing as law or government officials. Show officials your passport, but do not give it to them. If you are asked to travel to any offices, insist on walking. Do not get into the car of someone you do not know.

Purchase tickets online for any attraction you may be visiting. The long lines and wait times you can avoid make a service fee for this process well worth the money. Some places have time blocks that you can enter. This is another good way to avoid lines.

Stay aware of your belongings all the time while you are traveling. If you have a purse, keep it close to your body with your arm on it at all times. Also, do not use bags that someone can easily open on a crowded subway or in another crowded public area. Security should be one of your top considerations when buying a new bag for travel.

Hotel Staff

Hotel staff like room service staff and the bell hop are paid meager salaries and tips are very much appreciated. You should tip the bell hop around one dollar per bag that they carry. If you can tip these people appropriately, you will find that you will have a better relationship with the hotel staff during your stay.

Many stores charge too much for these types of products. Instead, try different space folding techniques for efficiently packing clothes. Some of these techniques can give you much more room in your bag.

Educate your family by traveling. With reasonable preparations and precautions, there’s nothing to fear from the developing world. Traveling to very different cultures will show your children what the rest of the world looks like. Going abroad is the best way to learn about other cultures. This, in turn, helps you develop tolerance and respect for them.

Make sure your passport isn’t expired. There are rules about your passport in many countries. Certain countries will deny entry if the expiration date on your passport falls within a certain range. Normally, this range is between three and six months, but it can even be eight months to a year.

By remembering the tips in this guide, you will surely be able to discover new and exciting things on your vacation. Whether this may be your first or fifteenth trip, it will surely be a lot better than your previous experiences.