Everyone has heard stories about vacations from hell, where everything went wrong. Often, these horror stories happen because the person was not prepared as well as they should have been when they went on vacation. You can avoid the same thing happening to you. Just read the following article about being well prepared before you travel.

Take a minimum of valuable items with you when you travel. The more items you have with you, the chance will be higher that you will leave one behind, or an item gets stolen.

Air travel requires a bit of planning. Many of the major airports are situated in and around big cities, so you need to plan ahead to avoid any delays, especially during heavily congested periods like rush hour. Pack your bags the night before you leave on your trip. Make sure that everything is ready with plenty of time to spare. Missing a flight is a horrible experience that you never want to go through.

Create a list of the items you need to pack. Between one week and three months before you leave for a trip, sit down and write down every item you are going to take with you. Having a list will keep you organized and clutter-free, even if you don’t actually pack until the last minute.

Watch out for faux cops or faux government officials in foreign countries, as they may be criminals. Don’t give anyone your original passport, because this could set you up for theft. If they want to take you in for questioning, insist on walking. Do not get in a vehicle with a local who you don’t know.

Before getting off the cruise in a port city find yourself a hotel with free parking. Ask the staff about deals for parking even if you haven’t been able to locate any.

Try getting in a big workout before you board the plane. Long airplane trips can be tiring to your body. Your legs and back can cramp up from sitting a long time. Taking the time to workout before you fly will reduce or even eliminate those cramps.

Tip the bell boy and housekeeper when staying in a nice place. Generally, you will give one dollar per piece of luggage, and anywhere between two and five dollars a day for housekeeping. This will increase the quality of service in your hotel and make your stay more enjoyable.

Sleeping Pill

On a red-eye flight, sleeping pills may be helpful. Many people cannot sleep on a plane because of the unfamiliar surroundings, the uncomfortable seats, and the noise from the plane and passengers. If you feel anxious about flying, think about taking a sleeping pill. Always wait until you are safely in the air before taking your sleeping pill because delays can happen or planes can be grounded.

The bottom line is that a failure to plan is the main cause of most vacation dilemmas and disasters. The advice that this article given to you is going to prepare you properly so that your vacation is a relaxing and enjoyable experience for you.