Even the most experienced traveler can feel nervous or excited about visiting a new continent, country or city. Before you get your flights booked and bags packed, take a minute to read through the following tips to help you minimize travel stress and maximize your vacation enjoyment.

Make sure you leave extra valuables at home. If you bring a lot of valuables with you, you have a greater chance of losing them or having them stolen.

List what you intend to take with you on a trip. You can do this ahead of time and add to it as the trip gets closer. Just note the necessities that you will definitely need. This way, you can avoid clutter and panic, even if you have to throw things together on short notice.

It is important for you to be conscientious of food allergies when you travel to foreign lands. If you do have an allergy, you will need to have a good handle on the language of the country you are eating in. This will give you the ability to alert your waiter or waitress of the foods that you have an allergy to so that they can be kept out of your meals.

When you are in an unfamiliar area, be on guard for criminals acting as officials such as law enforcement. Never give them your original passport as you may never see it again. If an officer or official asks you to come to their office, do so on foot. Don’t enter a vehicle with a local you don’t know.

Don’t forget to pack clothespins on your next trip! These are not typical travel items, but they can come in handy.

When traveling, you must constantly stay alert as to the location of your valuable belongings. When carrying a purse, make sure you keep it tucked under your arm. Also, pick travel bags with secured flaps that conceal zippers and pockets, so that access is not easy in crowded or dangerous areas. Consider these things when you are picking out your bag.

Travel is a great way to educate family members. With the right choices and precautions, there are many places in the world you can go and educate your children by opening the world to them. This is a wonderful way to create an understanding of the rest of the world and to build tolerance of others.

If you can remember all the great advice this article has to offer, you should have a new and exciting time on your next journey. No matter how many times you have traveled, your next trip can be a magical one.