Are you super knowledgeable about travel? Did you make a travel plan? If not, would you like to? How do you plan to deal with emergencies and unexpected events? If not, check out the following tips.

Once you have picked a destination, learn everything you can about the area. Get yourself a good map and take the time to review key spots. Learning this type of information will make getting around so much easier.

When you get to your hotel, give the alarm a try. People have been awoken by an alarm that was accidentally or purposely set for an inconvenient time. Don’t let this bother you on your first day in town!

As you search for an inexpensive flight, go to the website for every airline that heads out to your chosen destination. Yes, there are other sites that have cheap flights, but you are doing yourself a disservice by skipping the airline websites.

When traveling by air, wear lightweight, comfortable shoes that can be easily slipped on and off. Security checks at airports now require you to remove your shoes. Your comfort should be a priority. When you are in the airport or on the airplane, you will sit more than you will walk, so having good arch supports is not the most important thing. Flip-flops or slip-on shoes are recommended for air travel.

While you should use a traditional luggage tag, you should also put your info somewhere inside the luggage. It is easy for a baggage tag to come off the exterior of your suitcases while they are en route. If your luggage ever gets lost without a tag, it helps to have identifying information within the bag itself so you can get it back faster.

Sign up for forums and social websites that focus on travel. You will pick up some great tips from other travelers that way. You’ll have the opportunity to meet new friends, and through sharing your stories you can help others avoid your mistakes — and avoid the mistakes that others have made.

Cash in your traveler’s checks before shopping or dining. Many places abroad do readily take traveler’s checks, but it can be a pain to use them as they are. You might be shortchanged if you spend them in-store, so be safe and change them to local currency prior to spending.

Dry Erase Marker

If you tend to forget things in your hotel room when you are traveling, try writing down reminders to yourself on the mirror with a dry erase marker. It’s easy to lose track of a small note written on paper, but much harder to ignore a big message on your mirror. A dry erase marker will erase easily with a little tissue or toilet paper, making it a convenient choice.

Do you now know more about what to do when traveling? Is your plan going to work for you? Are you able to work within your budget and capabilities? Are you prepared for a travel emergency? If you follow the aforementioned tips, you can quickly answer yes to all of these questions.