If you are suffering financially due to the bad economy, you might be tempted to nix your travel plans this year. This article is full of great ideas for traveling on a budget.

Depending on where you travel, there may be some medical requirements before you are allowed entry. If this is the case, ensure that you have the proper documentation stating that you have been treated for all possible illnesses that they claim you should have received a shot for. This usually applies to those coming into or leaving a country. This sometimes even comes into play when you travel withing a country. You may be quarantined if you cannot produce the certificates as proof.

Be wary of people who tell you that they are police offers or government officials when you are traveling in a strange city. You should always check credentials, and avoid releasing your passport or official documents to these individuals. If you are made to go to an office, do so by foot. Perhaps the most important thing is to never allow yourself to enter a strange person’s vehicle.

When traveling, bring only the essentials and keep your bags light. The less you carry with you, the less chance you have of losing something. Limit the amount of shoes you pack, because they are usually the heaviest and largest items on your trip.

This suggestion is not meant to scare you, but make sure that you are using a recommended taxi service as there is always a chance you could be getting into a bogus vehicle and robbed. Make sure any taxi you get into is legitimate. Anybody can place “taxi” on a car, and you don’t know if they really are or where they could take you.

There’s no reason you can’t bring your dog with you on the right type of vacation. Vacations that are pet-friendly are becoming more commonplace, with a lot of hotels offering promotions for travelers with pets. Many will provide services like daycare, spas, and even cruises that welcome pets. You can being your pet along as long as you make the appropriate plans ahead of time.

Make sure you include identification information in your luggage, besides the ones on your luggage tag. Luggage tags on the bags’ exteriors can get lots along the way. Put your ID inside your luggage so it can be returned to you if it is lost.

Check the expiration dates on your passports. Every country has their own set of laws regarding passports. Many will not allow you entry into the country if it expires soon. This can be from 3-6 months of your trip, though there are some places where that time frame can be 8-12 months.

Travelers frequently experience jet lag. While it is impossible to avoid it altogether, you can minimize the effects by sleeping a bit more during the days leading up to the flight. Sleep on the plane, too.

If you are considering skipping your vacation, think again. Apply the advice from this article and you will be on your way to budget friendly travels in no time.