Traveling somewhere new can be a lot of fun, but it can induce a lot of anxiety as well. Fortunately, with a little planning and preparation, any trip can be made easier. Here are just a few of the ways you can better enjoy your experience traveling.

When traveling, bring only the essentials and keep your bags light. The less you bring, the fewer things you are likely to lose or have stolen. Try not to pack too many shoes, as this tends to be the heaviest item.

When you are planning for a trip, consider the nature of your trip before choosing a digital camera. If you want to go backpacking, you’ll want to pack a rechargeable battery. Make sure the camera starts and focuses quickly so you capture every shot.

Put in a good workout before boarding your flight. Longer flights can be hard on your body. You will be sitting in one spot for a long time, and this may cause back and leg cramps. Stretching or working out before taking a flight can help reduce soreness.

Always remember to wear light, comfy shoes for air travel – shoes which you can slip off easily. Security procedures require you to take your shoes off. Being comfortable is the most important thing. There is a bit of walking at the airport, but also a lot of sitting, so they don’t need to have a great deal of support. The ultimate shoes for travel are sandals or flip flops.

Place identifying information inside the bags as well as affixing the usual baggage tag. The luggage tag may be ripped off during transit. Put your ID inside your luggage so it can be returned to you if it is lost.

Bring your hotel business card with you when you are on your trip. This will help you get directions from locals if you get lost. This is useful for people that do not quite understand the language.

A motorcycle can provide great transportation for day trips, but only if the driver has a motorcycle license. A motorcycle moves quickly, has great gas efficiency, and will make your trip more fun, in general. You can have a lot of fun traveling by motorcycle.

Become a member of forums and websites that revolve around travel. Getting connected with fellow travelers is a great way to get ready for your trips. You can make new friends, while avoiding costly mistakes many travellers make on vacation, but most importantly you can find information that will make your trip pleasurable.

Sleeping pills can help get you through a long flight. For many people, sleeping on a plane is almost impossible, between the uncomfortable seats and the noise level. Try a sleeping pill might help get you some rest on a long flight if you have trouble falling asleep otherwise. Importantly, wait on taking the pill until the flight has taken off; this keeps you mentally aware in case there are delays or changes in the schedule.

Make sure that you are the legal age to rent a car. If you’re under that age, you may need to pay a higher rate with a credit card. Senior citizens aren’t allowed to rent cars in some cities. Inquire about age limits when renting a car.

If you are forgetful, write reminders with marker for dry erase boards on a mirror. Paper notes can be lost easily, but those written on mirrors are hard to forget or lose. You will be able to easily remove the note with a tissue, making it easy to clean up.

Car Insurance Coverage

If your trip will involve renting a car, check your car insurance coverage before leaving home. Rental car agents will try and sell you additional insurance, but they don’t care if you actually need it or not. In many cases, you car insurance coverage gives you basic coverage to handle third party incidents. Check your policy in advance to save extra money.

When traveling a long distance by airplane, try packing your own non-liquid snacks. Fresh fruit is a great idea, as it will be refreshing and energizing. You can save a lot by not buying airport food, and you may have a conversation with your neighbor that is looking at your food.

When traveling to other countries, pack bottled water. Many foreign countries have drinking water that is not purified leading to illness. Always use bottled water when brushing your teeth. It is quite possible to become ill if you do not use it for this type of personal hygiene task.

Give your friend or family your travel itinerary. Write down the places you plan to go, as well as addresses and phone numbers for anyone whom you intend to visit. Also, leave copies of your ticket and flight information along with your passport id page.

Car Seats

Always bring the kids’ car seats if you are going to rent a car for a road trip. You may not be able to get quality car seats at the rental office, so plan to bring your own just in case.

If you are going on a trip and you wear eyeglasses, put an extra pair in your luggage. This will help to ensure that if the glasses you are wearing become damaged you will still be able to see. On a similar note, don’t pack your backup items in your handbag since handbags are so frequently stolen.

There may be some bumps along the way, but you can’t let those affect your trip. Taking inventory of this advice is going to help your travels go much smoother. Plan your trip with confidence so that you have no stresses during the experience.