Do you consider yourself a travel expert? Did you make a travel plan? If you do, are there ways on which you can improve it? Could you handle unknown occurrences or emergencies? If you answered no to any of these questions, read on for some tips on improving your travel plans.

When you travel in different countries, use ATM machines to withdraw pocket money instead of exchanging your currency with local currency. Many times a bank will get a better exchange rate than what an individual has access to. This may save you money later on.

Use an ATM when you are in a distant country. Banks often have better rates for exchanging money than you will find on your own. This may save you money later on.

Once you have decided where to go, learn what you can about your destination. Find a map of where you will be visiting and study it for locations you plan to visit. If you have a basic idea of where you are going and what you are doing, you will find that your trip goes more smoothly.

Making travel arrangements far in advance can help keep your trip affordable. There are many things that cost money while traveling and many of them are cheaper when purchased ahead of time. Also, you can enjoy the experience with your friends or family.

When traveling by car to a port prior to cruising, search for lodgings where you can park at no cost and make reservations for the night before departure. Inquire about reduced-rate parking at the hotel, regardless of whether you have seen any advertisements.

Carrying an excessive amount of valuables can put you at risk for theft or interrupt the fun of your trip if they are lost or damaged. An excess of valuables will make you an obvious target for theft.

When you are traveling, it is important to remember to be aware of your vital belongings at all times. When carrying a handbag, hold it securely against your body using your arm. Do not rely on shoulder straps alone. Avoid storing important things into the outside compartments, even if they are zippered. Thieves may access it in a crowd without you realizing it. You may also try sewing Velcro into the compartments or even your pockets. The loud ripping noise that it makes is quite a deterrent and thieves will usually move onto an easier target. When you are buying a bag keep these things in mind.

Hotel etiquette calls for tipping the bellhop and housekeeping staff. For these services, a good tip for housekeeping would be from $2-$5 per day, and $1 per bag of luggage. This will keep your relationship with the employees a cordial one and your stay pleasant.

If you have a motorcycle license, then a motorcycle is a great means to travel. You can enjoy the open road, wind in your face and great gas mileage. It can be quite a bit of fun to travel by motorcycle.

Keep a photo of your children on you at all times, in case they become lost. The idea of losing your child likely scares you, but not being prepared is worse. However, it can occur. Having a photo ready to show people in the event that they get lost, can really make the difference in finding your child quickly.

Join travel forums and social networks. Finding a community of fellow travelers to share experiences and socialize with is one of the best ways to prepare for a trip. This will help you gain new friends and prevent you from repeating the mistakes made by others or overlooking an unknown gem during your vacation.

Sleeping pills can help get you through a long flight. A lot of people find it hard to sleep on planes, because the seats aren’t beds, and there is a lot of external noise in unfamiliar surroundings. You may want to take a sleeping medicine if you will be on an extended flight, so that you may rest comfortable while flying. Don’t take any pills until after the plan has taken off. If there is an issue or delay you would be sleeping in the terminal!

When planning a road trip, remember to plan for service stops. It’s not uncommon to drive down long strips of road without any visible service for miles and miles. This can be a problem if something should happen to your vehicle along the way. Try to map out these stops ahead of time. Keep these numbers on you just in case.

Throw a few clothespins into your suitcase. You would be amazed at how useful these will turn out to be.

Keep flight delays to a minimum by booking a flight as early in the morning as you can. Chances are that if one flight is delayed, the flights immediately after that flight will have to be delayed. This should reduce your chances for a delay.

Foreign Currency

When going to a different country, stay away from exchanging currency. There is an easier way to obtain your foreign currency. Bank ATMs are a great place to get your foreign currency from. ATM machines usually have better exchange rates and are actually cheaper than currency exchanges.

Keep everything organized. There are better ways to spend your time than searching the house for travel accessories. Buy a cheap “travel” bin and store all necessary items there. A container is great for storing many different objects.

Try not to bring luggage on the plane. That will save lots of time and trouble while you are traveling. Send your belongings via FedEx or UPS. This may be costly, but the price is worth it.

Contact lens cases can be a useful item to carry with you when traveling regardless of whether or not you wear contacts! They can be filled with lotions or creams, if you want to bring these products without taking up too much space.

Are you more informed when it comes to traveling? Do you now have a revised plan? Are there additions to include that will work with your budget? Do you now feel prepared to handle emergencies or unexpected events? Using the above tips, you should be able to answer these properly now.

When making a hotel reservation, try asking about dates for any possible renovations if you can. It is very frustrating to be awoken from your slumber early due to construction equipment while on vacation. Avoid staying in a hotel that is undergoing construction.