You may be cringing at the thought of making travel plans. It can seem like a hassle, but it doesn’t have to. The following article has expert travel tips to help you out.

Write down all the important information you will need when going overseas. These documents should include the embassy or consulate website of the place you’re traveling, phone number, and address. If any trouble arises for you, this is your first point of contact. They can help with any problems that arise.

You must plan ahead if you are going to fly. Most airports are close to major urban areas, making them difficult to get to at busy times of day, like rush hour. You should have all of your luggage packed up and ready to go on the evening before you leave for your trip. Don’t wait until the last minute to prepare for your flight. There is little else that could be worse than not making your flight.

Become Separated

Be sure to have a good, clear, color photo of your child on hand to be prepared in the unhappy event your child becomes lost. It is extremely frightening to become separated from your child. Sometimes though, this may happen. Carrying a picture of your child with you, so that you can identify them if you become separated, can make a difference in terms of a speedy reunion.

If you absolutely cannot leave “Fluffy” at home, find a vacation that will let you bring her! There are a ton of travel ideas out there that welcome pets and even have facilities for them as you head out to explore. Some resorts, cruises and other establishments welcome pets. Don’t hesitate to bring you furry friend along, just check that they are allowed ahead of time.

Carry a doorstop with you to give your hotel stay a little bit of extra security. Occasionally, particularly when you travel in countries that are less developed, it’s important to stay in a hotel room that has more security. Put a doorstop in your door to prevent it from being opened.

Traveling away from home may make you wish to take some reminders of home with you. To ensure that you don’t take too many things, only take the toiletries that you need. Think about what you use the most. Pack what you know you need to get through the trip.

Remain calm and don’t drown in stress. You don’t want to spend your valuable time looking around your house for toiletries, charges or pillows. Buy a inexpensive plastic bin to keep all of your travel items together. It’s even better if you can get one that fits under your bed or that can be tucked away somewhere else conveniently.

If you melt down your hotel-supplied ice, you can have filtered water for your coffee in the morning. If you are worried about the taste of tap water, melt a bucketful of ice overnight. You can also brew tasty coffee in the morning.

Use sleeping pills to help you fall asleep on an overnight flight. It can be very hard to get sleep on a plane with all the noise, the different surroundings, and the uncomfortable seats. If you have trouble sleeping while flying, feel free to have a sleeping pill shortly before your flight in order to help you relax and possibly get a nap in during the trip. The key is to hold off taking any pills until after departure so that you are not drowsy in the event you are forced to head back to the terminal.

Always verify when your passport expires. A lot of countries have certain rules concerning 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.

If traveling with a little one, be sure to build in plenty of breaks. You can go to the bathroom and get some exercise for a few minutes. Having a child exit the car regularly will also avoid motion sickness. It takes longer, but reduces your stress levels.

Bring a spare passport photo with you on your trip abroad. It can take time to replace a lost passport. Be sure to carry extra copies of important travel documentation just in case the originals are lost or misplaced. Keeping copies of pertinent documentation will also help speed things up.

Be generous when you tip. When you board a cruise ship, tip the steward $20. You will be seeing a lot of the same faces helping you while you are on the cruise. When they see you as a generous passenger, they will likely offer great service.

Have copies of any important documents with you when you travel. You need to copy your passport and other important documents, and keep them in another place. Leaving another set of copies at home with a family member or friend you trust is wise too, just in case you lose everything you’re traveling with.

Do not schedule your trip down to the minute. Your plans are not going to be thwarted by a 10-minute potty break. It will also keep whining and grumpiness at bay.

Make your luggage appear unique. You can do this by decorating it in a colorful way, such as using stickers, or even using paint or markers to draw on it. This will help keep anyone from walking off with it.

As the tips in this piece illustrate, traveling need not be terribly difficult. All you have to do is put these techniques to use and you can actually travel stress free. So, do not toss and turn; instead, just get yourself ready to go.