For Stress-Free Travel Follow These Simple Tips Traveling is a good way to learn about new cultures and become more worldly. On the other hand, a lot of travel can rack up a pretty high bill. If you want to plan a great vacation without spending too much, give this article a try. Create a list of what needs to be packed. Anywhere from a week to a few months before you go on your trip, make a list of the things you absolutely need to pack. Having a list will keep you organized and clutter-free, even if you don't actually pack until the last minute. When traveling in strange cities, be alert for criminals posing as police officers or other government officials. Show officials your passport, but do not give it to them. If an officer or official asks you to come to their office, do so on foot. Perhaps the most important thing is to never allow yourself to enter a strange person's vehicle. Be careful, and remember any food allergies while visiting other countries. If your food allergy is particularly bad, make sure to express this in their language. Then at least you can warn the staff and possibly get a quicker response for medical professionals. Take clothespins along the next time you travel. These are not typical travel gear, but they do come in handy. When traveling by air, wear lightweight, comfortable shoes that can be easily slipped on and off. They will have to be taken off when you reach the security checkpoint. Comfort over style is paramount when traveling. On planes and in airports, you will walk a little but sit a lot, so heavy-duty support is not necessary. Flip-flops or sandals are ideal air travel footwear. Hotel staff like room service staff and the bell hop are paid meager salaries and tips are very much appreciated. Generally, you will give one dollar per piece of luggage, and anywhere between two and five dollars a day for housekeeping. This will keep your relationship with the employees a cordial one and your stay pleasant. Check the dates on when your passport expires. Different areas of the world have different rules regarding passports. Some will not allow you into their country if your passport expires soon within a specific amount of time. These range from 3 to 6 months, or could even reach 8 months to a year. If you are traveling to a country with low water quality, don't forget to pack bottled water. The water you find in other countries may not be safe to drink as it can cause different sicknesses. Make sure you use bottled water when choosing to brush your teeth. The tap water is just as likely to make you sick. Pack a couple of travel candles for your hotel stay. These can improve the smell of an impersonal hotel room. The smells can be relaxing, the lighting romantic and it can help you feel more at ease in an unfamiliar hotel room. These types of candles exist in portable sizes, dripless formulas and even electronic styles that won't make any smoke or mess. Make sure you create copies of all your important documents before you leave. You want to have copies of your passport, insurance, and other vital documents. Put them in some safe place other than with you. Leaving another set with a trusted friend or family member is a good suggestion in case your primary and backups are lost or misplaced. Before you settle on a destination, be sure to consider the influence that the weather can have on your trip. Research the weather forecast at your vacation spot. There is nothing worse on your vacation than having to retreat from the weather when you least expect it. One thing to remember when traveling to other countries is the quality of water may be lacking; therefore, it is wise to pack some bottled water to take on your trip. Many countries do not purify their drinking water and this water can cause many different illnesses. You even need to use bottled water when you brush your teeth. It's possible you can get ill from using the tap water in that fashion. If you want the cheapest exchange rates, wait to exchange your currency until you arrive at the destination. If you know that currency exchange will not be available to you soon after you land, exchange some of your money before you leave, then exchange the rest when you find an exchange center in your destination. When you enter a new country, avoid exchanging currency. There is an easier way to obtain your foreign currency. The best way is to use an ATM at a bank to get your foreign currency. These usually offer better exchange rates and are much less expensive than an exchange. It's important to get up once in a while to stretch your muscles and get your blood circulating. Sitting for too long reduces blood flow and can lead to blood clots. If you decide to have a camping trip, remember to bring maps that you can carry along with you. It is also a good idea to have a GPS or compass available for use in case you get lost or turned around in the wild. When traveling, it is vital that you have all the required visas to pass from country to country. Make sure you have the right kind of visa for your needs. Simply obtaining a visa will not necessarily grant you admission into that country. Make sure you consult your travel agent and research online for the rules and regulations. Be sure to book your exact seat in order to help make your flight more comfortable. Often you will be able to choose your exact seat, but occasionally that option is not available. If reserving a seat is not available at the time of booking, check back on a regular basis to see when if this option opens up. This can make a big difference over taking whatever is available. If you are bringing a pet, you need to find a hotel that will allow that and see what type of fees they charge. Look in various places before choosing one that fits you and your pet's needs. If a hotel is fully booked, see if you can stay in a room that is out of service. These out of service rooms are rooms that require minor maintenance such as repainting the walls or cleaning a stain on the carpet. When making long road trips, rotate drivers as often as possible. Driving until you are exhausted will make the next driver lonely because you may fall asleep. Do not wait until you are completely exhausted to quit driving. Instead, have a schedule of switching between drivers every two or three hours. This stops any one driver from getting too tired. Although planning for a trip isn't always fun, travel can be an enjoyable experience. Fortunately, planning a successful trip doesn't have to be a headache. If you want to have a great time on your trip, then follow the tips in this article. The above article is brought to you by http://www.yoursingapore.com. If you are coming to Singapore, consider visiting this hotel - , see singapore places.