Regardless of whether you are traveling to a nearby location for the weekend or taking a week-long destination vacation, you are always going to benefit from some tips and ideas on how to make the whole process, more fun and less stressful. Keep reading for those tips and more.

Pack some plastic bags when going on a longer trip. Plastic bags always come in handy when you spill something, for toiletries or if you have some dirty laundry. Meanwhile, some places have laundry opportunities, so it is always useful to carry a plastic bag with you to keep your dirty laundry in.

If you are traveling road-trip style and you have a smart phone, try downloading apps such as GasBuddy so you can look up what gas stations have the cheaper prices before you get into town. Spending 10-11 cents more per gallon can add up to quite a lot of extra cash that you could be spending elsewhere.

Try using a racing belt to thwart pickpockets. Getting robbed can ruin your entire vacation. To lessen the chances of this happening, consider investing in the storage belts racers use to store their keys, money, and such. This will keep your valuables close to your body where they are less likely to be stolen.

Once you have found an agent and an insurance policy you are happy with you will pay your premium and then you should receive your written policy. Receiving your premium tells you that the insurance agent has forwarded your insurance premium information to the insurance company. If you don’t receive your policy within a couple months, contact your agent.

Make sure you check your credit card statement after you stay at a hotel. Even if your bill is correct when you pay at check out, extra fees may find their way into your payment. Sometimes rooms get charges twice by accident or another guest’s expenses will get put on your account. If this happens, call the hotel’s billing department right away.

Anyone who’s ever been on a cruise knows how much all the hallways and doors look the same. To make finding your door easier, bring a photo of your family pet or something (nothing personal!) and attach it to your door with a Christmas bow. This will help you easily identify which room is yours.

Most airlines will overbook their flights during busy times or seasons. In the event that too many people show up for the flight, they will need volunteers to take a different flight at a later time, in exchange for vouchers for travel, food and lodging that can be used at a later date. If you aren’t in a hurry, you can pay for part of your next vacation!

Fanny packs are back! These trademarks of the 80’s had their day in the sun and then were quickly shunned. As a lot of things do, these have now come back into style. They are perfect for travel as you can keep a lot of important things at your finger tips including ID, passport, money, and even snacks.

Bring cookie sheets when on a road trip with kids. These cookie sheets can be a flat surface to put cards or coloring books on. For smaller kids, teach them a thing or two by having them use magnetic numbers and letters on them.

After deciding where you would like to travel, compare the prices offered by many booking engines online for your hotel rooms and flights directly with the companies themselves. Although many booking engines do offer reduced or eliminated transaction fees, you will often get a better deal if you speak directly with the hotels or airlines. You will also receive better customer service.

A travel budget can be worked out so that you can save for a vacation each year. You will simply take a specified amount out of your pay each paycheck and place it into an account designated for travel. This money will allow you to pay for travel related expenses each year, including your stay, gas or airfare, and spending money.

If you are taking a short trip, it could be in your best interest to travel in the middle of the week as opposed to the weekend. Not surprisingly many companies, mainly hotels, may charge more for their services on the weekend when they experience increased volume. If the time of week does not matter to you, choose the cheaper option.

Bring a snorkel with you when you are traveling on a cruise ship. Rather than spending money on an official “snorkeling excursion,” just use your own equipment during a shore day. Snorkels don’t take up a lot of room in your suitcase, and this method allows you to avoid time limits or the hassles associated with swimming in a group.

When you are traveling to a new city, join in on a pub crawl. You can experience the downtown area and meet new people. You’ll have even more fun by slowly eating dinner across the different restaurants; have drinks at one place and then an appetizer at the next. Work your way up to a main course and dessert.

When traveling abroad, keep your medications in their original bottles. Carry copies of prescriptions as well for verification. Ask your doctor for notes pertaining to any narcotics your medicines may have to show your particular need for them. It is also wise to carry a list of generic names for your medications in case the standard is not available at your destination.

There is nothing that can derail your travel fun like a nasty sunburn. Sunscreen is a small expense that can help you avoid a painful vacation experience. You should also consider hats and protective clothing if you are going to spend any time in the sun. Outside temperature should be irrelevant in your consideration.

There is a lot of world to see, both in our own backyards and around the world. Exploring these places is great fun and should be a source of relaxation. The tips and suggestions in this article, are meant to make your trips more enjoyable and less stressful when you set off for your travel destination.