Everyone has a vacation nightmare experience to share! These things usually happen because people are not prepared. If you heed these suggestions, you will have a good vacation.

The bell hop and housekeeper should be tipped appropriately. Standard tips are generally $1 for each piece of luggage, and $2-$5 for the housekeeper each day of your stay. Doing so will ensure that you have a nice relationship with both during your hotel stay.

When traveling, a contact case can come in handy. These are great for small amounts of liquids.

You should switch drivers often when you are traveling. Driving until you are exhausted will make the next driver lonely because you may fall asleep. Do not drive to the point where you are too tired to do so safely. Switch places with other drivers every couple of hours. That way neither driver will run the risk of falling asleep at the wheel.

Do not go to a currency exchange if you can help it. There is a simpler method to get the currency you need. The easier method is getting your currency from an ATM. These machines will usually have the best exchange rate available.

Jet Lag

Stay up as late as possible, or at least until around 8 o’clock in the evening, to help adapt to the time change. If you go to bed early, even if you’re tired, it can make your jet lag stay longer because you keep your body in sync with the time zone from home. You will overcome jet lag fast if you help your body quickly adjust to the time zone changes.

If you are going to travel, make certain that you have made copies of all of your important documents. Copies of important papers like your passport, insurance forms, and any other key documentation should travel well-separated from your originals. It is recommended to also leave copies of your documents with an emergency contact so that if the unexpected happens you have someone that has the necessary documentation to assist you.

If you bring your kids along while traveling, each child should carry identification. Change for a phone call should always be carried. Parents should have a recent picture of every child complete with their height and weight written on the back of it.

Travel is a great teaching tool, especially for children and young adults. If you are safe, even third world countries can be an opportunity to show children how life is in different places. It also gives you a chance to build a better understanding of, and compassion for, cultures other than your own.

You should always find out well in advance of your trip if you need a visa to visit a country. It is a good idea to apply for a visa months before you have to travel, as the processing times for visas can be quite long. Don’t forget that without the right visa, you will not be able to enter some countries.

If a hotel is fully booked, you can try asking to rent a room that is considered out of order. These out of service rooms are rooms that require minor maintenance such as repainting the walls or cleaning a stain on the carpet.

National Parks

Getting a pass to the National Parks is a good idea if you frequently visit the parks. While the initial outlay is $50, they are valid for a one year term and give you open access to all national parks.

Always look at the expiration dates that are printed on your passports. Some countries have certain rules about the expiration. You are usually not allowed to enter a country if your passport expires soon. These range from 3 to 6 months, or could even reach 8 months to a year.

Don’t bring any unnecessary valuables with you. You are taking the risks of having everything stolen from you if you do bring valuables with you.

The reason for some of the worst stories about traveling happen because the traveler didn’t think ahead and plan correctly. Use the advice in this article to easily plan and prepare for your next vacation or business trip.