Traveling can be a once in a lifetime experience. Whether you are looking to cut expenses, lighten your baggage or cut out the common problems of travel, these tips are for you.

When taking a road trip to an unfamiliar area, be sure that your car is serviced and you have a full tank of gas. The last thing you need is to break down, unaware of where the nearest gas station is. Keep an empty gas can in the trunk of your car in the event that you run out of gas. You will be able to make your way to the nearest service station and fill up the can, rather than calling someone out to do that for you.

Choose an aisle seat on the plane. Window seats can be very restricting in terms of bathroom access and overhead storage access.

When selecting a location to travel to, there is no better source of information than a fellow traveler. Other travelers with similar needs and plans, can tell you what destinations are must-sees and what areas you should try to avoid. No guidebook can replace the first-hand experience of another person or family.

Here is a tip for travelers! For tastier coffee when staying in a hotel, use ice instead of tap water. Many hotel rooms come equipped with a small coffee maker, but using tap water almost always results in poor coffee. Ice from hotel ice machines is made using filtered water. So, fill your coffee maker with ice at night (so it can melt), you can enjoy coffee made from crisp, filtered water in the morning!

Do not bother packing your entire makeup case. Makeup cases are bulky and often take up a lot of room. Instead, put any makeup you anticipate needing for your trip in a simple ziplock bag. Put it in your suitcase’s side pocket. This will save a lot of room when packing.

When traveling by air, purchase your airline tickets as early as possible. Airlines that offer very low fares, like Southwest Airlines, have a limited number of seats available at the lowest price. By purchasing your tickets early you are assured of getting the best possible rates for air travel.

Always pay attention to your surroundings when traveling and keep track of your belongings. If you are carrying a purse, be sure to have it tucked neatly under your arm. Also, do not use bags that someone can easily open on a crowded subway or in another crowded public area. Always consider these things before purchasing your travel bags.

Traveling light can make the difference is a great vacation and a tortuous experience. Think about it. If you don’t take it with you can almost always buy it there. There are exceptions of course but even with those just a little bit of thought while packing can greatly reduce your load and make your trip much more enjoyable.

When traveling by air, conceal a store of emergency money in your carry-on luggage. This stash will be useful if you run into a worst-case scenario, like a mugging or pick-pocketing. Make your stash as large as you feel comfortable with, but remember you may need it to purchase food, transportation or even an overnight room.

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.

When your travel plans involve a road trip, allocate a “stop” card to each member of your family. You can’t get out at every place that looks fun, but each member of your family should have an equal voice in deciding what attractions you see. If you give each person one “stop” card a day, they know that when they pull it out the family will stop to check out the attraction. This reduces arguing and is fun for the entire family.

Look into restaurants in the area that you are going to be vacationing in. You can gather very useful information about the different places to eat through online travel sites where others who have dined there leave very helpful reviews that can save you time and money by avoiding the places with bad reviews.

Language is the key to making your trip easier and getting better service. Foreign travel is great fun until you need to ask for something in a location where you are confronted with only native speakers. Learning a few phrases about general things and some specific to service related needs can save you from playing charades when you really need help.

Look into getting a hand-held satellite phone. Because a lot of cell phones do not work in many countries, you want to make sure you have some form of communication at all times. If you cannot get a hand-held satellite phone, it would be wise to purchase an international calling card.

Bring a ruck sack with you when you are traveling on an airplane. Since many airlines are charging fees to check luggage, a lot of travelers are choosing to stick with carry-on bags instead. These bags are typically small, so to ensure that you have enough room for all of your stuff, take a ruck sack. It will fit into the overhead compartment and has a lot of space in it.

Sometimes spending that little extra money on a first class seat is well worth it. The service is far superior to that of basic cabin service, the seats are more comfortable, and it is just overall a better experience. If you have got the money to spare, fly first class next time.

Traveling will be a wonderful experience for you and your loved ones. Although you may have traveled in the past, you can improve your vacation using the information listed above. Regardless of your reasons, these tips will help make your trip more enjoyable.