If you are like many pet owners, you hate leaving your four-legged friend behind when you travel. The good news is that you don’t necessarily have to, as many airlines, hotels, etc., are pet friendly. This article will give you tips for making the most of your travels with your four-legged friend.

Keeping a business card from your hotel in your wallet may keep you out of trouble. Immediately upon check-in make sure you grab a card and have it with you wherever you may go. Most especially in a foreign country or unfamiliar place, if you get lost you can simply call them for help or if you happen to over indulge in spirits the card will identify your rightful place in the neighborhood.

The best part of traveling is being able to spend freely once you get to your destination. While the hotel and the flight are usually the most expensive part, the best trips usually involve spending a ton of money out and about. So before you travel set up a savings plan such that you have a fat wallet after paying for the hotel and the flight so you can maximize your enjoyment.

During your trip if you’re staying at many different hotels, you can rest assured there is an easy and cost effective gift you can give your friends as a souvenir. Collect all of the little samples such as shampoos, body washes, body lotions and coffee packets that hotels give out, put them in a basket and give them away as gifts to your friends. It makes a nice gift because it gives a taste of culture from different hotels and is cost effective to you for making a friendly gesture.

You can save yourself a lot of time and avoid hassles by traveling as light as possible. If you just take carry-on luggage and don’t check any bags, you won’t have to waste your time standing around the baggage carousel after your flight and you’ll never have to worry about the airline losing your bags.

Don’t fold your clothes when you pack – roll them. Rolling your clothes into tight cylinders is much more space efficient when packing a suitcase. You will be able to fit more items in your suitcase, which is very important now that airlines charge hefty fees for each bag checked.

If you have the option to do so, use a business card as your luggage tag to avoid revealing your personal information. Many unscrupulous people out there are looking for opportunities for theft or other devious schemes. Knowing you are going on a trip means that gaining your personal info from luggage offers a potentially empty home.

Planning activities for the road can help alleviate the boredom of road trips. Games and other activities can be great additions to stops. To keep the attention of your kids, provide them with a map of the route.

When traveling, always be sure to dress in layers. It is so much easier to take something off or put it back on depending on the temperature, instead of sitting and regretting that you dressed too warmly or not warmly enough. This is especially true on flights where you, most likely, can no longer get a blanket to keep you warm.

Do as much as you can from your home before going to the airport. Many airlines will charge you extra if you wait until you go to the airport to check your bag. You can take care of that small problem by pre-registering your baggage. It will save you time and money when you get there.

If the place that you are traveling to is a warmer climate, try using a six-pack cooler as a carry-on toiletry bag. This is a great way to pack cool drinks for your trip and it makes a great “fridge” for all of your toiletries to stay nice and cool in.

Use your work address or a business card in your suitcase tags if you are wary of strangers getting a hold of your home address. With the increase in identity theft cases, many people want to protect their identities whenever possible. By using your work address on your luggage, you can protect your identity while still making it possible for you to be reached if your bags are lost.

Put your smart phone to work for you when you travel. Email your itinerary to yourself so you can quickly access it from your phone, from anywhere. Use your phone for photos, text messaging home, checking weather forecasts, keeping track of the time zone and so many more things that will make your travels simpler.

When you are going to travel, try to keep as many electronics together as possible. This will help you to save a lot of time, not only at the airport, but if you need to find an adapter for a device, you will know exactly where to look to find it.

When on a road trip with a toddler, try to start your trips nearer to the afternoon. Many times, young children will give you problems if you head out too early. Most toddlers will be ready for their nap in the afternoon and will be less likely to act up on any trip, when they are fast asleep.

When travelling abroad, do your research when it comes to power sources. Just because you’ve purchased a physical adapter to allow you to plug your hair dryer in when you get to your destination does not mean that you’ll actually be able to use the device when you plug it in. Higher voltages in most of Europe will result in a smoking appliance!

As stated at the beginning of this article, it is hard for pet owners to leave their animals behind while they travel. Many hotels and airlines are very accommodating when it comes to traveling with your pet. Hopefully, this article has given you some great tips for making the most of your pet-friendly travel plans.