Always remember to tip any hotel staff. You should give about a dollar per bag and 2 to 5 dollars per day of housekeeping. If you can tip these people appropriately, you will find that you will have a better relationship with the hotel staff during your stay.

Color choice in clothing can be important when packing luggage for a trip, and dark colors should be considered. By keeping your wardrobe on the darker side, you will more easily hide dirt and wrinkles, which are common components of travel. You can bring some lighter colored accessories to give your outfits a more cheerful appearance.

When taking a cruise that you have to drive to the port city of, stay in a hotel or motel, that provides free parking, the night before. Inquire about reduced-rate parking at the hotel, regardless of whether you have seen any advertisements.

When traveling to other countries, pack bottled water. Drinking water in foreign countries is usually not purified and can make you very ill. You should even use your bottled water when brushing your teeth. You can get sick from the tap water this way, as well.

Educate your children about airport security. Before you even get to the airport, try to give them a good mental picture of what they will go through. If you have young children, ask if you can go through security with them. If not, go before them so they realize how easy it is.

Be very cautious of any unsolicited emails you receive for travel deals. Never open emails from a travel company that you do not specifically do business with.

Brush your dogs prior to putting them in your car when going on a trip. This helps prevent flying hair in the car. Don’t forget the accessories you need to care for dogs properly, like bowls for water and food, leashes, and cleanup baggies.

Long trips provide a great reason to pack up your music collection, load it in the car and enjoy your favorite songs along the way. When traveling long distances, the radio will often cut in and out; carrying your own music eliminates this problem.

Sometimes the best vacation locations are right around the corner. You can find enjoyable places to visit in your home state or one that’s close by. You could always save money by staying in local areas and helping out local businesses. There are often many undiscovered attractions closer than you think.

The vast sand dunes and exotic animals and plants are something you likely couldn’t experience anywhere else. Deserts offer a special experience for the first time visitor. It should be the goal of anyone interested in the world to experience the wonder of the desert at least once.

Make sure your children also have ID with them when traveling. Give your child enough change to call you from a pay phone. Keep current pictures of all your kids in your wallet along with identifying details like their height and weight.

No matter where your travels take you, these tips should help you with the planning process. Traveling is fulfilling and interesting, and you never know what you might find, so get out there and cross a few things off your bucket list!

Leave your comments or ask questions below.