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Travel planning involves a lot of decisions to be made. This can be a fun event for you and your family. The following article will show you how to make travel arrangements, book hotels and other important information you should know.

Create a list of what needs to be packed. You should make this list around a week to a couple months in advance so that you absolutely know what needs to be packed. Even if you won't have time to pack until the last minute, having a list will keep you organized.

Sign up with a travel price watching site. With these sites, you can put in your destination and it will watch it for you. Once your fare or hotel rate drops to where you want it, you will receive an email notification. This will help ensure you don't miss a savings opportunity.

If your travels will take you to a port of call prior to your cruise, try to find a reasonably priced hotel with included parking and check in the night before. You can check with staff at the hotel for unpublished parking deals.

If you cannot bear to leave your pet home, consider taking her along on your vacation. There are many pet-friendly vacations to experience. Some offer pet day care service. Do not hesitate to bring your pet along - just ask if it is okay before you book.

When you check into a hotel, see if the alarm is set. You don't want to get awakened by a set alarm. Don't let this bother you on your first day in town!

When traveling, be vigilant about protecting your possessions. Tourists are easy marks for criminals. Don't let your purse dangle off your shoulder. Avoid toting bags that have easily-accessible zipper closures, especially if you will be in very crowded areas. Carefully evaluate your bags for security risks when choosing one for traveling.

When out and about on vacation, bring the hotel's business card (or something with their name on it) with you. Having this will be helpful, should you become lost. Show someone the address and they can direct you back to the hotel. If you are unfamiliar with the language, this is really really helpful.

Steer clear of rush hour when traveling by car. If it's not possible to avoid rush hour, take a break during that time. It's a great time to grab something to eat and let the kids run off some energy for a bit.

If you need to leave your vehicle at the airport for the duration of your travels then always pre-book airport parking well in advance. If you book parking on the day of your flight it will usually be much more expensive. Try taking a taxi to reduce the expenses that you pay.

The newsletters of major airlines are great sources for travel deals. These e-newsletters usually provide you with the opportunity to take advantage of money-saving bargains, such as last-minute offers, select discounts and other exclusive deals. The potential savings makes it worth handing out your email address.

http://travel.org/

Check your car insurance if you plan to rent a car. Rental car representatives know how to sell extra coverage, but you might not need it at all. In many cases, your auto insurance may include insurance to cover a third-party liability. Know how your policy works before you leave.

Consider using different forms of transportation. Bus travel has changed in recent years. You can often find great prices for buses, and they are clean and quite a few offer free WiFi outlets along with other perks you wouldn't have thought of. You can find package deals from some lines to make your travel planning a cinch.

Travel with bottled water when traveling outside of the country. Drinking water in foreign countries is usually not purified and can make you very ill. Do not forget to use bottled water for teeth brushing as well. This is one subtle way that tap water can make you sick.

Whenever possible, avoid changing currency in a foreign country. Check with your bank before you leave, and notify them you are traveling overseas. They will help you find the best way to purchase and also let you know the exchange rates for using your credit card or ATM overseas. You can go to a bank ATM and get foreign currency. ATMs usually offer better exchange rates, and are more convenient than going to a currency exchange anyway.

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It is possible to travel without luggage. This saves times and unneeded travel. You can use FedEx or UPS to ship your items. Although that might cost some more money, it's worth it.

If your travel time is a long one, make sure to get up at least once an hour to stretch your legs, even if it means taking an unnecessary trip to the bathroom. If you sit for too long, your muscles will cramp up, and in serious cases, could put you at risk for blood clots.

If you're planning on purchasing travel insurance, it pays to be upfront and honest. If you aren't well, you need to tell your provider about it. If the insurance company is able to show you're sick when you bought the insurance, the claim can be denied due to it being a preexisting condition. You'll be stuck with all of the bills to settle for yourself.

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Planning your trip can be fun and will prepare you for your vacation. Apply the ideas from this piece to ensure that you relish the entire process.