Some tips on traveling safer and smarter is a great place for new travelers to start with planning their trips. Below is group of tips that will enhance your traveling experience.

Are you traveling to a country that requires vaccinations? This become important when you try to leave or enter that country, and it may pose an issue even when you travel to another city in that country. Without proper documentation, you may be detained for quarantine.

If you are leaving for your trip from a port city, stay at a hotel with free parking and get there the night before you are to leave. If you cannot find any details about parking, ask the hotel staff what their policy is.

Tip the staff at the hotel appropriately when you are staying at a hotel. You should give about a dollar per bag and 2 to 5 dollars per day of housekeeping. Tipping will show your appreciation for their work, and will help you maintain a good relationship with hotel staff.

Look at when your passport expires. Most countries have passport regulations with which you must comply. Even if it is still valid, if it expires soon, you may have problems. As long as the passport is not set to expire within the next six months, you should be fine for most countries; however, certain countries require eight months, or even up to one year.

If you use traveler’s checks, try cashing them before eating or shopping. Even though traveler’s checks are widely accepted, they are not that easy to use. You may get shorted when you use them; so, have them converted to local money prior to shopping.

Join airline mailing lists. You will be notified of discounts, special deals and last-minute offers. Although these emails can add to the clutter in your inbox, you can always filter them, only opening them when you need to snag a deal on airfare.

Many people think you only have to be 18 to rent a car; however, there are rental companies that require you to be at least 25 years old to rent one. You might even pay more if you are not a certain age. In some places, senior citizens may not be allowed to rent a car. It’s essential to ask about restrictions on age before making a reservation.

When traveling a long distance by airplane, try packing your own non-liquid snacks. Fresh snacks can include apples, strawberries or grapes, and will provide a welcome change from the airplane meals that weigh you down. Not only will it save you money when it comes to pricey airport fare, it can also be a conversation starter as travel neighbors see your goodies.

Think about different transportation modes. Bus travel isn’t what it once was. You may be able to get great rates and buses are generally clean. Some companies offer package deals, making traveling very easy.

You can save yourself a little money while traveling abroad by avoiding the currency exchange process. There are other, easier ways to exchange cash for foreign currency. You can simply get foreign currency from an ATM at a bank. If you are able to use a bank ATM machine, you will be able to find a more affordable exchange rate and less fees.

Always bring a small pillow and blanket when traveling. No matter how you are traveling, a pillow and blanket will make the trip much more comfortable. Airlines will sometimes provide them, but often run out. If you have your own, you know it’s clean.

Hopefully, these travel tips were just what you were looking for. You want to be safe, and you want to make smart decisions so that you encounter nothing but fun.