When travel plans take you to active outdoor adventures, remember to pack simple things like hair ties. These items are not always available in remote locations, particularly in foreign countries. If an enterprising local does make them accessible to you at the activity site, it is likely that you will pay dearly for them. Hair ties can be easily worn around your wrist for easy access throughout your entire journey.

Traveling during the holidays can be a stressful experience. Long lines at the airport and traffic congestion can cause you to arrive late to your destination, or even worse, miss your flight. Allow yourself plenty of extra time by leaving earlier than normal. This will save you from rushing, and allow you to enjoy the holiday season.

When traveling with a baby or toddler, be sure to bring a blanket from home. It is nice to have something that will smell a little bit like home for your baby. Everything will be so different and new that the smell of home will be very soothing and may help calm your loved one a little bit.

Always ask for upgrades. You can't get it if you don't ask. No one is going to offer you a free upgrade just because they like your shirt. When you check in with airlines and hotels, even car rental companies, ask if there are any upgrades available. If it is a special occasion like an anniversary, honeymoon or birthday, make sure to make mention of that.

When you get to your hotel, check the alarm clock. In some cases, the last person who stayed in the hotel will have previously set the alarm. If you do not wish to be awakened at four in the morning, you may want to double check the all the alarms.

When traveling with your pet, there a few things you should take into consideration when traveling by plane. First, try to book a direct, uncrowded flight. If this is not possible, your vet can give you a tranquilizer for the trip. Also, remember, that a cross-country flight may not be the best idea for your pet. It is possible he will be left in a hot baggage and suffer greatly.

Do your best to stow your bag in the area close to your seat. This will not only help you, but it will help the deplaning process go a bit smoother. If everyone was to stow their bags in the first available compartment, it would force the people in the front of the plane to store theirs in the back and really slow things down at the end of the flight.

Get to know the generic names of common pain relievers before travel. If you find that you need to purchase something at a drugstore it is helpful to know that Acetaminophen is the same thing as your favorite headache reliever, even if the drugstore does not carry the same brand. Ibuprofen and Naproxen are also common drugs.

If you are traveling into a malaria-prone area, in addition to anti-malaria pills, bring a mosquito net or find a room with a large ventilation fan. The net is best as it can almost completely stop mosquitoes from getting to you at night. The fan works because mosquitoes cannot fly as well into the wind, but it is not fool-proof.

Making a friend of the concierge will make your stay at any hotel a much safer and smarter experience. This person should be greeted and tipped like your life depends on it. The concierge has a wealth of information on where to eat, play, relax, shop, and can also; get you out of any bind you might find yourself in while far from home.

You don't want to let your dream vacation turn into a nightmare, so make sure you remember what you've just read about in this article. A little planning and some common sense can help you have the trip of a lifetime. Your trip will go smoothly if you use these tips.

Vacation Travel Club and http://jcuhillel.org/