Travel can mean the exhilaration of seeing new places or the nightmare of not having the comforts and security of home. Like anything, travel goes much more smoothly with a little bit of knowledge and preparation. Keep reading for some sound advice from seasoned travelers on making your journeys pleasant memories.

Always know where your luggage is. Airline and bus employees have been known to steal items out of cases when they are checked in. Additionally, other travelers might “accidentally” pick up your bag in hopes of finding expensive items. This also allows you to move between transit options faster, instead of standing around waiting for your luggage.

When traveling with a dog, brush your dog before putting them into the car, particularly if the car is a rental. This will significantly cut down on the amount of fur that flies around in the car during the drive. It will also reduce the amount of time you have to spend removing the hair from the car.

Don’t be afraid to cash in your airline miles. Many travelers let their miles accumulate and never bother using them. Reap the rewards of your traveling and spend the miles you’ve earned! Miles have expiration dates, so be sure to use them before they expire. Often you can use them on items other than travel, so check out your options and get to spending.

Taking a trip no matter how far from home may cause you to want to bring pieces of your home along for the vacation. To make sure you minimize well, only bring essential toiletries with you. List the ones that you use most during the day and can’t be without. Only pack the most important one.

Before you leave on any long vacation, try to find some time to get into shape. Generally while sightseeing, you will be doing quite a lot of walking. If you don’t prepare for this, you can end up sore and unhappy. Also, being more fit might give you added courage for a nude beach or other new experience.

When you first arrive at your hotel room, check the mini-bar. Some guests are known for refilling bottles with water, so make sure each and every bottle is fully sealed. If any of them are not, you should immediately phone the front desk and tell them what you have found. You do not want to be charged for someone else’s dishonesty.

When packing for a baby or a toddler, think about what things you could possibly pick up when you get there. Diapers and wipes take up a lot of space, especially if you will be gone for a week or more. This will leave you more room, and you will need less time to pack.

Talk to any road warrior and they can tell you both stories of great trips and disaster journeys. Some of the things they have learned have been shared in this article. Keep these tips in mind in preparing for your future travels, and you are sure to come home with great memories rather than headaches.