When traveling to a foreign country, it is a great idea to befriend some locals. Locals can give you unique and inside perspectives on the culture, and take you to places that are off the beaten path. This article will give you some tips about how to make friends with the locals next time you travel.

Before you leave on your trip, make sure you are up to date on all your vaccinations. If you are taking any prescription medications, be sure to bring extra along just in case. There is always the chance that your departure might be delayed, and you don’t want to run out.

To save money when booking airline flights, check the round-trip prices — even if you only want to fly one way to a destination. Thanks to quirky airline policies, sometimes it’s less expensive to purchase a round trip to your desired locale than to fly one way. At least if that happens, you can save money by buying the round-trip tickets anyway and simply not take the return flight back.

Use rubber bands when packing. Many people already roll their clothes when packing their luggage for a trip. It saves a ton of space. To save even more space, wrap a rubber band around these rolled clothes. It will allow you to pack more into the same space and ensure that they do not unroll during the trip.

To prevent yourself from becoming sick after a long flight, you may want to consider using a saline spray in your nose. This is proven to help fight any bacteria that may be dormant in the air. It’s a great way to get one up on the passengers beside you if they are sick.

If you’re going on a long road trip with kids, try swapping seats with them every once in a while. This makes them feel good since they’re sitting in the seat only mommy or daddy normally sit in. It will also keep them busy for a while, since they’ll get to see things they normally wouldn’t see.

After you decide on a travel destination, be sure to check user reviews on local hotels before you secure your reservations. Gather these from multiple sources, including magazines, websites and guidebooks. Also ask the hotel to send you pictures of the type of room that you will be staying in. Doing your research will help you avoid unexpected surprises when you get to your destination.

If you have a tendency to forget your charger when traveling, try asking the front desk if they have any. Many places have boxes of cords that have been left behind and if you search, you may be able to find one that fits your needs. You can also see if they have an international adapter as well.

As was stated at the beginning of this article, befriending locals is a great idea when visiting a foreign country. Locals can take you places that you would not otherwise see just sticking to tours. Apply the advice from this article next time you travel, and you will be sure to appreciate a unique and different adventure from your regular travel plans.