Before you Go

• Do some research; learn as much as you can about your destination.
• Check to see what is the weather of the area you are visiting, so that you can plan accordingly.
• Check your own medical coverage to see what type of coverage you'll have when away from home. Consider purchasing trip insurance.
• Check the dates of local major holidays or festivals, since services may be limited on those dates.
• Find out if you will need a passport to enter the country. Make sure your passport is up to date and valid. Find out if you will need any visas to enter the country.

Look out for airline specials

• Make your reservations as soon as your travel plans are definite. Airlines give discounts for early bookings that are made at least 21 days in advance. The best rates are often those that include a Saturday night stay and have travel dates during the week.
• Shopping the Internet can be the quickest and easiest way to compare the rates and deals offered by various Airlines.
• Check into splitting your trip into two roundtrip sections. A stopover at a midpoint could cost you less, compared to flying a direct route. Although, make sure the savings are large enough to warrant the extra hassles of the stopover.
• Check for special deals.

Pack your Bags

• A passport for all travel outside the U.S. and for identification purposes.
• Wallet, Driver's License and/or other proper photo identification required for domestic travel.
• Insurance cards for both your medical and automobile insurance.
• Credit cards, Travelers checks, Coupons.
• Airline, Cruise or Train tickets.
• Itinerary with confirmation numbers and addresses and phone numbers of where you'll be staying.
• Travel brochures and maps.
• Don't pack valuable, perishable, and fragile items or items sensitive to heat and cold, in your checked baggage. Try to avoid these items altogether, but if you must take them, they will be safer in your carry-on bag.
• Traveling with the smallest possible amount of luggage is the best way to go.