by Janice Heath

Created on: July 15, 2010

Travel can be great fun however it can also involve problems and inconvenience.  Some problems are relatively minor such as delayed transport and lost luggage. Some are major such as volcano eruptions which prevent air travel for days.  While there are always events that are beyond your control, there are some things that you can do in order to make your travel easier.

The most important point to consider is your travel documents.  This might mean your tickets, passport, drivers license, visas, credit cards and any inoculations or other medical concerns.  Make sure that everything you need is available, up to date and unlikely to run out during the course of your trip.  Some countries will not allow you to enter if your passport is within six months of expiry or you do not have up to date vaccinations.  It can be difficult to obtain replacement medications if you run out during your trip and replacing your personal documents is a long and involved process.  These and other major problems can be avoided by having everything in order long before you depart.

Then think carefully about the method of transport you will be using.  Cheaper is not necessarily better if you take a particular option and find that there are serious inconveniences that go along with the low price.  For instance, quite often cheap airline tickets are not changeable or refundable if your plans vary.  Trains in some countries do not allocate seats and you may find yourself standing up or sitting on the floor for hours or days.  Do not expect that transportation in other countries will operate the same way as it does at home.  Do some research before you book and make realistic decisions about what level of convenience you are willing to pay for.

Learn about your destination and acquire some maps before you get there.  While you might imagine that this would be easier to do once you arrive, that is not always the case, particularly if you are traveling to an area which does not host a large number of travelers.  Travel forums and blogs are a good source of up to date information.  Booking your first night’s accommodation can save stress when you arrive in a new place, even if you wish to go where the mood takes you after that.

Make some backup plans.  Ensure you have enough money for the entire trip and provision for the possibility that you may lose your wallet or have it stolen.  Know what your

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