The country you plan to visit may require a visa.  Apply for your travel documents several months in advance of your scheduled departure to avoid peak season delays.  Visas are available from the embassy or consulate of the country you will be visiting or from a "visa service" which will get your visa processed for a nominal fee. 

Older passengers and those suffering from pre-existing medical condition should have a thorough check-up with their doctor prior to departure.  Bring with you any medicine you may be taking daily as per your physician’s advise.

The best thing you can do for yourself to give you peace of mind while on vacation is to purchase travel insurance.  If an illness, accident or sudden change in plans forces you to cancel or interrupt travel plans, you face two major financial losses - money you've invested in nonrefundable prepayments, and medical expenses that aren't covered by your health insurance. 

 

Travel insurance can protect you from substantial losses that result from a variety of situations, including canceled trips, lost baggage, medical emergencies, as well as other unforeseen circumstances. 

 

Talk with your travel agent to help you decide what coverage you'll need.  Be sure to examine different policies, make careful inquiries and always read the fine print. Two features are essential: a 24-hour, toll-free, English-language phone assistance and a plan that provides direct, immediate payment to the medical provider.

Two cardinal rules for travelers: travel light and dress comfortably.  Plan the contents of your suitcase by creating a packing list.  A packing list eliminates the panic of last-second packing, serves as a handy guide for repacking at the end of the trip, and can be beneficial in the unfortunate event of lost or stolen luggage.

When packing, set aside the pieces you intend to bring and ensure that they are clean and ready to be packed. Contact your travel agent about the hotel's in-room amenities - such as a hair dryer, an iron and board, soap, shampoo etc. - so you'll know what to leave behind.

Jewelry - don't take what you don't want to lose, and leave behind the flashy pieces that could attract thieves.  Keep makeup to a minimum to save space, and leave the perfume behind when scented lotions will work just as well.
 

After crossing several time zones, many travelers suffer from "jet lag."  Although there is no way to completely avoid jet lag, there are a number of ways to help your body adjust to a new time zone. 

 

Get as much sleep as you can during the flight.  Keep yourself hydrated, avoid drinking alcohol, coffee, tea and other caffeinated beverages and drink plenty of water during your flight. 

 

Exercising on a long flight will help alleviate such common discomforts as backaches, swollen legs and feet and general fatigue.

 

Stretch at regular intervals and walk up and down the aisles of the plane from time to time to prevent dangerous blood clots from forming. 

 

Get in synch with the new time zone as soon as you can.  The headache, light-headedness and nausea associated with jet lag should lessen significantly when such measures are taken.

There's nothing more miserable than getting sick while on vacation.  For most destinations, the major health risk to travelers is diarrhea, which may be easily avoided.  In general, common sense prevails. 

 

When in doubt, steer clear of uncooked meat, raw fruits and vegetables and unpasteurized milk products, and drink only bottled water (although the tip of the bottle may be contaminated, so wipe it clean before drinking from it) or water that has been boiled for at least 20 minutes. 

 

If you begin to feel sick or develop a fever, rest and drink tea or purified water.  Most cases of traveler's diarrhea clear up within a few days.

Keep your valuables, including passports, etc., in a money belt concealed under your clothes.  Or, use the hotel safe to store valuables.

 

Keep a copy of your passport with you at all times, but separate from where you are carrying your passport. 

 

Pickpockets and thieves operate widely in many cities around the world, but especially near tourist attractions.

There are various ways to bring money while you are on holiday.

•    U.S. Travelers checks and notes
•    U.S. dollars
•    Credit Cards

Most stores and restaurants accept Visa and Mastercard.  Some also take American Express and Diners Club.  You can pay with traveler’s checks with proper identification.
 

Reminders when checking in/out:

•    It is sometimes required by the hotel upon check-in that you present a credit card or leave a cash deposit with the front desk.
•    Check that you have packed everything.
•    Check that you left nothing in the hotel security box.
•    Return your room key to the reception desk.  Please do not leave your key inside the room.
•    Clear your account with the hotel front desk the night before your check-out so as not to delay your departure.