Without saying, advance planning is the most important part of your travel. Before you go, find out the weather, customs and cultures, currency exchange, places-to-visit, things-to-do, and places-to-stay in advance. 

• Search the Internet for all the information you need. In North America, www.tripadvisor.com is a good site for travel information.  For the worldwide travel, check out Lonely Planet.  Finally, to help you prepare for your trip, visit www.travel.state.gov.

• Before you book a hotel, check out this site to see if the hotel has bedbug infestation history.

• Before you book plane tickets, check out this list of airlines banned within the EU.

• For backpackers, check out the following web sites for last-minute discounts: 

  • Kayak

  • Priceline

  • Orbitz

  • Travelocity

  • Expedia

• For price trend following and prediction, check out Kayak's Price Trend and Bing travel's Price Predictor.

• To find great excursions at your destinations, check out peek.

• Travel in the off seasons for good deals (see below picture for hotel occupancy rate in US)

• No matter where you travel, you should always get travel insurance to cover you in case something does happen.  

  • Travel insurance from WorldNomads is available to people from 140 countries, and you can buy and claim online, even after you’ve left home.  

  • If you plan to travel a lot, read [47] for a simple step-by-step guide.

Financial Planning

Check your wallet before you travel:

• Prepay your bills.

• Pay down credit card bills.

• Pack credit card contact information.

• Clean out your wallet—Bring only things that are important to your trip.

• Buy traveler's check for better exchange rate and safety.

Miscellaneous

• Have mail on hold

• Double check your house before you leave

• Keep friend's phone numbers in case you need help

• Ask neighbors or friends keep an eye on your house

• Keep copies of passport and other important travel documents

• Get familiar with the customs and cultures of your destinations

• If you have health problems, pack copies of your medical records.

• Watch out for pocket picker at crowded tourist destinations.  

• If you drive and drive for a long distance, a GPS device is indispensable. It can save you time and effort to get to your destination safely and quickly. 

• Don't forget to bring insect repellents, hats, sun screens, sun glasses, walking sticks, hiking shoes, swimming suits, or music CDs. If you take pictures or videos, don't forget to bring extra batteries and chargers. 

References

1. Art of the Photographer

2. Want a cheap flight? Book 49 days ahead (CNN)

3. Be Bear Aware

4. 8 tips on saving money on a cruise vacation

5. Eight Essential Rules for Vacation Rentals

6. Hotel vs. apartment: where to stay?

7. Natural remedies for travel ailments

8. 80 Uses of Tea Tree Oil

9. Berggasthaus Aescher

10. The gadget-wise traveler

11. Where tourist crime happens the most

12. Interview with the author of book “How to Be the World’s Smartest Traveler (and Save Time, Money and Hassle)” (video; watch at 33:30)

13. Topographic map

14. Peek

15. Travel in India? (a must-read article)

16. Cheaper and More Exciting Alternative to Hotels!

    • All you have to do is choose your destination on Airbnb.com and its search engine will provide you with various options.

17. Best Winter Trips 2015

18. Travel Tips to Sydney

19. Australia's Seasons

20. Places to See in Your Lifetime

21. Why Booking Hotels Through Websites like Kayak, Expedia Isn't Smart

    • If you are loyal and you know that you are going to stay at a specific hotel, usually you can find a comparable rate on the hotel website

    • Hotels earn more from you when booking direct — they don’t have to pay an [online travel agency] commission fee — they are more inclined to offer you upgrades, better perks or complimentary add-ons

22. Glass Igloo

23. The 15 best hiking trails in the world

24. When Should I Buy My Flight? (SmartTravel)

    • Avoid booking too early and too late. CheapAir's "window" for good deals on domestic tickets is 27–114 days in advance; Expedia's window is 50–100 days.

    • Start with our own free fare alerts, our sister site BookingBuddy, and Airfarewatchdog's famous fare alerts.

25. 2015 Global Peace Index (country safety ranking)

26. 20 gorgeous natural wonders around the world

27. Good credit card for international travel (@Forbes)

    • If you want no fee, PenFed Promise has no 4x fee and no annual fee.

    • Chase Sapphire Preferred: no 4x fee and can transfer points to multiple airlines. But there is a fee.

28.  Tourist Destinations That Are More Dangerous Than You Think

    • Avoid these countries: Dominican Republic, Honduras, Egypt, Mexico, Kenya, India

29. Don’t let jet lag affect your sleep

30. Study finds new potential treatment for jet lag

    • Researchers believe the flashing light helps reset the circadian system, which regulates rhythms in the human body and establishes normal sleep and wake phases.

31. Top 10 European Train Trips

32. JAPANiCAN.com

33. 26 beautiful places you should visit before they disappear

34. Bedbugs are drawn to certain colors, study finds

35. 9 apps and websites to make the most out of your next vacation

36. Travel for a Purpose

37. Medical Considerations before International Travel

38. One Surefire Way to Spot Bedbugs in Your Hotel Room

39. A Solo Trip Can Be A Disaster If You Forget These 7 Rules

40. Here's why Tuesday at 2:30 p.m. ET is the perfect time to buy airline tickets

41. 15 of the Best Practical Travel Tips for Europe (good)

42. 5 Ways to Save Money When Traveling Abroad 

43. Klook 客路 (Things to Do) 

44. The Safest Countries in the World for Peace of Mind on the Road 

45. How to Handle Bed Bugs and Their Bites

    • Start by doing a visual inspection of the room when you first arrive. Make it a habit to pull the sheets back and check to see if you see bugs, blood spots or browns spots on the sheets or mattress.

    • It’s also a good idea to put your luggage on a luggage rack, or somewhere else away from the bed. 

46. Carry-on Bags (American Airlines)

47. Long-Term Travel Insurance? A simple step-by-step Guide (with prices and no Lingo)

48. Seven Corners Inc. (BBB review)

49. COVID-19 Coverage: A Beginner’s Guide to Coronavirus Travel Insurance

50. Liaison® Travel Medical Insurance for International Travelers (Seven Corners)

51. SafeTrip (UHC)

52. Coronavirus - Covid-19 - A Travel Insurance Guide

53. Seven Corners Insurance Provider PPO Network

54. COVID Travel—How to Store Immunization Records Digitally within Samsung Pay

55. What to do if an airline loses your luggage