From packing your bags correctly and boarding your flight to exchanging your money and finding the best places to eat and sleep abroad, traveling can quickly turn into a very complicated venture. Make sure you approach traveling with the knowledge necessary to pull your trip off without a hitch. Check out this article to find out how.

Pack all your necessary belongings in a carry-on bag for airline travel. Not having to check luggage means that you can save on checked bag fees, check in for your flight at home or at a kiosk without having to wait in line a the ticket counter, and will avoid the possibility of your luggage being lost.

When going to foreign countries, be smart about food allergies. If you have had severe reactions to certain foods, learn all the foreign words for those foods. You need to be able to communicate well enough to order food that is safe for your consumption.

Here is a tip for travelers! For tastier coffee when staying in a hotel, use ice instead of tap water. Many hotel rooms come equipped with a small coffee maker, but using tap water almost always results in poor coffee. Ice from hotel ice machines is made using filtered water. So, fill your coffee maker with ice at night (so it can melt), you can enjoy coffee made from crisp, filtered water in the morning!

When taking a road trip or flying with small kids, make sure to bring things to keep them entertained along the way. Their favorite toys are a must when packing. It is also a good idea to buy a new toy just for the trip, as it will provide a little novelty and help keep a small child’s attention.

If you travel a great deal for work, the constant change of venue and planes can be exhausting. Make it a bit easier on yourself by always requesting the same seat when you book a flight (“9A, please, or right over the wing.”) Actually, over the wing is a good spot because the plane tends to be most solidly anchored and less susceptible to vibration. That way, you will feel as though you’re sitting in “your” seat on the same plane back and forth, and you’ll also be accustomed to working in that particular position (window at your left, etc.)

When you travel to visit friends or family, be a courteous guest and do not assume they will make all your sightseeing plans for you. Many people assume they are there to be entertained, which is of course an incorrect assumption and generates bad feeling. Instead, do your homework ahead of time, let your hosts know what you’re planning to do, invite but don’t oblige them to accompany you, and spend your time together in good will, knowing you are being a gracious guest.

Traveling doesn’t have to be a complicated thing if you know how to approach it. Take your time to read informative articles like these and your next trip can be planned without the usual hassle. If you’re willing to invest the time and focus on your travel plans, you can do the dirty work up front and enjoy a worry-free vacation.