Family Vacation International Travel Tips

Seeing the United States can be fairly easy, but when traveling out of the country having some international travel tips can be the difference between soaking up the sun and sitting in interrogation rooms. Although there are certain things to be aware of in any country you visit, airline travel tips are also very important in our post 9/11 world.

The best place to find airline travel tips is on the airline's website. The website will inform you of the airline's policies on beverages and other items that may be prohibited from taking aboard planes. Another airline travel tip that everyone should know about is that baggage handlers are not gentle with anyone's luggage, regardless if it is packed full of precious, fragile souvenirs or not. If you have anything you want to remain intact, it needs to be included in your carry-on luggage. Also, to speed the process getting through security checks, you will have to empty your pockets and make sure you don't have any metal on you, so pay attention to your wardrobe before you set off to the airport.

While there may still be an exception, most countries require you to have a passport before entering. You should have some photocopies of your passport with you, and also leave copies with friends and family members at home in case you get separated from your belongings. This is one international travel tip that should be part of everyone's traveling plan. If you are in a foreign country with no ID, an airline ticket won't do you much good, and neither will travelers checks. Although it is not frequent, people do occasionally get separated from their belongings while traveling. Having a backup plan will ensure that your international vacation doesn't turn into a nightmare.

If you know where you want to go, one of the best sources for international travel tips is the Lonely Planet books. These books give an objective viewpoint of attractions in various countries and regions around the world. These books tell you about fun activities and gorgeous scenery, but they do not hype up locations. They simply let you know what to expect, and in some cases, will even include hotel and restaurant owners' names. For example, if you needed some travel tips for Italy, you could look in the Lonely Planet book for Italy and get an overview of each town. It would tell you what the attractions are, a brief history, as well as places to stay and eat. In addition to travel tips for Italy, this book could help you set a very accurate budget for your vacation.

No matter what destination has peaked your interest, gathering some general international travel tips, as well as information about your destination, will make your vacation much more enjoyable.