When it’s time to get away, whether for business or pleasure, the experience of traveling can be rewarding and fun. Take some tips from those who hit the highways and byways on a regular basis. A little planning and forethought can go a long way on the road to a pleasurable journey.

When you arrive in a new hotel room, let the hot water run in the shower for a little while. Even the nicest of hotels can be somewhat dirty. Letting the hot water run will help kill spores that the regular cleaning might have missed. You aren’t paying for the water bill in the room anyway.

If you’re worried about having your pockets picked while you’re on vacation, try sewing a small hidden pocket into the inside of your pants to keep your money and credit cards in. This way you won’t have to worry about them being swiped by an eager pickpocket. You can also do the same thing inside of a bag, if you’ll be carrying one.

On your next flight, chew gum to keep your ears from popping on take off. The pressure changes during a flight can pop your ears. This is not particularly painful. It is, however, rather annoying. Before take off, start chewing a stick of gum. This will often prevent your ears from popping or at least, ease the pressure.

Did you know that you can use snow to do a quick cleanup on your vehicle while you are traveling? A car wash would work better but snow works quite well in a pinch. It will remove the mud that got all over your rental vehicle when you ventured onto that back road. It also works well to get grime buildup off of your windshield in an emergency.

If you are staying at a hotel that offers a mini-bar in your room, consider asking the front desk staff to hold the key instead. This will help you avoid late-night temptations, which given the prices at the minibar can get very expensive. If you feel the need for a drink but don’t want to go far, go to the hotel restaurant instead.

When you get to your location, check with the locals for things to do. Locals will know all the best places to go for recreation or for food. This can help you avoid going to less than thrilling places or places that are going to be extremely crowded.

Find out if you need a visa to get into the country you need to go to. Visas often have a lengthy processing time so you should apply for them as soon an you are thinking of travel. Without the right paperwork, you could be prevented from entering your destination country.

Now that you’ve armed yourself with some insight and information, you’re ready to venture in a relaxed and informed manner. Stay alert, and at the same time remember to relish the experience of meeting new people and embracing new cultures. Try these tips and you can be confident and enjoy the trip.