The poor economic conditions today may make you feel the need to skip your vacation and cut down on your finances. This article is the perfect starting point for the economical traveler.

Leave any valuable items you don’t need at home when traveling. You stand a good chance of losing one of your valuables if you bring too many.

Get vaccinations in advance and bring your documentation after doing so. This usually applies to those coming into or leaving a country. This sometimes even comes into play when you travel withing a country. With no certificate, there is no way to prove to the authorities that you have been vaccinated, and you could be quarantined.

Bring a business card with you at all times. When out and about in a foreign locale, you may get lost, and having this sort of identification will help others point you in the right direction. This is useful for people that do not quite understand the language.

Melt hotel ice to have filtered water in your morning coffee. Rather than making do with tap water, let the ice melt in the ice bucket. You can brew your coffee in the morning with fresh filtered water.

Deserts are a place unlike any other, with sunny weather and a unique ecosystem. Deserts offer a special experience for the first time visitor. It should be the goal of anyone interested in the world to experience the wonder of the desert at least once.

On a red-eye flight, sleeping pills may be helpful. For many people, sleeping on a plane is almost impossible, between the uncomfortable seats and the noise level. You can make your flight less unpleasant by taking a sleeping aid to help you get some shut-eye during the night. You should take the pill after the plane is actually in the air.

In order to plan an appropriate budget, make sure you understand the currency rates of the country you are traveling to. Knowing the spending power of each dollar before you arrive will give you a better picture of what is affordable and help you draft an itinerary. You will have more fun this way.

Make sure you get the latest e-newsletters of the airlines you use. These pieces of information contain last-minute offers, discounts and various deals that may be unavailable to the general public. The savings you get from these newsletters make the extra email worth it.

If you use services with a “green” certification, your vacation will be friendlier to the planet. You can save money on electricity by not overusing the bulbs. Many tour companies and visitor-friendly restaurants are sporting eco-conscious options if you want to travel with the Earth’s health in mind.

Consider purchasing a yearly National Park Pass if you plan to visit more than a couple times a year. It is relatively inexpensive, $50 total, and it gives you open access to all national parks for a year.

Do you often forget things while traveling? Simply jot down notes on the mirror with a dry erase marker to help you remember. You can easily lose a note on a slip of paper, but it’s hard to ignore writing on a mirror. Dry-erase markers can easily be removed from the mirror.

Try to score the “local” rate for a hotel, when you travel. Hotels want to book all their rooms, so they will offers discounts to locals. If you know a local in your destination, they may be able to secure you a better hotel deal. This method can save you a lot of money.

Take an extra passport picture along as you travel abroad. It can take quite awhile to replace a passport if it is lost. If you keep an extra photo in your wallet, then you have a headstart on the replacement process. You should also carry any needed documentation to help you get going again.

In general, it is best to ask for a room above the ground floor. Rooms on the main floor are more convenient for a thief to reach. If you can, request a room that doesn’t have doors that slide open. Rooms such as this can be broken into easier.

Consider flying luggage-free. This will save you time. You can send your luggage, via FedEx or UPS, straight to your destination. This may be costly, but the price is worth it.

Have copies of any important documents with you when you travel. You want to be sure to have your copies of important documents in another location. It is wise to have a relative or friend hold onto a set too in case your documents turn up missing.

Be flexible when it comes to your timing on your road trip. This is important for bathroom breaks. Stopping for a few minutes really isn’t a big deal. This will help avoid unhappy travelers.

If you’re planning on purchasing travel insurance, it pays to be upfront and honest. For example, note any sicknesses that you may have. Your insurance will be denied if they find out you lied. Then, all of the expenses will fall on you.

Find out what kind of paperwork you need to travel between countries. There are different types of visas, and some countries are very strict about who they let in. Consult with a travel agent, or make inquiries through the embassy websites of the countries you will be traveling to.

If you are going on a road trip, switch drivers often. Consider taking more people on your trip if you are going far away. When you feel very tired, you shouldn’t drive. Driving about two or three hours is a good plan. This will keep you from getting over-tired on the road and putting you and your passengers at risk.

Many people think they need to skip travel this year because of the current economic crisis. Use these ideas to take a vacation without breaking the bank.