As we stand at the edge of the old decade and look towards welcoming the new one, let’s take some time to look back at the last year and be grateful for everything it has given us. May the next one also bring us lots of joy, merriment, and moments to be grateful for. As we approach the year’s end, many of us must be making preparations for our winter holidays. Whether it is to visit their loved one, to sedate their adventure lust, or just for some good R&R, we know a lot of you will be making use of your vacation time for traveling. Here are 7 smart travel tips from us that will make your overseas holiday experience even better.

1. Pack the Essentials in Your Carry-on

According to statistics, on every flight, at least one bag gets lost or delayed. If an item is too valuable to lose, it is vital that you pack it in your carry-on instead. Such items should include your passport, laptop, cellphone, debit/credit card, and some spare cash.

2. Book Your Flights Early

The end of the year season can be very busy. To avoid any delays to your plans and even possibly save on airfares, consider booking your flights at least a month or two early. According to a lengthy study conducted by Cheap Air, the best time to book a flight is 54 days early.

3. Don’t Throw Away Your Boarding Pass

Don’t throw the boarding pass the moment you step off the plane. It can serve as proof of travel in case the airline fails to provide you with the proper credit for your air miles.

4. Mark Your Bags

Mark your bags with a bright piece of cloth or ribbon to easily identify it on the baggage carousel. While others would be wasting their time way checking those tiny name tags, you would already be off in a taxi on your way to the hotel.

5. Be Adequately Insured

We can’t stress this enough. When you are traveling, insurance is everything. Accidents can happen, you can get injured, become a victim of theft or acquire a disease. Save yourself from the potential risk of going into mountains of debts as a result of such outcomes by getting travel insurance.

6. Bring More Than One Credit/Debit Card

It is better to safe than sorry. Getting your credit or debit card misplaced, stolen, lost or blocked in the middle of your travels can be a source of a major headache. Save yourself some of the hassle in such scenarios by bringing along another for good measure.

7. Have Your important Documents Scanned

Scan your passport, visa documents, debit/credit cards, and other vital travel papers. Password-protect the files and have them emailed to yourself or a person you can trust. In case the worst mishap happens and everything you own gets stolen, you can take these copies to your embassy as proof of your identification.

We end this note by wishing you a very splendid holiday and a happy new year. We hope you found the information in our article to be helpful. Have a safe flight and enjoy your destination. If your New Year’s resolution involves taking the next big step in your career, feel free to contact us and we will be more than willing to help you out.