Travel is full of pitfalls. One wrong step and your vacation could be ruined by a seedy hotel room, an overpriced restaurant, a wasted afternoon at a tourist-trap attraction or an overnight flight crammed in the middle seat. So, guarantee a smooth trip by planning thoroughly. Here's how to make all the right moves.

Flying

Snap a Pic

By Brad Tuttle and Erik TorkellsTuesday, July 28, 2009
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Charlie Nucci / Corbis

If you absolutely have to check a bag, take a digital photo of it (which will help you describe the bag if it gets lost) and a close-up of the airline's baggage tag (so you have a record of the airline's routing info). If nothing else, snapping the photo will remind you to verify that your bag is labeled with the correct destination airport code.

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