The most important thing that ensures a good vacation is travel preparation. Depending on the kind of holiday that you have planned and the mode of travel that you have decided to take, you must pack accordingly. Maps are available on the internet to download and so are directions to any place that you will be visiting. This should be the most important preparation for a road trip. Deal with the visa and immunization requirements before taking a trip to other countries. It is prudent to follow some guidelines while packing and take some safety measures in order to ensure that you truly prepared for your vacation. 

Put some thought into what you pack. Pack clothes keeping in mind what kind of activities that you will be undertaking, whether it will be casual or formal.   

Make sure you take different jewellery, scarves and belts which can completely change the total look of an outfit, rather than carrying too many clothes. You do not need to have more than five or six sets of clothes. Take clothes that you can mix and match and give you a good wear. This way you will be leaving some spare space in your suitcase to bring back something that you may buy while holidaying. 

Instead of taking bulky sweaters and coats which take up lots of space, take clothes in different that can be layered. Washing and drying them is easy too. 

Follow the same principles while packing for a child. It might be wise to put each outfit into a zippered bag, to give your child ease in choosing what to wear, without messing up the folded clothes. It is very important to carry all the required medicines for your child, especially if he needs any particular medication. For example, a child with asthma should have his inhaler and a child with some allergy should have the antidote for it, in his back pack.   

There are certain tricks to packing. Save space by rolling up socks and stuffing into the extra pair of shoes that you need to carry.  Use leak proof plastic bags to carry your toiletries. Side pockets or mesh bags should be used to put in your underwear. 

If you are flying, then you should follow the standard tour guide of packing one set of under garments, your toothbrush and your essential medicines into a bag which you should carry with you. Often your baggage gets lost and so this is a very useful tip to follow. 

Often you are not allowed to lock your suitcases when you are flying. So, ensure that you do not pack your important documents, valuables, camera, keys, money and medicines in your suitcases which you would check in. Not only is there a security risk, there is also the possibility of anyone opening and checking out all your stuff.