While travelling is usually fairly easy and straightforward, it is always wise to educate oneself with some basic travel tips. For those of you interested in travelling, here are 10 tips to keep in mind:

1. Although English is spoken and understood in most places,learning the basic phrases of the countries official language is recommended, especially if you intend on visiting the less popular areas.

2. A valid driver's license is required for driving in every country. The rental car company will provide a more information and the proper insurance for driving.

3. For tourists who are considering renting a car, be mindful of where you are and what side of the road people drive on. Know the laws and rules as it pertains to driving in the country you are in.

4. Be aware of the season you are travelling in and pack accordingly. If you are travelling to a temperate zone, remember they have hot summers and cold winters. Tropical places have a lot of rain, so it it important to pack accordingly.

5. Credit cards such as MasterCard, Visa, and American Express are widely accepted throughout the world. Remember to call your credit card company before you leave and ask them to put a note on your account saying where you will be travelling to prevent your card from being temporarily frozen.

6. Traveler's cheques are also widely accepted, American Express travellers checks are usually a safe option.

7. Research public transit. You never know when you will need to take the bus or subway. Know where you are going and how to get there before you leave.

8. Communication with family and friends is easy, as almost all hotels have telephones or internet of some sort. In addition, internet cyber cafes can be found all over the world in almost every country, which also offer international calling.

9. Skype is an excellent way to communicate with family and friends while vacationing or travelling. Most cyber cafes advertise Skype as one of the features of using their cafe, or for those of you with laptops it is free to download and use. You can call other computers using Skype or a cellular phone or landline (pre-payment with a credit card is required for calls to a telephone).

10. Ask locals if the water is safe to drink, and also check with your hotel staff. Locals may be immune to bacteria in the water, and hotel clerks may be able to give better advice.

Stephanie Stover is an experienced writer who has been published in a plethora of hardcover books, magazines and online journals. For more information on travel tips visit http://www.womenvacation.com.