There are several types of credit cards for travelers. You can get hotel cars, airline cards, general travel cards and you can get so many rewards and freebies out of them that it doesn’t make any sense not to have one! Travel credit cards provide a great opportunity to earn free points that can be redeemed for airfare, hotels or cold hard cash. Here are some tips if you plan on getting a travel credit card:

First, you should get a card with huge sign bonus. Most travel credit cards offer joining bonuses of 20,000 or more miles! Don’t join one that doesn’t offer you anything or it will take a long time to exchange rewards for hotels, cash, or airfare. You want rewards now right?

Also, don’t forget to read the fine print. Are there are reward blackout dates, a fee structure, taxes, or other things the credit card company might try to sneak in there. Businesses don’t give away anything for free so for most cards they will try to sneak in some service charge. Compare the cards to make sure you pick one that doesn’t do anything sneaky.

I like cards with fees. I travel a lot and I don’t want to spend a long time earning points before my next trip. Fee cards have a much better rewards system than non-few cards. If you are a frequent traveler, it’s better to get a fee based card. Normally the first year’s fee is waived anyways. But more importantly, you’ll be able to rack up points to travel quicker. If you don’t travel a lot, it is probably not worth it to get a fee based card.

So which card should you get? A hotel card? A general travel card? An airline specific card? In order to decide, you need to consider how you will use the card. Are you loyal to one airline or airline network like the Star Alliance? Then you should get an airline card. If you are on the road for business a lot, then getting a hotel card would be perfect for you. For those who only care about price and not brand loyalty, a general card would be best. However, by getting a general travel rewards card you would have access to a wider range of brands and companies than if you had a brand specific card.

If you think about all of this before you get a travel credit card, you’ll be able to get the card that gives you the most value and rewards.

About to take your very first backpacking trip? Doing one of the European circuits that every college graduate seems to take as a right of passage into the working world? Proper packing technique can save you quite a lot of pain and suffering on your trip, believe me. The first thing you should be considering is your pack, and the fit of it.

Brand is not as important as comfort. Your pack should be comfortable on your back, and you should make sure the store allows you to place some items in the pack to simulate what walking with a full one will be like. This process is essential, because you will be kicking yourself come travel time if your pack proves to rub your shoulders raw and hold weight unevenly.

When it comes to the actual packing, lay out all the things you think you will need, then take away half. Of the things that are left, you can probably take away another half. The key here is to pack basics and layers that go together easily and can be combined for multiple outfits and functions. Simple clothing is much better than fancy shoes or slacks that might see use 1 night out of 90.

Packing recently for my return to South America (trip time of 4 months) I packed my backpack with: 6 t-shirts, 4 long-sleeves, 1 fleece, 1 rain jacket, 4 pairs of pants, 3 pairs of shorts, 6 pairs of underwear, 6 pairs of socks, tennis shoes, sandals, and hiking boots, and my toiletries kit. I have all my bases covered clothing-wise, and still had space to spare for extras like my camera equipment and various camping supplies. Always bring less than you think you will need, because chances are you can find a really unique item while traveling anyways!

Plane tickets are expensive. They might not be as expensive as they used to be thanks in part to the poor economy. Now there are too many seats and not enough passengers. Most tickets are 30% cheaper than they were last year. Airlines are closing down routes. They are offering great deals. Now is a good time to fly. To find those great deals, here are some tips that I have found to be useful in search out bargains.

My first advice is to book your flight around 8 weeks before you travel as the airlines know you still have chooses to pick from. As an early bird you can get cheap airfare on your ticket. If you book to soon, airlines know they can charge you a lot because if you need it. If you book really fare in advance, companies might raise or lower fares and they keep fares high in case operating costs go up. So this is one of the best times too book. Use sites like farecast to see if ticket prices are going to go up or down.

Fly round trip. Round trips are always cheaper if you book round trip. The airline gives a “discount” on these tickets because they know it ensures that tickets are sold and seats are filled. Often times the price difference is not a lot but it is enough to make buying this ticket reasonable. You might even get lucky and find one of these tickets a lot cheaper than a one way ticket. In that case, book the round trip but only use one way portion you need.

If you can you should avoid traveling on the weekends. Most travelers think it is more convenient to travel on weekends so more flying happens on the weekends and airlines increase their prices to reflect the demand. Therefore, the middle of the week is the best time to fly.

Shop Around. Not all websites are created equal and you can find a lot of variety online for the same flight. Make sure you look at all the travel websites, including the airlines, before you make a purchase. Don’t just go with your favorite. If you want to get a cheap flight, you have to visit the various websites.

London has something to offer for everyone whether you are looking for historical landmarks, modern attractions or just want to have a good time. There is literally a never ending list of things to do and see in this cosmopolitan city.

It is easy to get around in London with its fabulous underground transit system called the Tube. The tube can get you pretty much anywhere in the city in a matter of minutes and is reasonably priced, making it a great alternative to trying to brave London’s traffic.

Riding in a London taxi is also a tourist must. They can also be a quick form of transit as taxi drivers normally know the quickest ways around the city during peak times. If you want a more leisurely tour of the city, try a double-decker bus tour. It is a great way to sight-see and is also a big part of London lore.

When visiting all of the numerous famous landmarks and historical sites, it is a good idea to bring along a guide book. It makes the sites so much more interesting if you know what you are looking at. It is also helpful to record all that you see. You don’t want to get home and look at the pictures you took and not remember what you are looking at.

You also want to pack correctly for London weather…which is unpredictable. Depending on which season you are traveling in, it is normally wise to bring an umbrella with you, and a couple of warm sweaters. If you are in London in the summer, make sure to travel with sunscreen and water. Having to purchase water in touristy areas is incredibly overpriced.

It’s a good idea to make an itinerary to ensure you get to see all the major things you want to, but don’t over plan. You don’t want to be rushed. London is a great city to visit. It is especially great during autumn. Hopefully these tips help to get you started.