Recommended Travel Agent : Wendell Knepp (Golden Rule Travel) - email wendell@goldenruletravel.com. Feel free to let him know we referred you.

We like to use Wendell as a travel agent as he will help us to find the best price for what we need, will automatically get us a refund if the price of tickets lower before departure and has an emergency line to help 24/7 if issues come up on the day of your flight (for example, a cancellation).

When requesting a booking, send to the agent the full legal names and dates of birth for all passengers, what cities you are to flying from / to, and dates you are hoping for.

A few things to consider :

• Do you have an airline that you want to use ? As flight tickets are a large expenditure, there are great benefits you can take advantage of on certain credit cards or through booking as a part of an airline alliance.

• Do you want a long layover ? This can be a great option either to help break up long flights, or to visit a new location. One easy way to do this is by looking at what airlines already offer stop over programs. If you are coming from the US, our favorite option is KLM (a stop over in Amsterdam) as it is a really easy city to navigate by trains.

There are different requirements in different counties, so to be safe, make sure that all liquids that you bring on the plane (not anything that is checked), must be less than 3.4 ounces (100 milliliters) and placed in a see-through bag no larger than a quart.

Confirm the allowed size, weight and number of carry on items for your airline, and factor in the potential of extra weight on your return home (all those souveniers !)

You will first need to make an account through the airline that you booked a flight. Each airline has a free signup option on their website.

This will allow you to do the check in process online, which unless you purchase seats early (which allows you to get more expensive but preferred seating, such as in Economy Plus). If you will just be in Economy seating, you can typically check in 24 hours before departure. The airline should email you a reminder, but you can also log into the website through the account you have set up. Typically at this point you are still able to choose your seats within your seating class for free, here are a few things to consider :

• If we’re travelling with someone else- book a window + aisle seat, and hopefully someone won't book the middle seat

• Try to pick seats on the left side of the plane -they typically have a bit more space.

• If you are wondering which seats are best to pick, utilize Seat Guru

• If you are hoping to book a premium seat but selection isnt yet available, set notification through Expert Flyerwww.expertflyer.com

When you book your seats, you typically can also choose your meal preference (for example, vegetarian) - since vegetarian is typically a limited number of people, if you select this option, you will usually get served before everyone else (which has its benefits).

Pre-Download :

• Google Maps - you can download for offline use a map of the areas where you will be traveling so you can navigate around without wifi

• Google Docs - you can download for offline use the folder where you store copies of your important travel documents

• The app for the airline you are traveling with

• Any movies, books, podcasts, etc. you want to use for entertainment

• Also, do any updates to your devices just to set

Information to Have on Hand :

• The airline's customer service phone number

Travel Insurance :

When booking your travel, try to use a credit card that offers some built-in travel protection.

If the coverage offered by your credit card isn't enough, you might also want to purchase travel insurance. These policies can sometimes go beyond trip cancellations to cover things like medical evacuations. Warning: Carefully read the fine print on any extra policy to ensure it covers the situations that matter the most to you.

Those who frequently travel abroad may want to consider purchasing an annual travel insurance policy instead of buying one on a trip-by-trip basis.

Check your passport - if you aren't 100% certain of the expiration date of your passport and other travel documents, go check them now. Renewing passports takes time, and some countries require six months of future passport validity to allow entry. Remember that child passports expire every five years, which can sneak up on you.

Make an offline GoogleDoc Itinerary with all details (ticket information, contact numbers, hotel addresses’, etc.) with family + host + housesitter accessibility

Make digital and hard copies of all your important travel-related documents. Start by photographing your driver's license, your state ID and/or your passport.

You should have copies of your IDs in your phone's library in case you get separated from the actual document. Sometimes, it also helps in a pinch if you are asked for ID but didn't bring the hard copy.

TripIt - free itinerary app that allows you make a comprehensive itinerary that syncs with your calendar, and can be shared with anyone you choose.

Simply make an account, and from there forward your confirmation emails to plans@tripit.com and in a matter of seconds, TripIt will create a comprehensive itinerary for every trip!

Travel Requirements for South Africa

• Passport must be valid 30 days beyond your stay in South Africa.

• Return or onward travel documents and proof of sufficient funds for your stay may be required.

• Passengers must complete the “South African Traveller Declaration" before departure or upon arrival at : www.sars.gov.za/travellerdeclaration/.

• Passports must contain at least 1 unused visa page for entry and departure stamps.

• South Africa requires a yellow fever vaccination if you have visited or transited a yellow fever transmission area in the previous ten days.

• South Africa has travel restrictions in place for passengers who have recently visited Ebola-affected areas of West Africa. Ask your travel agent for details if you have visited the Congo (Dem. Rep.), Guinea, Liberia, Mali, Nigeria, Senegal or Sierra Leone in the last three months.

One of our favorite ways to speed through the airport and avoid those megalines is via Trusted Traveler programs like TSA PreCheck and Global Entry.

Essentially, the government prescreens you for security, saving you a bit of time during your travels. You'll need to apply ahead of time and pay a fee. The great news is that many credit cards will give you a statement credit for these fees. TSA PreCheck is a $78 application fee for five years, and Global Entry is $100.

Related: Ways to get Global Entry, TSA PreCheck and/or Clear for free

TSA PreCheck allows you to speed through airport security without removing your shoes, laptops or liquids. With Global Entry, you can breeze through customs when you return from an international trip.

If you have the time, it makes sense to go for Global Entry rather than simply TSA PreCheck. Global Entry requires an interview with Customs and Border Patrol ahead of time, but once you're approved, TSA PreCheck will be included.

One other hack to mention is Mobile Passport. You don't even need to be preapproved for the service, and it can speed you through customs at some airports.

Related: Here's what you need to know about Mobile Passport