If you’re the type of person who travels regularly, it may be wise to review and adjust your habits to make your experiences safer and cheaper. Whether you travel for business, or simply because you like to take frequent vacations, there are undoubtedly some ways that you can improve the overall experience. Consider these pointers for your next trip.

Before You Leave Home

Protect Your Home

this doesn’t mean protecting your home just from burglars. Anything can happen in your absence, including fires, flooding, and lightning damage. If you own your home, you probably already have adequate protection, but you may want to review your policy with your insurance agent. If you rent a home or apartment, you should consider purchasing a renter’s insurance policy. Even cheap renters insurance can provide a broad range of coverage that will ensure you’ll be reimbursed for damages to your personal property.

Let the Right People Know You’re Leaving

People have a tendency to let everyone know they’re leaving on a trip, sharing it with hundreds or thousands of social media followers. While no one can blame you for sharing your excitement, ask yourself how well you know all of these people. Are you certain none of them is a potential burglar waiting for an opportunity like this? Instead notify only a few close friends, possibly asking someone you trust to check in on the property from time to time. It’s also a good idea to notify the police that you’ll be away.

Use Smart Home Technology

Another good way to protect your home is to make use of smart home technology. Especially if you travel frequently, it may be a good idea to invest in an advanced home security system and to subscribe to a monitoring system. Adding smart locks to your doors can also help you keep your home safe. Many smart locks communicate with the security system to alert of a potential break-in or security risk.

Improving the Trip Itself

Invest in a Good Travel Rewards Credit Card

You may have to shop around for the best credit card that appeals to you and features good airline rewards programs. Some of the benefits you can find may include earning reward points for travel-related expenses and purchases, such as using the card to pay for air or hotel fare. You might also find a card that waives fees on foreign purchases or one that offers a sign on bonus. One good example is the Chase Sapphire Preferred Card, which offers a 20% discount when points are redeemed to pay for airfare, car rentals, cruises, and hotels.

Avoid Surprises at Your Destination

Especially if you’re traveling abroad, you may experience some extreme culture shock. One way to avoid this is by learning about local culture and about the laws in your city destination. Along similar lines, it’s a good idea to plan out your travel itinerary and store the addresses of hotels, restaurants, meeting places, and other attractions in advance. This way you’ll have the contact information on hand.

Invest in Travel Insurance

This is significantly different from flight insurance, which only protects you against missed or canceled flights, lost baggage, and other airline-related mishaps. A comprehensive travel insurance policy will cover you for those types of inconveniences, but will also reimburse you for canceled hotel accommodations. This may be useful for mandatory evacuations from your destination city, or other emergencies. You’ll also receive medical coverage in the event of a health emergency, while you’re away from home. Speak with an insurance agent to learn more about what travel insurance can do for you.

There are many ways to improve your travel experience and keep your home safe. By examining your habits, you will likely find more ways to improve your travel opportunities. Saving money, keeping your home safe, and staying safe in foreign cities all take planning and require smart choices, but even a little thought will go a long way toward enhancing the experience.