Traveling is a fun and fulfilling experience. When you travel, you’ll be able to meet new people, learn about different cultures and see all kinds of natural wonders. However, anyone that enjoys traveling understands that it’s not all sunshine and rainbows. If you don’t plan your trip properly, things can go south quite quickly. In fact, even if your itinerary is meticulously crafted, unexpected obstacles can still come up.

The best thing you can do is to manage a few key aspects of your traveling experience. Preparation won’t help you eliminate problems entirely, but it does increase the likelihood of an enjoyable trip.

To help you avoid being a part of a travel horror story, here are five ways to make traveling a little bit easier.

1. Get a travel agent

Because of the internet, a lot of people will argue that travel agents have now become obsolete since you can book your tickets, rides and accommodation online.

However, working with a travel agent stills has its benefits. With an experienced agent, you won’t need to scroll through dozens of hotels to find the best deals. In addition, you can rest assured that all locations that the travel agency has booked are safe and legitimate. Certainly, working with a travel agent will save you time and give you peace of mind.

In case of an unexpected flight cancellation or hindrance, you will also be able to contact most travel agencies. This will save you from having to deal with the busy staff members of your airline.

2. Book a chauffeur

Most people know very well that leaving the airport can be a hassle. This is especially true if your accommodation is a distance away. If you’re driving a rental car, you also have to worry about trunk space, traffic and parking.

To avoid all these problems, you should consider hiring a chauffeur service ahead of your arrival. Airport chauffeurs will ensure that you have a luxurious and comfortable ride to your hotel. The drivers will know how to get to your destination and know the best routes to get there. This will give you peace of mind and allow you to fully enjoy your arrival.

3. Pack smart

If you pack lightly, you won’t have to check your bags. Not only will this make your traveling experience easier, but it also means that you won’t have to worry about lost baggage. All you have to keep an eye on are your carry-ons.

For your carry-ons, it’s ideal to get a suitcase with wheels. This will save you from having to carry around heavy luggage as you’re making your way through busy international airports.

It’s also good to educate yourself about carry-on rules. If you have liquids, aerosols, gels or powders, make sure you’re not carrying more than the size limit.

4. Learn the language

Nowadays, many tourist destinations are friendly to English speakers. For example, the bigger cities in Japan like Tokyo and Osaka are considered to be quite tourist-friendly to those with zero Japanese knowledge.

That being said, it still helps to know a few words and phrases from the local dialect. You’d be surprised by how much you can communicate with just the basics.

This also becomes more important if you want to stray from the popular tourist spots. For instance, once you start getting into the rural areas of Japan, basic knowledge of Japanese becomes more and more essential. These areas typically don’t have many English speakers and will likely test your knowledge of the local language.

5. Make the most out of your phone

Your phone is your best friend throughout your trip. It’s your basic translator, your map, your camera, your main form of communication and your trip advisor.

Because of this, you need to make sure that you have all the smartphone accessories that you need. For example, you might need a local SIM card, a power bank and a portable Wi-Fi device.

Fortunately, a lot of these things are likely going to be available in your country of destination. However, to spare yourself a headache and to avoid paying high-prices, it’s best to get these essential items in advance.

There you have it, five ways to make traveling easier. No matter how well you plan things out, you can’t completely avoid flight cancellations, unexpected closures and weather changes. The best you can do is increase your chances of having a great trip by managing the things within your control.