Traveling is exceptionally exciting, thrilling and fun, but it can also be a logistical nightmare. Over the years, I have learned many things through trial and error as I have traveled the globe. I know how difficult and sometimes aggravating traveling can be, dealing with luggage, customs, airlines and so forth. If you’re not prepared, the enjoyment of the travel itself can even be ruined by the endless headaches of getting to where you are going with all of your personal possessions still intact.

For that very reason, I have assembled some simple tips that can help make your travels run smoothly, a cadre of things that I have learned over the years that have helped make all of my trips be as enjoyable and fruitful as possible. Please read and use these tips when you travel as you see fit.

– Always travel with an over-sized cashmere scarf, believe me, it will come in handy when it’s cold. Not only is it fashionable, it’s a blanket on a cold plane, its cozy on a unexpected cool evening, and it just plain looks CHIC. There’s nothing better than keeping warm and looking fabulous at the same time.

–  Forget staying in your comfort zone, experiment, that’s what traveling is all about, brand new, out of the box experiences! GO, get out and experience your destination like a local. Try things you normally wouldn’t try at home. Eat the exotic cuisine. Ask locals where the REALLY spectacular food is found. Shop in local stores and try fashion you see all around you. You’ll be amazed how much you will learn AND how much you will enjoy your trip.

–  Take photos of your passport and credit cards on your Iphone, just in case you loose them. Snapping a picture of these invaluable travel accessories is simple and takes no time, but can save you countless headaches in case you lose them or they are stolen. This makes replacing them way easier!

–  Don’t be so retentive, don’t over-plan the journey, you’ll strangle the fun out of it. How often in life do you get to travel. So be spontaneous, its so much more fun when you go with the flow and let things happen spontaneously.

–  Put the camera DOWN. Step AWAY from the camera. Partake of life. You’re not documenting the trip and the culture, you’re EXPERIENCING it. So go enjoy it, and take in the scenery. If you’re too fixated on the perfect picture, you’ll miss out on the memory of the experience. You’ll lose the experience itself.

– Appreciate local style, take it all in like it’s the deepest breath you’ll ever take. Enjoy the way Italian men always look effortlessly polished, the everyday couture of French women strolling through Parisian streets, the exuberance of color and the bling you’ll find at a traditional Indian wedding in Mumbai. Inhale the “how did they find that” ode to retro the London hipsters exhibit at Piccadilly market. How many times will you get to do this? Make it count.