In a perfect world, traveling would have no glitches or downsides ... whether overpaying for tickets or being the victim of theft.  Alas, there are strategies and methods that you can take to make traveling less expensive and safer.

I love 2 recent articles on how to mitigate the "glitch" scenario so that your journeys may focus on the pleasurable aspects.  Following are relevant portions which could guide you to a more "glitch-free" experience:

1.  The website Budget Travel recommends the following things to AVOID buying airline tickets:

Shopping at Night

Airlines generally release a limited number of inexpensive coach-class seats in the morning or early afternoon. From a consumer standpoint, that means the early bird gets the worm. If you're booking late at night, you stand a greater chance of finding only the leftover (read: more expensive) seats. Search early in the day for the best prices.

Delaying

It's such a hassle searching for cheap flights, right? It's fine to keep putting it off until the last minute-assuming you don't mind paying through the nose when you do finally get around to it. Sure, sometimes people find a good deal at the last minute, but that's the exception rather than the rule. In most cases, the longer you wait, the more you pay. Start searching a few months before you fly. The sweet spot for finding a good fare is about six weeks ahead of departure.  

Departing in the Afternoon

Want to cost yourself some extra money? Book a flight that departs in the afternoon. That's the travel industry's version of rush hour, and for the privilege of flying when the skies are most congested (and delays are most common), you'll pay more than if you selected an early or late departure. Higher fares and more delays? Talk about adding insult to injury.

2.  The WSJ's Scott McCarthy writes in his recent column (The Middle Seat) all about The Return of the Pickpocket.  Many things can befell us travelers, but falling prey to an innocent-looking(?) stranger would definitely be at the top of my list.  I have a couple of ironclad rules, one of which is to ditch my larger, heavy wallet for a small one which carries a few essentials: 1 or 2 credit cards/photo i.d./small amount of cash/health insurance card/AAA card.  

From 2007!  Still wearing the same bag ...

My travel purse is a sturdy, nylon messenger (cross-body) bag with a strap you'd literally have to cut off of me.  There are inside zippered pockets plus an outside buckle. The only downside to the purse is that for years I'm wearing the same damn strap in every photo!  I'll take a small bag for the evening that carries even less ...

Also, hotels in lots of price ranges have in-room safes.  Use them.  Take only as much cash as you might need that day; lock up the rest.  I might be overboard, but I lock up everything I can't or don't want to try living without -- even medications!  Other things that go in the safe:  Small electronics -- music devices & tablet; obviously Passports but also any tickets for shows; jewelry but I travel with a minimal amount anyway; camera but that's usually always with me; cell phone if I don't have an international calling plan but need it once back in the U.S.  Why take the chance when you have a safety net?

These rules can always have exceptions, but so far - so good!