Traveling abroad is all fun and games until you actually have to start preparing for it. It’s easy to become overwhelmed at the sight of a long checklist and you may even see the procrastination start to kick in. No need to stress, I’ve compiled this helpful checklist of tasks that you need to consider before you leave for your next trip:
1. Get a passport
If you’re traveling anywhere outside of your home country, you are obviously going to need a passport. If you already have one, check to make sure it hasn’t expired. Don’t wait too long to get your passport because it could take as long as EIGHT WEEKS for your passport to be in your hands!
2. Book any flights and hotels
To ensure you get the best deals, make sure to book your flights, hotels, or Airbnbs well in advance. The further in advance you purchase your tickets, the cheaper they cost. Consider looking into booking through a travel booking website such as Travelocity or Expedia to ensure you get the best deals.
Pro tip: the best days to buy plane tickets are Tuesdays and Wednesdays. That’s when tickets are usually cheaper.
3. Print extra copies of important documents
Your mom will probably bug you about this one, but it’s important to print off some extra copies of your important documents such as your passport and ID to keep with you on your trip. This is just in case of an emergency if you somehow lose track of them. You don’t want to be stranded in a foreign country unable to leave if your passport gets lost or stolen.
4. Figure out all things money
Do you know what the conversion rate is? Will your debit or credit card work in the country you are going to? Does your bank or credit card provider know you will be leaving the country? These are some critical questions you need to know the answers to before you leave. Always make sure to have some local cash on you for places like trains or buses, so stop by an ATM once you get to your destination and take some cash out. It’s also important to let your bank know where you’re going because they might think you are encountering fraud when they get notice that your card is being used to buy pasta in Italy. So, to avoid being locked out of your account, just call your bank to let them know that you’re going overseas.
5. Communication
While you are away, you will want to be able to communicate with your family and friends back home. It’s important to figure out if your phone will work overseas and determine how much it will cost you. Some phone services offer phone plans specifically for overseas travel which can include calls, texts, and even data usage. If you don’t want to spend much on phone charges, consider downloading a free messaging and calling app such as WhatsApp or Viber.
6. Pack accordingly
Traveling to a new country means you will experience different culture with new customs. Do some research and make sure to pack clothes that are appropriate for the places you are traveling to. For instance, if you are going to be visiting Notre Dame Cathedral in France, you may want to think twice about wearing those booty shorts or sleeveless shirts. There may not be an enforced dress code, but it’s important to be respectful in a place of worship and know that they might deny you entry if your clothing choices are inappropriate. On a lighter note, you should also consider what the weather will be like when you’re there and pack accordingly. Dressing in layers is always a good idea for traveling abroad!
7. Get charger adapters
Something you might not think about right off the bat is whether or not you will need an adapter or power converter for your chargers. Pretty much any country you go to you will need to get some sort of adapter for your chargers because they have different plug outlets. Luckily, you can pick some up at practically any store such as Target or Walmart. This is also a good time for you to make sure you have all the chargers you will need throughout your trip for your phone, camera, laptop, etc.
8. Download maps and apps before you leave
How will you know where to go once you get to your destination? On my previous trips abroad, I found it helpful to download maps and travel guides to my phone before I departed from America. That way, I could figure out where to go the moment I arrived. Some people still use paper maps, but you may be better off using some technology to guide you!
Bottom line
Give yourself enough time to do all of the tasks above. Traveling abroad can be stressful if you don’t prepare yourself well enough. Stick to these tips when planning your next trip to ensure yourself an easy travel. Bon voyage….and take lots of pictures!