Traveling abroad is a tremendously exciting experience, especially when doing it for the first time. Again, it may be scary because you do not know about the country or state you are traveling to.
That said, you should thoroughly prepare for your trip to avoid significant inconveniences, especially in some countries.
Here are the tips worth considering before you start a lifetime trip abroad.
A Valid Passport
The most obvious thing is to have a valid passport before taking a trip abroad. Nobody should travel without a passport unless the stupid people that try to use an expired passport.
Besides, having a passport with one or two months will not always cut it. This is because, for most visas, you can get when your passport has over six months left. Others have different regulations, which you can check at Byevisa.com.
It is recommended to have a passport with a year or more remaining. This will be essential when traveling to regions that require you to have a visa.
Getting a new passport takes about 3 weeks or more, depending on where you apply it. But in some places, the practice is fast. It is essential with international travel to ensure you have it ready before the trip.
Required Visa
Different nations require you to have a visa. These could be Somalia, Mongolia, and more. And if the country you want to travel to requires or does not require a visa, how will you know? There are places on the internet where you can check whether the country you want to travel to requires you to have a visa.
In addition, check the kind of visa you will use for those countries you plan to travel to. That is because different countries use different types of visas.
There is a wealth of information on the kind of visa you will use. Research the country you want to travel to and ensure you have the recommended visa ready.
Keep in mind visa application process also vary with the country. Some embassies keep weird working hours which may take a few days to weeks. Check visa processing times before you book a trip. And ensure you have enough time before the visa is processed.
All embassies are not equal. Depending on where you want to get a visa, the processing time and price will vary.
If you have friends or families who have been in the country you want to travel to, ask them about their experience. And if you have no one, Trip Advisor and Facebook groups are valuable sources of information.
Lastly, travel with a visa with enough pages. This is because some embassies will need to use two pages. So, suppose you are traveling in separate places. In that case, you need multiple visas; count the pages left because of how immigration officers may use the remaining pages for their stamps.
Vaccination
Vaccination is essential in many countries. Some countries in the world have specific diseases which are more horrible. For example, in Japan, they have Japanese tick-borne encephalitis. Such disease will cut your life and vacation in the country.
Like visas, you must get vaccinations sooner than later. Visit your doctor, explain the places you want to visit, and get the vaccination.
The other thing, there has been an outbreak of COVID-19. And to travel to different countries, you require vaccination to curb the spread of the disease.
Travel Insurance
Once you arrive in the destination country, do not beg the locals for support to experience your western privilege complex. You never know what will happen on your travel, so get insurance for your trip abroad.
You will not feel happy or comfortable when stranded for over three thousand miles away with indifferent locals and empty pockets.
Plan for Accommodation Ahead
This sounds romantic and alluring. Only to find yourself in a new world without knowing where to book a hotel. Most of the hotels in the city are also fully booked.
Check online for hotels in the place of your destination and book one. Consider the prices of different hotels, as some are cheaper than others. Depending on your budget, you may opt for a luxury hotel room, but the most important is finding a place to stay. You must book earlier before you leave for the trip.
Budget Your Trip
Many countries are cheap to travel to, but some countries like Singapore are expensive. While planning the trip abroad, work out the cost you want to spend.
Work this stuff before boarding a plane and how you will deal with the local currencies. Some parts of the world will accept major currencies even with official currency. The major accepted currencies are the dollar and euro.
The other strategy is to add money to multiple accounts and carry multiple cards. Some online banks are perfect for travelers because they will not charge international fees.
However, you may not get a card when you do not have international fees, but you can get a better exchange rate paying with a credit card. And in cash countries, you may have to add money to the credit card and withdraw from it to avoid advance fees. And if asked whether to pay in local or home currency, choose the local currency. And if you carry multiple cards, keep them in separate places.
Ensure Valuables are Safe
Your valuables are the phone, wallet, keys, and passport. These are essential things you must ensure are safe.
Many people leave their valuable belongings in hotel rooms. It is a bad idea because tourist hostels and hotels are targets for robbery. In some cases, the staff usually take the valuables. So, it would be best if you kept valuable stuff safe.
Invest in travel backpacks and jackets having anti-theft measures. These items will have hidden pockets and cut-proof straps.
Again, do not leave your phone, passport, or wallet in an accessible pocket or compartment. You can use travel locks to keep your luggage locked when not in the room.
Pack Lightly and Efficiently
If you want to travel for a long period, carrying a 20-kg suitcase is not a good idea. You only need essentials.
Some of the things to include in your travel are:
- A travel adaptor – Carry a travel adapter with USB pockets.
- An inflatable neck pillow, earplugs, and eye mask for comfortable travels.
- Collapsible water bottle to use where you cannot access potable water.
- Essential medicine such as anti-diarrhea, cold medicine, antiseptic and anti-fungal creams.
- Entertainment materials include playing cards, travel games, e-readers, and music.
Conclusion
There you have it now – an ultimate guide to stay organized and safe on your trip abroad. You can avoid much stress on your trip by following the above guide.
