These Pointers Will Definitely Help You!
Traveling abroad is an activity that many people dream of doing while others do so regularly. As fantastic as visiting a foreign country may be, there are some precautions that should be taken before you make the venture.
Just about everyone relishes the thought of taking a trip to a foreign land. International travel is always exciting and educational. However, in order to have a truly enjoyable journey, it is necessary to spend some time preparing in advance. It is recommended to continue reading this article for it includes terrific advice regarding the things you need to do prior to your departure and to ensure your safety while enjoying your chosen vacation destinations and cruise vacations.
PLAN AHEAD OF TIME
In order to get ahead of the game, you should always plan for your vacation as far ahead as possible. Sometimes, this might only be for a month depending on quickly you have to throw things together with work and home life. However, other times you might be able to take a longer amount of time to plan. Whatever the case may be, use as much time as you can and don’t procrastinate.
SECURE YOUR PASSPORT
Before you begin packing, you need to make sure your passports are valid, in order and all of the passport information is properly filled out. Experienced travelers have likely had a passport for many years and may inadvertently take for granted the notion that theirs is valid at any given point in time. Make sure to verify the date upon which your passport is set to expire, and make certain that the date does not coincide with your prospective travel. Also, since passport renewals may take more time than you might have expected, take measures to complete the process well in advance of your desired departure date. The worst-case scenario is that you may be detained at customs in another country until any passport issues are worked out. This is certainly not the way you want to begin your vacation as it will leave a negative feeling in your mind as to the venture before it even starts.
INFORM THE STATE GOVERNMENT
You need to inform the state department that you will be traveling abroad. The reason for this is twofold. First, they will inform you if the country is dangerous for your nationality to be traveling to or if the trip can even be booked as you may not be allowed in the country if there is some form of unrest in the land.
By informing the state department of your trip, you are now logged as traveling to the country by the government. This means that if something bad happens while traveling, your family has some data and the local embassy will assuredly be aware you are there and can take the steps necessary to investigate the issue without going through a lot of red tape before action can be taken.
MAKE YOUR TRAVEL ITINERARY
While you are going to be a little spontaneous on your vacation, you definitely want to think ahead of time about what you’re going to do. As much as you can, plan out an itinerary so that things go smoothly. You don’t have to choose every restaurant, but you can select times for eating and sightseeing so you get to do the things that you need to do. Businesses close, tickets can be sold out and things like that. Therefore, you need to be organized with an itinerary.
You also need to leave your travel information and itinerary with your family. This ensures that there is a way to follow your travel plans if something bad occurs during the trip. This is extremely important and you should also check in with the family each day that you are abroad. You are simply taking a measure of safety despite the odds of something happening being extremely low.
RESEARCH ABOUT YOUR TRAVEL DESTINATION
One of the best things you can do ahead of any trip abroad is to conduct some thorough research on your destination countries. Knowing what to expect in terms of culture, climate, food and local custom is critical in order to maximize your limited vacation time. Not only will you be able to identify and prioritize your sightseeing, you will get a better feel for the types of events and experiences you are likely to encounter.
You have to research specially when it comes to weather in the destination. While it may be the hot days of summer in your place, if you plan to visit the southern hemisphere, it will actually be winter. While lower elevations may be hot, higher elevations could be colder. Heaven forbid it is hurricane season and you are headed to Bermuda! Check out what sort of temperatures you should expect, and what the weather is typically like, before you book your trip. Try to aim for a dry, warm season instead of a rainy season or the peak temperature time.
FAMILIARIZE YOURSELF WITH THE TRAVEL SITES
Familiarize yourself with the travel sites you will be traveling to. This is imperative as you do not want to be a traveler who accidentally walks into a bad part of town. You need to research the places you think are fun places to go on a vacation where you are planning to sight-see and look for the best routes or modes of transportation to accomplish your goals safely.
MIND THE LAWS
When venturing into foreign territory, it is absolutely imperative that you familiarize yourself with the local laws and take great pains to observe all applicable regulations. There is nothing worse than running afoul of the law in a foreign country, only to encounter difficulties in dealing with an unfamiliar justice system in which your rights may be quite different than those you would have at home. By taking the time to understand local law and custom, you can avoid embarrassing, dangerous and unpleasant brushes with law enforcement.
Be sure to research any local laws which apply to wherever you are going. Just Google “(location) laws tourists” and you’ll find articles which explain rules which will be foreign to visitors. From what you are allowed to wear to whether or not you can drive, you need to know what you can and cannot do before you arrive.
PREPARE YOUR BODY
Before you leave for a trip abroad, particularly one that is lengthier in duration, it pays to visit your physician for a complete physical examination. Few things are worse than coming down with an illness or having a flare-up of a pre-existing condition while far away from home.
Depending on where you plan to go, immunizations may be in order. Talk to your doctor and explain to him where you want to visit and he will be able to tell you which immunizations, if any, are prudent. If you end up coming back with hepatitis C or malaria, your trip will be nothing more but the start of a long suffering once you get home.
Getting clearance from your doctor in advance of your travels can give you the peace of mind that comes from knowing you are unlikely to fall seriously ill while in a foreign land, where the medical care may be questionable at best.
Do not fly tired. A lot of international long-haul flights leave between 7am to 12pm, and if you have a long drive to the airport you may find yourself getting out of bed at 4am, so by the time you turn up you already feel like collapsing. Save yourself this trouble and stay in the airport hotel the night before, you’re already spending decent money on the holiday, so spend a little more and get it off to a good start by having a relaxing sleep before your flight.
You need a conditioned body and the primary thing you need is food. However, not everyone likes airline food so buy some chocolate and sandwiches before you board so you know you’ll have something to eat. If you still have the sandwiches when you land throw them in the bin as soon as you get off the flight otherwise you may get into trouble at customs.
FOLLOW UP YOUR INSURANCE
Call your insurance company to find out what your current health and homeowners’ insurance policies cover, and then ask for additional insurance to cover your trip. While loss of luggage or some medical expenses may fall under your current policy, most won’t, so travel insurance can save you when the worst occurs. Even if you don’t invest in cancellation, delay and property coverage, at least pay for additional medical coverage which includes medical evacuations so you can be repatriated for care.
MAKE COPIES OF PERSONAL DOCUMENTS
Prior to leaving on any foreign trip, it is wise to make copies of all crucial personal documents and leave them someplace where they are accessible to someone you trust. Copy your passport, identification, airline ticket information, detailed itinerary and the like. Doing this will give your family and the authorities a roadmap for intervention or investigation, should you have an accident or unanticipated problem while abroad.
PACK YOUR THINGS ACCORDINGLY
When you go anywhere, be it your Mom’s house for the weekend or Japan for a month, you have to bring the right supplies. From clean socks to your toothbrush, forgetting any one item could lead to disaster.
When you are packing, be sure you think of everything that you need to take. The best way to accomplish this is by making a list ahead of time. Even later when you’re packing, you’ll probably think of things to add to the list. The key here though is you will have a list with things checked off as they are put into everyone’s luggage. This way, you don’t get confused or have to go through bags or forget something on accident. You still might forget one or two things, but you’ll be so much more likely to have everything nice, neat and in order for your trip.
Make sure to figure out exactly what you will need. If you moisturize your face each night, don’t stop just because you are away. Don’t forget medicines, toiletries, sleepwear and anything else you use every day. Pay attention to what you do, wear and use at home, then make notes about the items you would also need while on vacation.
Once you have those notes completed, turn them into a packing list. It should be comprehensive, even including a list of the actual bags you plan to use. Include how many of each item you have packed and even the color to be sure nothing is forgotten. Pack the list with your bags so that you can use it again when you are packing up everything at your hotel to come home.
Be sure to measure those bags to ensure they meet the restrictions your airline places on baggage. There will be different rules for the bag you carry on with you than those you check, so be sure you know exactly what you are up against. As there are many rules when it comes to carrying liquids onto a plane now, you should buy sample sized versions of your toiletries. These are often available in the drug section of mass merchandisers and can include shaving cream, lotion, toothpaste, floss, mouthwash, even pain killers or other drugs. Consider what the hotel might supply for you, if you are staying in an upper-class establishment which offers toiletries for free, so you don’t duplicate on what you will already be provided. Don’t forget to weigh your luggage as going over the limit can mean you have to pay fees. Saving money always starts with being prepared!
Consider what exactly you will be doing on your trip and bring clothes which are appropriate. Will you be eating at a fine dining establishment? If not, skip the high heels, suit or evening dress. Bring neutral colored clothing only so that you can mix and match your outfits. If you want to change your look, wear a different belt, add a jacket or put on some glitzy jewelry. You can even top yourself off with a hat that fits what you are doing for the day, such as a floppy hat if you are going to the beach or a headband if you plan to go to a restaurant.
The best way to pack your clothes is to roll them into tubes. Just fold the clothing into a long rectangle and then roll it up. This allows it to fit closely to the rest of your items without taking up a huge amount of space, and it also reduces the number of wrinkles the item will develop while in your bag. Be sure to hang up your clothes as soon as you get to your destination to further reduce the wrinkling they undergo in transit.
Consider how you will spot your bag when it comes out onto the luggage pick-up area. Does it stand out from the crowd? If not, do something so that it does. Cover it in rhinestones or sew on a cute embroidered patch. Put a day-glow tag on it which also includes your name, address and phone number, just in case it is lost. Anything you can do to make sure you spot it as it travels along the conveyor belt will make getting out of the airport fast and efficient. That said, don’t go overboard! If you put anything on it which causes it to snag on other luggage, it may become damaged.
BE EARLY!
If you are flying, make sure you arrive early to the airport. If you are driving, get up and get on the road earlier. This will give you time to adjust on the road, and showing up to the airport early will prevent rushing through check-in and everything or missing your flight.
By following these suggestions, you can look forward to a vacation abroad that is filled with knowledge of exciting scenery and discovering new cultures.
Nothing is finer than a vacation to a far-off land and this article will ensure that the trip is a positive one. The more prepared you are, the better able you will be to enjoy your trip.
It is always wise to engage in thorough preparation and that is certainly the case in terms of planning for foreign travel. The next time you get ready to embark on such a journey, make sure to reference the information found above. By doing so, you will greatly increase your chances of having a wonderful and incident-free experience.
