Travel Preparation Tips

Travel Preparations: Pre-Departure Tips You Need

Heading abroad on the adventure of a lifetime is exciting, inspiring and… nerve-wracking! It’s okay to have some butterflies in your stomach, matter of fact, it would be weird if you didn’t. We recommend that you have all travel preparations smashed out pre-departure.

As well as being completely Zen before you even leave, being prepared to travel pre-departure will make your time in-country a more successful experience, reduce potential risks, and increase the positive impact you make on your host community.

Conduct your own personal research on things like;

  • Local culture
  • Customs
  • Food
  • Laws
  • Living arrangements
  • Climate

Knowing what you are in for will reduce culture-shock and set realistic expectations.

Mindset

It may sound like a cliché, but keep an open mind. Your experience abroad will be heavily influenced by how you accept and embrace local culture, people and ways of life. If you are closed off to these things, you won’t have a very enjoyable time. Clichés are good, be ALL the clichés! Keep an open mind, step out of your comfort zone, seize the day etc, etc…

Get your ducks in a row

Essentially, without some very necessary paperwork, your dreams of a trip abroad will go “kaput.” Here are some questions to ask yourself when making your travel preparations…

  1. Do you have a passport?Yes — good work, make sure that it is valid for six months past your return date. No? Get one, ASAP!
  2. Do you need to obtain a visa to be allowed entry into your chosen destination?Research this with your designated embassy or discuss it with your program provider. They’ll know the requirements.
  3. Are your vaccinations up-to-date or do you need any specific vaccinations for your chosen destination?For example, some parts of Africa will only allow you to enter if you have you Yellow Fever vaccination. Visit a travel doctor with a comprehensive copy of your itinerary and they will discuss vaccinations, medications and risk management with you.
  4. Have you purchased travel insurance? And, if so, do you understand what it does and doesn’t cover? Make sure to speak to the insurance company about what activities are covered and have an understanding of the claim process, should you have to make one. Choose the one that is fit into your budget and suitable for you at https://travel.net.my/insurance/.
  5. Have you booked an airport pick-up and first night accommodation for when you arrive at your destination?Chances are you will be tired and overwhelmed when you step off the plane, knowing that you have pre-organized transport and accommodation will reduce stress levels and keep you safe in your first 24 hours in-country.
  6. Have you spoken with your bank about using your debit and/or credit cards abroad?Let them know specifically where you are traveling to so that they don’t cut off access to your money on the account of them assuming it is fraud.

Me, Myself & I

Your well-being while you are abroad is super-mega-important, you don’t want your memories to be clouded by a persistent illness or mental health issues. Take care of yourself before you leave, stock up on vitamins, and make sure that you have a solid support network of friends and family to talk to when things start getting hard.

It is inevitable that you will find yourself with an upset stomach or a bout of homesickness, but so long as you prepared for these pre-departure, you will get over them quickly and be back to having an adventure for the books. Make sure you speak to your doctor or a mental health care professional before you leave so that you are armed with strategies and solutions for whatever life throws at you while you are on the road.

Making travel preparations pre-departure, and taking the steps to really prep will make your time abroad a breeze.

Travel Preparation Checklist:

  • Have a passport that is in-date and any necessary Visas pre-arranged
  • Visit a travel doctor and receive required vaccinations
  • Pack a basic (or not so basic) first-aid kit
  • Book first night accommodation (at least) and airport pick-up
  • Purchase comprehensive travel insurance
  • Speak to your bank about travel money options and let them know, specifically, where you are traveling to
  • Ensure that your mobile phone is unlocked for an international sim
  • Discuss communication expectations with your friends and family
  • Research climate and pack accordingly (try not to over-pack!!)
  • Download your favorite podcasts and albums
  • Buy an amazing journal for goal-setting and keeping travel memories safe
  • A open mind, a sense of adventure and a passion for meaningful travel

So, what now?

Following these travel preparation tips will set you up for a successful and overall more thrilling time abroad, remember that research is key and keep that mind of yours open to new and exciting opportunities. Go out there, have fun and keep yourself safe!

Everyone knows the last few days before a trip can be hectic.

Whether you are going to the beach for a weekend or traveling abroad for a month (or two, or three), it’s easy to feel overwhelmed with all the tasks that need to be done.

To help alleviate a lot of stress and last-minute running around, we created this handy pre-travel checklist.

Here are the 23 things you should do BEFORE you travel:

  1. Buy travel insurance

For most people, this is really only necessary if you are traveling outside of your home country.

There are a variety of travel insurance plans and options, but they typically cover emergency medical coverage, evacuation, lost luggage, and trip cancellation.

  1. Get an international driver’s license

Not every country requires an international driver’s license, but it’s a good idea to have one in case you run into any issues.

Plus, it’s super easy to get an IDL.

If you’re an American, you can go to any AAA and they can set you up with one. Just bring two passport photos and $15, and you are ready to go.

  1. Pick up extra passport pages

This may seem obvious, but depending on how much you travel it’s important to be sure you have the correct pages available in your passport, especially if you need any visas.

Most countries will not put a visa on any page other than a visa page, meaning an “amendments page” will not work (something we learned the hard way).

Also, if your passport expires within 6 months of your trip, some countries will not allow you to enter.

  1. Get the right visas

Obvious? Yes.

Often overlooked? You bet.

Every day, people are turned away from a country because they don’t have the proper visa, and if this happens, you cannot even leave the airport.

You’ll be forced to leave the country immediately on the next available flight, which means this “little mistake” could end up costing you thousands of dollars.

To learn more about visas and passports, check out our interview with the founders of Allied Passports or head directly to the Allied Passports website.

  1. Get shots

It’s always a good idea to visit your doctor before taking a trip to make sure you have any prescriptions you need up to date and filled and to discuss any other medical measures that need to be taken.

Depending on what country you are going to, you may also want to get certain vaccinations. Not sure if you need vaccinations before visiting a country? Check out this guide from the CDC.

  1. Pre-book one night’s accommodation

Depending on what type of traveler you are — adventurous and spontaneous or carefully planned and structured — we recommend you have at least one night’s accommodation booked in advance.

If you arrive at a new destination and don’t have a place to stay you, you’ll eventually find a spot…but not without some stress involved.

We’ve found it’s worth it to book something in advance and put your mind at ease that first night.

Then, you can always explore the area the next day to find a better location if you’d like.

  1. Print copies of your accommodation reservation

Although almost everywhere will accept a copy of a reservation on a smartphone or laptop nowadays, it never hurts to have a hard copy.

This way if you don’t have cell service or wifi, you don’t have to worry.

You are prepared and that makes everything much easier.

  1. Print copies of your tickets

As with accommodation reservations, not everyone will accept digital copies of tickets.

We’ve had this trouble on trains quite often, and the result — buying a whole new ticket while on the train even though we had a confirmation number and digital copy on our smartphone — was not only frustrating but also super expensive.

Let our mistakes be your guide, and don’t let the same thing happen to you!

  1. Make copies of your passport

Better safe than sorry, and making a copy of your passport is good for two reasons:

  1. If you lose your passport, at least you have a copy.
  2. Some accommodations may require a copy. While most places have a copier, there are some instances, such as Airbnb, where we have had to find a place to make copies to give to our host.
  3. Give a copy of your itinerary to a friend or family member

In the event of an emergency, it’s wise to have someone at home know your whereabouts.

This also puts your family’s minds at ease knowing what parts of the world you are in.

  1. Double-check the dates for your reservations

As with most of the advice in this guide, this tip comes from one of our mistakes.

When traveling by high-speed train from Rome to Milan, we made the reservation for the wrong day.

Whoops!

$150 later, we vowed always to double-check the dates!

  1. Check the restrictions on carry-on and checked luggage

Every airline is different, so make sure you are not nickeled and dimed at the check-in counter, especially if you’re traveling on budget airlines.

  1. Check the weather at your destination

Now that you can see the forecast at least 10 days in advance, you should have no trouble packing for your trip.

This way, you can decide whether those extra layers or a raincoat are necessary.

  1. Pack a survival kit

For us, this means:

  • Neosporin
  • Bandaids
  • Ibuprofen
  • Earplugs
  • Eye mask
  • Sleep aid
  • Headphones
  • Prescription medications
  • Hand sanitizer
  1. Use packing cubes

Organization makes traveling (and packing) much easier.

Instead of your suitcase exploding all over your room, you can use these packing cubes to keep your possessions in order. Plus, it makes repacking a lot easier!

  1. Pack a travel adapter

Of course, a travel adapter is necessary for when you arrive in a new country, but many airports have space to plugin now.

It’s always a good idea to have this easily accessible in order to get some work done or (let’s be honest) check Facebook or Instagram while at the airport.

  1. Charge your electronics before you leave

This way if you forget your adapter, you’ll have plenty of battery.

Or if your mode of transportation doesn’t have entertainment, you can easily read or watch a movie on your device.

  1. Bring some snacks for the airplane or airport

Depending on your flight, train or bus ride, there might not be many, or any, food options available.

Always plan to bring some snacks to hold you over until you arrive at your destination.

We usually hit up the grocery store and stock up on cheap, healthy options.

For more flight tips, check out our guide to surviving long-haul flights.

  1. Change your bills to autopay

If you set up your bills online to automatically pay, then you don’t have to think about it while you are traveling.

If this isn’t possible, then pay the bill early, before you leave.

  1. Arrange to have your mail picked up or held at the post office

If you aren’t able to have a friend or family member pick up your mail, you can contact your post office, and they can hold your mail until you return from your travels.

This is especially important if you’re traveling for an extended amount of time.

  1. Notify your bank of your destinations

We usually remember to do this.

In some countries – like most of Europe, which is considered “safe” by your bank – it doesn’t matter, and your bank won’t usually reject your card.

However, as soon as you enter a “high risk” country you can forget using the ATM unless you have notified your bank, as you’ll quickly be shut down.

Make a quick 5-minute call to your bank before any travel, and you should have no problems. Many banks also let you notify them online.

  1. Get a credit card with no foreign transaction fees

Our favorite card for travel is the Chase Sapphire Reserve.

Not only can you earn points while you travel, but you also don’t get charged any extra fees for currency exchange.

To see more cards that don’t charge foreign transaction fees, check out our list of the best travel credit cards.

  1. Always carry a small amount of cash with you

This way, if your ATM card doesn’t work, you can always use your cash and exchange it into the local currency. It’s also a good idea to carry a bit of the local currency with you in case you go to a restaurant or shop that doesn’t accept credit cards.

Travel Worry-Free with Our Pre-Travel Checklist

We hope this checklist has helped put you at ease for your next trip. Going through a checklist may seem like a small step, but it can prevent a lot of stress and frustration.

 

About Author

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I was born in Malaysia and educated in Malaysia and USA. My career was allowing me to travel into 137 countries as financial support executive. I love travelling, nature, culture, food and many more. Now I would like to share my 33 years of my past travelling experiences to the interested people. Please feel free to contact me by filling up the contact form or WhatsApp me direct @ wa.me/60173082891. Warm regards, TQVM and see you at www.travel.net.my. Albert

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