20 Tips Before Traveling Internationally

 20 Tips Before Traveling Internationally

Whether it’s your first time traveling abroad, or you just need a refresher here’s a list of 20 tips you should do or bring before your trip.

 

 

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Security & Health

  1. Travel Insurance: Check-in with your doctor and insurance carrier. Double check and make sure that you have all of the proper vaccinations and that you have renewed all essential prescriptions. Also, ask you medical insurance provider if your policy applies overseas for emergencies. If not, get travel insurance, your travel team agent can help you with this.
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  1. Bring copies of your passport. If your passport gets stolen or lost you want to be sure that you can still get back into the country, or be able to prove your citizenship.

 

  1. Leave a copy of your passport. Leave a copy of your passport at home or with someone you trust. Consider making an electronic copy you can store in your email account as well.

 

  1. Register with your embassy. If there’s a problem in the country, this will make it easier for your government to contact you and get you to safety.
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Money

  1. Look up the monetary conversion before you go. Make sure you do your math before you travel to get a sense of where the conversion rate is at.
  2. Make sure your credit card will work in the country you’re visiting. European banks have switched almost completely to the more secure chip-and-PIN technology.
  3. Go to a bank or ATM in the country you’re visiting. You won’t get charged as many fees at the ATM or the bank, and the conversion will be exact.
  4. Always have local cash. Not every place takes credit cards. Especially important places like trains or buses.
  5. Call your bank or credit card provider. Sometimes banks think that fraud may be occurring if transactions are suddenly happening in another country, and they will turn off your card as a security measure.
  6. Check the country’s entrance/exit fees. Some countries require travelers to pay in order to enter or leave the country. These fees are not included in the price of your airline ticket, and can range.

Local Research

  1. Buy tickets now for places you know you want to visit or see. By buying in advance you’ll be able to skip more lines, and find more deals targeted toward you.
  2. Get guidebooks. Guidebooks usually include maps, key words or phrases, and give you enough detail on certain sites that you won’t need to purchase the pamphlet at the venue. Always ask your travel team agent for advice too.
  3. Research events going on while you’re there. Find out the best events going on in the city — fun things like festivals, ceremonies and natural events. Also find out a few national dishes to try. You don’t want to leave the country without experiencing what it’s known for.

Electronics

  1. Bring a charger adapter. Countries have different size plugs and voltage. So if you want to use your iPod, make sure you can charge it.
  2. Check the voltage of your electronics. Bring an adapter in case the voltage isn’t high enough for that country.
  3. Activate your phone’s global capabilities. Check with your phone carrier first. There’s usually a charge for doing this, but it is much less than the roaming charges you’ll get if you don’t.
  4. Subscribe to Travel Team Newsletter. Our Newsletter is full of great deals in a variety of countries, and useful travel tips, facts and more!
  5. Pack an extra set of clothes, toothbrush, & deodorant in your carry-on bag. You will thank yourself in the event the airline lost your luggage and you have nothing else to wear.
  6. To check a bag or not to check bag. Each airline has its own set of guidelines as to how many bags can be checked or carried on for free. Make sure to look up what your airline’s rules are or ask your travel team agent about guidelines to avoid any incremental fees.
  7. Bring snacks. Traveling abroad is fun, but eating in a foreign country can sometimes be overwhelming. Bring small snacks that will do in a pinch, until you find that perfect restaurant or food cart.

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