Traveling is a fun adventure that allows you to explore a world outside of your own. However, there are many things to think about before you travel to another country. Done the right way, you can set yourself up for success as soon as you land. After a few trips of our own, we have compiled a list of things that will make your life easier on your first trip abroad.
1.
Besides the fact that having insurance will give you peace of mind, you'll want it in case a flight gets canceled or your luggage gets lost. It can also cover things like insurance for your rental car- just make sure you read the fine print.
2.
Order money from your bank ahead of time. Some banks will let you withdrawal other country's money without an extra fee, so check to see what they will charge. You can avoid ATM fees and constantly-changing exchange rates if you get cash before you leave the country. Depending on the country, it may be cheaper just to use an ATM. Just do you research and figure out the best fit for you before you leave.
3.
Bring a cross body bag that zips or locks shut. When you are walking around a new city, you need a way to keep your belongings safe and right by your side. Don't bring a bag that is open on the top. If you decide to use a backpack, just make sure you wear it in the front when you are in crowded places. But whatever you do, use something that at least has a zipper.
4.
Purchase plug converters for the country you are going to. Check to see if your destination country has different plugs that what your home country uses. If they do, you'll want to buy a couple to take with you. You can buy converters right on Amazon. Make sure you check that the converters you are buying work for your specific country- there are a lot of different plugs out there!
5.
Find out the country's emergency code/number. This isn't 911 everywhere you go. But you'll want to know this before you go. If you happen to need to call the emergency number, you won't want to have to look it up first.
6.
Find out where your Embassy is. This is just good practice. Maybe we watch too much Homeland, but being prepared for the worst is never a bad thing.
7.
Make copies of your passport. Leave one at home and keep one with you on your trip- in a separate place from your original passport. When you get home you can shred these or store for your next trip.
8.
Do you research on tipping. How much should you be tipping in your destination country? This is different all over the world- some places don't even tip.
9.
Find a couple restaurants and activities that are a must do and then leave all the other time for exploring. When you are in another country, you have to have some flexibility. A lot of the time things won't go according to plan. This is a fact and you'll need to have an open mind to make sure you can roll with it. If there is a restaurant or sight that you desperately want to see, make sure you see those things. Make a reservation. But leave time for exploring. You will find things you love that you just couldn't find in your internet research. In fact, if you are traveling somewhere where a different language is spoken, you probably can't find half of the things there are to do online. Be prepared to walk around and stumble upon things you've never heard of.
10.
Drink only water for the 48 hours before you leave. And the whole time you are traveling. Hydration is so important when it comes to long flights and travel. And while you are at it, buy a box of Emergen-C to take with you. Start drinking it two days before your flight. We didn't drink Emergen-C every day on our trip, just the days leading up to flying through the day after arriving. The last thing you want is to get sick on vacation, so stay hydrated!
11.
Add an international plan to your cell phone. Or make a plan to get a pay-as-you-go local phone. If you haven't done this, you'll end up with a hefty phone bill even with just one google search. Plans are different for every country, so you'll have to call your carrier to figure out pricing. Just make sure your settle this before you go!
12.
Pack a foldable reusable bag. I can't tell you how important this bag was on our trip! In other countries they charge for plastic bags, as they should. So having your own bag will not only save you a little cheddar, it's way sturdier than any plastic bag. But we ended up needing to use this bag for more than just groceries. We used it for carrying giant water bottles that we bought when we were walking around, groceries, goods we purchased from vendors on the street, camera accessories, and even to move stuff around in our luggage for different flights. You can't even imagine all the ways that this little bag could be useful. It's so universal. It's takes up little space and will save your butt more than once.
I'm sure we will come up with many more tips when we travel again, but if you follow all of these, you will be set up for success. Do you have any travel tips you'd like to share? Leave them in the comments below.
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xo, Savannah
