Travelling abroad can be so much fun. You get to experience different cultures and see places quite unlike the ones you’re used to. You can relax, unwind and return home refreshed.
Before you actually go on the trip, there are some important tasks you should complete first. Travel preparations are the boring part of going on vacation but making sure you have everything organized in advance means you can slip right into enjoying yourself.
Below, you’ll find a list of ten things to do before travelling overseas.
International Travel Preparations List
1. Travel Documents
Make sure that your passport has not expired if you’re going to be travelling abroad. Also, check the requirements of the country you’ll be visiting. Different countries have varying requirements for the amount of time your passport should be valid before and after your departure date.
Do you need a visa to be allowed entry into your destination? If you do, then you must apply to the country’s embassy. It’s smart to make sure you have this document before you even book your trip. If you’re denied for any reason, you don’t want to risk wasting money paying for a flight you can’t take.
Renew your passport and apply for a visa, if necessary, at least two months before your planned travel dates. These processes can take some time to complete. You can always request expedited service but this costs extra.
2. Travel Itinerary
One of the travel preparations people often neglect is to create a travel itinerary. After you’ve booked your trip, create an itinerary that includes the following information:
- Flight numbers and departure times
- Important contact information and addresses e.g. emergency contact, hotel, airlines, travel agent, your country’s embassy
- Names and addresses of places you plan to visit
Write all of these details down and take it on your vacation. Email yourself a copy as well, just in case you lose the hard copy. You’ll be grateful that you have this information on-hand in the event of an emergency.
3. Your Health
In order to stay healthy when you’re travelling, you need to do a few things.
First, tell your doctor which country you plan to visit and see if you need to get any vaccinations. I know—needles…. Ick! But, better safe than sorry!
If you take prescription medications, ensure that they’re not illegal in your destination country. Pack more than enough to last your entire trip, keeping them in their original containers. Place the medication in your carry-on bag.
Get a letter from your doctor if you use syringes and be sure to declare them as you go through security. When travelling for extended periods of time, take photocopies of your prescriptions along on your trip and make a note of the generic names in case the brand name version is not available.
Check whether there are health risks involved in consuming the food and water in the country you’ll be visiting. Also, determine whether there are dangerous animals or insects you need to look out for. Pack insect repellent in your luggage and apply it generously, especially when going to warm, tropical climates.
4. Get Travel Insurance
Read your current medical insurance policy, if you have one, to determine whether it covers you while travelling abroad. If it doesn’t, research and purchase an international health insurance package in case you get sick or injured while overseas.
You may also consider buying insurance to protect your possessions while travelling. Luggage can get lost and, in the event that this happens, you’ll want to ensure you’re covered.
5. Sort Out Your Finances
What currency is accepted in your destination country? Do you need to obtain foreign currency? Make sure you know the exchange rates if you’re going to make transactions in foreign currency to avoid being scammed and losing out on money.
Ensure your credit cards will be valid during your travel dates. Also, inform the bank when and where you’ll be travelling. I learned this the hard way the very first time I traveled and used a credit card. I was not aware that I had to let the bank know I was traveling and they restricted the use of my card after the first purchase. Great for security purposes but it was not a pleasant experience!
6. Be Aware of The Climate
Are you going to a warm environment or a cold, rainy one? Knowing what the weather will be like when you travel helps you to make wise clothing decisions. You can pack clothes that suit the temperature.
7. Create A Travel Checklist
Having a travel checklist ensures that you don’t forget anything important when you pack. This eliminates you wasting precious time and money running around sourcing or purchasing items you need. Below is a free printable travel checklist you can print for each member of your family.
Click here to download the Travel Checklist for your personal use.
8. Keep Track of Current Events
For your safety, keep track of current events in the destination country. Things like life-threatening weather systems e.g. hurricanes or political unrest can influence whether you actually go on your trip.
9. Pets and Plants
If you have pets and lots of indoor plants, you will need someone to take care of them while you’re away. Ask a trusted friend, family member or hire a house and pet sitter. This way, you can be confident that your home will be cared for, pets fed and plants are watered.
If a pet sitter is not an option, take your pets to a boarding facility.
10. Secure Your Home
One of the most important travel preparations to carry out is to secure your home while you’ll be gone. Do the following:
- Inform your security company of travel dates
- Temporarily stop delivery of mail and newspapers. A big pile of letters and packages outside your front door informs thieves that no-one is home.
- Arrange for lawn care. (A wild yard screams empty house.)
- Set timers on interior and exterior lights
- Turn off water to your house to prevent leaks and flooding
- Unplug electronic equipment e.g. computers
- Lock all windows, doors and garage door
- Remove spare keys from outside
- Do NOT post about your trip on social media before or during your travel. Share photos after you’ve returned.
Carrying out travel preparations well in advance of your upcoming vacation means your plans are much more likely to go smoothly. Less stress is the whole point of taking a holiday, right? So, be prepared.
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