Sue and Bruce Mitchell
Traveling internationally is an adventure best planned ahead of time, and not just when it comes to booking flights and packing.
Showing up at your gate sans passport or forgetting to find out if a visa is needed for your destination can stop your trip before it starts. However, most of your preparation should be dedicated to ensuring that health, safety and financial necessities are covered.
We have compiled this checklist for your next long-distance journey.
Safety first
An easy and important pre-trip check is arguably the most ignored. Travel insurance and State Department alerts can be important in emergency situations abroad. Nevertheless, many tourists bet they won’t become part of the small percentage of travelers requiring evacuation assistance or protection from hotel or flight cancellations.
Subscribing to the State Department’s Smart Traveler Enrollment Program alerts for your destination early on may seem unnecessary, but emails about upcoming and current travel restrictions, strikes and areas of political unrest will include what to expect. Alerts will let you know whether or not to plan for unexpected obstacles.
Travel insurance can cost as little as a few dollars per travel day. It can cover anything from replacing a broken camera, to emergency medical attention, potentially saving you hundreds, maybe even thousands of dollars.
Travel documents and banking
Make sure your passport and any necessary travel visas are current. Most countries require a passport to be valid for at least six months after your scheduled return.
Keep physical and digital copies of your passport and all your paperwork in case anything is lost. Give copies, as well as your itinerary and contact numbers, to family and friends you can contact in an emergency.
Notify your bank and credit card companies about your travel dates, so they don’t deny your purchases. Also, ask about international ATM fees, so you can determine which ones won’t charge you. If you are a forgetful cardholder (or just want to be prepared in case your wallet is stolen), bring an un-activated credit or debit card in case you have to cancel the few you brought with you.
A cellphone photo of your passport can be helpful. Whether you have to go to the consulate and report it lost, or are just filling out a customs card and need your passport number, it likely will come in handy. Email the image to yourself to have an extra digital copy in case your phone battery runs out or your phone goes missing.
Get vaccinated
It is best to get the necessary vaccinations as soon as possible. Some require multiple doses, which may need to be administered over days, weeks or even months. Talk to your doctor about getting the Centers for Disease Control-recommended shots, as protocol for vaccines vary by country.
Study up
Having some knowledge about your destination is invaluable. Read about the region you are traveling to in advance. This helps you gain insight into important information. From money conversion and useful phrases, to tipping, appropriate clothing and cultural/legal customs, it is better to be prepared, so you don’t land in a compromising situation.
Stay connected
Buy an international phone plan in advance. Unlock your phone, so you can make calls through a foreign carrier, or buy an international prepaid SIM card. If none of those sound ideal, or if you will be staying at your destination long term, research options for phone rentals or plans before leaving.
Download the necessities
Sometimes, the most important thing you pack is in your smartphone rather than your suitcase. Offline maps are your best friends when it comes to traveling without access to cellular data. You can find Wi-Fi in some places, but downloaded Google Maps or CityMaps2Go will allow you to follow your GPS without using up battery life and roaming data.
Pack these essentials
- For any trip abroad, remember the following for your carry-on:
- Passport and visa
- Medications
- Insurance and ID cards
- Cash, debit and credit cards
- Pen for customs cards
- Portable charger
- Earplugs, eye mask and natural sleep aid
- Electrical converters/adapters specific to your destination
- Headphones
- Anti-bacterial wipes
- Sweater/scarf for the cold plane
- Plastic bags
- Cameras/memory cards
If you are thinking of traveling abroad or locally, and you have unanswered questions or concerns, contact Sue or Bruce Mitchell, your Cruise Planners travel specialists. Visit our website at www.redmountaintravel.com. You also may send an email to smitchell@cruiseplanners.com, or call (480) 396-8084.