20 Tips For Travelling Abroad

Travelling abroad is exciting! Yet, the preparation and planning process can be overwhelming and stressful. Here are a few tips to alleviate some of the stress and prepare you for your trip:

1. Verify Insurance Coverage – Ask your medical insurance provider if your policy applies overseas, in the event of an emergency. If it doesn’t, consider supplemental insurance.

2. Bring copies of your Passport – The U.S. Department of State recommends that travelers photocopy the information page of their passports before leaving on international trips. Take the copy of the passport with you, but do not store it in the same location as your passport. If the passport is lost or stolen, obtaining a replacement will be considerably easier if you have the photocopy to prove your identity.

3. Take a picture of passport on phone – In addition to a photocopy of your passport, have a copy of passport on your cellphone. If your passport is lost or stolen this will be proof of citizenship.

4. Leave a copy of your passport – For extra backup; leave copy of passport at home or with someone you trust. Also, consider sending a copy of passport to your email account.

5. Research monetary conversion – Learning that one Eastern Caribbean Dollar is equal to just .049 cents in US dollars = bad surprise. Make sure you do the math before you travel to get a sense of the conversion rate.

6. Always have local cash – Not every place accepts credit cards. Especially important places like trains or buses. It’s also important to have cash to tip various airport personnel, hotel concierges, chauffeurs, etc.

7. Contact your bank and credit card provider – Verify that your ATM bank card and credit card will work in the country you’re visiting. Many banks have switched almost completely to the more secure chip-and-PIN technology, and fewer businesses abroad are accepting the outdated magnetic-strip cards. Also, inform your bank and credit card provider of the place and dates of your travel to avoid a ‘freeze’ on your account. Often times banks will assume that fraud is occurring if transactions are suddenly appearing in Costa Rica when you reside in Georgia, and they may decline purchases as a security measure.

8. Check the country’s entrance/exit fees – Some countries require travelers to pay in order to enter or leave the country. These fees range from $25 to $200 and may or may not be included in the price of your airline ticket. It’s best to confirm with the airline whether this fee is included in the price.

9. Purchase a book on the country you are visiting – Not only will the book contain pertinent cultural information regarding the country but most books are updated annually and are packed with maps, savvy reviews, and a calendar of local events and festivals. Also may include a list of restaurants and tourist attractions which will introduce you to the country’s best hotels, restaurants, adventure outfitters and shops–in all price ranges, from budget to luxury.

10. Contact your cell phone provider – Verify roaming fees and/or activate global capabilities. There’s usually a charge for activating global capabilities, but it is much less than roaming fees.

11. Prep your smartphone – Just a few years ago, the most affordable way to use your cellphone abroad was to buy a prepaid SIM card and insert it into your phone. But since smartphones now allow for Wi-Fi communication, you can virtually check in with your friends and family for FREE. Check with your cell phone provider to see if your plan allows free Wi-Fi calling. If your plan doesn’t allow for that, you can still connect to the Internet. There are a number of chat services (i.e. WhatsApp, Marco Polo, Skype, Google, Hangout, Facebook, Tango) that allow you to connect with your family back home. And internationally, it’s easy to find a signal — from hotel lobbies to coffee shops — just look for the Wi-Fi sticker on the door.

12. Download Apps – Download apps before you travel such as TravelZoo, Duolingo and Google Translate. The Travel Zoo app can help you find great deals in a variety of countries, and has options from local deals to transportation options. The Duolingo app is a fun interactive way to learn a new language. And Google Translate is an app that generates a written translation for anything that you type, speak, photograph, or draw on your touch screen.

13. Research events going on while you’re there – This will ensure that you’re not missing the best events going on in the city — fun things like festivals, carnivals, ceremonies and natural events. Also be sure to research a few national dishes to try. You don’t want to leave the country without experiencing food that it’s known for.

14. Make sure you don’t need a converter to charge your electronics – Some countries have different size plugs and voltage. So if you want to charge your phone, use your laptop or iPod, you may have to purchase a converter.

15. Check the voltage of your electronics – From my own experience, I know that nothing is worse than having an adapter and still not being able to use a blow-dryer or a flat iron because the voltage is too high for that country.

16. Pack an extra set of clothes & phone charger in your carry-on bag – On occasion, luggage does get lost. In the event that happens, you’ll have an extra pair of clothes and your charger.

17. Check a bag or not to check bag – Research your airline’s luggage policy to avoid any unexpected incremental fees. Each airline has its own set of guidelines as to how many bags can be checked or carried on for FREE.

18. Pack snacks – Traveling abroad is fun, but eating in a foreign country can sometimes be challenging. Bring small snacks that will tide you over until you’ve settled into your hotel comfortably and located a restaurant. Also consider packing high-protein snacks to curb hunger during flight delays and in between meals during your entire trip.

19. Pack Essentials – If you are travelling to a tropical island and plan to embark on a rain forest excursion and/or a water sport excursion, remember to pack an insect repellent and motion sickness medication.

20. Emergency Plan – Planning for the worst-case scenario will ultimately provide peace of mind. Before you embark on your trip, prepare an “Emergency” course of action aka “Backup Plan” for all possible scenarios.

These are just a few tips to consider as you travel. It’s always a good idea to conduct your own research for each city or country you plan to visit. It’s also beneficial to read reviews and familiarize yourself with all policies and procedures before booking flights, hotels and car rentals. Sometimes a company that offers cheaper rates are not always the best option.

Happy Travels!

DISCLAIMER: The information and data published on this website is strictly for informational purposes. While we have made every effort to ensure that the information contained on this website is accurate and has been obtained from reliable sources, Bella Luve’ Events by Design and owner is not responsible for any errors and omissions. The information provided is not a substitute for professional advice and any opinions and/or suggestions should not be considered legal advice. Some of the tips included on blog are based on personal travel experience and does not encompass the entire range of travel tips. Therefore, it is the travelers sole responsibility to exercise due diligence in order to prepare and protect himself/herself prior to travel.

Happy Travels!

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