11 Things to do Before you Travel
What are the major things to do before you travel? How can you make sure that your traveling experience is trouble free and that you are not going to have any issues at the border, or in the country itself? Here we put together a list of the 11 things we do before setting off on any trip.
1 – Passport
Yes it’s an obvious one. But some countries will only let you in if you have 6 months or more remaining on your passport. A good guideline is to get your passport renewed one year or nine months before it expires.
2 – Visas
This is different for everybody depending on the passport you hold. A lot of countries will now do online applications. These can be granted in 24 hours and you only have to print the confirmation and bring it with you. Other countries are visa on arrival. Make sure to double check this before leaving for the airport!
Regulations can sometimes change between two countries. Therefore it is also always good to double check with an embassy or consulate.
3 – Vaccinations
Most people will have vaccinations for a lot of the countries they travel to. However some do require less common ones like the yellow fever vaccination for some countries in Africa and South America.
A good source of information is the CDC website. Here you can select your destination and it will tell you all you need to know, https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/destinations/list.
4 – Copies of travel documents and bookings
With almost everybody owning a smartphone now it is easy to have a copy of your passport at all times. It is also advisable to take a picture of a driving license or other form of ID also. You should make two or more paper copies and store them in various places in your backpack, wallet, suitcase, etc. Make copies of all your bookings. Whether its hotel, flights, car hire, activities.
5 – Be aware of the currency conversion and local prices
It is always good to know what the conversion rate is to your own currency. You can see how much something is and if the price you are being quoted is genuine or not. Its not unusual for travelers to be quoted a price only to find out it is more than the normal rate. Always be sure of the average prices for items so that you are not paying too much for anything, whether its taxis, food, drinks, souvenirs, or activities.
You should also check with your bank to see if your ATM card will work in the country. You may need to ask them to unblock it for a certain period of time so that you can use it.
6 – Airline regulations
Airlines are great, but they can also be a nightmare. One says a certain size of bag is ok for hand luggage, but the flight you are connecting to says it’s too big and wants you to put it in the hold! The only way to avoid this is by checking the regulations before you pack. Do you need to take an extra bag? Is your luggage below the limit? Is there something you need to leave behind to make sure you are not charged extra for putting something in the hold?
Another problem that has more recently arisen with airlines is the tablet and laptop ban. Always make sure you know if the electronic devices you intend to bring in your hand luggage are allowed. You should make sure as well if portable power banks are allowed on the flight at all, as some airlines will not even allow them in the hold.
7 – Safety and security
Naturally, this is one of the major items that people will want to know before traveling to a country. Are there areas where you should not go? Are there certain parts of a city or country which are dangerous for you to travel to or pass through? What is the local police force like and what are other traveler’s experiences with dealing with them? What is legal and illegal in the country? Make sure and be aware of all these things as you do not want to get on the wrong side of the law when you are traveling.
8 – Local customs and laws
It is always good to know the local laws and customs in a country before traveling. You should know what clothes are accepted before packing something that is considered rude or indecent to wear in public in some countries. Are tattoos allowed to be on display? Are there any symbols which may be considered offensive whether they be religious or political? What is the country’s view on holding your partners hand when walking with them? By knowing these small but important things you can avoid embarrassing and sometimes slightly dangerous situations.
9 – Language
It is always advisable to have even a few words of the local language. You may only be able to say “hello”, “please”, “thank you”, or “goodbye”, but it makes people appreciate the fact that you have bothered to have an interest in learning a few words of their language. A lot of the people of the world will understand some English, and hand signals are universal, but by speaking a little of the language, it breaks many barriers and creates a more pleasant atmosphere when haggling or trying to communicate with the locals.
10 – Various items to make your travel more enjoyable
Make a checklist of the small items, the ones that almost everybody has forgotten about until they get to the airport! I’m talking about phone chargers, cables for electronic devices, power bank, etc. Try to fully charge all of your electronic items the night before so that they are not low on battery. It may be some time before you get a chance to charge them again.
If you are planning certain activities like scuba diving or other adventure sports make sure you have any necessary papers, IDs, or logbooks.
11 – Travel Insurance
Make sure the travel insurance you have covers you for the country you are going to. Ensure that any activities you plan on doing are included. World Nomads is a good travel insurance company and cover many activities in their Explorer Plan, https://www.worldnomads.com/travel-insurance/.
Of course there are many other things to think about before you go, such as what hotel to stay in, what you plan to do, etc. But once you have taken care of the above items, it will set you up for an enjoyable and stress free time.