There is a long list of things to remember when traveling abroad. Where are you staying? Do you have enough money? Can you secure your medical prescriptions or get emergency help? The list can be seemingly endless.
However, there are some points that you can’t gloss over and that you should take into consideration no matter where you are going or how long you are staying for. Here are 10 things to remember when traveling abroad.
While a spontaneous trip sounds exciting, it can very quickly turn into a disaster. Planning ahead is essential, especially if you are traveling somewhere where you can’t speak the language or if help is difficult to find.
While you don’t have to plan every single step of your holiday, knowing where you will be staying, how you’ll be getting around, etc., is a must.
Paperwork is almost more essential than what you pack, particularly your identity documents, passport, insurance information, nicotine prescription and visa if you have one. It is also important to remember not to carry these documents around with you everywhere.
You should first put your originals in a safe place in your hotel room and have multiple photocopies of each document. You carry the copies with you at all times, and you can even leave copies with your hotel reception. This means no matter what happens, you always have your most vital paperwork available.
Having money available at all times is another essential aspect of traveling. Not only should you have cash on hand, but you must ensure you can use your credit card in case of an emergency.
Accidents and crimes happen when traveling, and the last thing you want is to lose the money you have and have no way to access more.
While you don’t have to pack your entire closet, you should pack for all occasions and weather. Parts of Asia, for example, can be sunny and warm one day and pouring with rain the next.
Your body also won’t adjust to slight weather changes immediately, meaning if you travel somewhere whose Summer isn’t as hot as yours, you could easily spend the entire holiday being chilly.
While this doesn’t apply to a lot of Western countries, many destinations in Africa, South America, and Asia will have customs that you will need to follow. In Thailand, for example, it is incredibly rude to show the bottom of your feet, meaning you need to pay attention to how you sit or cross your legs.
There are also certain countries where several “normal” things are heavily frowned upon, like kissing in public or unmarried couples holding hands. Research these customs and follow them accordingly.
Transport can sometimes be a difficult thing to get right. While taxis will be abundant in New York, scooters and tuk-tuks are the norm in Cambodia or the Philippines. You need to be aware of which one is the best to use, and also how much it costs.
There are many places where hiring a car or scooter can be far cheaper than paying for taxis, and as long as you have the relevant license, getting a vehicle for yourself won’t be a problem.
Travel apps can be life-savers in some situations. Something like Google Maps or Waze should be installed before you take off, and then translation or language apps are game-changers if you are traveling to a non-English country.
There are also multiple apps that will show you the best deals on hotels, restaurants, or things to do in your area.
Safety should be a top priority no matter where you are going, and one way to add an extra level of safety is by sharing your itinerary with your family and friends. Once again, there is no need to have every single step you take written down, but there are some key events to list.
If you are traveling to multiple destinations and staying in different hotels, add those dates so, at any point, someone can contact that hotel because they know you are there. Also, inform them if you will be going off-grid and when you will be in contact with them again.
A mistake many travelers make is underestimating how busy a particular hotel, restaurant, or activity is. Since you only have a limited time, the last thing you want to hear is, “sorry, our next opening is only in two months.”
While you don’t have to book everything in advance, if there are specific activities you want to do, book them weeks, even months in advance. This becomes even more necessary if you are wanting to attend annual events or festivals like Tomorrowland.
Finally, ensure you pack all of your chargers, external batteries, and plug adaptors before flying. You can easily Google the type of plugs a particular country uses, and there are multiple adapters that you can buy to suit the fittings.
Always travel with a powerful portable battery that’s fully charged. If you are on the road or far from your hotel, the last thing you want is for your phone to die.