Many people travel as a way to relieve stress and get away from your day-to-day pressures of life. While the idea of travelling provides a thrill of energy, a burst of happiness, and a chill of excitement, it can also be stress-inducing. To prevent mishaps and inconveniences, it is important to prepare for your trip. With some travel tips, you can ensure that you'll have the best time possible.
If this is your first time travelling abroad, don't worry. We're here to help. Here are some travel tips to keep in mind before your first international trip.
Among the travel tips, this is the most important. Apply for a passport several months before your trip. If you already have one, check the expiration date and the entry requirement of the country you're planning to visit.
As a general rule, passports should have at least 6 months validity when travelling internationally. Most countries will not permit you to enter unless your passport is set to expire 6 months after the final day of travel.
If your passport will be expiring in the next few months, we highly recommend that you renew your passport. The last thing you want is for your trip to get cancelled just because you failed to update your passport. Lastly, find out if you need a visa.
Create an itineraryFor many of us, travel is a luxury. You want to make sure that you see everything you came to see. Creating an itinerary will simplify your travel routine and avoid the unnecessary stress while on vacation.
Since you only have limited time, you can prioritize which attractions you want to see and plan the activities for the rest of the day. You can purchase tickets ahead of time and make sure that you don't miss out on anything. Plus, creating a detailed itinerary can help you maximize your time, prioritize your wants, and manage your expenditures.
Book your accommodationAlways book your accommodation in advance. Custom forms almost always require you to write the address of the place you'll be staying in. As a first-time traveller, it is also comforting to know that you have a place to stay after a long day of travel. Plus, it will save you time, hassle, and money on accommodation.
According to a survey conducted by Fast Cover Insurance, one out of five travellers are in need of assistance while they were on vacation. It doesn't necessarily mean that they're sick or they got into an accident, but they needed help.
While you're not required to buy travel insurance, it's always a good idea to get one. Why? Because it protects you against the unexpected. In case you get sick or injured on your trip, you will no longer have to worry about treatment and transportation expenses. If in case your gets cancelled or you miss your connection, someone will help you arrange and pay for your new flight.
Pack smartYou've been planning for this trip for months, and you want to make sure that you have everything you need. The problem is that a lot of people tend to overpack.
Before you start packing, create a packing list. It will help ensure that you never forget something important. It will also help you avoid packing too much and end up hemorrhaging to pay for pricey airline baggage fees.
There is no point in packing 10 sets of clothes and 5 pairs of shoes for a 7-day trip. Remember, you're just going on a vacation, not relocating.
Exchange currenciesNot every place will accept credit cards, so make sure that you have local cash. Exchange your money before you leave or once you get to your country of destination, but not at the airport.
If you decide to exchange your money after you get to your country of destination, go to a bank. Here, the conversion will be exact and you won't get charged as many fees. Conversion centers in the airport or around the city tend to be huge rip-offs.
Look up monetary conversion before you go to get a sense of where the conversion rate is at.
Secure your belongingsPickpockets are everywhere, so make sure that you secure your valuables. Do not put all your money in one place. Bring an extra wallet and place some cash there. This way, you'll still have some money even if you lose your main wallet.
Safeguard your documents, especially your passport. You won't be able to go back home without it. Be sure to keep your passport separate from your cash. Also, make a paper copy of your travel documents and bring it with you wherever you go.
While travellers are advised to bring their passports with them at all times, there are lots of pickpockets everywhere. In case you have any encounters with foreign law enforcement, just show them the paper copy. If they need to see the original copy, just offer to go retrieve it at the hotel. This is one of the most important travel tips you should always keep in mind.
Leave space in your luggageNo matter how hard you try to resist it, you'll inevitably buy something during your trip. Nothing is more frustrating than finding an item you absolutely love, but then you realize you no longer have space in your suitcase. Don't forget to leave some extra space in your suitcase.
Slow down and enjoyGoing on a leisure trip means taking a break from the hustle and bustle of daily life. Unfortunately, for most people, vacation isn't always as relaxing as they hope it would be. They would add as many places and activities as they can into their travel itinerary, hoping to get the most out of their vacation time. But that's a mistake.
The whole point of having a vacation is to relax, have fun, and relieve stress. Slow down, take it easy, and enjoy a relaxing time wherever your travel brings you.
Additional travel tipsNo matter how well you planned this trip, some things will end up different that what you originally expected. You may find yourself getting stressed, frustrated, irritated. Don't. You came to see the world and take a break from the high-pressure life back home. Relax, take a deep breath, and put things into perspective.
Be flexible and open to changes. Embrace the opportunities and see where it takes you, even if it takes you away from your original plan. Stay safe and enjoy your trip with these international travel tips.
