I’m thankful to have had some fun international trips in the last couple of years. International trips take a little more planning than domestic trips because of the extra things you need to prepare for before the trip. Here are the nine must-do things I’ve realized are crucial for a successful trip.
1. Get your passport.
If you are getting a new passport, it takes about six weeks to process and arrive. Make sure you leave enough time for you to get it before your trip. When getting your passport, you have the option of getting it expedited for an additional fee, which will get the passport in your hands in 8-10 business days.
2. Get travel insurance.
Thankfully I’ve never been in a situation where I needed to use travel insurance but it’s a smart plan to have it. Travel insurance is used for emergency hospital visits, transportation to the hospital, unexpected trip cancellations, and more. You never know what can happen, so be prepared just in case so you’re not out a thousand plus dollars for an emergency. I was recommended World Nomads and I’ll be using it on my upcoming trip. The cost varies on your destination and length of stay and the website lets you see the price before the transaction.
3. Check in with your bank.
Make sure to call your bank and let them know you are going on vacation. This prevents them from freezing your credit and/or debit cards because they think there are fraudulent charges happening in an unfamiliar place. Banks usually note the exact dates and the location of your trip so they can monitor it exactly.
4. Check your phone plan.
Know your international-use abilities and adjust your contract if you will need to use your phone. Understand how to turn your phone on airplane mode so that you don’t end up with hundreds of dollars in roaming charges when you get home.
5. Charge your electronics.
You don’t want to get comfortable for your five-hour flight to find you only have eight percent battery life on your e-reader or laptop. Charge all your electronics – e-reader, laptop, phone, camera – way before you leave for your flight. Also think about getting extra batteries or an external charging device if you’ll be using it throughout the day.
6. Check the weather.
Not only is it fun if you’re going somewhere tropical and it’s freezing cold where you live, checking the weather will make you prepared for packing and knowledgeable about what to expect. For my upcoming trip, I’m also checking the surf report!
7. Check in and Confirm.
Check into your flight on time to confirm your spot. Check your hotel, car rental and transportation to confirm everything is set and ready for your arrival. This is helpful in case you forgot to book something.
8. Print out copies of important documents.
It’s good to have a copy of your documents accessible online but also have hard copies to get to them faster. Have a copy of your passport in case you lose the real thing and need to get another one at the U.S. Embassy. Have print-outs of your flight, hotel, car rental and any other confirmations. Make sure there are addresses and phone numbers for reference. Also print out an emergency contact list that includes the U.S. Embassy in the country you’re visiting, family members, and friends.
9. Share your trip itinerary.
Send your trip itinerary to a family member or friend so that they can keep tabs on your departures and arrivals for safety. If needed, make sure to check-in with your person to update him/her of any itinerary changes. If something were to happen to you, someone will have the details of where you were to contact the appropriate people for help.
What items are on your must-do list when preparing for an international trip?
You might also like
