(Newswire.net — May 20, 2022) — Here’s your ultimate international travel checklist.
The Ultimate International Travel Checklist
Planning an overseas trip doesn’t have to be a stressful endeavor, especially when you have a checklist and plan in place. The last thing you want to do is arrive at your destination and realize you aren’t prepared.
If you are about to go on holiday, or you’re planning one, here is your complete checklist that you should remember; everything from your nicotine prescription to universal adaptors.
Travel Documents
Before you even book your ticket, you must ensure you not only have all the paperwork you need but that it is all within date. It is also important to pay attention to any additional visas you may need if you are traveling to multiple countries.
There are many ways to book your ticket and get to the airport, just to be denied because you don’t have enough open pages in your passport or something trivial like that. Simply check far in advance.
Insurance
You should always do your best to ensure you have travel insurance while on holiday. While this can help ensure your property, more importantly, it provides you coverage in the event of an emergency or hospital visit.
Accidents happen all the time, and the last thing you want is to be stuck in a hospital with a massive bill to pay and not enough money to settle it.
Banking
Ensuring your credit cards can be used overseas is the difference between enjoying your holiday, and being stuck without any money. You should also have multiple forms of currency available too.
While you should definitely have your credit card, you should also always travel with cash, as many countries, especially in Africa and Asia, only accept cash for taxis and similar services.
Vaccinations & Medications
If you are traveling to Asia, Africa, or South America, it is vital to ensure you are up-to-date with your vaccinations. While some are mandatory, a Malaria vaccination, for example, you should contact your doctor and find out if there are any more you should have.
You should also always travel with medication such as aspirin and stomach medication. This is especially true if you are traveling somewhere that has cuisine different from what you are accustomed to. Plus, always check if the water is drinkable; if not, be prepared if you get sick.
Travel Apps
In this day and age, there are dozens of apps that help make traveling easier. Translation apps and transport apps are your best friends overseas; in particular, Google Translate and Uber, or something similar.
There are also multiple apps such as Expedia and Airbnb that ensure you can always find good deals and somewhere to stay no matter where you are. These are particularly helpful if you are a spontaneous traveler but don’t want to couch surf.
Pack Smart
No matter where you are going, there are some essentials you should always pack. Always ensure you have cold and hot weather clothing, as well as a rain jacket. You should also have a change of clothing in your hand luggage.
While it is rare, bags go missing, and the last thing you want is to be in a new country without any clothes or toiletries. Have an extra shirt, change of underwear, and whatever else you may need in your luggage in case your bag goes missing for a day or two.
Organize Transport
While you can’t book everything in advance, it is important to have essential trips booked in advance. Organizing a taxi to and from the airport to your hotel and booking taxis to activities way in advance is a must.
You should also familiarise yourself with all the public transport options a country offers. While some have an efficient bus, train, and taxi system, some countries have none of that at all. Knowing beforehand ensures you aren’t taken by surprise, and you know what you are looking for.
Book in Advance
If there are specific activities or events you want to do or attend, booking or buying tickets beforehand is the best plan of action. This becomes even more important if you want to eat dinner at a Gordon Ramsay restaurant or attend a show or party.
While this isn’t always possible since some activities require you to present your passport, you should at the very least inquire as to when their busiest times are or when they suggest you should book.
Stay in Contact
Traveling with an internet dongle or WiFi connectivity in some form is a must no matter where you go. Whether you’re in the Midwest in the United States or in the heart of Bangkok, you won’t always have internet access.
SIM cards and airtime are both quite cheap and easy to find in most countries; therefore, if you just can’t connect to the internet, you at least have a phone you can use to call your hotel or a taxi.
Speaking of phones, the one mistake many travelers make is forgetting to pack the right chargers for their devices. Universal changers aren’t as universal as you may think, and you should check which plug types are used in the country you are traveling to.