How to Prepare for International Travel
If you’ve never gone on an international trip before, the things that you need to do can get pretty confusing. Here are the things you need to arrange before boarding that trip to a new land:
Passport
You cannot enter a foreign country and come back to your own without a passport. If you already have a passport, check if it has not expired. If it has expired, renew it as soon as possible.
If you do not own a passport, apply for one immediately. It will take you around four weeks to obtain a passport from the day of filing. Check here to check where you can apply for a passport.
Travel Visa
Very few foreign countries allow entrance to their country without the necessary travel visa. Some countries allow visas to be filed upon arrival, but in most cases, you must apply for a visa before leaving for the country. Check with your travel agent on the procedures you must follow when applying for a visa. Age may factor in with your application, and you may need travel insurance and a medical checkup to avail of a visa. These procedures may take time, so make sure you do this in advance, or at least a month before you plan to leave.
Currency
Be acquainted with your destination’s currency, and the foreign exchange rate. Don’t expect establishments to readily accept your dollars, so have your money exchanged before leaving. It might be more difficult to exchange your money after getting there. Knowing the exchange rate will make you a less easy target for dishonest transactions in another country.
Having an internationally-recognized credit card such as Visa or MasterCard can also make transactions for establishments like hotels and restaurants much easier.
Tech Matters
Ask your travel agent or do a quick research on what voltage outlets are used in your destination country. Buy voltage adapters if necessary. This will ensure that your gadgets will not be accidentally destroyed or run out of battery charge in your trip.
Bring a minimum of gadgets on your trip. Laptops can be an extra bulk that will slow down your airport processing. It can also make you a target of theft. If you really don’t need it, leave it at home.
Time and Weather
waiting to travelCountries that are situated very far away from each other tend to have dramatic differences in both time and climate. You need to calculate these differences in your destination country:
Temperature: Most countries use the Celsius temperature scale. Only a few countries like the United States use the Fahrenheit temperature scale. Look up the projected temperatures on weather stations online for the days you are to be there, and convert them accordingly.
Season. Pack clothes suitable for the destination country’s season when you visit.
Time difference. Knowing the time difference will inform your decision in choosing airline flight times, especially if you don’t want to arrive in the middle of the night. This will also inform you if you will experience jet lag.
Packing
Once you have determined the weather, make sure that you pack appropriately for the temperature. To make sure that you have everything you need, go from the things you need on the top of your head to the bottom of your feet. If you need more than one piece of the same clothing, multiply it by the number of days you’re staying. For example:
Head: Hat, comb
Face: Facial care kit, toothbrush
Torso: Underwear and t-shirts times three days
Legs: Pants, underwear times three days
Feet: Socks and shoesCarry-On Luggage
Carry-On Luggage
Pack the essentials in your carry-on luggage. You should have the following:
Your wallet
Passport, visa and other identification documents should be with you always.
A change of clothes, just in case the airline loses your luggage.
Medicine, for ailments such as diarrhea or fever, as well any special medicine you need.
Healthy snack, mint gum
Book or mp3 player
Extra money placed in another pocket of your bag
Do Not Bring
These items might detain you or deny you entrance in an airport:
Weapons or toy weapons
Sharp objects with 4″ blade or longer
Beverages larger than 3 oz.
Flammable items
Sports bats
Heavy tools