10ThingsYouShouldKnowWhenTravelingAbroad
1)UnderstandTravelDocuments
Eachcountryhasdifferentregulations,soitisvitalthatyouunderstandwhichdocumentsarerequiredforyourtrip.Makesureyouhaveavalidvisa(ifneeded),andthatyourpassportisuptodate.Also,makesuretoapplyforthesetraveldocumentswellinadvanceastheregistrationprocessmaytakelongerthanexpected.
2)LocatetheEmbassy
It’simportanttoknowthelocationoftheembassywhentravelingoverseasbecauseitcanbehelpfulforavarietyofunfortunatesituations,fromlosingapassporttolegalissues.
3)DevelopaSpendingPlan
Beforeleaving,informyourbankofanytravelplans.Thiswillavoidcomplicationswithcreditordebitcards.Forexample,ifyourbankhasoverseasbranches,youmayreceiveabetterexchangerateatanATMasopposedtothehotel.Also,setarealisticbudgettopreventsplurgingandimpulsebuys,butdon’tforgettoprovideacushionincaseofanemergency.
4)ScheduleSightseeing
Planningaheadbybookingasightseeingtourorgroupisagreatwaytoseethemostreveredhistoricalsights.Advancereservationsnotonlyprovidecheapercosts,theyalsopreventdisappointmentiftoursarefulluponarrival.Typicallythereareoptionsthatallowfullaccesswithoutanywaitinginline.
5)LearnKeyPhrases
Learningafewkeyphraseswillnotonlyimpressthelocals,itwillserveasahelpfulassetaswell.Knowinghowtoaskwherethenearestrestroomorrestaurantiswillallowyoutofeelmorecomfortableandincontrolofyourwhereabouts.
6)PurchaseElectricalAdaptors
Ifyou’replanningonpackingyourblowdryerorelectrictoothbrush,there’sanotheramenityyoumustn’tforget:theelectricaladaptor.Buyonebeforearrivingatyourdestination—notonlyaretheyhardtolocatebutifoneisfound,it’slikelytobeoverpriced.
7)ImplementInternationalService
Areplanningonusingyourcellphoneduringyourtrip?Youshouldfirstsetupglobalroamingservicewithyourproviderbeforeheadingoverseas.
8)UnderstandCulturalExpectations
Whentravelingabroad,dosomeresearchtohaveabetterunderstandingofthecountry’scultureandcustoms.Ifyouwanttofeelcomfortableinyournewsurroundings,makesureyouunderstandwhatisexpectedofyou.
9)DoYourResearch
Researchthelocalandnationalholidaysofyourdestination.Thesecelebrationscouldinterferewithyourtravelplansasmanyoffices,banksandstoreswillbeclosed.Payattentiontoweatherpatternsandpackyourclothingaccordingly.Alsobeawareofextremeweatherconditionsthatmayhinderyourplans.
10)UseanAccreditedTourCompany
Planningyouroverseasvacationthroughanaccreditedtouringcompanywillallowyoutomakethemostofyourtrip.Byworkingwithaspecializedtravelservice,youcancustomizeyourtravelitinerarywithstate-of-the-arttoursandotheruniqueactivities.
