Most people cannot wait to hit the road again, especially after travel has been halted in most parts of the world. No doubt, mastering our packing hacks is one fun concern for many of us travelers, however, there are other equally important things one needs to keep in mind or do before traveling. And in this article, we will take a look at some of them.
- Get travel insurance
Do not plan to travel anywhere outside your country without first buying travel insurance. There are different types of travel insurance plans available to choose from. They typically cover unexpected events such as trip cancellation, lost luggage, evacuation, medical coverage, and others. In many countries, travel insurance is actually a mandatory requirement before travel. This is for your own good, as not only will it protect you from huge unexpected financial burdens, but it may also be the difference between enjoying your travel and landing in jail. So many unexpected events can happen during one’s travel overseas, so protect yourself by buying travel insurance.
- Get an international license to drive
No matter how good or experienced you are behind the wheels, relocating into any country, and immediately getting behind the steering of a car to drive is quite impossible. You need to have an international driver’s license. Although not every country you may enter into may require an international driver’s license, it is still a good idea to have one. Plus, you do not need to be intimidated by the idea, as getting an international license for driving is less difficult than you may think. You can either begin the application process online or visit your local authority in charge of driver licenses.
- Get the proper visas
Pretty obvious, right? But somehow, this point is more than frequently overlooked by a lot of travelers. Lots of people have been turned away from different countries on a daily basis as a result of not having the right visas. The most frustrating part is that when this happens, most (if not all) of these travelers are not even allowed to leave the airport. Instead, they are bundled onto the next available flight and returned to their countries. This is what one little mistake can cause. And this is why it is absolutely important to get your right paperwork done – and in this case, your visa. Do not, at any point, take the visa of any country for granted, no matter where you come from or how ‘superior’ you consider your home country.
- Pick up extra passport pages
This is another point that should seem obvious, right? Depending on how often you travel or how many places you have been to outside your country, it is very important to ensure that your passport has the correct pages available. We have already mentioned the need to have the right paperwork done in terms of your visa. But getting the correct pages available in your passport is also very important when it comes to getting your visas. In many countries, a visa will not be put on any page other than the visa page. This means that an “amendment page” will not work. You do not need to learn this the hard way.
- Protect your health
Depending on the country you are planning to visit, it is important to get all the right shots done, or at least get the right medical prescriptions needed. Thus, before you travel, you need to visit your doctor, first for an examination to give you the clear. The medical examination will do two things. First, it will determine if you are medically or physically fit to embark on your travel. Your doctor will be able to give you all the right medical prescriptions needed for your travel if you have certain ‘manageable’ health problems. Secondly, if you are about to visit a country with potential health risks, your doctor will be able to advise you on the right medical steps to take.
- Pre-book an accommodation
The last thing you want is to find yourself stranded in a different country, a long way from home. This is why it is important to get your accommodation issues sorted out before leaving. No matter what kind of traveler you are (whether a carefully planned traveler or a spontaneous one), it is important to get at least the first night’s accommodation sorted out before traveling. This will save you the stress of having to look for accommodation upon arrival. Plus, not doing this can also be very dangerous. For most travelers, the best and safest approach is to use the help of a travel agency as most of these agencies offer complete travel packages that include booking hotel accommodations.
- Make copies of your accommodation reservation available
Technology has made it possible not only to book your own accommodation from the comfort of your home but also to save soft copies of your reservation on your smartphone or tablet. However, it is still a good idea to have a hard copy of your reservation with you, especially when you are about to check into your accommodation. You never know when your phone will fail you because of poor service or battery power. So, to be on the safer side, just have a printed copy with you and avoid the stress.
- Make copies of your tickets available
Aside from your accommodation reservation, make it a point to print hard copies of the tickets that you purchase online. Digital tickets or soft copies are not accepted in some countries, even when you booked them online. Most online platforms will instruct you to print out a copy for yourself – make sure you do so. A lot of travelers have had the stressful experience of needing to buy completely new tickets again, even after already doing so online, simply because they failed to print out their tickets. Try to prevent falling victim to such a situation.
- Make copies of your passport
To be on the safer side, make it a point to always carry your passport with you anywhere you go for as long as you remain outside your home country. For security reasons, you may be stopped at any point in your travel to show your documentation. Aside from carrying your passport with you, always remember to have at least three printed copies of your passport also with you. There may be times when you may need to present the copies (which may not be returned to you). In some cases, if you present your original passport, you may find it difficult to get it back immediately. Presenting a printed copy means that you will get to keep the original passport with you. Also, in the likely case that you misplace or lose your original passport, you will need the printed copies to sort yourself out. Also, some accommodations (whether private accommodations or hotels) will ask for a printed copy of your passport first. And although most hotels may come with a printer or copier (one cannot say the same for private accommodations), you may need to find a way or a place to make your own printed copies for your host. Save yourself the stress and have printed copies of your passport with you at all times.
- Let people you trust know your whereabouts
One way of doing this is by giving a copy of your itinerary to a trusted friend or family member. And during your visit, try as much as possible to let them know your whereabouts at each given time. It may sound like a lot of work, but it will help them know where you are and put their mind at ease.
- Know the travel restrictions
As mentioned earlier, although some parts of the world are open, some others remain closed. Take time to check which parts are open to residents and which parts are open to foreign nationals – and know the difference. Countries that are open to residents does not necessarily mean that they are also open to foreign nationals. Also, take time to know what the quarantine time is in the country you are planning to visit (that is if they are open to foreign nationals), know the travel restrictions, and the best form of travel. Fortunately, it is possible to look up this information online, country by country. For example, is it safer to drive or fly during coronavirus pandemic? Has a particular country you are planning to visit made sudden changes for expected tourists? It is important to check this information on a daily basis, as the situation in a given country can change in a matter of hours – with respect to foreign travelers.
- Check the weather at your destination
Thanks to technology, you can now check the weather forecast of a different location at least ten days beforehand. So, make sure to check the predicted weather at your intended destination before you make reservations. Checking the weather in advance will also let you know what kind of stuff to pack. And talking about packing, also make sure to pack a survival kit also. Your kit may contain things like a hand sanitizer, bandaids, prescription medications, first aid, sleep aids, earphones, etc.
