7 Things to Do Before Taking an International Trip
What would you do if upon checking in at the airport you were told your passport is expiring in a month? Everything is paid in full, you can’t cancel and you are not allowed to board the plane?
Don’t be the one who makes travel plans without preparation. Whether you are traveling abroad for the first time or the twelfth time, here are Travelmath's 7 things to do before taking an international trip.
Passport
Your passport should be valid for a minimum of six months from the date of travel. This six months validity rule is imposed in European countries (in the Schengen Agreement), Israel, Saudi Arabia, Russia, some South and Central American and some Asian countries. Check with the country’s tourist bureau or consulate before making any travel plans.
If you live in major cities like New York, you may be able to get to an emergency passport facility. But there is still no guarantee that you’ll get your renewed passport on time for your travel.
Another thing to remember is to have photocopies of your passport handy in your carry-on, checked bags, and leave one copy at home with your family.
Information:
Get a Passport in a Hurry
Travel insurance
To some, travel insurance is a waste of money but to many that have traveled far and long, travel insurance is a necessity just like your car insurance. According to
Travel Guard, there are hundreds of circumstances that can disrupt your travel plans, and here are 10 common examples:
1. Connecting flight canceled.
2. Lost bag with medical supplies inside.
3. Passport and cash stolen.
4. Involved in an accident.
5. A family member becomes seriously ill prior to your non-refundable trip.
6. Cruise line, airline or tour operator goes bankrupt.
7. Twisted your ankle.
8. Lost luggage.
9. Terrorist incident occurs in the city you are visiting three weeks before your trip.
10. Force to evacuate because of a hurricane.
Who will reimburse you and who will cover your losses?
Read
How to Buy Travel Insurance
5 Tips to Buying Cruise Travel Insurance
Travel Vaccines
Some countries require a proof of vaccination before you are allowed to enter the country. According to
CDC, to have a safe trip, travelers must be proactive, be prepared and be protected.
CDC advised travelers to go to the Destination page of the country you are visiting, check Travel Health Notices and vaccines required before traveling. For example, if you are traveling to
Morocco, you need up-to-date routine vaccines like the MMR, DTP, chicken pox and polio. Travelers are recommended to get typhoid and hepatitis A shots as well.
Tanzania’s country entry requirement requires proof of yellow fever vaccination upon arrival if you are traveling from a country with risk of yellow fever. Bolivia needs proof of yellow fever vaccination.
Travel health kit
Besides packing your prescription medications (if you are currently needing prescription medications) here are seven must-haves in our travel health kit:
1. Ibuprofen for pain and fever.
2. Antihistamine.
3. Decongestion.
4. Anti-itch cream.
5. Basic first aid items (bandages, antiseptic).
6. Anti-motion sickness/altitude/sea sickness depending on the destination.
7. Anti-diarrheal.
If you have prescription medications remember to have a copy of your prescription with you and also leave one with a family member.
Visa requirement
The U.S. Passports and International Travel Department has a comprehensive list of countries that require visitor visas. Go to the page and enter the country you are visiting. We chose
Myanmar (Burma) and here are the requirements for American travelers:
Passport validity: 6 months
Vaccinations: suggested
Blank passport pages: One page required for entry stamp
Tourist visa required: YES
Besides getting a tourist visa in advance, countries like Indonesia and Bolivia will issue visas at their ports of entry like the airport, ports or land border crossings. You must pay in cash (US$) in Bolivia and Indonesia. So remember to have some cash handy when traveling to these countries.
Check with the country you are visiting and find out if there are any entrance fees required when you arrive at the port of entry. Besides entrance fees, countries like Indonesia require an exit fee to be paid in local currency. Make sure you have the cash handy.
Money
Get familiar with the currency of your destination by using Travelmath’s currency converter before traveling. For example
US$1 is 0.97 CHF (Swiss Franc) at the time of writing. And if you are traveling to Bali,
US$1 is 14680 IDR (Indonesian Rupiah).
You will need local cash because not every establishment in the country you are visiting accepts credit cards. Most importantly, inform your credit card companies of your travel plans, to ensure your credit cards work while you are traveling.
For help with flying time, time difference, nearest airports, and nonstop flights check the following Travelmath’s tools:
Flying time
Time difference
Nearest airport
Nonstop flights
Do you have a tip to share? Let us know.
