5 Things You Must Prepare Before Your Next Trip Abroad
- Elisabeth Caraballo
- Apr 17, 2019
- 3 min read
Travelling is a time to broaden the mind, relax and immerse yourself in a completely new culture. It doesn't matter if you're heading to Spain for a week or planning an epic three-month road trip to Australia or the US, there is still a lot of preparation to be done before you set off.
This extensive guide will list everything you need to prepare before your next trip abroad. Make sure to tick everything off as soon as possible so you can focus on enjoying your adventure.
1. Check to make sure your passport is valid
We've all been there: you check your passport expiration date at the last minute and realise it will expire before you set off. Most countries will require your passport to have at least six months of validity if you want to get into the country.
The easiest solution is to be prepared and check your passport before you book your flight, so you can order a new one if you need to. If you want it to arrive within six weeks, you will have to pay more than £100 for fast track delivery.
And did you know that there are different passport rules to abide by depending on which country you are travelling to? Your passport has to be valid for the duration of your stay, so take this into consideration if you're planning a mammoth travelling trip around Europe or Australia.
2. Keep up-to-date on your travel vaccinations
You might think you can skip this step, but contracting malaria or typhoid fever would ruin your trip and leave you bedridden. Diseases are prevalent in some countries. You may need to get travel vaccinations so you and your family can remain safe and healthy on your holiday. The vaccines you require will vary depending on where you are travelling to, so do your research before you set off and aim to get the vaccine at least six weeks before travelling. Some countries might even require you to have a yellow fever vaccination before they let you in.
3. Make sure you have the correct insurance
Did you know that in some countries, such as Thailand and Switzerland, travel insurance is an essential requirement if you want to visit? The belief is that if you can't afford insurance then you can't afford to travel in the first place. Anything can happen when you're abroad and if the worst should occur, it can end up costing you hundreds, if not thousands.
Health care in the US is twice as expensive than any other country in the world and if you find yourself injured without insurance in this country, you're sure to be left out of pocket. Travel insurance can protect you against injury, loss of luggage or even last-minute cancellations, so make this a priority, even if you have to get it when you're already overseas.
4. Pack appropriately
Instead of throwing items into a suitcase at the last minute, consider packing in advance to make sure you have all the essentials for the country you intend to visit. While it's tempting to pack all of your best clothes with your finest jewellery, this might not be a wise idea.
Aim for a more minimalist wardrobe, as it's possible for your luggage to get lost on the flight; not only this, finery might attract the attention of thieves. If you're travelling to a more conservative country such as the United Arab Emirates, make sure your clothes are appropriate and not too revealing.
5. Research the country you're travelling too
If it's your first time travelling abroad, or heading to a brand new location, it's common to experience culture shock and find it difficult to adapt to such a different environment. One way to combat this is to prepare yourself and do some preliminary research before you set off. If you're unfamiliar with the native language it might be worth memorising some keywords and phrases as the locals might not speak English, particularly in more rural areas.
