There is nothing more exciting than planning an overseas trip. The thought of engaging yourself in a new culture, disconnecting from your normal friends and routine, and meeting new kinds of people is all but exhilarating. Spending extra time to plan your trip is an essential part of its success. Once you are sure of your destination, the following six tips would be necessary to make it more fun and unforgettable. If you are thinking about travel planning an overseas trip take a look at this article. These tips might help you make it better.
How to Plan an Overseas Trip
Check Visa and Passport requirements
Doing extensive research on visa and passport requirements for the country you plan to visit could save you a lot of time and trouble overseas. Some countries have strict guidelines and policies that you might find interesting. A perfect example is the case of France. The country requires visitors to have passports that are valid for a further six months at the time they travel there. VisaMapper.com makes this really easy.
Plan your stay
Once you arrive at your destination, you need to have planned where you will spend the first night and the means of transport to that place. You also need to understand the location of your country’s embassy just in case something goes wrong. Note the addresses of locations you plan on visiting such as museums, parks, restaurants and other attractions. Do it in Ever note, but take a paper copy too, as an internet connection could be unreliable at best if traveling in a developing country.
Review of travel alerts and warnings
The most important aspect once you are away from home is safety. You simply cannot ignore such information when traveling overseas. There could be political unrest, national wide strikes, or even terror-related activities. Having a clear picture of the type of ambiance you will plunge into will go a long way to ensuring you come back home safe and sound. Most governments maintain their own lists of warnings. Here are links to travel warnings for US, UK, and Australian travelers.
Learn key phrases
Chances are that you may be traveling to a country that does not use English as the native language. In order to bond well with locals and make your trip enjoyable, learn to pronounce important phrases such as thank you, how are you, and how much is this. Stuck? Get yourself a translation app.
Form a daily budget
Consider your budget and the number of days you plan on staying abroad. Divide the money you have equitably with respect to the places you need to visit each day so that you don’t go way out of budget.
Have travel insurance
Travel insurance serves as a useful precaution in the unlikely event that you need medical attention during your trip. Although of course, we all hope we end up not needing trip cover, it is always advisable to go that extra mile to ensure you have that essential peace of mind while abroad. There are a lot of horror stories out there, so choose a reliable company for your travel insurance (and check the small print). Just make sure you are aware of what is covered and, more importantly, what isn’t. If you’re already an expatriate and have international cover, then travel insurance may be included. (Click here for an example of what international PMI covers in terms of travel and short-term stays overseas).
Accommodation and flights
Plan your accommodation well to save extra time and money once you travel abroad. Compare packages offered by different hotels with convenience and security in mind. Some hotels charge astronomical prices during weekends and you don’t want to get involved with such packages. Also, plan your flights well to minimize the chances of missed flights. Give yourself added waiting time to ensure traffic jams and other eventualities do not halt your travel.
