Embarking on a journey across the world can be the adventure of a life-time, but it can quickly turn into a nightmare if you are not prepared to deal with unexpected situations. As much as we enjoy traveling, getting organized can be a pretty daunting task. While it may be possible to survive without your favorite T-Shirt or underwear, there is nothing more frustrating than forgetting your passport, or papers at home. This is exactly why it is vital to prepare a list of necessary items well in advance.
The Overseas Travel Checklists should also include a comprehensive itinerary, proof of vaccinations and travel medications, and of course, a visa, when needed. There are a number of countries that cannot be accessed without it: Canadian travel visas are not that hard to obtain, but the Brazil Tourist visa is an entirely different story. Also, before you can experience the lush wildlife of one of the most exotic continents, you will have to register an Australian travel visa application.
As you can see, every country has a specific set of rules which will make overseas traveling a bit difficult. Here is a quick check-list of items and documents that you should never forget, as well as a few tricks that will ensure safe travel abroad.
Overseas Travel Checklist #1: A couple of Months Before the Trip
Every trip begins with careful planning. When you think about what to take when traveling abroad, you should not only focus on clothes, jewelry and other trivial stuff. There are many other items and problems to consider. It doesn’t matter if you are planning to travel abroad alone, or commit to traveling for a year, because the following items on the check-list are vital for every situation:
- Check, and Re-Check Your Itinerary: As dreadful as it can be to create the perfect itinerary, it is important, especially if you are traveling on a budget. Make sure that all the dates, baggage allowance, seat allocations, and destinations are correct. You will have to deal with them sooner or later (preferably sooner).
- Make Sure Your Passport is Valid for 6 More Months: You simply cannot leave the country without a valid passport. What countries do you need a passport for? When do you need passport? These questions require answers. Also make sure that you have up-to-date photos for it.
- Take care of Travel Insurance: It is irresponsible to not have insurance when traveling overseas. It is the only way to protect yourself from unexpected events. Keep in mind that home and medical insurance might be enough to protect your baggage and health.
- Book accommodations well in advance: Booking accommodations in a timely manner can help you save money, and avoid the unpleasant situation of having nowhere to spend the night. You can compare multiple hotels on the map, and pin-point the best deal for your needs.
- Talk to Your Doctor About Vaccinations & Travel Medication: If you read traveling South America traveling tips, or Australia traveling tips you will see that certain regions require vaccinations for additional protections. Other regions require medication to combat diseases like Malaria. Consult with your doctor in advance.
- Arrange Car Hire: Taxi’s are extremely costly overseas. Buses and other public means of transportation may also add-up to the cost of your trip. The most affordable way to travel in a foreign country is by far the cheapest way to move around. Shop around for car rental services in the area.
Overseas Travel Checklist #2: One Week Before the Trip
With less than a week until the great adventure you must be excited. However, don’t get too excited because there are still some things that you should take care of. Before you go through the checklist, head on to the best international travel site for more information about your destination. Here’s what you should take care of until the time comes:
- Check out the Immigration rules and Customs of the Countries you will be entering: As we already mentioned, every country has different rules, and to each their own. It is important to read about the policies and entry requirements for each.
- Think About Carry-on and Checked Luggage: Carry-on luggage has a lot of restrictions and conditions. Make sure it only includes essential items like ticket, wallet etc. Checked luggage also has certain restrictions: if it is overweight you will be charged an extra fee. Secure your items with a lock, and have the luggage labeled with your contact details. There is also a list of prohibited items in carry-on luggage. To see it, head to the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) website.
- Obtain Local Currency: Even the worth of a taxi drive is enough for when you land. Once you are there, there are plenty of ATM’s and foreign exchange location.
- Note the Location of US Embassies: You never know what may happen, so it is a good idea to learn where the US embassies are. They will help you immensely if you run into problems abroad.
- Re-Check Your Important Documents and Itineraries: A few things you should not be caught dead without are your passport, credit card, itinerary, traveler’s cheques, insurance documents, and travel visas. Make photocopies of them and put them in a separate bag.
Overseas Travel Checklist #3: A few Days Before the Trip
You’re almost ready to set off! There are only a few things that you must take care of. We will not go through the baggage list, because you can find it online (by the way, here’s a good list). There are only three things to remember:
- Double Check the Paper-work: We know that it’s like the hundred time we tell you about this, but you will thank us. Double-check your passport, insurance paperwork, photos, tickets, ID, itinerary, traveler’s cheques, Visas and credit cards. It’s your last chance!
- Plan Transportation to the Airport Wisely: If your plane arrives at a given time, you should be there 2-3 hours before it leaves, especially for international flights. If you are traveling from another city, calculate the time with a one hour error.
- Pack Light: It is vital to pack light and wear comfortable clothing and footwear, especially if you are preparing for a long international flight.
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