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“Not all those who wander are lost” ~ J.R.R. Tolkien.
Wouldn’t you like to have the best experience of an international trip, whether for a holiday, study, work-related, or any other reason and whether you are a solo traveler or in a group? Planning an international trip can be great fun but overwhelming. You should do a few things before your next trip to make sure it goes as smoothly as possible. Check out the tips listed in this article to ensure that your vacation is smooth and enjoyable.
Here are seven essential tips to help you make the most of your next international trip, so you can clear it off your bucket list that you visited an international destination.
As per the international travel rules, your passport needs to be valid for six months from your date of travel. So, it is important to check the expiry date of your passport, and if it has expired, you can renew it before travelling or applying for a Visa.
Depending on which country or international tourist place you plan to visit, check out the visa rules in advance. For some countries, you need to apply for a visa before entering the country, and other countries allow the provision of getting the visa on arrival. It also depends on the kind of visa you are applying for. Different reasons for international travel have different formalities, timelines, and procedures, especially if you are travelling to top international tourist destinations. Applying for a multi-year visa will save a lot of time and money if you plan to travel to the same country multiple times in a year. So, it is best to plan your trip well in advance to avoid any last-minute delays and panic.
It is advisable to carry international currency in US$ or have local currency in your wallet. However, find out and be ready with various methods of online payments or cards. You may end up in a situation where your cash is exhausted, and you cannot buy the best gift for your loved ones as your cards are not applicable abroad and your bank has declined the transaction. So, before departing:
Tourists, students, employees, and business travelers have different limits on carrying cash and spending on international travel.
COVID-19 has changed the rules and regulations surrounding travel, and travel is no longer as straightforward as it was before the pandemic. Airlines, hotels, and local authorities in every country follow protocols to ensure that their staff and travelers are not exposed to unwanted health issues. Be sure to check with the airlines, hotels, and local authorities of the countries you are travelling to regarding their safety protocols. Keep your vaccination certificate copies handy to be shown at various travel points and at your destination to have a great international flight experience.
Keep your original documents safely in a bag. Make copies of your passport and visa. Keep one copy with you in a separate bag or pocket, and give the other copy to someone you trust back home. If you lose your passport, you must have a backup plan. The best strategy is to scan all your essential travel documents and store them in your email so that you can access them from anywhere. The process to get a temporary passport and return visa will be the same, but if you have extra photocopies of your identity and travel documents, it would be much faster.
Whether you have any pre-existing health issues or not, it is advisable to go for a check-up before your international travel to rule out the possibility of any disease or illness. No one wants to fall ill, especially in a foreign country where everything is unknown, so it is better to prepare for such circumstances. Check the details of your existing health plan if you have any; if not, buy the short-term health and travel policy. This policy varies from provider to provider and depends upon the duration of your stay in that country.
Depending on the destination you are planning to visit, take advice from your healthcare physician as to which vaccination is necessary according to the season and country. Do not leave it for the last day to get vaccinated, as many vaccinations require a week or more to start taking effect. Get your vaccinations done and carry the records on your trip.
If you are on any medication, carry that with you. You can carry extra stock, in case you extend your stay. Also, carry a handy safety kit of common medications, such as cold and flu medicines, diarrhea tablets, painkillers, ointment, etc. Before packing your medications, check whether they are permitted to be carried in the hand baggage. If not, carry one strip of each in the hand baggage and the remaining in the check-in luggage.
Pack all the required electronic gear for your international travel to stay connected with everyone back home.
Electrical outlets are not the same in all the countries, and the best is to invest in an adapter that can be helpful in different kinds of sockets. Check out beforehand the strength of the electrical current and its suitability for your devices like phone, laptop, camera, etc. If there is a difference and to avoid any damage to the devices, carry adaptable portable phone chargers and a spare set of batteries. It is very frustrating if you cannot connect with your family and friends while travelling or if you are unable to capture those memorable travel moments. Check with your service provider about the travel plan and connectivity for your destination, and also get international services activated at least two days in advance.
Pack your toiletries, clothes, footwear, accessories, and makeup as per the season and weather. It also depends on the kind of holiday and the destination you choose. For example, if you choose a beach holiday, you do not need a huge range of clothing, shoes, makeup, and hair styling products. Despite the destination, you select, pack light so that you can hop from city to city. All the airlines and countries have a list of objectionable items not allowed on the flight or in their country. Read all the updated information before you pack your bags, or you may face unnecessary delays at airports.
As it is said, a good traveler respects the values, cultures, and norms of the society, city, or country they visit. Many countries have strict rules on the type of clothing visitors can wear to enter a few monuments, shrines, or religious and cultural places. It is also advisable to be sensitive to the culture of the country you are visiting and check the way people like to be greeted.
Try to visit a country during a festival or some cultural celebration so that you can enjoy yourself like a local.
Whatever the reason may be for your international travel, leisure trip, holiday, business trip, travelling as a student, or job-related assignment, be sure to include some of the top tourist attractions in that country. Plan ahead to gain the best international travel experience while ticking another destination off your bucket list. There are plenty of articles and information on Cleartrip along with some great offers on flights & hotels booking, to help you plan and enjoy your international travel and stay in a new country. Explore the new and latest travel-related details.
Before you travel, ensure to check the documents you need, such as passport, travel visa, air ticket, COVID-19-related information like vaccination certificate, foreign currency, travel insurance, address of stay in the destination, etc.
Along with all the essential and mandatory travel documents, you must have a COVID-19 vaccination certificate and follow the destination country’s protocols and guidelines.
Select a country with an affordable cost of living and opt for a course/program with a good job market in that country. Check the work permit status in advance. You require it once you finish your studies. Apply for scholarships and grants.
Who does not want to have a great travel deal? As they say, money saved is money earned. If you get a good deal, the money you save here can be spent shopping or trying out new authentic and unique cuisines of the region you are visiting. Search for best deals at Cleartrip, and voilà, you save time and amount in doing so.
Do not forget to carry sunscreen, an umbrella, torch, first aid kit, toothpaste, phone charger, batteries, laundry bag, sunglasses, lip balm, memory card, handy snacks, copies of your travel documents, extra pair of clothes, power cords, etc.
