It is common for travellers from one country to travel and settle into another, but there are many factors that you must consider when travelling overseas. Regardless of how familiar you may be with the destination or your cultural knowledge of their customs, it’s essential to do some research before embarking on such an adventure.
Travelling can be a great experience, but it can also be stressful. Travelling to a new country is even more so. What should you pack? Where will you stay? There are many things that you need to keep in mind before travelling abroad for the first time. Here are some tips and tricks for making travelling easier!
Carry-All Your Necessary Documents
One of the most important things to keep in mind when travelling is carrying all your necessary documents. For example, suppose you are a citizen from one country and visiting another. In that case, you must have copies or originals of any identity document and your passport with at least six months validity left before the expiry date for every single day of your stay in the foreign country.
If anything goes wrong while abroad, it can help authorities identify who you are and where they should return home to get processed. They include driver licenses, birth certificates, passports (or another travel document), and visas (if applicable). It might also be an idea to carry a copy of these documents on hand just in case something happened, such as theft or loss whilst abroad.
If you are not a citizen of the country you are visiting, it is important to research if your destination requires visas. Some countries require that all visitors have valid passports and visas before they can enter the county. Countries such as Australia and Canada will use ETA (Electronic Travel Authorization) for citizens of certain nations to screen visa requirements or any potential risks associated with them travelling there. Still, other destinations may be stricter on these regulations, so check beforehand if possible.
Research the Country Before
It’s essential to study up on the country before travelling. Learn about the culture, landmarks and customs so that you know what to expect when you arrive. It will make your travels more enjoyable because it’ll be more manageable knowing what to do in certain situations or how people might react if you say something wrong. You can also get a sense of whether or not this is somewhere where you want to spend time exploring and getting lost!
Learn some basic phrases from the local language, too, so that locals won’t just try guessing at your meaning through gestures alone (plus they may appreciate being able to understand English!). The Lonely Planet website has an excellent section for travel advice in each country with helpful information such as safety guidelines, common scams, cultural norms and customs, and other helpful tips.
Carry-All Your Essential Items
Carrying all your essential items should be a no-brainer. However, it is necessary to have some of these things on you at all times for when emergencies happen. These are passport, insurance, and copies of a travel itinerary with contact numbers in case something happens while travelling or a spare pair of glasses or contact lenses if needed. You will also need a prescription medication (if any), bandages/gauze pads/plasters, painkillers and sunscreen lotion since mosquitoes can carry diseases like malaria and the Zika virus, respectively, not forgetting sunburn cream too!
Don’t forget the essential items, like the necessary clothes and things you will need to pack before leaving. For example, it will be a pity if you arrive at your destination and want to go swimming, but you do not have your favourite swimwear from Kenzo for Men. Your research will help you greatly in packing accordingly. Also, have a checklist that will keep you abreast of your packing.
Convert Your Money
A wise decision to make before you leave would be to convert your money. Currency rates change often, and if the conversion rate is unfavourable when you get there, it can cause financial stress for an already challenging situation. Make sure that you are preloaded with a credit card of the country’s currency so that all transactions will go smoothly without any issues on arrival.
Book Accommodations Early
Booking your accommodations early is a great way to not only get the best deals but also save yourself from waking up in the middle of the night with nowhere to sleep.
The earlier you book the spots, the better chance you will negotiate for cheaper rates. You may want to contact locals through Couchsurfing or Airbnb and ask if they have any recommendations on where to stay while travelling around their country. If communication poses an issue, email them or leave a voicemail about what type of accommodation you want. It can help narrow down where exactly you need to go to make everything easier for both parties involved!
Learn the Country’s Local Language
Language barriers can be a challenge when travelling to new countries, and it’s never too early to start learning the local language. The more you know about your destination country, the easier time you will have adjusting. Canada is one of those destinations that welcome English speakers with open arms! If you are visiting other parts of the world like Brazil or Spain, for example – make sure to brush up on your knowledge before heading off on vacation.
Get Vaccinated
Travelling to a new country may come with many unknowns. One of the most important things you can do is get vaccinated before traveling. Visit your doctor and make sure all vaccinations are up-to-date, especially for diseases like yellow fever or hepatitis A/B, which may be present in some countries. Even if they’re not, it’s still better to err on the side of caution and prevent these illnesses from making an appearance!
Also, remember that travelling abroad means being exposed to different strains of bacteria than what is at home. So always drink plenty of water when travelling (bottled water) and try not to wear clothes too often without washing them first as this could lead to skin infections such as impetigo.
Conclusion
In conclusion, it is essential to research your destination, pack as light as possible and have all necessary documents on hand. These are the basic tasks that will help you have a fun vacation.
This is a contributed post.
