22 things you have to prepare carefully before travel abroad (Part 1)

The key to traveling abroad is being prepared. Before you jet off to faraway lands, take care of these important to-dos. If this is your first time traveling abroad, or maybe you just need a refresher, follow this guide to ensure that your finances are in order, you’ve packed appropriately and your travel plans will go off without a hitch.

Health

1. Check-in with your doctor and insurance carrier. Double check and make sure that you have all of the proper vaccinations and that you have renewed all essential prescriptions. Also, ask you medical insurance provider if your policy applies overseas for emergencies. If it doesn’t, and you want to add extra coverage, consider supplemental insurance.

Make sure that you prepare your health carefully before travelling abroad

2. Buy travel insurance

Before you travel, check your health insurance policy to see if it includes international coverage. If not, consider buying a short-term policy that will cover you while you’re abroad, in case something should happen. Similarly, a smart way to protect your trip and your money is to purchase travel insurance. Policies and coverage vary from provider to provider, but the basic idea is that you can have your money refunded if your trip has to be cancelled, postponed, or cut short for any number of reasons.

3. Get vaccinated and stock up on meidcine.

Depending on where you’re going, you may need to get special vaccines or medications as a precaution against various diseases. For the most comprehensive and up-to-date medical recommendations, check the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s website, which also lists health advisories by country. In addition, if you routinely take any prescription medication, make sure you have enough to cover the duration of your travels so that you don’t run out while you’re overseas. Finally—and especially if you’re going to any remote regions—it’s wise to pack non-prescription medicines (aspirin, Imodium, etc.) that may not be easy to find.

Security

4. Make sure your passport and visa are up to date

Most countries require that your passport be valid for six months after your return date. The State Department recommends that you renew your passport no less than nine months before it’s set to expire.

Prepare your passport and visa, leave a copy at home and save another copy in your mail before travelling abroad

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5. Bring copies of your passport. If your passport gets stolen or lost you want to be sure that you can still get back into the country, or be able to prove your citizenship.

6. Leave a copy of your passport. For extra backup, leave a copy of your passport at home or with someone you trust. Consider making an electronic copy you can store in your email account as well.

7. Register with your embassy. If there’s a problem in the country, this will make it easier for your government to contact you and get you to safety.

Money

Make sure that your credit card will work in the country you’re visiting and prepare local cash before travelling abroad

8. Make sure your credit card will work in the country you’re visiting. European banks have switched almost completely to the more secure chip-and-PIN technology, and fewer businesses abroad are accepting the outdated magnetic-strip cards.

9. Go to a bank or ATM in the country you’re visiting. The conversion centers in the airport or around the city tend to be huge rip-offs. You won’t get charged as many fees at the ATM or the bank, and the conversion will be exact.

10. Always have local cash. Not every place takes credit cards. Especially important places like trains or buses.

11. Call your bank or credit card provider. Sometimes banks think that fraud maybe occurring if transactions are suddenly happening in Bali when you’re from Jersey, and they will turn off your card as a security measure.

12. Check the country’s entrance/exit fees. Some countries require travelers to pay in order to enter or leave the country. These fees are not included in the price of your airline ticket, and can range from $25 to $200.