Planning an international trip could be exhausted. There are many details that you should be accomplished before depart. You can start to make a to do list with deadline. Things like renew passport or make a visa could take months. Therefore, you need to start early.

Here are some list that will help you planning the next international trip.

• Notify your bank/credit card

Imagine when you came at your holiday destination, you want to buy something with your card. Furthermore, it is declined because you are out of service or locked.

Some banks and credit cards automatically locked when used in different country, unless you notify them about your travel abroad. At some bank, you can go online and request travel notification to be added to your account, so that your transactions are not suspected.

Some credit card companies are no longer need travel notification because of the chip technology. However, it is better you check first.

• Check your international cell phone

If you want to use your cell phone abroad, better you check your provider about terms and conditions. Therefore, you are not getting shocked while coming back and have to pay the bill. If it is too much expensive, you can consider to use local provider at your destination.

• Scan a passport copy

It is important to save a passport copy on your phone or drive. In case you lost or stolen the physical passport.

• Check the travel warning or advise from government

Your government might issue travel warning or advise to some countries. Even you might not concern, but it provides an overview of the condition. You also can assess health and environment condition at certain countries.

• Confirm visa/entry requirement

Check about visa/entry requirements of your destination to prepare it. Some visa might need months to get it. Many countries require traveler’s passport to have at least 6 months of validity to enter. You may also need certain numbers of blank pages for a passport stamp and visa.

• Get out cash

Cash is king is really true, especially when traveling. Do not only rely on ATM machines. It could be broken or hard to fine. It is better to have some cash on local currency. If you do not find money changer at your country, at least you bring some cash to start your trip.

Make a note of the exchange rate before you travel, so that you can recognize a bad rate when you see one. You can try to make a quick note on your phone of how much $1, $5, $10, $20, $50, and 100$ is in the local currency, so you can make a quick count of how much something costs without having to do an exact calculation. Or, you can download currency app that can be used offline.

• Learn important local phrase

Learning local language always save you when you traveling abroad. If you are not fluent, try to memorize daily phrases, like ‘hello’, ‘sorry’, ‘thank you’ and something like that. It is not only for better communication, but also for your own safety. You should not see clueless when you travel. Unless, you ready to be fraud target.

• Save your trip information online

Before you travel, make a note on your phone about your information, like flight number, rental car, hotel, your itinerary, or destination address. I usually bring my notebook and a pen to write down any information, except note at my phone. Phone can be run out of batteries, so better to be ready if can not online and need some important numbers.

• Find out what plugs the destination uses

Do not forget to bring your universal travel adapter because not all hotel will have USB chargers. Therefore, you should know what type of plugs at your destination.

• Create airport transportation plan

First time arrival might be hard because you have not known yet. You might end up at overprice taxi. That’s why you should do some research about the first transportation from airport to your accommodation. At least you know where the legal taxi is and how much price to your destination.

You might find cheaper transportation, like local trains or buses. However, you should note the time arrival of that transportations. You do not want end up staying whole night in the airport to wait the bus on the next morning.

Source:

 https://www.smartertravel.com/things-to-do-before-international-trip/