10 Tips for International Travel

Do you have a dream vacation in the works? Someplace you’ve always wanted to travel to and, now, you’re finally making it a reality? That’s wonderful! If it’s an international getaway, there are a few checks and balances you might want to review before you go. 

For example, will you need a visa to travel there? Also, is it cheaper and/or safer to book a hotel or an Airbnb? Together, let’s run down ten steps you can take to ensure everything goes smoothly, from beginning to end. 

Review Your Travel Documents

First things first. We need to ensure your travel documents are in order. When it comes to your passport, check the expiration date. Some countries won’t allow entry if it’s set to expire within the next six months. Then, double-check the visa requirements for the country you’re visiting. Do you need one just for a short vacation? To get you started, here are 10+ countries that require a visa for U.S. travelers. 

Download Offline Maps

Whether you’ll be driving or walking around your new destination, be sure to download Google offline maps on your phone. Since you don’t know how the Internet will be upon arrival, you want to ensure you always have access to your maps and directions. Simply tap your profile picture or initial in Google Maps, select “offline maps,” highlight the area you’d like to download, and tap “download.” 

Call Your Cell Phone Provider

Most companies like Verizon or T-Mobile have plans for international travel. So, it’s best to call to find out the details for adding an international plan to your existing contract. Alternatively, can you get by just by accessing free WiFi throughout your travels? Will that be enough? Or, perhaps the best route would be to buy a local SIM card. Start with your cell phone provider, see what they have to offer, and then you can make the best decision for your budget from there. 

Call Your Bank

Nowadays, with all the alerts we have set up, we don’t always have to call our bank prior to traveling. Sometimes the text alerts in place are enough. But, it doesn’t hurt to call. Let them know you’ll be traveling abroad and want to ensure all your cards will work immediately upon arrival. Sometimes, the best thing to do is purchase something small at the airport after you get off the plane – just to test and see that things are working properly.