When traveling abroad, there are thousands of questions you may have about how, when, and why to do it. How do I get there? When should I go? Why is the flight so expensive? Where should I stay? How do I protect myself abroad? How do I pack for my trip? These questions can be overwhelming and keep us from traveling at times. When considering whether to travel abroad, make sure you know the answers to the following four questions and you will be well on your way to a safe and fun adventure.
1) Do I need a visa or passport to travel abroad?
Whenever you travel abroad, you must first obtain a passport. A passport is a document issued by the country you live in that allows you to be identified no matter where you are in the world. A visa is different. It is a card that is placed in your passport that is required to enter certain countries you are not a citizen of. It is required to enter the United States if you are not a citizen, for example. Here is a great resource on visas.
2) Do I need to take any medical precautions before traveling abroad?
Once you have decided what health concerns may be an issue in your country or choice, you will want to get the shots necessary for going to that country. Use this resource to help you decipher what you need to do. If you are going to Africa, for example, it is important to get a shot to keep you from getting Malaria.
3) What is travel insurance, and do I need it?
Travel insurance is insurance that covers flight cancellations, emergency evacuations, accidental death or dismemberment, accidents while traveling, lost luggage, or medical costs. This type of insurance can cover you either domestically or internationally. You can obtain travel insurance from World Nomads, InsureMyTrip.com, Allianz Travel Insurance, Nationwide, American Express, Travel Guard, or an assortment of other companies, which can be found online. Whether you should get travel insurance is entirely personal. Some companies offer nice packaged deals, such a World Nomads, while others offer more customizable packages, such as InsureMyTrip.com. If you are already covered by your health insurance for domestic and foreign trips, this will significantly impact your trip. Take a look at all the activities you will partake in, where you will sleep, what you will eat, the people you will be around, and you can start to see if sickness or harm may come your way. This will help you to make the decision of what kind of travel insurance, or lack thereof, that you will need.
4) How do I pack my bag for a trip?
This all depends on how long you will be going away and where you are going. If you are going somewhere within a few hours of driving distance for the weekend, then you only need to pack one bag full. If you are traveling further away, somewhere where you may need to use a plane to access it, then you may need multiple bags and a carry on pack. The five main categories of packing items can be broken down into clothing, toiletries, electronics, traveling essentials, and miscellaneous items.
Traveling can be overwhelming if you do not know what you are doing or where you are going. But with a little research and support, you can plan an epic trip that will be nothing but fun moving forward. Where have you travelled abroad? Do you have any questions about how to travel abroad? Tweet me @MikusKins!