Your trip abroad is around the corner. But have you covered all the pre-trip essentials?
You’re busy checking the weather for your destination, imaging the food you’ll eat, and the fun you’ll have. But you need to do more. There are basic preparatory steps one should take whenever leaving your home country.
Here are five tips to get you started.
- Photocopy your passport and bring a copy with you. If your passport is lost or stolen, this will facilitate getting a replacement. A secondary precaution is to leave a copy of your passport at home with a family member or friend.
- Notify credit card companies and your bank of your travel plans. This can be helpful even when travelling in the U.S., as some credit card companies require a merchant to call for verification if you are outside your home area.
- Figure out the appropriate charging adaptors for the countries you plan to visit and bring them. I recommend packing your electronic device charging cords and adaptors in your carry-on luggage. Spending time hunting for replacement cords is usually not a fun vacation activity.
- Buy tickets for events and attractions in advance for your “must see or do” plans. The large museums often sell timed tickets through their websites. The line for ticketholders is considerably shorter than the one for same day ticket sales, plus you do not want to encounter a sold-out attraction.
- Spend time determining your communication plan. Roaming fees for phone usage and data charges for texting can be prohibitive. There are a number of ways to communicate: email, an international phone and/or text plan through your U.S. mobile carrier, SKYPE, and international mobile texting through apps, to name a few. For short trips, a great plan is to relax and “unplug” during your vacation, and only communicate for serious emergencies!
Whew! Sounds complicated, doesn’t it? Oh, and one more thing—while you address these “to dos” before your trip, take time to indulge in the pleasure of anticipating the fun ahead! Buon Viaggio!