Travelling around the world can be an awesome experience that will last you and your travel mates a lifetime. While spontaneity in taking on adventures is a great thing, a little bit of planning can go a long way. Taking note of tips for travelling abroad can help you to have a smoother transition from your usual life to that of a foreign country whether for a short break or a few months out.
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Don’t forget insurance
While abroad, you will want to ensure you are covered for emergencies. Chances are that you will or have planned to purchase personal protection insurance. So, if you find yourself in need of medical care or other emergency assistance, you can rest a little easier knowing you will be covered. Speaking of medical emergencies, there are certain countries that will require you to have vaccinations to protect you from getting sick. Visit the travel health site to learn more about this.
Have a copy of your passport
You will need to have the original document in order to travel, but you should also have a copy to make sure you can prove citizenship should it get lost or stolen. As well as taking a copy with you, keep one back home with a trusted family member or friend. For extra protection some people scan and send the copy to their email address so that it can be accessed anywhere where there is an internet connection.
Embassy registration
Although you can walk into an embassy abroad and ask for help should you need it, it’s a good idea to register before you leave. This will mean that if you encounter any problems it will be easier for your government to get in touch and ensure your safety without delay.
Finances when travelling abroad
- Keep an eye on the conversion rates to ensure you have enough money with you to last your trip. The rates can change often which could leave you short or cause you to bust your budget. Don’t assume the rates will be the same as last time you travelled or checked. Although most people have now got the new chip and pin bank cards, there are still a few that hold the magnetic strip type. These are not accepted in some countries, which is why it is a good idea to either upgrade to a chip and pin or check beforehand that your card will be accepted.
- Rather than using the airport to convert your money, use the ATM’s or banks in the country you are travelling to to save money on fees. Check that you also have local currency in hard cash on you in case you need it for travelling on public transport or need to purchase items from places that do not accept cards.
- Let your bank know that you are travelling abroad. Understandably these days, banks are up on fraud. Card companies can perceive purchases made abroad as fraud and you will have to phone the bank to get the problem resolved which is something you don’t want happening in the middle of a purchase. The resolution could takes hours or even days leaving you with no access to your funds while abroad, especially if the card gets cancelled.
