How To Plan An Overseas Adventure
Many people find that traveling overseas can be a wonderful, liberating experience, and that everyone should do it at least once in their lifetime. However, there are some important steps you need to take to ensure that you take care of everything before you leave. By using the tips below, you can make appropriate travel plans that will give you a wonderful and positive experience you'll be excited to tell your family and friends about.
Research where you're going from people who aren't inherently trying to sell you something. Though travel agents can be wonderful and informative, nothing is more honest than the blogs and online journals of people who have actually been there. Look at blogs, pictures, and travel writing samples of people who have visited where you are going to better get a feel for where you want to go.
Plan your accommodations carefully. If you know someone in the country you plan on visiting, they should be your first contact regarding where you will stay. See if they can help you by hosting you for a time, or see if they can recommend any low-cost lodging. If you do not know anyone in the country, consider hostels instead of hotels. Hostels are much cheaper, and will allow you to meet other travelers.
Get travel insurance, particularly if you plan on doing any kind of action sports abroad, or if you are going hiking, surfing, swimming, et cetera. These little steps can be very helpful in getting you emergency medical attention overseas, without any out-of-pocket expense while you are there.
Register your contact information online, and be sure everyone who may need to contact you in the case of emergency (or vise vera) can reach you. Be sure, before you leave, that you have a means to contact people and that it will work abroad.
Check to ensure that you have the correct and necessary documentation to go abroad at all. You will need, chiefly, a passport, but depending on what you plan on doing in the other country or how long you plan to stay, you may also need a visa or other permit that will grant you access to the country and its facilities.
Make copies of your visa, passport, driver's license, insurance information, and contact information. Keep these with your luggage, in case your wallet gets stolen or misplaced in the country you are visiting. This is crucial, because without your identification, it can be very difficult to prove that you are who you say you are, and that you will be able to return home without hassle.
Check and consult with your doctor about all the necessary vaccinations you may need. Especially if you are visiting a country where malaria is a problem, you will want vaccinations that will prepare you to go abroad. Tetanus shots and other vaccines may also be a good idea.
Leave a detailed itinerary with a friend so that, if something bad happens in that country while you are there (natural disaster, explosion, et cetera) they will be able to place where you will be, and know if you are safe or if there is cause for alarm.
By taking some time to plan ahead, you can ensure that you will have a wonderful trip abroad, and gain some insight from your safe adventure overseas.
