Before You Go:
Packing
Clothes ~ This is going to greatly differ depending on if you're going abroad or staying in country. Let's say you're going international. Assuming you did research on the country you're going to beforehand, what will the weather be like when you're there? If it's a place that is hot year round, bringing a heavy jacket is not necessary. If it's winter time and the temperatures average out to be freezing, you probably won't need shorts and thongs. Especially with international travel, a lot of people tend to over pack. A wise piece of advice I was given before going to Ireland was to lay out all the clothes you think you'll need and only pack about half of them. This also depends on the type of travelling you're doing. If you're doing the backpacker thing for weeks or months at a time, less is more. If you're going on vacation to a resort, you could pack a little extra (but try and leave space for bringing back souvenirs). In both situations, be aware that you have to carry whatever you bring. A good clothes packing list includes (of course this also depends on what you'll be doing):- 2-3 pairs of pants
- 3-4 shirts
- Nicer outfit for special occasion
- Socks
- Underwear
- 1 pair of everyday shoes and possibly 1 other for nicer occasions
- If staying in hostels, shower thongs and a microfiber towel will make life easier
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| Packing Sucks |
*Side note, pack nail clippers.
Medication is another thing to be aware of and I'm going to throw it into the toiletries category. Restrictions vary country to country but to make things simple, if it's not essential, don't bring it. Any drug must be kept in its original container/packaging, only the necessary amount for the length of the trip should be brought, and although not always required, a doctor's note/prescription should accompany any medicine just in case. Nothing screams "drug smuggler" to boarder security as much as large amount of pills in an unlabeled Ziploc bag. It's important to declare medicine (if required) before going through customs.
Outlet/Power Adapters ~ Outlet adapters are a must if travelling abroad. Different countries have different electrical sockets and an adapter is likely needed to be able to plug in home electronics. This is an easy thing to figure out by doing a quick Google search of "outlet adapter for country." Adapters can be bought online or in store. The cheapest ones I found were on Amazon. You only need 1 or 2 of these unless you plan on bringing heaps of electronics. To save some space/money, remember that if you bring a computer, you can charge many electronics via the computer's USB ports which means you won't need as many plug adapters. Another thing that makes life a lot easier (and if you have the luggage space) is to bring a power strip from your home country. That way you'll only need 1 adapter and can plug in your electronics like normal.
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| USA to Australia Plug Adapter |
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| Laptop Power Converter |
Logistics
Tell Your Bank
A very important thing to remember is letting your bank know you're going abroad. If you all of a sudden start trying to use your credit/debit card in, say, Switzerland, your bank is almost for sure going to freeze your account and reversing it can be a pain. All you have to do is call your bank and tell them your travel dates and where you'll be going and they'll put a note on your account. Some banks let you do this online.
Make Some Copies
One of my worst fears traveling is losing my passport or bank cards. Although there's no way to entirely prevent this from happening, if you make copies of your cards/passport, it will make things a lot easier if the unfortunate happens. I carry a copy of my passport in a separate bag from the original and give my parents copies of my bank cards.
Cell Phone
Alright. Let's chat about cell phones, more specially smart phones. There are some very cheap/free ways to use your phone abroad and some very expensive ways to do so.The most expensive and, for lack of a better word, stupidest way is to simply use your phone as normal (assuming it has roaming capabilities). Do not do this. You will have a heart attack when you see your bill. It's pretty easy to find stories online of people being ignorant about travelling with their phone and racking up tens of thousands of dollars in cell phone bills because of it.
The free way is to simply turn your phone to airplane mode and keep it there for the length of your trip. This way you can still connect to WiFi (meaning you can use the internet/apps) and won't get charges from your phone company (this is what I did in Ireland). Of course with airplane mode turned on, you won't be able to send text messages, call people, or use data. However, there are numerous apps that run off WiFi and allow you to do these things. My favorites are Viber, which lets you call and text others with it, and Messenger which lets you video call/voice call/message people with Facebook. Other popular options are Whatsapp and Skype. If you have an iPhone, you can still send iMessages and use FaceTime as long as you're connected to the internet. Another potential downside to relying on WiFi is not being able to use map functions while out and about. There are some apps that will work offline and provide you with maps. I haven't used any but have heard good things about PocketEarth. While talking about offline apps, Word Lens is great for travelling in a country with a different language. You take a picture of a sign/menu and it will translate it to another language (I just checked my phone and apparently Word Lens is no longer a thing and has been replaced by the Google Translate app).
If you still want/need to be able to use a phone as normal, you're going to want a local, prepaid, SIM card. First, you'll need to unlock your phone. An unlocked phone allows you to put any SIM into your phone whereas a locked phone won't accept any SIM card besides the carrier's. At least in the US, this can be a bit of a hassle. Most companies won't allow you to unlock a phone until the contract terms are up. If you are able to get an unlocked phone, take it to your destination, buy a local SIM card, and insert into your phone. Bam. Your phone will work just like it did in your home country. In terms of what SIM card to get, that could be a whole post in itself. To keep it short, I'll just say do some Googling about best prepaid SIM cards in whatever country you're visiting. I only pay about $23/month and have 2GB of data and unlimited calling and texting using Amaysim here in Australia.
If you don't want to deal with getting a local SIM card but still want to save money, many phone companies have international plans. These are going to save you a lot as opposed to roaming but they can still be expensive. All you have to do is let the phone company know and they can get you set up, if available. The cost will depend on your phone carrier.
Print Out Your Details
Not an essential step but printing or writing out details such as your accommodation address, directions, transportation confirmations/itinerary, and anything else you may need in the travelling process may be beneficial. For example, on a lot of incoming passenger cards you're asked for your local address. Having this handy will prove helpful.
Final Steps:
Educate Yourself
Now that the big things are dealt with, try and learn a little more about the place you'll be going! Find out more about the history. Figure out some local social norms/etiquette (I always look up how tipping works). If going to a place where they speak a different language, learn the basics like "please" and "thank you." In my experience, little things like these not only help you but it makes the locals appreciate you more.
Especially if you come from a country that has a heavy influence around the world (e.g. the US), try and brush up on your home country as well. Chances are very high someone will ask you about your country's governmental policies or history and it doesn't look very good when you have no idea yourself.
Double Check
A few days before you head off, double check everything! Make sure flights, ground transport, accommodation, visa status, and anything else you've already booked is good to go. It would be a bit of a bummer to find out your flight was moved up 2 hours or your hotel booking never actually went through the day you leave. It never hurts to print off boarding passes at this time, too. Also, make sure you have your passport.
Enjoy the Trip
That's it! All of that work is done and now the only thing left to do is relax and enjoy your upcoming adventure.
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Wow that was long. I've got some good updates but those can wait until next time. Have a good week!
That's all for now. Bye.
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