20 Tips Before Traveling Internationally
If this is your first time traveling abroad, or maybe you just need a refresher here's a list of 20 tips you should do or bring before your trip.
Security & Health
- Bring copies of your passport. If your passport gets stolen or lost you want to be sure that you can still get back into the country, or be able to prove your citizenship.
- Leave a copy of your passport. For extra backup, leave a copy of your passport at home or with someone you trust. Consider making an electronic copy you can store in your email account as well.
- Check-in with your doctor and insurance carrier. Double check and make sure that you have all of the proper vaccinations and that you have renewed all essential prescriptions. Also, ask your medical insurance provider if your policy applies overseas for emergencies. If it doesn’t, and you want to add extra coverage, consider supplemental insurance.
Money
- Look up the monetary conversion before you go. Make sure you do your math before you travel to get a sense of where the conversion rate is at.
- Go to a bank or ATM. The conversion centers in the airport or around the city tend to be huge rip-offs. You won’t get charged as many fees at the ATM or the bank, and the conversion will be exact.
- Always have local cash. Not every place takes credit cards. Especially important places like trains or buses.
- Call your bank or credit card provider. Sometimes banks think that fraud maybe occurring if transactions are suddenly happening in Ireland when you’re from Missouri, and they will turn off your card as a security measure.
Local Research
- Get guidebooks. You will have some free time. You don't want to waste it. Guidebooks usually include maps, key words or phrases, and give you enough detail on certain sites that you won’t need to purchase the pamphlet at the venue.
- Download apps before you travel. Avoid downloading charges from your wireless carrier and get your apps before you leave.
- Research events going on while you’re there. This will help you make sure that you’re not missing be events going on in each city. Fun things like festivals, ceremonies and natural events. Also be sure to research as a few national dishes to try. You don’t want to leave the country without experiencing what its known for.
Electronics
- Bring a charger adapter. Countries have different size plugs and voltage. So if you want to use your iPod, make sure you can charge it.
- Check the voltage of your electronics. From my own experience I know that nothing is worse than having an adapter and still not being able to use a blow-dryer or a straightener because the voltage isn't high enough. Ireland uses the same adapter as the UK (three square pegs).
- Activate your phone’s global capabilities. There's usually a charge we doing this, but it is much less than the roaming charges you’ll get if you don’t.
- You can also purchase a SIM card to use while in Ireland. It is essentially a new number to use for local calls. This is what I will do.
- You will not find one cheaper than in the arrivals terminal at DUB. I've done this twice now. First - you need to call AT&T and get the unlock code and instructions for your phone.They have SIM cards at the Vodafone store in DUB. They are €10 and you get an €11 credit on calls - so they're essentially free. €0.15 calls to the US.If you take off the battery cover - you'll see the SIM card - quite small and nearly rectangular - save for a small diagonal in one corner.If you take your phone with your unlock code to the Vodafone store - they'll take care of installing it for you and power up your phone to make sure it works.
Luggage & packing
- Pack an extra set of clothes in your carry-on bag. Don’t be one of those travelers decked out in J’adore Paris apparel because the airline lost your luggage and you have nothing else to wear.
- To check a bag or not to check bag. Each airline has its own set of guidelines as to how many bags can be checked or carried on for free. Make sure to look up what your airline’s rules are to avoid any incremental fees.
- Bring snacks. Traveling abroad is fun, but eating in a foreign country can sometimes become a task. Bring small snacks that will tide you over until you find that perfect restaurant or food cart.
