The Practical Steps to Travel
Travelling to a faroff land comes with a great sense of mystery, adventure and wonder. But don’t let all of this stop you from thinking about all the practical steps you need to take before actually embarking on your journey. Whether you just plan to go for a short period of time or are intending to be away for a significant stretch, you should still go through the same process to make sure you are completely ready. If you are not a regular traveller, this can help to put your mind at ease and become ready for the various trials and complications that can occur on the road. Here are a few practical considerations to make before travelling.
Security and Health
The most important steps you can take before travelling to a foreign land involve making sure your security and health are protected. You should double check with your doctor to ensure you have all of the necessary vaccinations and that you have renewed all of your prescriptions. Make sure that you pack a first aid kit with all the essentials that you can think about including. As well as this, you should also apply for the right insurance policy that keeps you covered should you become injured or unwell. Bring copies of your passport to prove your citizenship and have an electronic copy available should you need this at any point. If you want to be fully prepared, you can register with the embassy so that the government can contact you and get you to safety if you encounter any problems while abroad.
Money
Making sure that you have sufficient funds before embarking on your trip should be right near the top of your list of priorities. If you can’t afford the trip in one go, ensure you have a plan in place of how you will obtain the money whether by borrowing or browsing for small loans for people with bad credit. Most importantly, make sure you have a clear and detailed plan of how you will pay it back. Look up the monetary conversion rate of the place you plan to go so you are completely comfortable with this. Double check to make sure your credit card will work in the place you are visiting and that you will be able to access emergency funds should you need them. If you are not a regular traveller, contact your bank so they will know you are abroad and won’t cancel your card thinking it has been stolen.
Local Research
If you make a plan for the place you visit, you will feel a lot more comfortable with the trip. Buying tickets in advance for any places you want to visit will help you skip the lines and make sure you don’t miss out on anything. Getting a guidebook will give you a fuller picture of the place you are travelling to. Research events before you get there so you get the most out of your time there.
Electronics
As electronics are such a big part of the travelling experience these days, it makes sense to ensure you have all the chargers and adaptors that you need to keep everything running. You should also think about downloading some useful maps on your smartphone that can help you out with the trip. For example, you can get Maps.Me which allows you to download the map of the place you are visiting and access it offline. Other useful apps include ones like Duolingo that teach you the local language, as well as the host of city guides that are out there.
Luggage and Packing
If you are flying to get to your destination, it makes sense to pack a change of clothes in your hand luggage so you don’t end up with nothing to wear if your suitcase happens to get lost! Each airline has different rules about how much luggage you are able to take so make sure you are aware of the rules before flying. If you are embarking on a long journey, make sure to bring snacks with you to tide you over before getting there. Pack appropriate clothing based on the weather forecast, but be prepared to battle the elements if things suddenly take an unexpected turn. Bringing an umbrella doesn’t take up a huge amount of space and you may end up being very grateful you had the foresight to bring one!
