Things You Need to Do Before Traveling Abroad

Traveling to a foreign country is a big deal. For some people, it is the event of a lifetime. It is best to be prepared to head off any problems and make the most of your trip.

According to the U.S. Department of State Bureau of Consular Affairs, planning for such a trip should start more than six months in advance. There are solid reasons for that, but most revolve around passports and obtaining proper documentation for everyone going on the trip.

Getting a Passport 
Obtaining a passport is the number one priority in planning a trip abroad. There are times when getting a passport can take months, even after the passport application is approved, so you need to plan for that. Some countries require a passport to be active for six months before you can enter the country, so that also needs to be worked into your timeline.

Check With Doctors 
You will also need to check with any doctors for you or your family members. Make sure all prescriptions are filled and ask about any shots required for foreign travel. Make copies of your prescriptions to take with you. This should also be done well in advance of your trip.

Family Travel Magazine also suggests you check to see if your medications are legal in the country you are visiting. You should get a letter from your doctor explaining why you need the drugs and take it with you. Another tip is to pack over-the-counter medicines not readily available abroad, but also check on their legality. Some countries have made certain chemicals in products like cold medicine illegal.

Another important phone call is to your insurance company. All medical insurance isn’t accepted abroad and Medicare or Medicaid is only good in the U.S. You made need to buy additional insurance in case their is an accident or illness. Also, check your homeowners’ insurance to see if it would cover issues like theft of jewelry or lost baggage.

Call the Bank 
The next phone call, according to Travel Zoo, is to your bank to inform them you are traveling and what cards you will be using. This will prevent the bank from locking down your card out of a fear of fraud, but also will protect you should their be a case of fraud in a foreign land.

Check Your Cell Phone Coverage 
Also, be sure to call your cell phone company to see if your phone will work at your destination. You may need to buy a global plan so you can stay in touch with those back home in case of an emergency.

Make Copies 
One of the key things to do once you get your passport, prescriptions and other documents together is to make copies of everything. Some copies should be carried with you and you should also leave a copy of everything with a friend back home. Another suggestion is to also email them to yourself, so you will have them on your phone. This would be helpful if your passport, debit or credit cards were lost or stolen.

Register with the Embassy 
Finally, it is a good idea to register with the U.S. embassy. It makes it easier to get you to safety should there be a dangerous situation if the embassy already knows about you and can contact you.

Other things you should do before you take your foreign trip include:

  • Research the area’s laws
  • Research the area’s attractions and events
  • Research the conversion rate

Researching the area you will be staying is vitally important to understand their customs, plan for events and stay out of legal trouble. Some countries have strict laws Americans take for granted and you want to know about them. Researching area history, attractions and local events helps you make the most of your time. You may even want to get advance tickets online.

Knowing the conversion rate will assist you in planning financially and will keep you from getting taken advantage of once you are there.

Preparing for your trip will lead to less stress once you start traveling and help make your entire trip run more smoothly.

Adam Richards

About Adam Richards

Adam Richards is a semi-retired business professional originally from Bangor, Maine. He spent the majority of his career in sales and marketing where he rose to the marketing lead of a Fortune 1000 company. He then moved on to helping people as a career counselor that specifically helped bring families to self-sufficiency through finding them rewarding careers. He has now returned to Bangor for his retirement and spends his free time writing. This blog will be about everything he learned throughout his career. He'll write on career, workplace, education and technology issues as well as on trends, changes, and advice for the Maine job market and its employers.