Smart International Travel Tips: How to Avoid Mistakes Abroad
Vacations are meant to be fun, carefree, stressless times and the vast majority are!
But there is always the off chance of things going wrong while abroad.
Whether you are a first time international traveler, or seasoned explorer, following theses smart travel tips prior to departure can help reduce the stress and burden of unforeseen mishaps.
Don’t let lost luggage or misplaced documents derail your entire trip - be ready with these safe travel abroad tips.
Register for S.T.E.P
What is STEP?
STEP - Smart Traveler Enrollment Program is a free service to allow U.S. citizens and nationals to enroll their trip abroad so the Department of State can accurately and quickly contact them in case of emergency.
Benefits of Enrolling in STEP
Get updates about health, weather, safety, and security for your destination.
Help the embassy or consulate contact you if there's an emergency like a natural disaster, civil unrest, or a family emergency.
While the likelihood of these events happening while traveling abroad remains low, it is always a good idea to take these precautionary steps.
⭐Register for STEP here
Get a No Fee Travel Card
ATM fees, transaction fees, etc can all add up very quickly when we are traveling abroad… often without us even noticing until we get home.
Avoid these foreign transaction fees by getting a no foreign transaction fee credit card. We stand behind Capital One and Chase Sapphire as the best international travel credit cards.
International No-Fee Debit Cards
Don’t want to use credit cards abroad? Or don’t bank with an institution that offers transaction-fee free debit cards, and/or no transaction fee ATM withdrawals? No problem! There are really great options for international debit cards with no foreign transaction fees of ATM withdrawal fees while abroad.
Cards like Revolut and Wise are pre-loaded debit cards that can be use internationally with no (or low) fees! Cards can be issued electronically for Apple or Google pay, as well as physical cards.
Both these international no fee debit cards also have user friendly apps to help track spending and budgeting, as well as offer no fee money transfer to other account holders for easy payment and expense sharing.
⭐Pro tip: have your credit and debit cards in your apple/google pay to avoid having to pull out a physical card for each transaction. Digital cards can also be replaced immediately if lost or stolen.
Packing Smart for International Trips
What to Pack in Your Carry On
While lost luggage doesn’t happen as often as it is made out to, it does happen on occasion.
Even if luggage is delayed just a day or two, it can be a huge inconvenience on any trip.
This is why we always suggest having at least one change of clothes, any medications, and essentials in your personal item.
⭐Pro tip: pack all these items in a packing cube or bag that you can easily take from your carry on to your personal item in the event you are required to gate check your carry on.
Be sure to check out our most recommended travel essentials not to leave home without, here!
Luggage Lift Test
If visiting multiple locations, traveling by train, or multiple modes of transportation, be sure you can comfortably lift and manage your luggage.
This is especially important for our travelers heading to Europe, where accommodations may be on pedestrian streets, you may be navigating transit systems, lifting luggage on an off of trains, walking cobblestone streets, etc.
We highly recommend making sure you are able to manage your luggage, once fully packed, up a set of stairs and can lift your carry on over your head to get it into the overhead compartment.
Download Travel Apps
Before departure, download language and navigation apps (see our favorites here!) to assure there are no hiccups or delays in accessing these important travel apps on arrival.
We also recommend downloading local ride share and transit apps prior to departure to assure they are ready to use on arrival and don’t impede on data allowance to download.
⭐Pro Tip: Reference our list of The Best Travel Apps Every Traveler Needs
Important Contacts
Even if you are fully digital and not one to print out your itinerary and tickets, there are some vital things to have written down or printed in the event your phone is lost, battery dies, data is not reliable, or any other issues that may interfere with access to information on your phone.
Having this information written down also eliminates the need to pull out your phone in crowded areas, on transit, or to show to a taxi driver.
Key information to have on paper:
Contact information for close family/friends (if not memorized)
Address of Accommodations
Contact information for your travel advisor
traveling with Medication
Your travel advisor will provide you with destination specific information when applicable, but as a general rule, we recommend either carrying all prescribed medications in their original bottles or getting a printout from your pharmacist with all medications you will be traveling with.
⭐Depending on the duration of your trip, and prescriptions, your pharmacist may provide you with blister packs containing daily dosages of medication.
Essential Documents & Preparations
Passport
Prior to travel, be sure to have a copy of your passport (ideally color) as well as a photo of it stored in your phone in the event your passport is lost or stolen while abroad.
In the rare occurrence of a lost or stolen passport, this will make obtaining an emergency passport much easier and more efficient.
⭐Be sure to have a photo of the barcode on your passport to make replacing it even more streamlined.
⭐Pro tip: Carry your extra passport pictures with you when you travel. This can expedite the replacement process in the event your passport is lost, stolen or damaged
Remember, your travel advisor will also have copies of all of your documentation and is ready to swoop in an assist in the rare chance of needing an emergency passport.
Itineraries
While your travel advisor will have all your conformation numbers, itinerary details, etc, it is also imperative to have a digital back up all in one place.
Whether it is on a trip planning app, Google document, in one email, or whatever method works best for you, having all your trip details in one place can help avoid any issues with check in, transit, scheduling, or any of the other moving pieces that comes with a dream vacation.
