Essential Tips for Your First International Trip

Posted on: Jan 6, 2023 | | Written by:

Essential Tips for Your First International Trip

Published on January 5, 2023. EST READ TIME: 3 minutes

The level of excitement of an individual planning his or her first-ever international trip is unimaginable. But along with enthusiasm comes a lot of fear, especially after the surge in COVID-19 cases. International travel can be stressful even for someone who has travelled many times, and thus, it is natural to feel overwhelmed for someone going for the first time. One thing you must not forget is your international travel insurance , but besides that, there are some very essential tips that you must keep in mind. Let us talk about these and ensure you have a fabulous trip.

Tips to Keep in Mind

Many people want to travel to new places to explore the world. Travel anyway has become easier with many flight options, visa on arrival or online, cheap travel insurance , and easy availability of information to plan the trip. Before you go on your trip, there are some very important tips that you need to keep in mind.

1. Stay safe with comprehensive international travel insurance.

One of the most important things is your travel insurance policy. You should have a policy with good coverage. Choose the sum insured, keeping in mind the destination and duration of travel. For example, travel insurance USA should have a higher sum insured than in Thailand as you might be staying there for longer and medical treatment is very expensive. The premium for the insurance is not much, and this covers you for any emergency situation and does not cause a financial strain.

2. Know about your travel destination.

Though you would have chosen the destination for your first international trip after a lot of research, still being aware fully is essential. You should know about the place's traditions, culture, and weather conditions. This helps you pack properly, and neither have less stuff or extra. You should have a tentative itinerary in your mind, along with a list of places you would like to visit. This helps you to be organised, and you do not waste time planning your trip after reaching. Having a map handy and knowing about the local transport system also is a must to know the easiest and most economical way of getting to any place.

3. Medical formalities

Some countries have a requirement with respect to some vaccinations, and now, of course, the Covid vaccination is a must. Remember to check the requirements and ensure you fulfill them to avoid any hassle when entering the country. Your international travel insurance will cover if you need medical assistance in a foreign land, but these requirements are mandatory and are checked at immigration when you enter the country; thus, you should be very careful. In addition to this, also check travel rules and guidelines of the place if there are any special test (like negative RT-PCR test) needs to be done before your departure.

4. Take care of your travel documents.

All your travel documents are very important when you travel abroad. The passport, tickets, visas, and of course, your international travel insurance must all be kept together and safely. The ideal thing is to make copies of these and keep them in different places. God forbid one bag gets lost or stolen. You have copies for reference at other places. Travel insurance USA will help you with passport loss, i.e. all expenses that you incur to get a new one will be reimbursed.

You should also know where the Embassy of your country is at your vacation destination, in case of any such issue, you will need help from them. The embassy has people from your country working, and in case of any emergency like loss of passport or even an issue with the police, you will need the embassy to help you.

5. Do not carry heavy bags.

It is important that you carry all your essentials and medication etc., but at the same time, you should also not pack extra things. You should always try to pack light and not make your bags heavy. This is because you need to carry them on your own. It should not be uncomfortable for you and for others. Many places abroad do not have porters to help you carry bags, and you need to carry them on public transport as well, so it is better to make it easy for yourself.

6. Plan your communication.

We are all used to having our phones and navigation readily available. Data in a foreign country is not always available, and it is not possible to have Wi-Fi. Always activate roaming plans on your phone and choose the plan that will suit you. In case of any emergency, you should be able to contact your family and also anyone in the city if needed. International calling cards are another option if roaming is expensive for you. Choose your plans carefully and use the phone smartly to avoid heavy bills. Also, always remember to keep a travel adaptor for charging your phone to ensure voltage fluctuations do not damage your phone also, each country has a different socket, so it is not sure that you will be able to use your charger.

7. Get the right accommodation.

Always plan your accommodation before you leave the country. You can choose as per your budget and in a location which is easily accessible with respect to public transport. Try and get deals and discounts and also check if you can use points on your credit card to save money. Always take help from a reliable travel agent or book through a reputable website to ensure there are no glitches later.

8. Carry a forex card

Credit cards and debit cards are important but they attract a conversion fee for each transaction. Carrying cash is not safe as, well. One of the ideal ways to carry money abroad is to carry a forex card. This is like a preloaded debit card that you can top up with the amount you wish to spend. This is easy and less stressful, and safer than carrying cash.

Conclusion

International trips are always a lot of fun, and there is a lot of excitement in visiting a new country and exploring new places. There is a lot of planning involved, and you must always carry an international travel insurance policy with comprehensive coverage. A trip that is planned properly is always more fun. The above points should always be kept in mind so that there is no issue and you enjoy the trip completely. With some basic things in mind and your travel insurance, there is nothing better than visiting a new country and learning about its traditions and culture. A little caution, and there is nothing that will stop you from having fun.

Disclaimer: The above information is for illustrative purpose only. For more details, please refer to policy wordings and prospectus before concluding the sales.

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