10 Tips for a Great Overseas Travel Experience
Overseas travel can be both fun and stressful, even for those of us travel warriors. There’s more to think about than with regular domestic travel. Things like where to stay, adjusting to time zones, language and currency all come into play. Not to mention that things are still a bit different in the new post-Covid world depending on where you’re going.
With all of this in mind, preparing for an international trip doesn’t have to be hard. These 10 tips will help you plan for a smoother ride when trip time comes.
1. Decide on a safe travel destination
Much more than when I was growing up as a Gen X’er, the world can feel less safe. Don’t let this stop you from seeing the world. Just do it smartly. You should start by reviewing countries on your wish list on the US State Department Travel Advisory site.
2. Check on country requirements
Now that you’ve decided on the perfect location for adventure or to relax like the sloth you are, make sure you know the travel requirements. Things like visa, vaccination and other requirements can derail your trip if you haven’t done your research. The State Department’s Country Information Page is the place to start.
3. Check your documents
Before booking anything, check to make sure your passport has enough pages. For nearly all countries, you will need a passport that expires no less than 6 months after your return date. If you need to renew your passport, do it immediately as turnaround times are longer these days.
4. Choose the right airline(s)
If you’re like me and have a domestic airline of choice, try to use them as you likely already have some level of status. You may however need to fly a domestic airline in the country you visit as most major US carriers do not operate intra-country flights. Most do however have partner airlines, so try to pick one of those…mainly so you can keep earning those valuable airline miles.
5. Choose the right seats
I use Seat Guru as it offers great information for picking the perfect seat. All you need is your flight number and dates. We usually always opt for the extra legroom seats on long-haul flights. Before you buy those seats, check to see if your airline gives international upgrades based on frequent flyer status. If not, it means you’ll have to splurge a bit for better seats. It’s worth it!
6. Be selective about lodging
I’m a Hilton guy, so that’s usually where I start as far as booking hotels. I use points when able. If there isn’t a Hilton property, my next stop is to Trip Advisor. It has never steered me wrong when booking a boutique or non-major US brand hotel. You can also leave a comment for me in our comments section, and I’ll respond with tips. Be sure to pay attention to neighborhoods and proximity to popular sights.
7. Learn about the culture
I found this page on the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) to be very helpful. Some of this can even be done while you’re at work as most HR departments are trying to teach cultural diversity. Ask your HR leader for help.
8. Pack right for the flight
When able, I try to fly direct to places as it minimizes the chance of your bags getting lost. Either way, pack a carry-on with at least a day’s worth of essentials and change of clothes. You’ll want to keep your toiletries with you in your carry-on just in case your main bags get lost. We didn’t get our bags during our French Polynesia trip for about 36 hours. Thank God all we needed was swimwear and toiletries.
9. Notify your cardholders
If you’ve ever been in a place and had your card denied for fraudulent activity, you’ll know what I mean here. While some card issuers are getting away from this, others still encourage you to report your travel (especially for foreign travel). American Express hasn’t done this for years. They have industry leading fraud detection capabilities help to keep your data safe.
10. Stay healthy on your flights
Staying healthy during travel will help you arrive with less jetlag and ready to hit the ground running the day you arrive. One tip I basically don’t even follow is to not drink during air travel. Do what I say, not what I do. LOL! I found this site to have some helpful health tips for plane travel.
Finally, ENJOY YOUR TRIP!!!
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