Summer is almost upon us and that means tourists are getting ready to travel the world. The preparation phase can be overwhelming, both in an exciting and tiring way depending on the destination country or region. Here are three golden rules to commit to heart for a smoother preparation and a successful trip abroad. And yes, these golden rules are universal.
Conduct due diligence
A detailed research and thorough due diligence of your destination country is the first step towards ensuring you have a well-planned trip ahead. Start by researching the culture and history of the country to decide on options that are aligned to your areas of interest. It also helps to consider the predominant language and plan accordingly. For instance, you may be able to find regions of the country with some people who speak a language you understand. That could be your gateway to having a fuller experience. In addition, you should research the weather situation and see how you can take advantage of different weather conditions to have different experiences.
Once you have completed your research it is time to plan an itinerary that includes events and activities you are keen to experience. Keep sometime free in your itinerary so that once you are at the destination, you can indulge in a new experience without compromising on your initial plans. Remember the itinerary is simply a guide of the minimum activities you must experience on your trip.
If you have routines such as a diet, physical or mental wellness plan to which you must stick, you’d want to research and plan ahead of time to ensure that you don’t break or kill your routines while traveling. You may have to plan to cook, research local restaurants with menus that work with your diet or even travel with your own healthy snacks.
Also, you should consult your doctor regarding preventive health measures required before heading to your destination country.
Stick to the laws of the land
As part of travel etiquette, it is imperative that you stick to the laws of the land. Stories of tourists or vacationers flouting the laws of a country and paying a heavy price for it are quite common. Therefore, it makes sense to research the laws of your destination country. You’d want to start by finding out what’s on their list of banned items. There are situations when your home country will allow you to travel with items which are strictly banned in your destination country.
If you plan to drive, you’d want to understand the intricacies of the traffic rules in the destination country. While the most basic rules, like traffic signals, might be the same as in your home country, speed limits differ from country to country and even across states.
Plan your finances in advance and stick to your budget
Without a budget, a vacation may end up being a stressful experience rather than a sweet memory. The old personal finance advice of living within one’s means applies just as much when traveling as when you’re back home. To avoid coming back from your trip broke, ensure you determine how much you can truly afford for the entire trip and write out a budget that fits.
Preparing for medical emergencies should be just as important as your visa. Experts advise that your travel medical portfolio should contain both a medical bio and medical contact sheet. Your medical bio should contain your travel health insurance information, basic medical history and a list of current medications and vaccinations, while your medical contact sheet should contain the contact details of your home doctor, family members and even friends.
It’s also important to plan for contingencies that may occur at home while you’re away. If emergencies arise that requires you to send money back home, you can do that instantly with a dependable money transfer company like Xpress Money. Xpress Money’s instant money transfer services ensure that funds get to your beneficiary in a matter of few minutes at cost effective rates.
