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Published: November 12th 2013
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Once I picked out my destinations I thought getting ready for my trip would be all fun and games....I was quickly proven very wrong! So what have I been doing the past month? Much more than I had first thought! I've quickly learned that travel is not as easy as throwing some clothes together and jumping on a plane.
Some tips for your future travels no matter how far or near they may be. For those going away one day and for those going away one decade...here are some things to think about and consider:
1.
Where to stay? When to book? I've decided to book hostels as I go as plans often change. Booking.com has a great feature in which most reservations can be booked without having to put a deposit down first and can be cancelled free of charge up to 2 days before. I have been utilizing trip advisor and hostel world to find out first hand reviews, rankings and overall ambiance. Years ago I wanted a hardcore party hostel but now I am staying mainly in 4 person dorms that offer activities but are geared more to people in late 20 and 30s rather than the study abroad crew. People think after college they are too old for hostels but it's a great way to save and meet people. You receive an email confirmation which keeps things organized and they even offer apps to have booking at your fingertips. For me safety and location are most important. Take the time to visualize what kind of place you would like to stay in. This makes it much easier to be happy with where you choose to stay. When reading reviews realize to take it with some grain of salt as there is always going to be someone that doesn't like it and had much higher expectations. I like to take an average.
2.
Finances, Take the time to go on a website such as budgetyourtrip.com to find out how much hotels, food etc will cost in that country it allows you to make more informed decisions when you get there. Credit Cards, Debit Cards, Money Cards, Travelers Checks, Cash! Think about which option will cause you the least foreign extra fees. Which is the best value and most secure. I enrolled in a new credit card for this trip capital one venture which does not charge any foreign transaction fees and even has a concierge service to help you when abroad. They also give you miles! I signed up for a Charles Schwab debit card account as not only do they not charge you fees for using the card abroad they REIUMBERSE you any fees the bank of the actual atm machine charges you. That's huge. They say to always take some American money with you just in case as well so I am doing that as well as a calculator to help with exchange rates, math was never my subject.
3.
Visas! I can not even begin to tell you how many stories I hear of people that go to countries and/or cruises with expired passports and then are delayed or can not get in. It's worth it to go online and research which places need a visa:
http://travel.state.gov/visa/. Make sure to leave ample time for the visa some visas you can get at the border but the ones that you need to get in advance do take time. You also want to add this cost into your budget.
4.
Immunizations- Travel isn't all roses and things can happen. Shots are your best protection but you want the right ones for where you are going.
http://www.cdc.gov/VACCINEs/. Most clinics/doctors offices also require you to have a consultation to discuss where you are going and what you might need.
5.
Packing-Decide what is best for your kind of travel: a suitcase, a backpack, or a combo of both. Decide what size is best. Leave time to assemble your first aid kit. Safety items are also important. Search online for various packing lists and then make your own. Remember you can wash and re wear most clothes but you need to do what is comfortable for you. Lay everything out. Then put half of if away. Revisit a few days later. Research what the weather will be.
6.
Documents-Get a folder for all your important documents. As much as computers are important they are not always reliable. This also helps you feel more in control.
7.
Electronics-In this day and age there are a lot of options! Decide if you would like a netbook, laptop, or tablet. What case? Should you bring a phone? What are the charges? Do you need an adaptor or converter
Good luck! Have fun and remember to be flexible and pack your sense of humor! Countdown is on!
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