Trip Essentials: Must-Dos Before Travelling Abroad
Travel the world if you're stuck in a rut in your daily life or yearning for something exciting and different. Travelling gives you the chance to experience new things and see a more beautiful side of the world through the places and people you come across. You'll discover how resourceful you are when trying to find your way around a busy city or ordering a meal when you don't speak the language. Strategically planning for a trip overseas can be overwhelming. Even experienced voyageurs feel intimidated and tend to overlook critical steps. If you want to say goodbye to stressful planning, read through this checklist.
Get A Passport
As a rule, it's necessary to have a valid passport if you want to travel overseas. It can be used when travelling by aeroplane, car, train, or boat. Depending on the destination, you may need to show proof of a valid visa. For example, if you're travelling to Chile, you need a eVisa if you're planning to stay 90 days or fewer. You can obtain the visa electronically after providing the necessary information and making the payment by debit or credit card. It's recommended to start the passport application process weeks in advance, especially if you need a visa from a foreign embassy.
The Department of Foreign Affairs has introduced a new R Series passport into circulation to protect holders" identity and personal information. The R Series is characterised by increased security features, safeguarding against counterfeiting and identity theft. The visa pages feature landscapes from around the country and indigenous artwork. Your current passport can be used until it expires, but remember that some airlines and foreign governments require travellers to have passports with at least six-month validity beyond the planned stay. The fees are the same, so you don't pay more for an R Series passport.
Check For Health Advisories & Travel Alerts
The SARS-COV-2 coronavirus is still unfolding, impacting different countries around the globe. A COVID booster is recommended for everyone. The boosters made by Moderna and Pfizer were formulated to target variants currently in circulation. At any rate, you should make an appointment with your healthcare provider or a travel specialist and get destination-specific vaccines, medicines, and information. Equally important is to check for travel alerts because there might be danger in the destination country. Think about checking for advisories on Smartraveller to discover important information from the Embassy about safety conditions so that you can make informed decisions about your travel plans.
Book Everything in Advance
You'll find that booking in advance brings about great rewards. While you have the freedom to make last-minute decisions about where to stay, don't be surprised if accommodation is very expensive when you show up. Even if you're an experienced traveller, it's best to have peace of mind for the first leg of your trip. Make a reservation at a Sydney airport car park well in advance so you have access to the widest choice of parking spaces. Planning ahead is of the essence, and airport parking can be booked six months in advance, so reserve a spot as soon as you know the date and time of your journey.
The same goes for transport tickets. Aeroplane tickets are typically more affordable than those released later on, so you can save a great deal of money. For an international trip, it's a good idea to monitor prices six to seven months in advance and book three to five months in advance. There are variables that impact the dynamic pricing patterns of plane tickets, such as the destination and the time of the year. The continuous growth in passenger traffic has transformed the landscape, so airports now offer parking as well. If you plan to drive to the airport, opt for airport parking Sydney, as it makes your experience run smoothly.
Know Your Options for Getting in Touch
There's no denying that travel is liberating and eye-opening, but it can get lonely at times. Whether it's a phone call, a WhatsApp message, or a letter in the post, keeping in touch with family or friends is important. Thanks to modern technology, communicating is easier than ever. Figure out if it makes sense to use international roaming or a local SIM card; you need a phone that's unlocked to use a prepaid SIM. Your loved ones can call or text whenever they feel like it. An eSIM can be activated without having to go through your carrier. You can stay connected no matter how much you're on the move.
Skype is the most popular tool used by travellers because it makes being on the road less stressful. If you have an account, you can make video calls and send chat messages. You can purchase a Skype number in the country where you expect to receive lots of calls, therefore, reducing the costs for callers. In case you didn't already know, you can set up call forwarding, meaning that anyone calling your phone number will be forwarded to your Skype number. WhatsApp allows for unlimited text messages and photos; all of your family or friends can contact you for free. Similar services exist, but they're not tied to a phone number.
Stock Your Wallet
Finally, yet importantly, you should stock your wallet with cash and a credit card. You can put most of your expenses on a card, but it's recommended to have cash for emergencies. It's better to be over-prepared than to get into trouble. Since you're travelling outside the country, file a travel notice; otherwise, your credit card might get declined, and you'll have to get in touch with the credit card issuer to authorise transactions. Also, reduce the risk of fraud by leaving behind the cards you don't plan to use on your trip. Credit cards are a convenient way for thieves to steal money.
Closing Remarks
Relax and enjoy your trip abroad – in other words, make happiness a priority. Do all the things that you want to do. If you want to update someone back home, go right ahead, but afterward, put your phone down and focus on the present.
