Traveling internationally especially when it’s your first time is the biggest achievement in itself. It’s not every day that you get a chance to go overseas for a vacation, so when you have got the opportunity, it becomes extremely important that you make the most of it. But, of course, never in your life comes easier. Traveling internationally also means truckloads of responsibilities and considerations so that you can make the right choices for your trip and ensure that you have the most fantastic time in a country that you have never visited before. It’s always good to think practically and make note of certain things that can help you spend your time in a foreign land in a more hassle-free way and that includes learning a little about the destined country and then planning things accordingly.
Traveling internationally for the first time can be challenging, daunting, and a little stressful for anyone. No matter what type of trip you are on, there are a few international travel tips that can ease your overseas journey. To get to know more about them, keep scrolling!
Passport
First things first, until you have got your passport in hand, don’t make the mistake of booking a flight or making arrangements in advance. If you already haven’t got your passport prepared then make sure to apply for it at least 2 months prior to your trip or departure. Normally, it takes about 4 to 6 weeks processing time to prepare a passport. Once you have received the passport, make sure to take out a few photocopies and carry them with you in your travel bag. On the contrary, if you already have a passport then make sure to check its expiration date.
Visa requirement
Visa is one of the important documents that you absolutely cannot miss to carry with you. Every country has different visa requirement. While some countries offer visas upon arrival, some can be received by applying for it online. After you have decided the country to visit, make sure to check it for its visa requirement and see if you need to apply for it online or if you will get one upon arrival. Also, if the visa is a required document, then make sure to apply for it a month or two prior to your trip.
Check for travel advisories
Another important thing that you should pay attention to is the country’s travel advisory. Every country follows a different set of rules and regulations for international travelers and tourists. You may also require a few other documents besides visa and passport in case of some countries like Cuba and European countries that require the travelers to purchase travel medical insurance and a health insurance plan respectively. Safety should always be your first priority when traveling to an unknown land so make sure that you make no mistake when it comes to keeping yourself safe.
Jet lag
Jet lag can be a real deal for anyone regardless of if it’s your first time or nth time traveling internationally. Different time zones make it hard for your body to remain in sync with the new time at your destination. And this can result in fatigue, anxiety, nausea, irritability, and what not which can easily ruin your day or eventually the entire trip as well. And it takes about a week for your mind and body to adjust to a new time zone. However, you can overcome the jetlag by keeping a few things in mind such as taking a good night’s sleep before flying, not sleeping much in flight, avoid consuming heavy beverages like coffee, cola, resetting your watch according to the new time zone. These things will help you a bit.
Packing
Packing is one of the most stressful and daunting tasks of traveling. First of all, you should take note of the typical weather of the destination you’re visiting as it will give you an idea of what all to pack. Make sure to pack season friendly items and always make the list before as you wouldn’t want to miss an item that is probably too important to be missed out on. Preparing a list will also help in keeping yourself organized. Also, don’t carry too many things in your bag as it is not only going to cost you additional airline baggage fees but carrying the same heavy luggage with you will feel like a punishment.