Country Traveling

When preparing for a lengthy trip away from home, there is an endless list of things to remember to make sure you are fully prepared for every eventuality. Whilst the main priority when travelling is to have fun, read on to find out about 10 things you should definitely know before embarking on your adventure of a lifetime:

Take plenty of cash

It may sound obvious, but it’s vital to make sure you have enough cash with you, especially if you’re going to under developed, remote areas where there aren’t many banks or you won’t have many opportunities to get more if you need it.

Take Euros and Dollars

Despite having a defined currency, some places (particularly in SE Asia) like different currencies and, while you can generally change most currencies over at exchange shops, some places are quite particular about what they accept. If you’re travelling widely, having a supply of both euros and dollars in particular should mean you’re equipped in the majority of countries.

Don’t lose your receipts

It’s also worth keeping all of the receipts you collect while travelling as, very occasionally, an airport official might ask to see proof of your transactions. It’s better to be safe than sorry, after all.

Be careful where you get your taxis

Always get your taxis from official taxi stands, not from people who come up to you in the airport and other public places offering you their services as these can offer charge highly inflated prices.

Be vigilant with visas

If you’ve ever been to a country that requires a visa, you’ll know that the whole process can be quite stressful. Make sure you sort out all necessary visas in good time before you travel and ensure you take all your paperwork with you – and be prepared for varying experiences depending on the countries you’re going to.

Don’t forget insurance

Travel insurance is something you should always have when going away. If you don’t have it and then something goes wrong, you could end up stranded. Comprehensive travel insurance, on the other hand, should cover you for most situations. Specialist backpacker or Annual travel insurance deals are most suited to frequent and prolonged travel enthusiasts. A quick trawl of the internet will yield a number of cheap online holiday insurance deals available to suit even the most stringent of traveller’s budgets so it doesn’t have to be an expensive extra.

Consider upgrades and air miles

It’s sometimes possible to upgrade your plane seat from economy to premium or first class. You’ll generally have to pay to do this, but if you have air miles to use, you might be able to do it really easily. It’s definitely something to consider when you’re faced with a long flight.

Check out local transport

Research local transport before you go away; in some countries the buses are better than the trains or vice versa. It’s worth knowing which will be better for you in advance.

Be wary of body language and gestures

You should also be careful of your body language, as some gestures that might seem innocuous or unconsciously done to you might be rather insulting to other cultures. Do a bit of research before you go to make sure you won’t be accidentally disrespecting anyone.

Attitude is important

Finally, a friendly attitude will get you a long way when travelling. Make sure you’re firm in saying no if you get asked to do something you’d rather not do, but generally being friendly and nice will endear you to the locals – especially if you make an effort to speak their language.

Tags: Asia, Banks, Currencies, Currency, Eventuality, Experiences, Good Time, Inflated Prices, Insurance Travel, Lengthy Trip, Lifetime, Necessary Visas, Paperwork, Priority, Proof, Receipts, Taxi, Taxis, Travel Insurance, Visa