What you need to know before you go
We all get so excited about our next adventure that we sometimes overlook important details when it comes to travel planning. Often we are more interested in packing swim trunks, toothpaste, and phone chargers and can forget about important situational factors like locating the nearest hospital or learning a few necessary phrases in a new language. These tips will only take a few extra minutes to do and can go far in preparing for your next trip.
Research your destination
Of course, you’ve probably already decided by this time, but hopefully you have done a little research about the part of the globe you wish to explore. Quick Google searches about a region’s government, safety, and economy can give you insight into what to expect when visiting. For example, if you were to plan a trip to Ukraine expecting a lovely, no-stress vacation, you would be shocked to find military occupation in big cities. Just doing a quick search would show the details of the Ukraine-Russia conflict. Ok, that one may be too obvious. Knowing a bit about the Israeli-Palestine conflict will improve your understanding of the Holy Land. Acknowledging local laws in Middle Eastern countries could be the difference between a beautiful vacation or a trip to the local jail. This research only takes a few minutes and can truly prepare you for the best and the worst of a country.
Please be sure to check the U.S. Department of State website to make sure that there are no travel advisories or bans on your destination.
Learn some phrases
One of my favorite things about traveling is the chance to learn bits and pieces of a new language. While there’s no need to practice for hours in hopes of being fluent before your trip (unless you’re a nerd like me and you love studying languages for fun), but some key phrases for travel can come in handy. The last thing you want is to have a mishap because of a language barrier. Here are some important phrases you should learn before traveling to a far off land.
“Where is the United States embassy?”
“Where is the hospital?”
“Call the police.”
“Where is the restroom?”
“Do you have water?”
“I am a foreigner.”
“I need help.”
Even simply knowing how to say “please” and “thank you” will help you win over the hearts of locals, but by adding these key phrases to your travel plans can really help in case of emergencies. I would suggest soaking up as much of the language as you can before take off to have a smoother transition into being a tourist.
For long-term learning, I suggest Duolingo. For key-words, Google Translate. Despite what you may have heard in the past, Google’s translation tech has advanced to a very high standard. It has helped me loads of times!
Have an emergency plan
Just like the questions listed above, you should note down the addresses of important locations. The U.S. Embassy, the nearest hospital, and the police station are just as important as knowing where your metro stop is. A quick search on Google Maps can help determine where your accommodations are located in reference to these important places. You could also search local internet cafes in case of spotty service, which may be a life saver. These things may not cross your mind or you may think I’m a doomsday planner, but it is always smart to consider the worst case scenarios before you’re in the middle of one.
Find the nearest embassy at the U.S. Department of State site. To find the nearest emergency service, I suggest Google Maps. It can pinpoint your location and find multiple routes to the nearest emergency room. This could be a lifesaver!
Keep documents close
Always, always, always have your passport on you when you travel. Do not leave your documents in a hotel room, in a luggage bag, or anywhere that is not physically on your body at all times. Personally, I have a fugly fanny pack where I put my license, passport, cash, and hotel keys. A cross-body bag is the best thing you can do to combat theft. While a clutch, purse, or briefcase may be much more fashionable than a cross-body bag, they are more likely to be swiped by thieves. If you’re too cool for a fanny pack, at least use a purse with a strap long enough to go around your body–purses hanging from one shoulder are far easier to steal and run away with. These documents are what you need to stay safe, so you should keep them equally protected.
To know which documents you need and how to keep them safe, check out the Traveler’s Checklist on the U.S. Department of State website.
Notify your bank
The last thing any adventurer wants is to find frozen funds. That’s right, your bank can see where charges are made. If they see charges in foreign countries they will assume your card has been stolen. The process of getting your account working again can be a long and arduous set of phone calls and waiting for documentation to move through the proper channels. After several hours (or days) of relying on only cash, you will get an email informing you that your accounts are back up. But if you’re abroad during this process any number of things could cause a lack of cell service or internet connection, or worse–having no cash to survive at all. So please, do yourself a favor and call your local bank to inform them of your travel plans and dates. It’s a 5 minute conversation that can protect travelers from dangerous situations.
I hope all you adventurers out there can benefit from any of these tips. I know I have! As always, please stay safe when traveling and if you need more info visit the U.S. Department of State’s Before You Go site. They cover any topic you can imagine while traveling. It’s an outdated governmental site but it loads pretty fast.
