Sunday 18 February 2018

How I plan for trips to foreign countries


Greetings! I mentioned in my winter fun list update post that I'm planning a trip to Chile in March. It will be my first time visiting Chile solo. I don't have any family or friends there and the official language in Chile is Spanish. After researching and booking my flights and accommodations weeks ago, I took a break. Now I'm slowly getting back into trip planning state of mind which prompted me to share how I plan for trips to foreign countries.

How I plan for trips to foreign countries: 

1. Read and inquire about potential destinations: This gives me an idea of where the country is located, its general safety level, entry requirements, how to get there, the main attractions, the official language spoken, currency used, availability of public transit, and general cost of living compared to my home city. I do most of my travel readings online by visiting the official web sites, travel web sites, and blogs. I also talk to my family and friends in case they have been to the destinations.

2. Select the destination to visit: Once I've done step 1, I select the country to visit based on my availability to travel, the weather at the destination for when I plan to visit, my interests, and travel budget. In general, I prefer to visit countries that do not require a visa to enter. I also check to see if any vaccination is necessary. If a visa or vaccinations are required, they take more preparation, more time, and incur more expenses. The local weather is important as it affects what to pack, how comfortable it is for outdoor activities, and how easy it is to get good photos. Who wants to walk in pouring rain with moisture fog on the camera lens, right?

3. Book my flights: I check various flight-booking web sites and the official web sites of the airlines to compare fares before booking.

4. Book my accommodations: I check various accommodation booking sites, and the hotel web sites to compare rates and read their cancellation policy before booking. Depends on my flight arrival and departure time, the room check-in and check-out time sometimes play a factor in my booking decision. Free WiFi is always a plus.

5. Book my train tickets or bus tickets or car rental if applicable: I prefer to visit countries where I can take trains or buses, as opposed to drive a car. I'd book my tickets in advance for popular routes, or trains that require seat reservation. Some rail companies give significant discounts for early bookings, like when I travelled by train in Ireland. I usually book directly with the rail or bus company.

6. Buy a SIM card in advance if needed: It's nice to have my mobile device working upon arrival. In some countries, it's less expensive to buy at the airport upon arrival but language may be an issue to complete the transaction, or the store is closed when I arrive.

7. Buy travel insurance: To have peace of mind and coverage should I need it. I add the insurance contact number and my insurance policy number to my mobile device and my contact list (see #10 below).

8. Buy foreign currency: To have a small amount of cash on hand upon arrival, and to be familiar with the bills in advance. I also print out a cheat sheet with Canadian dollars and the foreign currency travel exchange rates that I found here, and put it in my wallet. It's very useful to quickly figure out the exchange rates and how much I'm spending. It worked wonder when I explored Central Europe and used three foreign currencies (euro, forint, and koruna).

9. Notify my bank and credit card company: To inform them of my travel plans and when I may use my card abroad. I add their 24/7 phone numbers to my contact list in case my card is lost or stolen.

10. Have useful tools ready: I'm referring to maps, or a phrase book. I prep my mobile device for what I need for the trip, and create a contact list with key contact information. I usually keep the contact list both on my device and a hard copy (see #12 below).

11. Let someone know: I leave my itinerary, booking confirmations, and a copy of important documents with someone close and whom I can contact during my trip. I also register on Government of Canada Travel Abroad web site.

12. Have a back up: I keep a hard copy of my IDs, confirmed reservations, and key contact information separate from the originals, as well as an electronic version on my mobile device.

13. Book my airport transfers if needed: I usually take airport shuttle service or local transit to get from the airport to the city centre and vice versa. Most of the time, I can buy tickets on site. In some destinations, it's wise to book the transfer service a few days in advance.

14. Pack my carry-on and day pack: I travel light and my luggage has always been under the allowable weight. It's a good practice to pack and carry before departure date, to see how comfortable I am with the overall weight.

15. Check in my flight and get my boarding pass 24 hours in advance: Most airlines that I fly with offer this option. Having my boarding pass in advance saves me time at the airport.

That's pretty much how I plan for trips to foreign countries.

How about you? What do you do differently? Please share.


28 comments:

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    1. Thanks, Lydia, for your visit and comment.

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  2. All sounds fairly familiar to me. Although I didn't go OS last year (for the first year in forever). I may need to check your list next time just to remind me.

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    1. Thanks, Leanne, for stopping by. I'd be happy if anyone found my list useful.

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  3. More than Leanne has found your list useful, Natalie. I think it's excellent and have stored it in my online database so I have access the next time I decide to travel overseas. Thanks for doing this.

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    1. My pleasure to share my list, Karen. You made me very happy with your positive feedback :)

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  4. Hi, Natalie - What an interesting, useful and timely list. I am currently traveling so it was interesting to see what strategies we share in common and which ones differ. Living in Beijing for 14 years, visas and vaccinations don't phase me, so I never hesitate on a location based on these requirements (my current trip required a visa which I acquired on line...easy peasy)! I've never (yet) purchased a SIM card in advance and since I tend to use cash/atms when I travel and travel so frequently (I realize that you travel frequently too) I never usually phone my credit card company in advance...although they have sometimes phoned me! I also don't usually give my full itinerary to someone else - but I do give key details as well as where important documents can be found in case of emergency. I also usually check to see if there are any helpful apps, etc. that I should download ahead of time (like Delta's entertainment app) so I don't miss out in-flight. The rest of our list is the same. Thanks again for doing this -- very, very useful!

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    1. Thank you very much for your comment, Donna. I was hoping to receive your feedback as I know you're traveling. When I travel solo to a place where English is not widely spoken, I'm more cautious with my planning (e.g. leave my itinerary with my husband, get SIM card, download apps, etc.). I usually use my credit card to pay for accommodations which tend to be my bigger expense on the road. I notify the company by email in advance, to avoid any hold up while using my card abroad. So far so good. Thanks again for sharing your strategies. I like to learn how other travelers plan for their trips.

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  5. Putting it in steps like that makes everything easier and more straightforward. Nice list, Natalie.

    It has been forever since I went on a trip or vacation (overseas), unfortunately. Except when flying to Belgium to visit friends and family, which requires no prep work, except search for the cheapest flights. :-)

    For the last decade, we have traveled with our own means, which makes preparations much easier... Everything is already stored in our sailboat or camper, and we haven't needed visas for the countries we stopped at those years.

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    1. Thanks, Liesbet, for your comment. Yes, minimal planning when I visit family or friends, too. To travel in a camper or a sailboat and have everything you need on hand is certainly a big draw for me.

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  6. I've ever been overseas, and how I look forward to experiencing it. Invaluable advice for some one like me :)

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    1. Thanks, Alicia, for your comment. I hope you'll get to visit your dream destinations.

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  7. This is a great checklist, you sound like a very savvy traveler. i haven't been to Chile, but I have been to south America. You will have a wonderful time. The people in SA are very friendly!

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    1. Thanks, Michele, for dropping by. I've been to Argentina and Peru. I'm looking forward to visiting Chile.

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  8. You certainly have it all covered Natalie. Because my husband and I take medication we also take a letter from our doctor listing what we take. Some countries have certain conditions on medications. Now you have made me want to book another trip! Thanks for linking up and sharing at Midlife Share the Love Pary #MLSTL

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    1. Very good point, Sue. Having the Doctor's note ready would simplify the entry/ exit process. Thanks for dropping by.

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  9. This is so great! My friend Liv loves planning a trip and is such a boss at it. I'm going to send her this post in case there's something here she's missed that would add to her planning.

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    1. Thanks, Melissa, for dropping by and sharing my list with your friend Liv. I hope she'll find it useful.

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  10. Great tips. I am not great at planning, so I will save this. #MLSTL

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    1. Thanks, Patrick, for your comment. Glad you found the list useful.

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  11. I am always so impressed with people who travel alone - I find travel quite stressful (I'm not a big fan of airports of aeroplanes) so it's nice to have company and someone to share the load - your tips make a lot of sense. Thanks for sharing on #MLSTL - I've shared this on my social media x

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    1. I'm OK with most airports but yes, some definitely can improve to make travel less stressful for travelers. Thanks, Leanne, for your comment and sharing my post.

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  12. Very good travel tips. I think that number 7 is one of the most important and often most overlooked for travelers. Thank goodness my mom bought travel insurance when she came to Thailand last October. She fell getting out of bed (the last place you'd ever expect) and required airlifts, surgery, and medical return home. I swear by World Nomads and my mother used United Health which was great.

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    1. Thanks, Lisa, for your comment and sharing your personal experience with travel insurance. Your mom's fall must be so scary for her and you. I hope she's fully recovered. My insurance card is with me when I travel.

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  13. I've done limited travel abroad, and two of those trips (Costa Rica and France), we used a travel service that took care of many of these details. However, once I retire, I hope to see much more of the world. These tips will be a great help.

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    1. Thanks, Christie, for your comment. I've planned all of my trips so far, and just took my first escorted tour last fall. Either approach has its pros and cons.

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  14. A good checklist, mine is similar but I move things around - My destination selection is often on 'where can I go on a direct flight route?', I then research the flights and the possible days, availability, then I book accommodation, then the flights. I know it seems the wrong way round, but I often go for 6-8 weeks, and the availability of the accommodation may change the days I want the flights on.

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    1. Your approach works for me, too, Erith. Having secured accommodation in a foreign country for slow travel takes priority, especially when the cancellation policy works in our favour.

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