As many of you know, I’m a planner. I actually get paid to plan on occasion. When I recently prepared for my first international trip since high school, I learned a lot along the way. I’m eager to encourage everyone to travel abroad at the next chance they get. After you decide where you want to go and start saving (a year in advance), here are the next steps to take to get you there smoothly.
Check/Apply for/Renew Your Passport
3-6 months ahead of time
Trust me on this one, friends. In a group of 8, we had not one, but two passport emergencies. One cost my cousin the first two days of our trip, an expedited passport fee, and an additional plane ticket. He HAD a passport, but it expired two months before our trip. Take a peep at yours if you have one now. Avoid the rush costs, avoid the stress and go to the post office closest to you to apply for your passport. We had a representative say it would take less than three weeks and we eventually had to rush it. It could have easily taken 2 months to get to us. The process is actually pretty painless and will cost you about $135. Click here to find your passport post office. Helpful hint: If you don’t have your passport in time, you can call your congressman. They can expedite your passport to you within two days for no extra charge. I guess they need to me useful to us in other ways…
*Update: some countries now expect you to have a passport valid at least 6 months before your arrival date. Check the guidelines for your destination before you go!*
Buy Plane Tickets
2 months before on a Tuesday
We started looking for flights up to four months in advance of our trip. I used a number of different apps and subscription lists to research flights. I learned two lessons. Firstly, Google Flights is the easiest way to search for flights. Don’t sign up for annoying alerts. Google Flights includes all airlines into your search, shows you the cheapest ones, and you can easily compare dates and times to see if you can save money by leaving on different dates/times. For example, we found that leaving on a Sunday night and returning on a Friday night were the cheapest options for this trip, so we shifted our original trip dates to save hundreds of dollars. Secondly, during the first two-month period we began looking, I didn’t see too much of a price increase. Unless you’re traveling during the holidays, you won’t see a significant price increase until you are within two months of your departure date.
Reserve Accommodations
1 month before
Once you figure out the places you want to see and activities you want to do, then you can start booking your hostels, hotels, and other accommodations such as car rentals. I recommend hostels because you will have access to more opportunities to explore and people to meet. See my article about staying in a hostel in Barcelona here. If you want to stay on a budget and see more of the city on foot, pick a place within a few miles of the top three place you want to visit so you can walk as often as possible. The sidewalks are one of the best ways to experience a city’s culture. Read this article about traveling on a budget.
Complete Your Wardrobe
3 weeks before
By this time, you have done a lot of thinking about what you are going to actually be doing on your trip. Check out the weather. Do a few searches to learn a little bit about the area’s fashion. Figure out which items you already own that you definitely want to wear and bring. Pick a handful of things that will make those items go farther. Think layers, accessories, and basics. Maybe you need an extra pair or two of dress pants for the activities you will be doing. Maybe it’s time to invest in a pair of cute rain-friendly boots. I bought some extra plain, comfy, and versatile tank tops that could be dressed up, down and paired with anything. There is no shame in investing in fashion purchases for your trip because you’ll want to get the most out of your time and stressing over what to wear every day won’t help. Also, pictures. You don’t want to cringe at all those epic pictures you will take to remember the trip for a lifetime. See my article about how I packed 10 days of outfits in a carry on.
Brush Up on Language Basics
2 weeks before
Seriously, just be a decent citizen of the earth and attempt to understand and speak the language of the country you are going to. It won’t take long to learn a few key words and phrases. Even if you’re going to an English-speaking country, learn some of the local slang and common sayings. It’s not only helpful, but it’s respectful. Don’t go to France and say “MARCY BOWCOOP” to everything. Learn how to ask what time it is, if you want ice in your drink and how to return your food if it’s bad. Learn how to pronounce common vowels and letters so you can make sense of what you’re reading out and about. Example: the Spanish “LL” is pronounced as we Americans pronounce the “Y” sound. It makes all the difference when you are asking directions. Be vulnerable and okay with messing up. Represent us Americans out there well and at least try. Download Duo Lingo on your phone today.
Call Your Bank
1 Week Before
You’ll be needing that sweet piece of plastic and your bank is going to cancel your card if they see international charges and don’t know you’re going out of town. They’ll think it’s fraud. It’s a quick call that will save you a lot of headaches. Helpful hint: get some money exchanged at the airport so you have cash for a taxi driver from the airport. Helpful hint, again: Once you’re at your destination, pull out large chunks of cash at a time at an ATM to avoid hefty international charges. Stash your money in a few different places so you are never without it.
Schedule Out of Office Messages
6 days before
I am telling you to schedule this early because in the final days of leaving the country, you’ll forget. It is a challenge to inform and prepare your fellow staff members, business partners, etc. for your absence. Get on your email accounts and schedule automatic responses that detail your dates of absence. A tip from my dad: don’t mention you are out of the country or out of town. Just say you don’t have access to email. You don’t want to turn into prey while your house/apartment/car sit all alone at home. While I’m at it, have a friend or relative stop by here and there to make sure everything is okay at your place during your trip.
Start packing
5 days before
I say to start this five day a head of time so you can set aside all of your vital items so you don’t wear them before your trip and get them dirty. I mean, what if you found out a day before you didn’t have enough panties? Real problems, people. In addition, leaving your suitcase out compels you to think about the physical items you need like phone chargers, a small purse and big purse, enough sleeping clothes, and shoes for each occasion (I recommend sticking to three pairs of shoes total). You can make a last-minute shopping list for anything you need based on this first round of packing. You can also pull stuff out of the suitcase, “curate” if you will.
Call Your Phone Company
4 days before
I called and chatted with someone at Verizon about my international options. I opted for the international plan, which was $40 a month. Ask them to see how much text, calls, and data are without an international plan. You can usually use up to a certain number without charges. I wanted to be safe and without worry. I did save any web surfing for WiFi areas.
Make Last-Minute Travel Purchases
3 days before
I’m talking an extra SD card for your camera, a possible portable phone charger, or one more pair of comfortable shoes. Maybe a passport holder? My friend gave me an adorable passport holder the day before I left. It made finding it and keeping track of my passport really easy. It put an extra pep in my step, too. Your major expenses for the trip are out of the way at this point. Be sure you have everything you need to make things comfortable, happy, and exciting.
Complete Packing
2 days before
Make sure you can fit everything. Assess what you don’t need. Notice that you only have the left going out heel. Realize you need to run to CVS to get face wipes. Make sure that book is in your carry on bag. Make sure you’re following the rules and don’t get any of your expensive (but amazing) face lotion thrown away. Read the rules here.
Print Boarding Passes, Confirmation Emails and Copy Your Passport
1 day before
Take a trip to Kinko’s or hope everyone at work understands your needs to not be left stranded in a foreign country. Print out all of your confirmation emails. Print out your epic hang gliding adventure’s address. Make a copy of your passport (one for mom/dad at home and one for you on your trip). You don’t want to be without any of these at any time. You can point to address on pieces of paper to cab drivers with a language barrier. You can feel safe knowing that if something happens to your passport while you’re out on that tour that you have a copy in your suitcase back at the hostel. You can leave the country safely if needed. Trust me. I suggest doing this the last day so that you have everything in once place before you leave.
Bon Voyage!!
Where do you want to go next?
Any questions?
Any advice to add for readers?
Comment below!
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