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Safest Tips for Traveling Overseas
Did you know there are countries out there that will cane you in the streets for chewing bubblegum? Or that having a cocktail with some ice in it could ruin your whole vacation if you are in the wrong part of the world?
Well, after traveling to over one hundred countries with the United States Air Force while working as aircrew, one of the most important things I learned was how important pre-planning was before traveling overseas. Here, I have created my best planning tips that can be used by all travelers when preparing for a trip overseas.
Be Aware of Current Situations
It is essential to learn about the current situation and what might be going on in other countries before you show up on their doorstep. Upfront market research on where you travel outside the United States is always best. So… Without further Ado, here are my best overseas travel tips:
1. Always Research the country you are traveling to at Travel.State.Gov
Scroll down a little to the right, and you will see a search button. Enter the country that you plan on traveling to. In the photo below, you’ll see I have placed Norway in the search bar.
Once you hit the search button, all relevant information on travel to Norway will come up. It will give you a Travel Advisory Level of 1-4, and from there, you can look up a myriad of other pertinent information, such as health precautions (potable or non-potable water for drinking) and any special vaccinations you may need to travel to that country.
The Importance of Where Your Water Comes From
Always be vigilant about water (and therefore, ice!) quality when traveling abroad in the world; otherwise, you can get really sick. Take it from me: as a young woman deployed to Iraq, I knew the water was not potable, but we showered in it which lulled me into a state of complacency, and I didn’t realize that it also meant I needed to brush my teeth with bottled water. You might be surprised to find that certain countries do recommend drinking bottled water and not drinking tap water.
One thing you will find as well is if the country you are traveling to requires a Visa. Not having a Visa can make or break your travel plans, so this is an important thing to check! Visas will need to be submitted sometimes long before traveling, and the country will give details as to how far in advance you need to submit them for approval.
Please write down your nearest US Embassy location and phone number if needed; you just never know when you might need it, and if you do you’ll be really glad you followed this tip. If you lose your passport or need help, the embassy is always an excellent place to get that help. (1)
2. Travel Insurance – Do you need it?
Personally this for me is a cost analysis, what amount am I willing to depart with financially without being reimbursed if something happens or if I cannot travel. Any time I go overseas I do either use a credit card that covers the insurance on the travel that was paid for or I will buy separate Travel Insurance.
Credit Cards that Includes Insurance
Below are the credit cards that my husband and I have used to save our bacon on a few trips and the travel insurance we have used on larger travel purchases. Always read the fine print of your credit cards if you opt to use them for insurance on travel.
One other really great thing about AIG Travel Insurance is that it is pretty inexpensive in comparison to the cost of overseas travel and they have a plan – Cancel for Any Reason, which is what I always use and depending on the type of insurance you pick it will cover certain medical expenses overseas too.
Citi Executive World Elite American Airlines Advantage Mastercard
3. Hotels and Flights – How do you pick?
My favorite market research tool to look for hotels and flights is Expedia.com. Particularly with hotels I will spend hours looking through reviews and maps of where the hotel is located. The reviews I have found are by far the most important thing to pick through.
Sometimes people just like to complain and trying to read between the lines is exactly what you need to do. We all have different standards, but if I see over 15% of reviews complaining about cleanliness of the hotel I will look for one that is much cleaner or that has better reviews.
Another great tip is to research the airline company’s safety rating if you plan on flying overseas. Airplane companies are rated on safety and even though a price may seem tempting it is always a good idea to check the company’s safety ratings when choosing a flight. Click Here for Airline Ratings.
Pro Tip: I always book anywhere just behind the wing of the aircraft because it is the most survivable place to be in the event of a plane crash. As a former Flight Attendant, trust me on this one.
4. Tours – Book one or just wing it?
I am a firm believer in walking off cruise ships and looking for an adventure, but that is another blog for another day. In the past if I had 24-48 hours in a city I needed to make sure to book an experience that would be loved not only by me but also by the other people I was traveling in a group with. One of my favorite sites to use is Viator.com.
I once had 24 hours in Florence with my Air Force crew and booked a Tuscan bicycle tour to a vineyard and olive oil farm in the Chianti region. Once we arrived to this picturesque estate in Tuscany they had an amazing lunch prepared for us. That experience was customized for our group and I have some amazing memories from that trip. It’s not just useful for tours, either!
Recently, I took a trip to Costa Rica and the airport taxi was $75 per person round trip and it didn’t matter if the van was full of all my friends. Instead I opted to look on Viator.com and found that I could book our own private van round trip with our whole group for 50% of the cost the hotel quoted. To no surprise the driver from Viator was waiting outside the baggage area and gave nothing less than A+ customer service.
5. Supplies – What should you bring?
I have learned when traveling overseas for periods over one week to make sure that I have an arsenal of comfort supplies. You cannot always find the things you may need especially when traveling to far-flung locations.
My number one thing is to bring immune system products to make sure that you are keeping yourself healthy throughout your trip. No one likes to get sick and have their trip ruined, and being proactive and prepared is the best thing you can do for yourself. Below are a list of supplies I take with me while traveling to any location.
When in doubt, plan as though you may not be able to find things you normally get at home.
- Bee Keepers Propolis Throat Spray – I used this before getting on flights or crowded spaces. There are a lot of good studies of how bee propolis boosts the immune system.
- Herbal Immunity Tea – I also carry immunity teas that I drink on the flight and throughout my trip.
- Basic Medicine Kit or you can prepare your own at home with various different medicines just in case.
- Grounding Pillow Cases – if you are not aware of the benefits of grounding please watch this amazing documentary. It has changed my life and I do not leave home without my grounding pillow case. The Earthing Movie and an National Institute of Health Study.
- Best Travel Hairdryer – I love this hairdryer, it is small and powerful.
- International Travel Plug Adapter – Anytime you travel overseas you must take a power adapter and this one is great to accommodate any country.
- Travel Blanket – This travel blanket is so convenient since it is able to slide right over the handle of your luggage instead of trying to stuff it inside.
- Travel Sleep Mask – I love this mask because it does not lay directly over your eyes, but it has a bit of space for your eyelashes if you are having trouble getting to sleep.
- Travel Pillow – A travel pillow is always a must, especially when traveling on long flights overseas.
- Battery Charger – You never know when you need to charge your phone and there might not be an outlet nearby.
- Multi-Charging Cables – So you don’t have to carry multiple different charge cables.
I hope that these tips will help you in preparing for your trip. Any other great tips you may have before going overseas are more than welcome. Leave a comment.
Sources
(1). http://www.travel.state.gov
(2). AIG Travel Insurance
(3). Citi Executive World Elite Mastercard American Airlines
(4). Marriott Visa
(5). Viator Tours
(6). Airline Ratings
(7). Bee Keepers Propolis Throat Spray
(8). Herbal Immunity Tea
(9). Basic Medicine Kit
(10). Grounding Pillow Cases
(11). NIH Study on Grounding