Traveling in different countries is a dream come true for many people. Exploring new exotic places far away from your country is now more accessible than ever before. However, your dream can quickly turn into a nightmare since you are entering an area you are not familiar with.
The best way to make sure that your vacation goes as planned is to be prepared for anything. Many people don’t pay attention to some crucial preparation tips, and most of the time, they regret their decisions.
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The first thing that Boy Scouts learn is to always “be prepared.” Stepping out of your comfort zone into the unknown makes traveling so exciting, but it brings the possibility for both good and bad things to happen.
You have to be prepared for the worst-case scenario and always have a backup plan. In this article, we will go through some of the ways you must prepare yourself before traveling abroad.
Carry a First Aid Kit
Fortunately, modern medicine is accessible anywhere in the world, so depending on the place you are going, you're likely to have access to a health center. However, just to be safe, it's a good idea to bring a first aid kit containing at least a few essentials items.
For instance, you can take Tylenol for stomach illness, Band-Aids, scissors, hydrocortisone cream, antibacterial ointment, eye drops, and a small stash of doctor-approved antibiotics. In most cases, you'll be able to find a pharmacy, but in extreme emergencies, you have to be prepared for anything.
Carry Multipurpose Gear
Depending on the country you want to travel to, you need to do a bit of research and find out more about the weather conditions you'll have to deal with. The best way to avoid packing for the wrong vacation is to carry multipurpose gear.
Yes, we know that multipurpose travel gear might not always look the most fashionable, but it lets you adapt to any weather conditions. For example, you can bring with you zip-off pants that can be turned into shorts, or comfortable walking shoes that look good for an evening night out.
This will save room in your bag as well as money since you won’t have to buy that many clothes.
Bring a Reusable Water Bottle with Filter
Whenever you are traveling, you need to pay attention to essential things like water. Water is life, and even though it is doubtful that you end up in a place where there is no water, you should always be prepared.
Carrying a travel water bottle is crucial as a traveler. Fortunately, today there are many foldable plastic bottles that take only a little space in your bag. On the plus side, you won’t be using single-use plastic bottles that end up in the ocean or in landfills.
You have to be extremely careful when drinking water from unusual places. That is why it is a good idea to get a water bottle with a filter. It is very easy to catch some water poisoning that will give you diarrhea and ruin your journey.
Most people can survive for up to 3 weeks without food, but can only make it for three days without water. So make sure you carry a water bottle wherever you go.
Emergency Cash Is a Must
Unfortunately, we can face many unwanted situations on our travels. Many people get robbed or scammed and lose all their money. This is why it is crucial that you have emergency cash hidden away in a different place from your travel money.
Some people decide to carry most of their reserve money on credit cards and face tough situations when they cannot find an ATM nearby. In order to avoid the risk of being stuck without money, you should always carry an additional $200 that might come in handy in the event of an emergency.
Have Backup Credit and Bank Cards
Outside of your emergency cash, you have to carry a backup credit card in case of emergencies. There have been plenty of situations in which banks decided to lock up accounts and left individuals with no options. Some banks can even see unusual movements on your account such as a purchase outside your country as suspicious activity, and decide to freeze the account.
Carrying more credit cards will make your life easier if you encounter this kind of situation. It is also a good idea to keep both credit cards in different places just to avoid losing all of them if robbed.
It is important to note that, in most cases, you have to activate your card for purchases outside your country. So, make sure you check with your bank before traveling and establish whether your card is eligible for withdrawals and purchases outside your country.
Make Copies of Important Documents
Documents like your passport, ID, health insurance, and visa are one of the most important things when you travel to different countries. As we mentioned before, you can get robbed and lose all of your personal belongings, including important documents.
In most scenarios, your backup copies of important documents will come in handy if you need to identify yourself to the local embassy after you’ve lost your documents.
Take Out Travel Insurance
Unfortunately, many people don’t acknowledge the importance of travel insurance, and they only quickly glaze through the documentation before traveling. Travel insurance is the first thing you need to purchase before traveling in order to be prepared for the worst-case scenario.
There are many unfortunate situations in which you can get sick on the road or experience more serious injuries that require medical care for a few days. If you have travel insurance, all things will be paid, and you will be able to provide yourself with the best care.
If not, you will have to pay your own medical bills. Bear in mind that in some countries, that can be incredibly expensive.
Final Words
Preparation is crucial to avoid unnecessary situations on your travels. We all hope that things will go as smoothly as possible, but you cannot leave anything to chance.
Learning about the place you are going and acknowledging facts about the weather, security concerns, things to avoid, and COVID-19 situations will also be necessary in the upcoming months. You can also learn many things by asking someone who already went there or does online research, just like your would research NBA betting advice from experts.
Be well prepared, no matter where you go. It is the best way to avoid turning your exciting adventure into a nightmare that you would want to forget.