How to Prepare for Foreign Travel
Have you never left your country before? Looking to travel somewhere for the first time? Traveling, especially foreign travel, can be very stressful. Hopefully, after reading this you have a better idea of how to prepare for your first foreign country travel. This is a list of some basic things you need to check before traveling to a foreign country for the first time.
#1: Check for Entry Requirements
Before you book your ticket, you should first make sure you are allowed to go to that country. As an example, the U.S. passport is able to go to 180 countries and territories without obtaining a visa beforehand. Most countries will require a passport book over a passport card, so keep that in mind as well if you are applying for a passport for the first time. As of 2023, most countries have no COVID-related entry requirements anymore, but it may be worth the quick internet search to save hassle at the airport.
#2: Prepare a Few Different Credit/Debit Cards
Mastercards and Visas are typically accepted worldwide, so it’s best to have at least one of those two. Credit cards such as American Express and Discover are more limited in developing countries. Check if your bank/card requires a travel alert prior to travel. Many credit cards will temporarily lock your card if they suddenly find you in a different country, which is why it’s good to have more than one method of payment.
#3: Consider Getting Currency Exchange
Find out how much your bank charges you to use an out-of-network bank in a foreign country. Use that and compare it to how much it would be to get your currency exchanged prior to travel. Many times, even with the ATM charge, it is cheaper to withdraw cash directly from a foreign ATM after you land. However, you run into the risk of getting your debt card skimmed in a foreign country or the risk of not being able to find an ATM. Ask yourself if convenience and peace of mind are worth the extra conversion price.
#4: Learn Do’s and Don’ts of the Country
Certain countries tip and certain countries do not tip. Do a few quick internet searches on tipping culture, how people greet each other, common attires, and general behaviors. Is it rude to not tip a taxi driver? Is it rude to not say “hi” to strangers? Maybe it’s rude to make eye contact with strangers. You may learn surprising things, such as how it is frowned upon to take pictures inside trains in Japan, or how if you litter in Singapore you will face a fine of up to $1,000.
#5: Purchase Mobile Internet or Pocket Wi-Fi
This is especially crucial if you are relying on your phone to search for where to go, what to eat, or translation help. Some phone providers have plans that include limited international coverage (it could be as slow as 2G, rendering it useless). Check your phone plan to see if you need to purchase a temporary e-sim or a pocket Wi-Fi for the trip.
#6: Download Google Translate and Google Maps for Offline Use
Kind of goes hand-in-hand with the previous tip, but on Google Maps and Google Translate, you can pre-download certain areas/languages for limited offline use. This could be a life savior if you are stuck somewhere with poor reception and unable to communicate for help. Follow this link for how to download areas on Google Maps, and this link for how to download language on Google Translate.
#7: Learn How to Say: “Thank You”, “Sorry”, and “Where is the Bathroom?”
Learning an entire language just for the sake of a quick vacation is unrealistic, but it should only take a few minutes to learn how to say “thank you”, “sorry”, and “where is the bathroom”. The first two are pretty self explanatory, as you generally don’t want to offend people in a foreign country. The third is going to be a life savior when you are lost and desperately need to use the bathroom. Trust me.
