- Check your credit/debit cards for foreign transaction fees. Sometimes there’s not much you can do about this but it’s better to know before you start swiping.
- Let your bank know that you’ll be traveling. Many places don’t need this anymore but it’s better to check than to be shut down while you’re traveling.
- Don’t “order” foreign currency from your bank. Use the ATM at the airport after you collect your luggage. You want to choose “without conversion” when asked.
- If asked when checking out somewhere, you want to use the local currency not your home currency. ALWAYS.
- Make sure your passport is signed and your vaccination card (if you have one) is with it just in case.
- Get your prescriptions refilled and pack them in their bottles or at least with the prescription information. Sometimes the pharmacy will print out just the label for you. If something weird happens, it would be important for the authorities or your travel companions to know what you need or what you’ve taken.
- Contact your cell phone provider and look into an international plan. You don’t want to use your current plan in another country without contacting them first. Most providers allow you to do this on their websites. AT&T is $10 a day to use whatever your current plan is internationally so it’s not terrible. Another option is to just rely on wifi at the hotel etc and turn off your cellular plan.
- If you are allotted a personal item, carry on AND a checked bag, I typically travel to a location with a personal item and a checked bag and return home using an expandable tote (that I had folded up and packed in my checked bag) as my carry-on with any extra shopping that might have happened. (No judgment)
- Additional luggage note! You will be dragging your suitcases over cobblestones, up hills, in/out of trains, and all over creation. Do not bring anything that you can’t handle yourself. For example: having both a rolly checked bag AND a rolly carry-on is very difficult to maneuver. Having a carry-on that can sit on top of your checked bag or you can wear it as a backpack would be easier.
- There is going to be a lot of walking on this trip! Start preparing now!
See all my recommended travel accessories here!