Destination-related preparations
Learn as much as you can about your destination, its climate and local customs and laws. Be up-to-date about
the current political situation and possible dangers. Use NetGlobers travel advice pages to inform yourself.
Find out if you require a visa to enter the country of your destination. Visit the country's embassy
website to see if this is the case and, should you need a visa, what documents you will have to provide to obtain it.
Make sure that your passport is still valid. When applying for a visa, some countries may require you to have
a passport that will still be valid for up to six months from the date you leave their territory. You should
therefore verify early on if your destination country has such a requirement, as renewing or applying for the
first time for a passport can take several weeks.
If you plan to drive abroad, make sure that your license is current and valid at your destination. Learn
about the driving laws beforehand.
Find out where the nearest embassy or consulate is located in your destination, how to get
there and when it is open.
Medical preparations
Remember to purchase travel insurance. Medical services may be insufficient at your destination and you
may thus need to be evacuated. In other countries medical costs may be very expensive and not covered by your usual
insurance. Make sure that you purchase an offer that will cover you for any activities you have planned.
If your country of origin is part of the European Union, you can apply for the free European Health
Insurance Card. It allows you to get free or reduced emergency care in any EU country, as long as you have travel insurance.
Before any trip to a distant foreign country, it is advised to visit your physician early on to find
out if you need any vaccinations before you travel. In some cases, you might need to get multiple immunization shots, which
will require you to visit your doctor several months before you plan to leave.
Contact information
Remember to take photocopies of your passport and other important documents and keep these separate from
the originals when traveling. Prepare a document with the contact information of persons that should be contacted in case of
emergency, and tell your friends and relatives where you are going and how long you will be away.
Provide as much detail as possible about your itinerary
and if possible an emergency contact number where they can reach you. Let them know if you chose them as your emergency
contacts.
Journey-related preparations
Estimate how much money you will need for your journey. Once you have arrived, it's usually best to use ATMs to
retrieve money, so do not take all your money along. Nevertheless, it is preferable to take a mix of cash (in your
currency and local currency) and travelers cheques with you as back-up. Be sure to make a note of the cheques'
numbers before you leave in case they get stolen.
If you plan to travel by plane, check in advance which items you may carry on board and which ones
are not allowed and will be confiscated by customs upon your arrival. You can refer to NetGlobers Travel Tips: Air Regulations.
