Leaving the country to study or travel abroad is a daunting idea in itself—goodbyes are tough, and adjusting to a new culture is seemingly even tougher. But before any collegiette can jet off for a few days, weeks, or months of irreplaceable experiences, there are a few logistics (those tiny little things no one ever wants to concern themselves with) that need sorting out that will make your time away that much more enjoyable. We talked to Vy Truong, online content and PR marketing specialist for Contiki—the leading travel company for 18- to 35-year-olds—and mapped out a list of travel logistics that will help you feel completely prepared and stress-free when you step onto the plane.
Passports
Despite the horrifically bad pictures they tend to contain (I’ve told basically every person I’ve encountered working at airport security that my picture was taken on an off day; trust me, they understand), you just can’t leave the country without a passport. If you already have one, make sure that it is valid for the entirety of your trip. While it may sound like a Lizzie McGuire Movie kind of romanticism, being stuck in a foreign country with an expired passport is anything but ideal. Between language barriers and a mighty high fee, having your passport expire abroad could easily be the worst thing to happen to you. Save yourself the suffering and double, triple, and quadruple check your passport expiration date before you leave. As for those collegiettes who don’t have a passport or need to renew theirs, make getting a new one your top priority. Generally, it takes 4-6 weeks for your new passport to be created and completed. However, if you just realized you’re in need of a new passport and you’re leaving in less than a month, there are ways to speed up the process and help you out of your sticky situation. Lucky for us, the US government offers an expedited service for an additional $60 plus overnight shipping costs. While it may seem a little steep, getting your passport within 24 hours of your departure is a lot cheaper than rescheduling your plane. For absolutely everything there is to know about passports, check out the government’s guide to traveling.
Visas
The word visa gets tossed around a lot when it comes to traveling, but what exactly is a visa? If you’re planning to study abroad, then a student visa will allow you to stay in the country for a specific amount of time as a student. However, visas are dependent on where you are traveling to, how long you will be there, and what you are doing there. “Contacting the local embassy for the country you are traveling to will provide the most up-to-date and accurate information,” recommends Truong.
Just like a passport, it’s best to get your visa completed and out of the way as soon as possible: “Apply for your visa when the school or program tells you to. Don’t put it off because it does take a long time,” says Hannah Anderson from the University of St. Andrews, who studied abroad in Scotland. To get your hands on a visa, you can go to the country’s embassy, consulate, or a specified post office. But before you do anything, check what the country’s specific process is for obtaining your visa; every country has a slightly different process. Additionally, each country requires you bring certain documents with you when applying for a visa. “When I applied for my French visa they were very specific about which consulate I went to and what I brought,” Michelle Lewis, a graduate from UNC-Chapel Hill who studied abroad, says.
Carmen Ray, a graduate from Binghamton University, shared her visa story: “I didn’t have to apply for a visa beforehand because I was in the country for less than six months. The UK in particular has a system where, so long as you’re in the country for less than six months, they’ll give you your visa at the gate when you get there. You fill out a landing card, have all of your paperwork with you (i.e. acceptance letter, housing list, proof of payment and that you have enough money that you won’t be working there) and you promise not to do any volunteer work or actual work while you’re there and they let you go ahead. So it’s a good idea to make sure you check what the visa laws are for the amount of time you’re staying, because knowing that we could get in as students for under six months without all of the application hassle was a great plus.”
A complete list of everything you need for every country can be found here—check before you go and avoid the hassle!
Vaccinations
Let me guess: you thought you were finished getting shots after your 16th birthday? Well, there’s a possibility that you’re in for a few more. According to Truong, countries in Latin America and Asia tend to require vaccinations. It’s also very common throughout Africa. But of course, there are other countries here and there that insist you get specific vaccinations before you cross their borders (usually it’s a simple hepatitis shot). Before you jump to anything too quickly, call your doctor and ask their opinion on what vaccinations will keep you healthy (and happy) while you’re away. If you’re studying abroad through a school program, they’ll usually provide you with a list of the specific vaccinations you need, or you can call or e-mail with any questions. Contacting the country’s embassy is also another option. For a complete list of the do’s and don’ts of vaccinations, check out The Center for Disease Control and Prevention’s website.
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Converters and Adapters
No, we’re not talking about settling into a foreign country or immersing yourself in the culture; we’re talking about electronics. There are two options when it comes to making sure your beloved electronic devices work: voltage converters and adapters. Adapters just take the shape of the plug. With an adapter, you simply plug it into the wall, and then plug your appliance into the adapter—just make sure your electronic device can handle the voltage that the country uses. On the other hand, a converter changes the voltage, because countries abroad use different quantities of voltage. If your hair straightener says it uses 120V, then you need a converter to get that same amount.
“I ended up buying a world adapter set that included American to UK, and UK to [the rest of] Europe. You can find sets like this often in Target or Walmart; I got mine on Amazon,” said Emily Featherstone, a Fordham University graduate who studied abroad in London. You can buy an adapter for almost every country here.
As far as hair appliances go, I waited until I was in Israel (where I studied abroad) to buy a blow dryer and a flat iron, rather than bringing my own and risking that they wouldn’t work (that was way too big of a possibility for me to ever take). Not only did it save space packing, but it also meant that I didn’t have to risk frying my appliances…and most likely burning down the building. Luckily for me, the blow dryer and flat iron I bought worked not only in the Middle East, but also in most of Europe, which is a great added bonus if you’re traveling all over. However, if you do decide to bring your own hair appliances, make sure you get the correct converters for them. According to Hannah, “don’t plug hair equipment into your adapter; you will blow the fuse.”
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Money
The United Kingdom has the pound, Switzerland has the Swiss franc, Israel has the shekel, and a majority of Europe accepts the euro. But what does this all mean? It’s absolutely crucial to have a grasp on different countries’ currencies so you’re not unknowingly blowing your money on a $30 bowl of soup in the Zurich airport (unfortunately, true story). Before you leave, look into the exchange rate of whichever countries you’re planning to visit. And, while you’re there, keep checking in on the current exchange rate before you buy something that you think may be a little pricey, because rates change daily. There’s an iPhone app that will convert the dollar to any other currency, or you can go to a local post office and they’ll be more than happy to tell you. Another key thing to look out for are exchange places that say “commission,” meaning they charge you for exchanging currency, so you won’t be getting your full dollars’ worth. Airports always work on commission, so try avoiding exchanging your money there if at all possible. Before I left to go abroad, I exchanged money at my bank so that I had a few shekels with me in case of emergency when I landed in Israel. It’s definitely worth your while to have some local money with you before you leave America, especially if you’re hopping right into a cab from the airport.
While you’re at the bank exchanging money, talk to them about your debit or credit card. Most American cards have an added charge to them when they’re used abroad, and a few two-dollar fees can add up faster than you can imagine.
“Collegiettes should check with their banks to see if they have partnerships with banks in the country they plan to study in, or if not, how much the fees will be. In some cases it might make sense to open a new account for the time you are abroad,” says Emily, who opened an account through Bank of America, which is owned by UK-based Barclays Bank. “It probably saved me hundreds of dollars.”
Even if you decide not to open a new bank account abroad, at the very least tell your bank you’ll be out of the country and for how long. While you’re gallivanting throughout another country, the last thing you want is for your credit card company to think your card has been stolen and turn it off. Being without any connection to money while in a foreign country is most definitely not recommended.
Cell Phones
Most smartphones have international plans that can be temporarily set up for while you are gone. Although texting and making phone calls can be pricey, messaging apps like What’s App Messenger (which is available on the Blackberry, iPhone, and Droid) don’t charge you per message and are a great way to communicate! Additionally, some cell phone providers will unlock your phone, so that you can replace your SIM card with one from a different country. However, it’s not always likely that your phone company is willing to do this. If that’s the case, there’s no reason to panic—you won’t be phoneless! It’s very easy to buy a pay-as-you-go phone through a local company within the country; just make sure you look into which company is the best for you before you leave.
“While in London, we found a place call Carphone Warehouse that had phones for about three pounds and they had pay-as-you-go. Pretty much everyone in our group got international calling plans, but you really need to look for what’s best for you,” Carmen said. “I ended up switching after one day… and did a 30-day system where I put 20 pounds on my phone every 30 days and I had unlimited texting and 500 minutes.”
An added bonus to a pay-as-you-go phone is that you can always change how much money you put on your phone; you don’t have an ironclad contract. If you realize you’re going over your minutes (or not using as many as you thought you would be), you can easily modify how much credit you add to your phone to fit you.
Weather & Clothing
Check the weather for the entire time you’ll be there! My roommate abroad thought Israel meant 80 degrees and sunny for five months straight. As it turns out, all of February and half of March is cold and rainy. You’d be surprised how many times we both regretted not packing sweatshirts and other warm clothes. Friends, family, and acquaintances that have been to the country you’re traveling to are great resources—they’ve experienced the climate firsthand and are most likely to give you any useful tips they have.
When it comes to deciding exactly which pieces of clothing you want to pack, remember that doing your laundry abroad may be different than doing it at home. Be sure to pack some old clothing that you won’t be devastated about if it gets ruined.
“[I packed] a lot of my older clothes and shoes knowing that I’ll end up shopping while in London and if I had to throw out a pair of shoes or leggings while I was there, I wouldn’t feel bad because I had just bought them a week before leaving,” Carmen said.
On top of all this, remember to ALWAYS have an extra set of clothes (or at least underwear and a toothbrush) in your carry-on luggage when you travel to your destination in case (knock on wood) your luggage gets lost.
Food & Medicine
Food in a different country is obviously made differently than it is in America. But what most people don’t realize is that this change is likely to upset your stomach for the first few days: “Do research in advance about (the region’s foods) tend to have and bring any medicine that can help you with an upset stomach or any other illness you might encounter as pharmacies may not have what you need,” Troung said. It’s always better to be prepared for sudden sickness than to wander around looking for medicine that somewhat resembles a medication you’ve taken back home.
Itineraries
Let your friends and family know what you’re doing! “Organizing your trip logistics using apps like TripIt can be very handy – or you can create a visual calendar that features all of your travel information – which is handy to hand out to your family when you are on the road,” Truong said.
“Doing/having all of these things is important because it reduces the stress of being in a different country because you feel prepared, and it allows you to spend extra time adapting to your surroundings and enjoying yourself,” said Hannah. And remember, collegiettes, if you have any further questions, Contiki is here to help with all your travel needs.