Whether you’ve been around the globe or never left the state, here is the Collegiette’s Guide to safe and fun international travel:
Passport Professional
1. Proving that you’re a U.S. citizen could be difficult if your passport is lost or stolen, especially if it’s in a different country. Before you take off, make sure to place a copy of your passport in your suitcase and in your carry-on item.
2. As an extra precaution, leave a copy of your passport at home or with someone you trust just in case you are faced with “The Case of the Missing Passport.”
To Pack, or Not to Pack
3. Make sure to place an extra set of clothes in your carry-on bag. Even if you don’t think it could happen to you, airlines lose bags all the time. Expect the unexpected and put an extra outfit in your carry-on just in case. If your suitcase for the entire trip meets carry-on requirements, more power to you!
4. If you absolutely cannot fit everything into a carry-on sized suitcase and must go bigger, that means you will have to check your bag with the airline. While each individual airline has different bag fees, you wouldn’t want to be stuck paying hundreds of dollars for that extra luggage. Check with the airline beforehand to see just how much you’ll need to fork over at the airport, to avoid any hidden fees and to eliminate the element of “luggage surprise”.
5. BRING. FOOD. Traveling to different foreign countries may be fun, but you gotta take a horrendously long plane ride to get to said countries. You will not want to see another bag of mini pretzels again, trust me. Bringing your own snacks in your bag will tie you over for the plane ride and spare those around you from the wrath of your “hangry” side. It’s for the good of the other passengers.
Phones and Laptops and Cameras Oh My!
6. Wouldn’t it just suck to arrive to your destination, see the sights on the way to the hotel, and then find out their outlets are different from outlets in the U.S.? Or worse, that their voltage measurements are waaaay different? No charging your phone, laptop or camera battery for the entire trip, or burning your hair from your ridiculously hot flat iron (YouTube has a plethora of these videos). Oh, the horror. That’s why they make these nifty things called charging adapters that convert foreign outlet voltage and size to U.S standard for your convenience.
7. Smartphones come with “Airplane Mode” for a reason. It’s not just for the plane ride, but will really cut down those international roaming charges. If you can handle it, turn your phone on Airplane Mode and turn off WiFi for the entire trip. Yes, your phone will have a mini seizure from notifications once you turn mobile data back on in the States, but you won’t be seeing that notification from your service carrier that you owe a bajillion dollars in roaming fees.
Money, Money, Moneeeeyyyy
8. While you’ll want to bring both a credit/debit card and local cash, make sure to place the two in separate compartments of your bag or purse, or even different areas on your person. Stashing some bills in a separate pocket than your credit card will decrease the chance of someone pick-pocketing ALL your money all at once, and it will guarantee your safety when pulling money out to pay for something.
9. Speaking of paying for something, make sure to check the exchange rates in the country you are visiting. Finding out that one Danish Krone is only equal to 15 cents while you’re in Denmark is a terrible surprise, so make sure your form of payment works in that country (I’m talking credit cards here) and know how much your currency is worth there.
HAVE FUN!!
10. Traveling to foreign countries is something everyone deserves to experience at least once in their life, and it would be a shame to not enjoy the trip of a lifetime because of an unfortunate international mishap with luggage, passports, money, or other things. The most important travel tip to follow is have as much fun as you can while you’re abroad! Take lots of pictures, eat lots of foreign food and immerse yourself in the culture!