Preparing for International Travel
You’ve dreamt about it, planned for it, and the time has come. Your European travel vacation is about to begin.
But before you grab your passport and head to the airport, here are a few important things to keep in mind for a smoother, stress-free adventure abroad.
Passports and Visas
You will want to be sure that your passport is valid for at least the next six months. It is enforced because countries do not wish to have a person stay in their country past the expiration date of the passport. Things happen and if a person were to become sick or unable to travel home, the country wants to build in a 6-month buffer. Some people will take a photo of their passport and keep it in the photos of their phone and email it to themselves. That way, if the passport is lost or stolen, you have information. Emailing it to yourself ensures that if your phone is stolen as well, you’ll be able to log on to your email from any computer in the world and still have the photo.
For some countries, you will need a visa in addition to your passport. Visas help countries learn who and why a person is coming into their country. It’s a security and immigration measure. United States citizens may need to apply for a visa for certain countries, and you can learn more about visa requirements here.
Embassy Location
Knowing where the U.S. Embassy is can be useful for many reasons. If your passport is lost or stolen, they can help you with a replacement so that you can get home. In addition to providing information about local laws, if you are arrested or detained for any reason, they can provide information on legal representation. Should you become ill, the embassy personnel can provide a list of local doctors and hospitals. To find an embassy, use this link.
Enrolling in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) is also recommended. According to their website, When you join STEP, you get important alerts and updates from the U.S. embassy or consulate for the destination in which you are visiting or living. STEP messages are sent to your email. It also helps the U.S. embassy or consulate reach you or your emergency contact in an emergency.
International Driving
If you plan to rent a car, learn which countries are fine with your state-issued driver’s license and which require you to also have an international driving permit (IDP). It may take more than six months to get the permit, so you will want to plan ahead. Also, check with the rental car company because while some countries may not require the IDP, the rental car company may.
With respect to your car insurance, most U.S. auto insurance policies will not cover you abroad; though, some may provide coverage if you are driving in Canada or Mexico. It is best to check with your insurance company before you leave and to check with the country’s location insurance requirements to be sure that your policy adheres to the minimum requirements.
Health Care and Insurance
It goes without saying that you should pack all of your medications. You’ll want to be sure that you have enough for the duration of your travel. Some countries will require you to travel with the medication in their original prescription bottle as proof of the prescription. If you choose to repack the medication in a pill case, it is best to include a doctor’s note or a copy of your prescription to avoid authorities confusing it with contraband.
Medical providers abroad may not accept U.S. insurance plans. You will want to check your health care policy to see if it will cover you overseas. U.S. Medicare and Medicaid does not provide coverage while outside of the United States, according to the Department of State. Consider buying supplemental insurance to cover any special anticipated medical needs on your trip. One such provider is GeoBlue.
Currency and Credit Cards
What is the local currency and the exchange rate? If you need local currency, you can contact your bank and order foreign currency, but it is best to do so at least two weeks before your trip. Of course, you can always use an ATM at your destination to get the country’s currency, but there may be international transaction fees to do so. It’s best to check with your bank to learn what those fees would be.
Most people find that using a credit card for transactions is more convenient than carrying cash. Calling the credit card company prior to traveling is advisable. That way, when charges in a foreign country pop up, their fraud department won’t deny the transaction and put a hold on the credit card.
Phone Coverage
You’ll want to keep in touch with friends and family when you travel, and you’ll need to use for phone’s apps as well. According to the FCC website, roaming rules and rates vary from one carrier to the next and can be complex, so take time to understand them by calling your phone carrier ahead of time. For most U.S. customers, domestic service plans do not cover usage abroad.
You will want to contact your phone carrier. If you have VerizonWireless, for about $10 per day, TravelPass will let you use your phone like you do at home with unlimited talk, text and data in over 200 countries. Note that it does not include phone calls. See Communication within this post for more information on calling while overseas. Also, a TravelPass will provide a certain amount of data, and then after that, charges increase exponentially.
An alternative to your phone carrier, consider getting a eSIM card for your phone. Your phone has a SIM card within your phone that is a small physical chip that stores information in the phone and allows for connecting to a cellular network so you can make calls or texts. An eSIM is a digital SIM card. Most of the time, you’ll use the free wi-fi where you are, but occasionally, you’ll need to access data when wi-fi is not available. That’s where the eSIM card comes in. There are many providers of eSIM cards, including Airalo eSIM, Saily, and Holafly. Here is a video for Holafly and a video for Airalo that explain the basics of the eSIM card.
Whatever you end up using, you will want to be sure to go to your phone’s settings and switch off Data Roaming and switch off Allow Cellular Data Switching for your main phone carrier.
Communication
Your phone carrier will provide information about making calls while traveling abroad. Rates are charged based on the destination and you are charged a daily fee for only those days when you use the phone to make calls. To avoid that daily fee, look into WhatsApp, FaceTime, or iMessage.
Best Travel Apps to Download
It's a good idea to download the app of the airline you're flying with. This allows you to access your electronic ticket, receive real-time notifications about delays, use the airline’s free in-flight Wi-Fi, and watch movies during the flight. However, the following are other apps that will make your travels more enjoyable when you get to your destination.
Google Translate - It’s always respectful to know a few words and phrases in the country’s native language, but Google Translate has helped me tremendously, especially in translating signs and menus.
Currency Converter - Did you know that the calculator on your phone has a built in currency converter? Just click on the calculator icon in the lower right and toggle the button to converter.
Uber - It is sometimes much less expensive to take advantage of a ride sharing app as opposed to taking a taxi. Just check the country of origin to determine if Uber is used in that country.
Wanderlog - I’m a big fan of this travel planning app. More information can be found on my post about it here. Wanderlog stores all of your travel documents and itinerary in one place for access while traveling.
Google Maps - You can even download city maps for use when you don’t have wi-fi.
City Mapper - While google maps is great, sometimes you need really detailed walking directions or maps of cities.
Surfshark VPN - It conceals your IP address and keeps your browsing private and secure, which is especially important when in airports or public cafes and restaurants.
Long Flight Planning
International flights can be long. You may want entertainment possibilities. Instead of a physical book, consider downloading a favorite TV show, movie, book or podcast so that you have access to it without using wi-fi. I recommend bringing a power bank or your charging cord so that you don’t lose power when you’re watching your shows. Consider bringing a reusable water bottle and some snacks. And prepare for a wide range of temperatures on the plane by dressing in comfortable layers. If a flight is particularly long, you may wish to get up and move every few hours to avoid getting stiff or developing leg pain and clots.
Arrival Plan
When you arrive at your destination, change your phone to the local time immediately. And have a plan for the day. You will likely want to drop your bags at the hotel. Research how you’re going to get from the airport to the hotel. If the check-in time is still a ways off, the hotel will hold your luggage for you while you explore.
Jet lag is a thing and scientifically proven to be worse when traveling from west to east, as it’s more difficult to adjust to a shorter day. Jet lag is minimized when you drink plenty of water and avoid alcohol on the plane. If you arrive during the day, stay awake. Explore the area, keep moving, enjoy the sunshine and daylight, grab food, and plan to sleep when it’s your normal bedtime. WrinklesandGrins.com has more great tips for combatting jet lag.
Chances are, you’ll wake up early the next morning—filled with excitement and ready to explore. And that’s perfect. Because your dream international getaway is finally here, and every incredible moment is waiting for you to begin.