Things to consider before travelling abroad





Are you planning on going away this year? Maybe you want to go abroad to travel and explore or for a break away from the hustle and bustle of everyday life. Either way, visiting a new country is great fun and can be very beneficial for a number of reasons.

When planning on going abroad, there are several things you should think about and consider before finally pushing the pay button. These include finding the best rates for insurance, doing your research in the area you are planning on staying, and ensuring your passport is in date and that you have the correct visa to travel (if required) amongst other things.

Whether you are going on a road trip or a holiday, we have put together some tips to consider before traveling abroad.
 
Check your passport

Before booking your trip away, it is very important that you check the expiry date of your passport. You won’t be surprised that a lot of people forget to renew their passports and when it comes to booking find out it’s expired. Replacing a passport can take many months, especially since covid. The last thing you want is a stressful wait on receiving your passport as your holiday approaches. If you are in desperate need of it, you can head to the passport office and they can replace it on the day - for this service you will need to contact them before to arrange an appointment.
 
Investigate visa requirements

Different countries will have different visa requirements when visiting them. Before booking, do some research on the requirements of the country you would like to visit. Check if they require a visa in the first place and if they do, confirm how long it takes to be approved for one. For example, the USA requires a visa on entry which you can apply for and pay for online. If you don’t give yourself enough time, you may not get the visa in time for your trip. When checking, make sure you look into the countries you have visited previously that may affect your application.
 
Take out insurance

When going abroad, one of the most important things to do is to take out insurance. Insurance should be taken out when you book as often it will include a cancellation policy should you get ill and are required to claim. When looking for insurance, make sure you run several quotes to check you are getting the best price. Just like your car insurance, you can use comparison sites to get multiple quotes and compare them. If you are going abroad with your partner, to save yourself some money you could look at taking out a joint policy. Alternatively, if you think you will be going on multiple trips, a year's policy can be taken out.

Research the area that you are visiting

Never book a destination without doing some research on the place you are visiting. Take a look on Google maps on live view to see the local streets and take a moment to read the reviews on the local area. If you have any friends or family members who have visited that area before, ask for their opinion - the last thing you want is to feel unsafe when arriving. You could put out a tweet asking for people’s opinions as well if you use Twitter. You could also look on Instagram and see what photos people have uploaded of the area as well. TripAdvisor is also a great place to look as often they have covered even the most unusual or rural areas. Another thing to research is the danger levels of the country, most countries will be fine, however, some will fall under a certain risk category.

Decide whether you want a package deal or to book things separate

When booking, are you going to opt for a package holiday or book your accommodation and flights separately? Both have their benefits so mostly comes down to preference. If you are planning on booking separately, ensure you check the costs of the flights and book them ASAP in case they get sold out. If you are booking a package holiday, make sure the price is competitive and isn’t more expensive than booking them separately.

What tips do you have for people planning on going abroad? Which of the above tips do you most agree with? Is there anything you would like to add to the list above? If there is anything you want to share that will benefit our readers, please let us know in the comment box below.

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