10 important tips to do before every trip
Traveling is exciting, planning a trip not only involves choosing the place, the hotel and the money you will take, but also there are certain things you should do before any trip to be ready, for this reason, today I bring you 10 things you must do before each trip.
1. Call your bank to notify them of your travel dates
Call your bank or credit card company and let them know about your travel plans. Most of those companies keep track of spending patterns and may interpret an unexpected purchase as credit card fraud. Your account could be locked if you use your card in another country without notifying your bank.
2. Search the list of items that you need to enter the country
Depending on where you are travelling to, the rules on what you have to bring there can be different, for example, make sure you have the appropriate Visa if you need one and how long can you stay there as a tourist. Make sure that your passport is valid for at least six months after your planned return (many countries require that).
Some countries need vaccines or entrance and exit fees, some of them even require you to carry a certain amount of money in cash, so before every trip, I recommend you to review the country’s rules.
3.Download the map of the destination
Google has enabled an option for your phone (iOS and Android) to save maps offline in order to access them without needing an internet connection, you can save the place that you are going to visit no matter how big it is, so the best thing you can do if you visit a place that you don’t know and you want to avoid internet issues, download the maps before you leave.
4.Make a checklist of items to bring
Making a list of the things you will need for your trip at least 1 week before the trip is the best thing you can do. This will prevent you from having unnecessary purchases on your trip, or having troubles if you forget something important, for example some necessary paper to enter the country of destination, reservation or your charger).
Here a list of travel basics:
- Travel mini bottles https://amzn.to/2VVqgi1 (pink version https://amzn.to/2yMlIm3)
- Portable charger: https://amzn.to/2VYGOWe
- Small umbrella: https://amzn.to/2S8bSlz
- Travel adapter: https://amzn.to/3cKRBtZ
- Travel pillow: https://amzn.to/351cbnq
- Passport
- Sunglasses
- Jacket
- Pijamas and underwear
- Chargers
- Wallet
- Medicine
5. Check the weather
The weather in the country can change in a week, I had planned that it would be hot on my trip to Disney and when I checked the weather one week before the trip I had to change all the clothes that I had planned and use a hoodie and jacket the whole trip. So before your trip, please check how is going to be there.
6. Make an itinerary
Make a list of places that you want to go and things you want to do in the country that you are going to visit, that will allow you to organize your time and what days it is better to do certain activities.
Google maps allow you to create a list up to 10 places you plan to visit, I love this option because it allows me to see how far one place is from another, so I organize what days it is better to put different activities.
7. Stay connected
Search for a travel Simcard or Investigate the roaming costs of your phone company, it will allow you to stay in contact with your family and friends, call taxis and search the internet without worrying about wifi. Make sure to bring an unlocked phone with you if you want one of those travel sims because you won’t be able to install one on a locked phone.
8. Change cash to the country’s local currency
Many people choose to change the money at the destination airport and banks, also choose to bring only a credit card to the trip. I don’t recommend this in case of an emergency that you are not allowed to use the credit card, or if the country has cash rules, so try to carry some cash just in case (even if you only wanted to use your credit card).
9. Learn the basics of the local language
Knowing how to communicate with the people in the country is important because they can help you with anything you need, especially if you don’t have the internet at the moment. You don’t have to be fluent, but knowing some basic phrases will help you a lot.
10. Watch videos from other travelers to see the places you want to visit
Watching videos from other travelers will give you an idea of how good or bad a place is, and you can know the advice of people who already have experience in that place. I like to watch videos of other travelers to get an idea of what places I would like to visit in a country and make my itinerary, which restaurant could be good and general recommendations for that place.
Here is a video of my last trip to Miami so you can see the itinerary and recommendations of the places I visited.
