Traveling is one of those things that everyone loves. I am yet to find a person who doesn’t enjoy visiting other countries. They may exist, but I bet they are just like fairies, everyone thinks they exist, but you never actually see them. Leaving jokes aside, one of the most important aspects of traveling is the planning part. It may not be as fun as the trip itself, but it’s that work you have to do in order to enjoy yourself.
There are several things you need to keep in mind when you are planning a vacation. Not everything applies to all destinations, but I am going to try and cover the essentials for when you want to go abroad. It requires more planning and more steps. After all, you are leaving the country.
Establish a budget
That might as well be step number one for everybody unless you are super rich and that does not matter. But for all of us regular mortals out here, the budget is a real issue. You need to establish that from the very start. Otherwise, you may go bankrupt before even leaving. So, determine a budget for planning and one for when you’ll actually arrive at your destination. That is if you don’t want to go hungry the last two days of your trip. Temptations are very strong, but please try to be stronger.
Buy tickets ahead
Way ahead. If you purchase flight tickets at least 6 months in advance, chances are you are going to spend 50% less money on transportation. It’s a risk, that’s for sure. So many things can happen in the meantime. But if you stick to the plan, you’ll have more money to spend on the actual vacation. And that is something that all travelers hope for.
Make a checklist for your luggage
That depends on where you are going. What kind of clothes do I need? How many? Will they fit in my bag? These are the questions you have to ask yourself. And don’t forget about the essentials. You need space for your camera, and so on. Depending on what country you choose, you may need a special purse where to keep your money and documents. Things like that should be planned ahead. And do the checklist. It can save you a lot of trouble.
Go over the documentation
Does the country you are visiting asks for a visa upon entry? If the answer is affirmative, you need to go to the Consulate of that particular country. However, there is a better solution. You can get one online, provided that the state you want to go to allows it. India, for example, gives you an e-visa if you submit an application online. That is valid only if you travel by plane. Several countries do that actually. It’s worth to check it out. It can save you a lot of time.
Make sure that you have a valid passport
If you haven’t traveled in a while, look at the expiration date of your passport. If you don’t have one, you need to get that fixed. The internet can help you with that too. You can have cheap passport photos taken online, and you’ll receive them in your mail. You no longer have to go to a photo studio or superstore. Your webcam is enough. How convenient is that?
These are just a few things you need to think about, but in my opinion, they are the most important. The rest is just background. However, make sure to do some research about the destination you are going to. “When in Rome, do as Romans do” is a valid and solid advice. Otherwise, you may get some angry looks here and there. Happy traveling!
