It’s getting closer and closer to your travel adventures.
Are you excited? It’s probably an understatement to how you’re really feeling!
It’s only around ONE month away!
But are you actually prepared and ready for your globetrotting excursion?
It doesn’t matter if you’re a travel newbie or a travel veteran, it’s never a bad idea to double-check if you’re ready for your next big adventure.
Below are crucial things to think about and do one month before your travels begin.
Have I created or collated all the travel info into an itinerary?
For obvious safety reasons, always let your close family and friends where you are going and when are you going – an itinerary helps.
During your travels, always let them know when you have arrived at particular destinations and when you are departing, whether it’s via a quick email or chat message. You can also share your location via social media apps and also travel apps like Polarsteps.
Always keep in regular contact so they know you’re okay so your mother doesn’t stress out and think you’re already being harvested for your organs.
Have I got all the travel gear that I need?
Your unique way of travel and what kind of activities you will be doing in what environments should dictate the travel gear needed if you don’t have it already.
Travel newbies tend to carry more than they actually need or pack stuff they think they need but don’t really need or actually use it.
If you end up missing something that you actually need, you can always purchase it during your travels.
You will also need to consider how much all the gear you think you need will weigh; the more things you carry, the slower and harder it is to travel, and often more expensive (i.e., paying extra for baggage or storage).
Have I got travel insurance?
Don’t even considering travelling without travel insurance – your health is not worth the risk.
Nothing is more stressful than having an injury or some other incident ruin your plans, or even life.
You run the risk of piling up thousands upon thousands of dollars in medical expenses – do you really want to spend the rest of your life in debt to medical bills?
Not only will travel insurance cover medical costs, depending on the policy, you can also be covered for theft or loss of items (such as luggage), crime, cancelled flights, and natural disasters, for instance.
Travel insurance costs differ in the level of coverage, duration of cover, and what country or countries or region you will travel to.
Take time in researching and selecting the right travel insurance cover that best suits you. Remember to always read the fine print!
You can read the stories featured on World Nomads from people who were thankful to have had travel insurance when unexpected things happened!
Do I have adequate and valid bank or credit cards for the duration of my travels?
The amount of fees charged on foreign payments differ wildly from each bank. If you’re lucky, you’re with a bank that doesn’t charge extra fees such as on foreign ATM cash withdrawals and card payment use on foreign currency transactions.
It’s a good opportunity to do some research and look for a bank that doesn’t charge you for using your card for ATM cash withdrawals, foreign transactions, and offers reasonable foreign exchange rates. Sometimes a travel card, where you can typically load up different foreign currencies using your own local currency, is your best option – it is definitely worth your time (and money) looking into this to see if it suits you.
You should have more than one bank card in case you lose one or due to theft so you can continue on with your travels unimpeded.
Now is a good time to order any new bank or credit cards so they are valid beyond the period of travel – you don’t want your bank or credit cards to expire and stop working while you are in the middle of your globetrotting adventure!
Additionally, ordering and getting a new card now while you’re at home will be less of a hassle than trying to get it sent somewhere during your travels with no fixed abode (it can be especially annoying if you have to stay longer at a place because the card is taking a bit longer to arrive).
Always keep them in separated in different places so if your cards ever get lost or stolen (always call your bank if your card gets lost or stolen), at least you will have other cards and cash in your possession.
Have I double-checked for whether or not I need a visa for the country or countries I will visit?
Double-check whether or not you need a visa for the places you will be visiting – visa requirements can often change.
While some countries allow some citizens of specific countries visa-free travel, there are other countries that require particular nationalities (or all nationalities) to have a valid and pre-approved visa to permit entry and/or leave (exit visa) within their borders for a length of time.
Some visas can be issued upon arrival (for example, upon arriving at an international airport) and can be paid for on the spot (if payment for the visa is required).
eVisas are common where visas can be processed and issued online relatively quickly or be picked up at a certain port of entry.
Some other visas require an application that require an approved appointment and personal meeting at an embassy or consulate for formal submission of documents/information (including precise travel dates), along with your passport. It can also involve an interview as well with an embassy or consulate staff member. Afterwards, a formal and valid visa permit can be placed on your passport – the entire process from start to finish can take anywhere from a few days to a few weeks.
Always do your visa research, follow the visa submission process and pay the associated costs with the visa.
Learn more:
Visa requirements by nationality
(Always double-check the visa requirements through official foreign or tourism government websites)
US dollars are still currently and widely regarded as a valid form of currency for payment in many countries (especially developing countries) and are often the preferred (or only) currency used for visa on arrival payments (and also bribes). Carry some US bank notes with you in case you need it. How much would you need? That’s up to you – where you intend to travel to, the length of travel, and activities you’ll do. Just remember to be be careful of how much cash you carry as there is always a risk of losing it, especially to theft.
Am I physically fit to travel? Or more importantly, mentally fit?
You don’t need to be physically fit to travel but it doesn’t hurt, especially when you discover amazing scenery that requires a strenuous hike to get to!
However, being mentally fit is more important to be able to handle unexpected situations and things outside of your comfort zone on your travels.
You need a strong mental fortitude to handle unpredictable situations in unfamiliar environments, especially when time is a factor and in places where you don’t understand or speak the local language. To remain calm amidst uncertainty is a must when travelling and for life in general – the same goes for being flexible and adaptable when situations change unexpectedly.
Will I have enough money to travel?
The amount of budget needed for travelling depends on you and, of course, the country and places you’ll be travelling to. Some countries are expensive to travel around in, some are cheaper.
It also depends how long you want to travel for and what kind of traveller you are.
Do you like to stay at Airbnbs, hotels, hostels, or do couch surfing?
Do you love dining out regularly or prefer cooking at your accommodation?
Ultimately, you can never have too much money for travelling!
Whatever you budget, it’s a good idea to aim to budget an extra 10% for any unexpected costs (especially for buying irresistible local foods!)
If you haven’t done so already, it’s a great time to sell any of your old stuff that you don’t need anymore for some extra money.
When travelling, majority of your money will be spent on re-occurring expenses. Such main expenses include:
- Accommodation
- Transport
- Local attractions and/or tips for ‘free’ walking tour guides
- Food
- Toiletries and personal grooming (such as haircuts)
- Sim card purchase and data/talk time usage
There are also one-off or irregular costs such as:
- Travel insurance
- Visas
- Vaccinations
There are also small but significant hidden or unexpected costs you must account for:
- City tax on top of accommodation:
This can be expressed as a monetary amount or a percentage of your total length of stay or accommodation cost which the amount is added to it. Some hostels have this city tax already added to the cost per night or something they add after. - Online booking fees:
For things like transportation and attractions when booking online. - Baggage cost:
It’s not only airlines that charge for checked baggage, some national buses and local taxis can charge for baggage as well. - Hidden rental fees or charges:
An example is renting a car – always read the fine print and always research options. - Tips for restaurant service:
For some countries, tips are optional, whereas some are ‘optional’ but actually mandatory.
Learn more:
When it’s one month before your new travel adventure officially begins, take a moment to think and make sure you’re prepared for the journey and for the places and activities to see and do. Ask yourself:
- Have I created or collated all the travel info into an itinerary? Let family and friends when and where you’re going.
- Have I got all the travel gear that I need? You can always buy additional gear while travelling.
- Have I got travel insurance? Don’t travel without it!
- Do I have adequate and valid bank or credit cards for the duration of my travels?
- Do I need visas for the places I’ll be visiting? Double-check if you do need visas.
- Am I mentally fit to travel? You need to be strong mentally to handle unpredictable situations.
- Will I have enough money for my travels? Budget an extra 10% on top of your budget.
These are the recommended things to ask yourself and action before your travels begin in a month’s time.
Have I missed anything? Are there other things to consider?
Comment below to let other travellers and myself know what other things need to be considered one month before the travel adventures start.
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