The countdown is on until your travel adventures!
It’s only ONE week away!
You may be nervously excited and counting down the sleeps until the day your travel adventures begin – but are you truly prepared and ready?
Below are crucial things to think about and do just before you actually start your travels.
Have I told my bank I'm going travelling?
No, it’s not for a humble brag.
Always inform your bank you are going travelling or overseas. Depending on which bank you are with, security options (including geo-based security) could be available to be changed via online banking.
It’s a crap situation to be in when your bank card doesn’t work due to geo-security where your card purchases cannot go through or even being able to withdraw cash due to a suspected foreign and fraudulent transaction.
Have I updated my contact details for different accounts? (especially ones that require 2FA)
Consider updating contact details of specific accounts (such as banking, online shopping, phone, for example).
Specifically, think about 2 Factor Authentication where you may need (or update) your existing sim card/phone number to answer any security codes for certain accounts, such as bank accounts where you may need an access code (sent via text message) to be able to do certain actions like making a payment or transfer.
Think about:
- Updating your address – if you have any paper statements that will be sent during your travels.
- Updating your mobile number (if you have a new sim card while travelling) – this is often for two-step verification security purposes for certain actions, such as making a large payment to a new payee.
Do I have everything I need?
A prepared traveller is a better traveller, no matter the situation, expected or unexpected.
Make sure you have the right travel gear for the environments and things you will be doing (or more than likely doing). The best kind of gear are things that are multi-functional (for example, a dry bag that can be a bag used for storing food, or dirty or wet clothes).
Travel newbies often carry more than they actually need or pack stuff they think they need but don’t really need or actually use it. Less is best!
Even if you forget or don’t have certain things after departing for your globetrotting adventure, you can always buy the stuff you need at your foreign destination (where certain things could be cheaper to buy).
Have I made photocopies and digital copies of passport-sized photos?
Having photocopies of your passport is important to reduce the chance of anything detrimental happening to the real passport (i.e., losing it or it being stolen) and to be able to use it in place of your actual passport where appropriate.
Having a digital copy of the passport size photo is a great idea as well, saved to your email account or cloud storage so you can access it anytime you need it for visa application purposes or other passport-related formal purposes.
Not all visa photo size requirements are the same for every single country you need a visa for.
It’s best to double-check on official government and foreign office websites regarding the visa photo dimensions to sure your visa photo is cropped to the right measurements before submission, whether digitally or physically.
Do I have adequate and valid bank/credit/travel cards?
You should always have more than one bank or credit card in case you lose one or due to theft so you can continue on with your travels with less stress. Depending on your bank, you may still have time to get another bank or credit card.
The cards you have should be also be valid beyond the period of travel – you don’t want your bank or credit cards to expire while you are in the middle of your travel adventure.
It’s a good idea to keep sim cards with other important documents (i.e., passport) in a secure wallet together so there less chance of losing them. Losing a sim card can be such an expensive hassle, especially if the phone number of the sim card is used as part of a two-step verification security process for accessing bank account funds or online shopping – whether it’s an OTP (One Time Password) or online verification code via text message.
Do I have enough physical currency with me and the right currency?
Depending on which country you go to, having physical currency could be must. Even if isn’t, it’s always a good idea to have some physical currency with you for emergencies.
Widely valued currencies, that can be exchanged for local currency, include the US dollar, Euro, and British Pound Sterling.
US dollars are still widely regarded as a preferred form of currency for payment in many countries (especially developing countries) and can sometimes be the sole currency accepted for visa on arrival payments (and also bribes).
No matter which foreign currency exchange office you’ll go to, you’ll be always be screwed over the exchange rate but the level of screw-iness will differ. Often the further the foreign exchange office is away from the centre of town or tourist hotspots, the better the rate.
Unless it’s a last resort, never exchange foreign currency at airports or other such ports as the exchange rate is often poor and/or commission rates are ridiculously high!
Always try and do your foreign currency exchange at other foreign exchange offices if you can before going to your port of departure.
Have I told close family and friends where I am going and when?
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, when you are departing, and where you’re going next – a quick email or message on WhatsApp or social media will enough. You can also share your location via social media apps and also travel apps like Polarsteps.
Always keep in frequent contact so your family and friends know you’re okay.
This is also a good time to catch up with any family or friends before you go travelling!
Do I have enough money?
It’s always better to have more money than less so save as much as you can in your last week before your travels.
If you have budgeted a certain amount, always add/save an extra 10% on top as there will always be unexpected (and changing) expenses such as accommodation tax, transport costs, booking fees, and being unable to resist all that delicious local food!
If you have any useless things or junk you don’t need anymore, now is a great time to sell them at the last minute for some extra cash!
Have I got travel insurance?
Seriously, don’t travel if you can’t afford travel insurance.
How much is your health and well-being worth to you? Your one and only self is irreplaceable, especially to your mother!
You should never travel without travel insurance.
It is absolutely critical that you get travel insurance, even if it adds more expenses to your travel plans.
Nothing is more stressful than having an injury or some other incident ruin your plans (and potentially life) that could take a lifetime to repay.
You run the risk of running up thousands upon thousands of dollars in expenses, whether it’s medical related or emergency transport.
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 example. Always read the fine print!
Travel insurance costs differ in the level of coverage, duration of cover, and what country or countries or region you will travel to (and also from).
Don’t travel without travel insurance!
You can read the stories featured on World Nomads from many people who were thankful to have had travel insurance when the unexpected happened!
When it’s the final week before your travel adventure begins, take a moment to think and make sure you’re prepared for your travel journey ahead, bearing in mind the places you’ll see and activities you’ll do. Ask yourself:
- Have I updated my contact details for different accounts? (including bank accounts)
- Do I have everything I need for my travels?
- Have I made photocopies and digital copies of passport-sized photos?
- Do I have adequate and valid bank/credit/travel cards?
- Do I have enough physical currency with me for exchange?
- Have I told close family and friends where I am going and when? It’s good to have a shareable itinerary.
- Have I got travel insurance cover? Don’t travel without it!
- Do I have enough money? It’s a good idea to add 10% on top of your budget for unexpected costs.
These are the recommended things to ask yourself and action before your travels start a week or even days before.
Have I missed anything?
Comment below to let other travellers and myself know what other things need to be considered one week before the travel adventures start.
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