Traveling outside of the country is a drastic change for anyone, especially if it is his or her first time. As a college student, the thought of your first trip to a new country can be a little nerve-wracking. So to make your trip a bit less stressful and a lot safer, here are a few tips.
What’s up, doc?
Most foreign countries require a valid passport to enter and leave, so make you sure you have a passport. If you are planning to travel overseas, it is important to make sure you have all of the necessary documents for travel and that you keep these documents in a safe place. For extra precaution, make photocopies of all your travel documents, such as a passport ID page, itinerary, hotel confirmation, airline ticket, driver’s license, credit cards you’re bringing on the trip and traveler’s check serial numbers.
It is also a great idea to leave one copy with a friend or relative at home, keep one on you and keep the last copy in your suitcase. That way, you are never without proof of identity, and, in case of emergency, make sure you have the nearest U.S. Embassy contact information.
Keep calm & stay healthy
Before traveling, make sure you are up to date on your vaccinations, and learn if your health insurance provider will cover you, if needed, for medical treatment overseas. If your health insurance policy does not cover you abroad, consider purchasing a short-term policy that does. Many travel agents and private companies offer insurance plans that will cover health care emergency expenses, such as medical evacuation, which according to MedEx, can cost more than $100,000.
Be aware of warnings
Before leaving, sign up for the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) online to receive travel warningsif anything occurs, like widespread civil unrest, dangerous weather conditions, and/or terrorist activity, you will be alerted. The alerts are also sent out for short-term events, like elections, health epidemics, demonstrations and disturbances. These warnings are put into place to make you aware of any possible dangers before planning future trips.
Enrolling in STEP is another way to keep yourself up to date with important safety and security announcements in whichever country you chose to travel to. This program also makes it easier for the U.S. Embassy to contact and find you in the event of an emergency.
What do you mean you don’t speak English?
When going overseas, make sure you brush up on the primary language of the country so that you can not only be comfortable speaking to locals but also so that you can understand them and your surroundings. This has become actually very easy for most people who travel abroad because of an app called Translate & Speak, which is available on both Apple and Android devices. This app is very helpful because it actually translates words and phrases and says them back to you. This way, you get the pronunciation of the sentence, and you feel more comfortable saying it to locals.
Try your best to learn as much about the culture, customs and government of the country you are planning to visit before you actually arrive. Understanding the traditions and exchange rates and knowing the laws and legal system of the country you plan to visit will make all the difference.
Foreign laws can be very different from U.S. laws, and what may be legal here might be illegal there and vice versa. Keep in mind while traveling that just because you are from U.S. does not mean you cannot go to jail while in a foreign country. If you break a law, no matter where you are, you will have to face the consequences.
Pack smart, not heavy
How many times at the end of a trip do you look at your luggage and realize you didn’t even wear half the stuff you packed? When traveling abroad, you need to pack light so you can move more and have a free hand when you need it. Also, you do not want to have to pay any fees for your luggage being over the weight limit.
Make sure to limit how many valuables you take with you and pick safe places to keep the ones that you do. Last but not least, avoid packing IDs, tickets and other important documents in backpacks; instead, you should always pack them in a purse, suitcase or anywhere you can gain access to them easily and know they will not get misplaced or stolen.
Safety first
Always let at least one person know exactly where you will be staying and how to contact you in an emergency. Also, avoid carrying cash ― use credit cards or traveler’s checks. When paying your check at restaurants, don’t flash large bills. Before you leave, notify your bank and credit card company that you are going overseas, just so they don’t decline you when you’re trying to make that first important shopping purchase on your trip.
Also, contact your cell phone carrier and ask about using your phone overseas. If you don’t want to buy an overseas plan, make sure your phone stays on airplane mode, and only use Wi-Fi.
Last but not least, always keep in mind your basic safety tips. Make sure that you continue to do the things your parents taught you in grade school, like walking facing traffic, looking left, right, then left again, always being alert of your surroundings at all times and avoiding strangers. As a matter of fact, don’t even share a taxi.
The true secret to a successful trip abroad is to be prepared by following the traveler’s checklist and by researching the region. These two things will serve as a solid baseline of knowledge so when you arrive, you won’t be overwhelmed. Don’t get stressed out over the small stuff. Just relax and enjoy the experiences a new country has to offer.
