words Alexa Wang
Most people, if not all, love traveling. As a matter of fact, many people have a bucket list, most of which involve traveling to other countries. For sure, traveling is thrilling, and it gives you an opportunity to get new experiences that you will carry along with you forever. However, in as much as traveling comes with its own perks, it can also be stressful. However, worry not! In this article, we will be giving you a few tips that will help you have the most fun-filled trip when traveling to a new country
1. Get your passport in check
The passport is one of the must have documents when planning for a trip abroad. Not having one means that you will be restricted to the borders of your country. As such, be sure to get your passport in check before you even start planning on the rest of the trip. If you do not have one yet, fret not, you can always apply and get one. On the other hand, if you have one already, check if it is still valid. Also, find out if you will need a visa to travel to the new country so as to be on the safe side. Even if you don’t need a visa, you might need some other kind of travel pass. If you’re going to the UK, you may require ETA; you can find out more about that at uk-eta.com. So much so, always have a copy of your passport when traveling, so that in case it gets lost, you will have a backup.
2. Book your flights early enough
To save costs when traveling, book your flight early. Waiting for the D-day to book your flight might be overly expensive and may even make you lose the morale for traveling altogether. Take your time and visit various flight websites to compare the flight charges. By doing so, you will not only get the advantage of the good rates for booking early but also get affordable airlines that are within your budget.
3. Find out the currency exchange rates
Money is one of the essential aspects when visiting abroad. Of course, you will need money in order to have an amazing experience in the new country. However, this does not mean that you have to be loaded to enjoy the trip. Remember, you can always travel on a budget so long as you plan yourself adequately. Be sure to find out the exchange rates of the country you will be traveling to. Take advantage of the information on the internet and do your currency exchange research. For example, if you are travelling from Canada to another state or vice versa, you can visit the Interchange Financial website to see the rates that they are offering.
4. Pack lightly
Amidst all the excitement of traveling to the new country, you might find yourself packing things that are not necessary for the trip. Keep in mind that luggage is always weighed at the airport, meaning that if you exceed a given weight, you will be forced to leave some of them behind. As such, ensure that you always have a checklist of whatever you will need for your trip before you start packing. This is also an excellent way to ensure that you do not leave any essentials such as your camera or phone charger behind. Buying new luggage can also be an option if you want to increase your storage space, just remember to consider your budget. Find a luggage clearance sale and get yourself some quality luggage. Remember, the lighter you pack, the easier it will be for you to move around and enjoy your trip.
5. Book your hotel in advance
Similar to booking your flights in advance, you also need to book your hotels early enough. You do not want to reach the destination only to find that all hotels have been booked or the accommodation rates are ridiculously high. Yet again, take advantage of the internet and do your research into finding the best accommodation options that are within your budget. You might also choose to sleep in a vacation rental as they are often way cheaper than the 5-star hotels.
6. Learn more about the culture of the new country
Have you ever felt out of place? If you have, then you know how bad of a feeling it is. Learning about the culture of the new country is a great way to fit in comfortably for the number of days you will be there. Find out basic greetings or how they say thank you and so on. Also, be sure to learn about their laws to avoid getting on the wrong books of the authorities.
