Traveling internationally is beyond exciting, humbling, and a little stressful.
When done right, it is one of the best ways to make memories that last a lifetime.
Getting the hang of international travel takes time, research, and ample preparation. To help streamline your next holiday abroad, it’s essential to plan properly and keep track of everything.
Successful international travel is an art, and one that is made simpler for novice travelers by following these eight hacks below:
- Map A Travel Path
Before embarking on your journey abroad, plan out your travel path first.
Decide which cities, locations, and attractions you want to visit, and plan your route.
Creating a detailed travel route will maximize efficiency, facilitate navigation, and enable you to budget effectively.
- Use A Travel Agent
Travel agents charge for their services, but they often save you money by finding impressive discounts and negotiating prices on your behalf.
If your international trip has various moving parts, such as multiple destinations, the planning process can become complicated quickly. That is where a skilled travel agent can make all the difference.
Planning a complex trip on your own also takes time, but if you like the excitement of doing your own research, you can save on the travel agent fees.
- Pack Snacks
Not all airports around the world are mini-towns filled with shops and restaurants that Western travellers have come to expect.
Some have no food services whatsoever, and others have specific operating times, so if you find yourself landing at 2 am, you are going to stay hungry.
To comply with the Transportation Security Administration (TSA), choose solid food items, not liquids or gels. Solid food items can be transported in either carry-on or checked baggage when traveling to your next getaway.
Be considerate of your fellow passengers, omit the hard-boiled eggs and opt for granola bars instead.
- Insurance
Adding travel insurance on top of an expensive trip can seem unnecessary, but it is an essential and non-negotiable. Travel insurance generally comes in two main types: trip cancellation insurance and travel medical insurance.
Buy comprehensive insurance for travelers, a good plan should cover health, travel expenses, fight bookings, luggage, belongings, and more.
Depending on the type you choose, you can recoup money for cancelled trips, and even be covered for risky activities like scuba diving or rafting.
The two main types of travel insurance are trip cancellation and travel medical insurance.
Trip cancellation protects you if you need to cancel your trip, and travel medical insurance is designed to fill the gaps in your existing health care plans when you travel abroad.
- Beat Jet Lag
Jet lag symptoms can range from sleepiness to irritability and even mood swings.
While there is no cure for jet lag, there are ways to alleviate the symptoms and ease the effects of jet lag as quickly as possible.
Some of the top ways to help do that are to stay hydrated and avoid caffeine.
Hydration is essential, so drink as much water as possible because flying dehydrates your body.
Lastly, sleep as much as possible on the flights to and from your destination. A good night’s sleep makes all the difference on long-haul flights, so pack your eye mask and good-quality earplugs.
- Flight Discounts
If you have the time, consider booking flights with the longest layovers; those are often the cheapest because people don’t want to book them.
If you book flights with a long layover in Dubai, arrange a trip to see the Burj Khalifa or ride camels in the desert.
Book flights on popular holidays or during the week to save even more – and they should be less crowded and stressful.
Use flight comparison websites to see prices for different dates, but be sure to use incognito mode. Flight websites may track your search history and increase prices if you search multiple times.
- Language Apps
Instead of struggling with language barriers in a foreign country, download language learning apps to help overcome those issues by providing translation services, interactive lessons, and helpful phrases.
Apps like Google Translate, Memrise, and Duolingo can assist with navigating a foreign country. Be sure to download language packs for offline use.
Practice basic phrases before you leave to improve your pronunciation and communication skills.
- Traveling Toiletries
One of the worst things to discover when opening your luggage is damaged toiletries.
Cleaning up burst or leaking toiletries or makeup that has turned to dust is less than fun, not to mention inconvenient. Make-up compacts offer stunning colors, but they are generally incompatible with travel.
Add cotton wool between the product and the lid to prevent cracks, and add a piece of cling film over the mouth of liquids, replacing the cap over the top.
In Conclusion
These eight international travel hacks are designed to make your next trip far more enjoyable and much less stressful.
