Planning a Trip Abroad

A checklist to get your trip plan started.

If you love traveling the way I do, you know how complicated planning a trip abroad can be. So many things to do to prepare. If you are new to traveling abroad, be sure to plan your trip in advance, meaning 4 – 6 months or more. We, my granddaughters and I, started planning about a year in advance.

Checklist for your trip:

• Passport or other travel papers (Visa) – apply at least five months in advance. Some countries require that you have your passport at least three months prior to entry. You can usually get one through your local post office, but not all post offices handle passports, so check the USPS website.
• Driver’s license – If you lock your passport in the safe at your hotel, you may still need identification. A driver’s license may work or a photocopy of your passport. Some countries require you to keep your passport on you. Be sure to do your research.
• Travel advisories – Check out the State Department website for travel advisories on the country you want to visit.
• Electrical converter – There are many types/versions of converters to choose from. I found mine on Amazon, and it seems to work great. No problems with it on my trip
• Device chargers – Don’t forget your device charger. I’m sure you can buy one in most places, but it’s one expense you don’t need to incur.
• Camera or not – If you have a current smartphone, you may be good to go. I use a Samsung Note 9 and get great pictures. But if you want something more professional, bring your regular camera along with you.
• Check on suitcases. A couple of things to look out for here . . .
  • Pay attention to the weight limit. I’ve never had a problem, but when traveling abroad, they look at the scale. The limit is 50 lbs. If your suitcase is heavy now, consider how much you will be carrying or rolling it. Even with rolling, they can get quite heavy. I have used several different types of suitcases over the years and am very happy with the one I have now. It is a Samsonite and has multidirectional wheels (a must-have for a heavy bag).
• Carry-on – One carry-on is allowed for free in most cases. Check with the airline you are flying on for details.
• Backpack – Years ago, I used to fly with a rolling computer bag, but I have switched in recent years to a backpack. Laptops are so small and lite now that I can use a backpack and get what I need for the flight in the backpack. By the way, I never thought I would use a backpack, but everyone does. It is so much easier on your back and shoulders. Some of them have wheels too. Find one that works for you. Go for it!
• Travel Agent – I used a travel agent for my last trip but have booked past trips on my own or with friends. The difference, in this case, was booking everything for 4 people, not just me. My travel agent was able to find some better deals for us and put it all together in a nice organized package.
• Booking travel – Again, start as early as you can. For airfare, you generally get better deals early, unless there is a sale. If you are working with a travel agent, they may be able to find you a good deal. Our agent booked our trip through Delta Vacations and saved us quite a bit of money. You may be able to apply Frequent Flyer points to your trip if you have them. Check with your agent.
• Security – So many things to cover here
  • For airport security, just check their rules before you go. You don’t want to get to airport security and have to throw away something expensive or surrender it to TSA because it isn’t allowed. Go to TSA.gov for details. They have some pretty easy to understand videos too.
• Laundry – Plan to not do any laundry unless you are staying in a home or for a longer time period. Some hotels have laundry facilities, but not all. Hey, you’re on vacation, so pack enough that you don’t have to do laundry. Worst case pack some laundry soap and hand wash if needed (remember the TSA rules on liquids).
• Eating out – Can I just say Wow! Restaurants vary from country to country in both cuisine and price. At home, we try to limit our visits to Starbucks because it’s expensive, but in Europe, we found it was the cheapest breakfast around. For four of us, depending on where we were, lunch would range from about 90 Euros to 180 Euros. That wasn’t anything extravagant either, just a sit-down sidewalk café in most cases. If you are all about fast food, you can keep it cheaper. We saw almost all the major chains from the US in Europe.
• Hotels vs. VRBO or Airbnb – I generally prefer VRBO (haven’t tried Airbnb yet) to a hotel, but I usually travel with friends. With a group, we can get a nice house and split the cost. Much more economical than a hotel. Having said that, we stayed in hotels on this last trip. I thought it would be more convenient with my granddaughters in tow. It worked out well. So, check out all your options for both cost and amenities. You may be surprised where you end up when planning a trip.
• Tours – Be sure to do your research. TripAdvisor is a pretty good source. We had good luck except for one tour. Some tours need to be booked way in advance so be sure to look into that when you first start planning. For example, the Eiffel Tower is booked a couple of months out for some months. The Statue of Liberty is the same way. So be sure to check.
  • If you are traveling during a high season (summer), you may want to spring for the Skip the Line tickets. They are well worth the few extra dollars. We did this where we could, and it saved us a ton of time.
• Trains – In some countries, the train is a great way to go. I prefer to take the train between Paris and London over a plane. You still go through security at the train station, but it is much easier and less crowded. The seats are roomier, and it’s easier to move around. Not all trains are created equal, so be sure to check the details for the train you want to take.

So that’s my list.  I hope it will help while you are planning your next trip abroad. 

Happy Traveling!