A vacation is a moment that you want to relax and go to somewhere fun. However, it can get too complicated if you don’t make a plan before the trip. In this post, there will be some tips about how to plan a travel abroad.
Step 1: Check the Visa Requirements
Depending of the country that you are planning to travel abroad, it is necessary to have a Visa to be able to cross the borders. In the most of the cases, it is possible to check online by accessing the official consulate website from that country that you are looking for your next trip. The most important thing is to have all documents before the trip. If you have a connection flight, it is important to check if a visa is required to stay in the airport. Some countries ask for a transit visa even if it not be your final destination.
Step 2: Search for the best flight deal
Tracking a flight is a good option if you have time to plan the trip. A simple way to do that is through Google Flights. It is possible to personalize your flight choosing destinations, connections, dates and more. If you will travel by bus or train, you can get discounts with you buy the tickets earlier.
Step 3: Search about the life costs of the country/city
If you want to save money during the trip, you should search about your destinations before the trip. Information about attractions price, transportation and accommodations can give you a good perspective about what is waiting for you. If you are looking for cheap places, a hostel could be a great option. Use the filters options in websites like Airbnb and Booking.com and you can get what exactly you want to your travel.
Step 4: Pack the necessary
How long will you travel abroad? Short trips don’t require a lot of stuff. Traveling with a low cost company usually requires a extra fee to have a baggage. You don’t need heavy boots to stay in an island in the summer. Be simple!
Step 5: Transport
The best way to save money is choosing for public transport. A good advice to follow is checking if there is a card system and how it works. A nice example about it is Vancouver, Canada. There is the Compass Card. You can get a compass card in the machines in the airport (there is an extra fee if you get it in the airport) or at the stations. So, you can choose what fare is the best for you and you can use the public transportation to arrive in your accommodation without spending a lot of cash.
Best tips:
- Download the map of the cities that you will visit before the trip on Google Maps. It will allow you to check the map offline. It will be pretty useful if you do not have Wi-Fi.
- Look for Free Wi-Fi. The most of big cities have Free Wi-Fi in airports, stations and shopping mall.
- Get a public transportation card if there is one. You might save a lot of money with transportation.
- If you will make a short travel, try to use only a carry-on baggage
- To plan a travel abroad, you can write a document with the average costs to see if your budget is good.
- Read the accommodation reviews to get a great place
- Check if the health insurance is optional. Some countries only allows your visit if you have the insurance.
- Some companies don’t allow you to choose seats for free before the check in if you book basic fares. As soon as your online check in is available choose your seat. The most of people don’t do it. So, you will have great chances to get a good place. However, if you are not allowed to choose it, you should try to ask to change your seat at the airport. You may get the place that you want to be in the flight.
Useful websites to plan your next travel abroad: