Tips for traveling, purchasing flights, safety and more....
Since I have found myself traveling quite a bit over the years, I've decided to start writing down some things I've learned to share with others! I'll try to add links, checklists and other things I come across or use on a regular basis when I travel and live in other countries.
Planning Travel Dates and Purchasing Affordable Plane Tickets:
Trip and Travel Health Insurance:
Booking Hotels
Safety Planning, Health and Travel Alerts:
Dealing with Money Before and During Travel:
Important Documents and Phone Numbers:
Passports:
Packing and Luggage Tips:
Planning Travel Dates and Purchasing Affordable Plane Tickets:
- It is often best to purchase airfare at least 3 months in advance to get the best deals. Sometimes you can also find deals last minute, but waiting could cost you much more money in the long run.
- Sign up for fare watchers with airlines or online travel agencies in advance or for frequently travelled routes.
- Use websites with "Flexible Travel Date" searches. I often use www.travelocity.com or www.itravelosophy.com. See this website for more www.airfarewatchdog.com/pages/3799653/all-about-flexible-travel-date-searches/
- Use online travel agencies to compare flights from many different companies and do flexible travel seraches, but be aware that change fees may be more difficult because you are not dealing directly with the airline company. I also try to double check the rates offered with online travel agencies (like travelocity) with the actual airline companies themselves to see if I can get an even better deal.
- Consider how long you are going to be somewhere. Sometimes purchasing a one way ticket or an open ended ticket can be cheaper than having to change a return date on a round trip ticket. Some airlines, like Southwest (in the US) have no change fees but many airlines charge a few hundred dollars plus the fare difference to change a ticket. Note that some countries (like Nicaragua) make you have a ticket out of the country before you can get in. Some countries require that you leave the country every 90 days to renew your tourist visa. So, look up these things before you buy plane tickets and as you are planning travel.
- It seems that airfares are often cheaper when you buy them online on Tuesday or Wednesday evenings. Maybe it is a slow time for internet traffic?
- Flying in and out midweek (or at least avoiding Friday and Saturday travel, or travel near national holidays) is often more affordable
- Airfare is often more affordable if you stay for at least 5-7 days than for shorter trips. Sometimes staying for a few weeks is more affordable than for a few months.
- There are some organizations that offer discounted airfare for humanitarian purposes and discounted travel insurance etc. Check out www.flyforgood.com/, www.fellowship.com or www.goldenruletravel.com/ if this could pertain to you.
- This site has many links for cheap airfare, language learning resources, travel insurance and more...http://www.thechristianbackpacker.com/travel-deals
Trip and Travel Health Insurance:
- This is worth getting in the long run. If you get sick or an emergency happens, it can be costly, even if the healthcare in that country is inexpensive. I know folks who have been paying off medical bills for years due to an injury that required a low-flying private jet to get them to quality health care. Many plans also cover trip changes, government required evacuations, baggage loss and more.
- If you are working for a non-profit away from home (even in the US), check out some very affordable plans on www.volunteercard.com/
Booking Hotels
- Rocket Miles: if you book through this website you can earn frequent flier miles on most major airlines and other partners. Sign up and booking is all free. Create your account here and get bonus points for my referral. https://www.rocketmiles.com/refer/RACHELLEPRICE
Safety Planning, Health and Travel Alerts:
- Check out and register with the US Department of State, Bureau of Consular Affairs in the particular country you are traveling to. This will give you travel alerts, public health concerns and inside tips that would be wise to know before going. The website is www.travel.state.gov/content/passports/english/country.html and to register in STEP the website is www.step.state.gov/step/
- Go to the CDC's website at www.cdc.gov/ and check the drop down menu under the tab "Traveler's Health" for recommended vaccinations, preventative medications and requirements for travel into countries. For example, for many places in Africa, a yellow fever vaccine needs to be up to date and malaria medications taken for prevention are highly recommended.
- Visit a local travel health clinic before you go to talk with someone about proper vaccinations, medications etc. They will often prescribe a broad spectrum antibiotic or other medications you can take with you in case you get traveller's diarrhea etc. The CDC's website above has a search engine for these clinics.
- Contaminated water and food: Many travelers get "traveller's diarrhea" due to contaminated water with various types of microbes. This is a larger topic than I'll get to here, but often antibiotic treatment is best. This is why it may be worth bringing some with you. You can often avoid this by only drinking bottled water and not eating any raw foods that may have been washed or prepared with water, like street foods, prepared fresh vegetables/fruits. Even brushing your teeth with bottled water if you are concerned for water quality is recommended. Anything you peel is usually fine. Be sure your bottles of water are unopened.
- Keep your immune system healthy! Get plenty of rest and down time. Bring some immune boosting supplments like vitamin C and Zinc with you, especially for flights (where I most often catch sicknesses)
Dealing with Money Before and During Travel:
- Call your bank and credit card companies before leaving to notify them of your travel dates. This way they won't put a hold on your accounts if they see foreign transactions. Make sure your cards are valid through the entirety of your trip. You can sometimes get a credit card with newer expiration dates if you order one within 6 months of it's expiring.
- Check to see if you should bring cash, traveler checks or use your credit card. Many credit cards charge foreign transaction fees for any purchase and many banks charge fees for each ATM withdrawls.
- Wear a money belt under your clothes or thin under the shirt type travel purse so that you can keep important documents and larger sums of money that you need to have on you safe. Bring your passport with you if you think your housing arrangement could be not secure. But remember you also could get pick pocketed or mugged so decide where the safest place will be. In some countries, purses, bags and backpacks will get slashed at the bottom to empty it's contents. Its a good idea if using these things to put money and important documents in a sew in zippered pouch that doesn't reach the bottom of the bag to avoid loosing these things without your knowing it. Not to scare you, just best to be prepared and aware when in a foreign place. US tourists can be targets because working class Americans make more money in a day than many people make in a year. If you can afford to travel, you have something many people want.
- Keep small bills and change on your person for in-country transportation and purchases for which there may be no change.
- Know where and how you can get money in country if you need it.
- Exchanging to local currency: Avoid doing this in the airport if possible or consider just changing a small amount to get you started as the rates are worse. Sometimes there is a flat fee for any amount of an exchange. Some tourist-friendly or upscale hotels will exchange local currency for US dollars and sometimes even at a decent rate. Some countries accept US dollars along with local currency, just check the exchange rates to know if you are getting a fair rate.
- Prepare in advance for a likely Exit Tax when leaving the country. I never understood why this is charged, but I've had to pay anywhere from $2-$40 to leave a country at the airport. Know if you need it in local currency or if US dollars are fine.
Important Documents and Phone Numbers:
- Keep copies of your important documents and the phone numbers you'd need in case they were stolen or lost with you while traveling (passports, credit cards, drivers license, plane ticket) just keep these copies separate from the documents themselves and in a safe place! For ID's like passports and licenses, color copies are best in case you need to use them in lieu of the real thing.
- You can sometimes use a US drivers license in another country, so it's not a bad idea to take it along if you think you'll need it.
- keep a copy of your plane ticket and itinerary with confirmation numbers etc in case you need to change your ticket, prove that you will be leaving the country or to remember the details as your flight gets closer.
- Also, keep copies of these documents at home or with someone who could access them if you need them.
Passports:
- If you don't have one, apply for one now! You'll need it if you ever would like to leave the country and it can takes months to get to you and you don't want to be waiting on it last minute. You can pay a hefty rush fee if needed but still the process takes some time. You will need special passport photos and can use them to apply in person sometimes at government buildings in your city or online.
- You'll need to renew it every 10 years so plan ahead. Most countries require your passport to be valid for the entirety of your trip. To apply or renew your passport, go to www.travel.state.gov/content/passports/english.html
Packing and Luggage Tips:
- http://www.smartertravel.com/blogs/today-in-travel/packing-tips-so-crazy-they-just-might-work.html?id=11983821
- http://www.bluewaterdivers.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/Weird_and_Cool_Packing_Tips_from_Sojern.pdf
Being Resourceful (and...what can I leave at home and "make" or find when I get there?)
- Yoga/exercise mat: use a cheap large towel or piece of cardboard. To make it sticky, check out some of these options...http://www.mooglyblog.com/make-slippers-non-slip/
- Bed: For a mattress, buy a large piece of foam from a furniture store. Forgo the frame/boxspring and place your mattress on the floor or use 2x6's or other pieces of wood across cinderblocks to elevate it a foot or so (a little cleaner than directly on the floor).
- Cleaning Supplies: Mops- cut a large piece of a towel, put a hole in the middle and slide it down the handle of your broom. Make your own cleaning soaps etc. using baking soda, vinegar, essential oils etc. See "recipes" on this website and under "natural health" tab.
- Buy things second hand: Look for second hand stores to buy things once you get there, especially if you are in a big city or at a large market. Look for other "ex-pats" who may be moving...there are often email lists or other community networking options to share resources.
- Transportation: If it's safe enough, purchasing a used bike (and lock probably) or motorcycle is cheaper than a car. Carpool or take public transportation if it's safe. Ask locals that you trust for their thoughts and recommendations.