You’ve decided on where to go so now there’s just the small matter of planning. Depending on how late you’ve left it, this can be either exciting or extremely stressful! Give yourself plenty of time to plan and research. If you are going alone for the first time planning all the details of your trip can give you that added confidence you’re in control and prepared.
I like to make sure I’ve planned all the important things in advance so I feel much more relaxed in case I encounter any problems. So here’s how I plan for a trip abroad:
Money
The first thing I do is research how much flights, transport and accommodation will cost where I will be visiting and work out a rough budget. Read up about average prices for things at your destination, like prices of food, drinks, water, transport, activities, an average tuk tuk ride, etc.
After I’ve worked out a rough budget for everything including spending money, I will add on another few hundred extra in case I go over budget. This means that if an opportunity comes up when travelling and I need some extra cash then I can afford it. It also takes the pressure off that I always have a bit more in savings just in case of any issues. I would also check which currency is accepted at your destination, many countries will take US dollars as well as local currency. It’s good to have both as most activities like diving and day tours are charged in USD.
Do I Need a Visa?
When I plan for a trip and have decided on a destination, one of the first things I’ll look at is whether a visa is needed. The UK government website (or your equivalent) will tell you if you need a visa, where to get the visa, the cost and time it will take. It can take a few weeks for certain countries so make this a priority. If you are catching a connecting flight make sure you can travel through on a transit visa.
Vaccinations
Some countries will require a vaccination so book an appointment with your doctor to find out if you need any injections. Also keep records of all your vaccinations as you might need proof of vaccinations. Especially the yellow fever vaccine as some countries require to see the certificate to let you pass immigration. Make sure to get vaccinated as soon as you know where you are flying too as you might have to do it several weeks before entering the country.
Transport
Read up about the best way to get around, reviews from other travellers, whether bus or train is better and look at the safety ratings of both. Its good to have a plan of how you will get to certain places, especially if some are off the beaten track. It may look easy on the map but you could find there is a mountain range in the way or the road is dangerous or maybe the journey will take much longer than it appears.Also look at the best transport options once arrived at the local airport. The train or local bus might be cheaper but if arriving at night you might want to pre-arrange transport with your hostel if you think it will be safer.
Airports usually have a shuttle bus at a much cheaper cost than the taxi ranks which can be expensive so ask around and at the information desk. Be aware they may direct you to the pricier taxi rank so doing a little research beforehand will allow you to have the upper hand and know the cheapest options.
Build a Rough Itinerary
Look up things to do, places to see and figure out roughly where you want to travel to. You may not stick to your itinerary but having a rough guide of the main places you want to visit will make sure you allow enough time to see everything. Look up how long the journey times will take from place to place.
Also allow yourself some breathing time. Trying to fit too much stuff in at once will leave you exhausted and you may not appreciate the place as much if you are rushing around. Things will always take longer than expected as well. Remember “5 minutes” is never just 5 minutes!
Research Local Customs/Culture
As a woman especially, it’s a good idea to read up about the country you are visiting and what sort of things are appropriate (or in-appropriate) to wear. You might have to buy clothes before you fly to make sure you have something to cover up if needed. Although it can be a pain to wear long clothes when you just wanna put your shorts on it can reduce unwanted attention.
I recommend researching about the culture and norms for local woman. In a lot of places women do not travel alone or walk around at night. Following the same norms as much as you can will make you feel safer and more comfortable walking alone. If you are aware of these things before then it wont be too much of a shock once arrived and you will avoid offending the locals.
Are there any Scams to be Aware of?
Familiarise yourself with common scams in the place you will be visiting. Tourists are often a victim of petty crime so it’s good to research popular scams so you can see them coming. A moto driver in Cambodia tried to scam me once by taking me to an unofficial border point, requesting payment. As I had read about this previously I knew not to fall for it, and insisted they take me to the official border crossing, much to their annoyance.
Doing my research at home meant that I was prepared and was confident in being firm and saying no.
Do you Have Everything you Need?
When you plan for a trip, make sure you have weather and culturally suitable clothing. Try and buy light clothing (you will be thankful when you’ve been walking for 20 mins with your bag on your back, trying to find your hostel). For cold countries a micro fibre fleece is warm but very light to carry.
Make sure you have those small travel necessities like, adaptors, usb chargers, waterproof bag, extra batteries for your camera. Electrical items at the airport or in-country are charged at a premium. Buying in advance from ebay or Amazon will save you a lot of time, money and hassle.
Safety Rating
It’s a great idea to look on your government website for travel safety advice (https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice). They will tell you the threat level for every country and any areas that are unsafe for tourists to visit. Usually its small areas within the country close to borders, whilst the main parts are still safe for travel.
Insurance
Insurance, make sure you get it! It can cover you for missed flights, lost luggage and if you get ill aboard. You MUST read the small print though as often it will be valuables ‘up to a certain amount’, so expensive things such as laptops and cameras will need to be added on. Nomads are more expensive but you can tailor make your insurance to your needs and they are geared towards the backpacker.
Book that first night
I will always book my first night (or first 3 nights) of my trip. This means I don’t have to panic after a long flight searching for somewhere to stay. It’s nice knowing you have a destination and it means you can google the best way to get there before you fly. The journey will be much smoother and hassle free.
**Having a couple of nights to chill out after a long flight allows you to recharge and shake off any jet lag**
More things to prepare before you fly:ย First Time Travelling Alone? Your Questions Answered.
GET ORGANISED: Keep all your cables and electronic accessories neat and tidy. It will save you a LOT of hassle! Find on Amazon UK or Amazon US
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