Whether you’re travelling only a short distance possibly a neighbouring country or state or half-way across the world, there are a few things you should always do before you go. This post will help you out so you can be sure you’re ready to go:
Triple Check Your Details
Make sure you triple check your details before you travel anywhere. Make sure you’ve put in the right name, passport details, and any other important details before you get to where you’re going. You don’t just want to check for those things either. Make sure you check whether you need a visa, vaccinations, and things like that too. These things are easily forgotten about but can land you in a lot of trouble!
Book Your Airport Parking
Book your airport parking to make getting to and from the airport really easy and stress free. You could even use a airport parking coupon to save money. Make sure you book in advance so you get the dates you need.
Research The Culture
If you’re traveling somewhere totally new, you must research the culture before you arrive. It’s important that you respect local customs so that you can fit in well and avoid offending anybody on your travels. Something that seems innocent enough at home may actually be offensive somewhere else. Remember that!
Speak To Your Bank
Imagine arriving at your destination and not being able to buy anything because your card has been blocked? This will happen if your bank suspect suspicious activity on your account. It’s always a good idea to tell them where you’re going so you can avoid something annoying like this!
Drink Lots Of Water And Eat Healthily
If you’ve got a long plane journey ahead of you, drink lots of water and make sure you eat simple food. This will help you to avoid feeling rubbish once you get off the plane, and should help you avoid jetlag too. You may also want to take a small pot of intensive face cream on the plane with you, as it can really dry out your skin and leave you looking dull.
Find A Way To Communicate
There are a few different ways you need to do this. If you want to keep in touch with friends and family, find a way to communicate with them once you arrive. Will you use Skype, or get a separate sim card to use? Also, make sure you know how you will communicate with the locals where you’re going. You can buy phrasebooks that can be really helpful, and download apps too. The locals will usually really appreciate you learning a few phrases of theirs!
Make sure you do these things before traveling anywhere and you’ll have a much smoother ride. You’ll feel better, be able to get around better, and you might even make some friends. Travel can be stressful, but if you prepare properly in advance, it doesn’t have to be. Do you have anything you’d like to add? Leave your thoughts below.




18 Comments
Becky | Been There, Seen That, Got the Postcard
05/01/2017 at 1:35 pmI’d add ‘know where your accommodation is’ to the list. The number of times I’ve got just an address and no internet to check a map, or a map of the hotel area but no idea how to get to that area…you’d think I’d have learnt my lesson by now! Thankfully most times I’ve been lucky and found someone to ask for help, but there have been a couple of times when I’ve just had to wander for a bit hoping for the best!
Mel & Suan
05/01/2017 at 2:17 pmThis shouldn’t happen often but check the airport code of you booking especially when making a booking online. We read someone booked a flight from Birmingham to Las Vegas. Only its Birmingham Alabama, not the city of the midlands!
Becky | Been There, Seen That, Got the Postcard
05/01/2017 at 5:44 pmI very nearly booked car hire from Reykjavik airport instead of Keflavik airport when I visited Iceland…it was only as I checked over my booking that I realised my mistake!
Mel & Suan
06/01/2017 at 12:55 amOh gosh. Lucky you checked!
Grete
15/04/2017 at 11:16 amWe booked car hire from the centre of Tromsø instead of the airport by mistake once; which turned out to be for the best as the guy in in the airport office of SixT was so helpful and offered us a car there and then, with a very reasomably priced upgrade.
Becky | Been There, Seen That, Got the Postcard
15/04/2017 at 11:28 amIt must be a common mistake, as it’s very easy to do! At least there are kind people out there to help us out when we do make those mistakes!
minnesotayogini
05/01/2017 at 2:35 pmGreat Tips!
EatSleepLoveTravel
06/01/2017 at 12:30 pmThank you 🙂
experientialglobe
05/01/2017 at 4:39 pmLike the tips you have put together. Nice read!
EatSleepLoveTravel
06/01/2017 at 12:30 pmThank you 🙂
4 Things You Can’t Forget To Pack When Taking A Trip – Eat Sleep Love Travel
06/01/2017 at 8:01 am[…] You Should Always Do These Things Before Travelling Anywhere […]
Angela Michelle Thibert
06/01/2017 at 4:04 pmSo mad at my bank, when I mentioned they just shrugged it off and said it wouldn’t be a problem to use my card. Then, when I ran out of cash I tried to use it and nope. Good thing my friend had extra cash!!
EatSleepLoveTravel
10/01/2017 at 9:02 pmI can understand why you would be mad! The fact you tried to let them know and your card was still blocked! What if you’re friend had been in the same position? It happened to Mr ESLT on our honeymoon in Thailand, I could have cried. Luckily we could use online banking to transfer money from his account to mine and then we used my card. He made an official complaint when we got home but got nowhere with it! Luckily it has never happened again
Angela Michelle Thibert
10/01/2017 at 10:08 pmugh thats what I should have done! I should have made an official complain. The teller said that they could track the chip in my card… somehow. oh well, I know next time.
Leen
06/01/2017 at 7:30 pmGreat tips! Thanks for sharing ?
EatSleepLoveTravel
10/01/2017 at 8:57 pmThank you 🙂
Who Said Travelling Had To Be Stressful? – Eat Sleep Love Travel
07/03/2017 at 7:08 am[…] pressure soar. It’s also a good idea to double-check visa requirements, and have a look at your flight details. Make sure you know exactly where you’re going, and what time you need to arrive. Have a look at […]
Grete
15/04/2017 at 4:23 pmSome excellent tips there Vicky! Even the most experienced traveller needs to be reminded once in a while.
I *almost* made a huge mistake this week when booking a flight to India. I wanted to come back very late on a certain day (having booked ground arrangements and domestic flights in India already) and found one that went at 00:30. Perfect. That would give me a little spare time in case my 21:50 arrival domestic flight is delayed. Just as I was about to press BOOK, I realised that I obviously had to book it for the FOLLOWING day! That could have been a very expensive mistake.
I would also add to check the temperatures in your destination. Having met other travellers in Libya in March a few years ago who only packed summer clothes (we were wearing hats, gloves and winter coats), and myself many years ago arriving in winter garb in Geneva in October to find sunshine and 28°C.
Another one is checking import restrictions for the country you are visiting (co-codamol is banned in UAE and other Middle Eastern countries, pictures of the Dalai Lama are not permitted in Tibet, alcohol is not allowed in some Muslim countries etc).
And of course, not to forget to check if any vaccinations are compulsory or malaria prophylaxis is recommended.