You might have heard that travel is the only thing you can purchase that will make you richer. It’s true. Traveling the world gives you the opportunity to see new places, experience new cultures, and enjoy beauty you’ve only ever imagined. You’ll be wiser, more sophisticated, and worldly for it. However, traveling abroad requires a few extra items on your to-do list.
Traveling with the right items
Sure, you know to double- and triple-check that you have your passport on your person before you leave for the airport. You’re not going anywhere overseas without it. However, you might not have considered what will happen to you abroad if you misplace or lose your passport. It’s a big hassle to apply for a new passport and travel documents in foreign countries.
Before you leave, make photocopies of your passport and give them to trusted friends and/or relatives. This way, if you lose your passport or it gets stolen while you are abroad, officials at the closest US Embassy can expedite the processing of your new passport request.
Credit card protection
Prior to going anywhere overseas, call your credit card companies and let them know when and where you are going. Most credit card issuers will freeze your credit accounts if suspicious activity is detected. The last thing you want while traveling is to realize your credit card no longer works.
Additionally, take more than one card and plenty of cash. You never know when you might arrive at a locale that doesn’t accept Visa, despite the fact that it’s all you have in your wallet.
If you have a MasterCard, American Express, or Discover, bring those with you. But remember, cash is king. Some locations simply do not accept credit.
Leave your expensive jewels at home
You don’t want to look affluent when sightseeing abroad. Your most expensive jewelry should stay at home in your personal safe. Expensive-looking jewelry and accessories can attract the wrong kind of attention in many countries, marking you as a target for criminals and thieves.
Instead of carrying a giant handbag, consider a cross body bag that’s more difficult to steal. Do not keep all your cash and credit cards in that bag, though. Disperse them among your various pockets. That way, if someone were to steal your bag or you lost it at a restaurant, you won’t lose all your funds.
Lock it up
If you do travel with jewels, carry them on your person en route. Never check your jewels with your luggage. Place them in your carry-on items. Additionally, as soon as you get to your hotel, place your jewelry and your important travel documents such as the passport in the safe and lock them up.
Using traveler’s insurance
Obtaining travel insurance is a good idea any time you book a vacation. Traveler’s insurance can help cover the cost of your lost or stolen luggage, cancelled or missed flights, flight changes, and even medical emergencies. While you might not often need travel insurance, it’s something you should purchase with every vacation.
Travel is something you should enjoy. It’s a time of relaxation and rejuvenation. You still have to prepare for the worst and the unexpected, however. Taking care of things such as travel insurance and protecting your valuables prior to traveling can remove some of the stress and anxiety you might feel should the unexpected occur.
You can’t enjoy your vacation if you’re too busy worrying about what happens if you get hurt in another country, have to replace your lost luggage or your lost valuables. Travel insurance and pre-planning offers not only financial assistance, but peace of mind.
