International travel can be both challenging and rewarding. Once you’ve got the travel bug, it never goes away! The challenges of travelling abroad become easier when you are prepared. This blog outlines the best international travel tips to help you to prepare for your trip and get the most out of your experience.

International Travel Tips – Things to Consider Before you Go

It’s so exciting when you come up with an idea for a new trip. But don’t forget the crucial planning stages. Weather and local festivals are important to consider. For example, you should avoid travelling to parts of India in Monsoon season. However, there are certain festivals that you may not want to miss. Visiting India during Holi or Diwali can be an exciting cultural experience. Do your research before you book, and get your timing right.

Visas are crucial, and it is always best to check out the visa situation with your Embassy or Foreign Office. You wouldn’t want to be travelling by land to Moscow from the UK, and realise that you didn’t have a visa to get through Belarus!  If you are travelling within the EU as a British citizen, you can travel freely. There are some countries that you won’t need a visa for if you have a British passport. This is because they are commonwealth countries, such as Rwanda.

Travel insurance is essential for international travel.  This is probably one of the most important international travel tips. You do not want to find yourself ill or injured abroad and not able to pay for your medical treatment.  If you want to shop around for travel insurance, you can use http://www.comparethemarket.com.

International Travel Tips
The Taj Mahal
Image Credit: www.wikimedia.org (Creative Commons 2.0)

International Travel Tips on Booking as a Backpacker

If you want to avoid package holidays and travel with a backpack, this will definitely keep costs down.  You will, of course, need to plan your travel route carefully and book your own accommodation.

There are so many cheap airlines that offer online booking. Flying is much more affordable than it used to be. Many low cost airlines are now offering long haul destinations, so that you can travel further afield. Jet2 now offer a flight to New York and Ryanair have Fez as a destination from the UK. To keep the cost as low as possible, book as far in advance as possible. Weekends can be expensive, so consider flying on a Tuesday or a Wednesday to get the best value flight.

If you are brave enough to get accommodation along the way, remember to barter hard. When travelling in parts of Asia, such as China and India, there will be ‘touts’ waiting for you to get off the train or bus. They would love to take you to their cousin’s or father’s hotel! Don’t be afraid to ask to see the rooms first, and take a look at a few different places before you commit.

Keeping Safe during International Travel

Travelling independently can be extremely rewarding, but do check if it is safe to do so in the country or area of your choice. In some parts of the world, it is recommended that you travel in small groups. Unfortunately, in some countries, such as Saudi Arabia, it is advisable for a woman not to travel alone.

Do ensure that you respect the local customs. In certain places, you will need to dress conservatively. For women, it is a good idea to carry a sarong when travelling in Africa and Asia. This can cover the shoulders and also double up as a headscarf. Remember that in some parts of the world, you cannot drink alcohol in public places. Always check on the local customs before you travel.

Final International Travel Tips: Communication

Learning a little bit of a new language to impress the citizens of the country you will visit is sure to help.  Even if you are not confident in speaking another language, a simple hello and thank you will go a long way. In some countries, you will find that most signposts are in a different script.  In Russia, for example, you will find a that most street names and Metro Station names are in the Cyrillic script. Rosetta Stone offer language learning tapes and courses. Embrace and enjoy!

Finally, for the last of our international travel tips, make sure that you have an easy way of contacting home. A telephone card or access number an be a big help in an emergency situation. Make sure that you check out Pocketdial UK, as we can help you with cheap and easy international calls.

What are your top International Travel Tips?

Thanks for reading, and feel free to comment on our blog. What are your top international travel tips?