International Travel Essentials: Must-Know Tips Before You Leave For Your Trip
Written By: Global Grit and Glam
January 2025
Traveling is one of the most exciting adventures life has to offer, whether you're exploring new corners of the globe or revisiting your favorite destinations. Traveling abroad can be especially exciting – and nerve-wracking all at the same time! It’s about stepping outside your comfort zone and into the unknown. Whether you’re a first-time international traveler or a seasoned pro like Beck, being adequately prepared can turn a good trip into a great trip! It will help make it more enjoyable, more comfortable, and certainly far more stress-free.
That's where we come in: with the right resources at your fingertips, you’ll be equipped for whatever the road throws your way. In this guide, we’ve compiled expert tips and resources for preparing for your international travels to ensure they are safe, smooth, and filled with unforgettable memories. From language barriers to visa requirements to what to pack in your carry-on luggage – and everything in between – we’ve got you covered.
It’s time to travel to some foreign lands like a boss: pack your bags, grab your passport, and let’s get ready to confidently explore the world!
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Pre-Trip Planning: Laying the Groundwork for a Great Trip
Planning a trip isn’t just about choosing your destination—it's about preparing for the unexpected while maximizing the ease of your travels. Before your adventure even begins, consider following these simple yet essential steps, provided in a two-part series.
Part 1: International Travel Essentials: Must-Know Tips Before You Leave For Your Trip (this article)
Part 2: International Travel Essentials: Managing Money, Tech, and Customs while Abroad
Knowing where to start can sometimes be overwhelming, so we recommend starting with official resources that include government websites and tools that can be a goldmine of information for savvy travelers. These official tools can help ensure your trip is smooth from start to finish.
Research Travel Advisories and Health Alerts
Staying safe whilst you’re traveling abroad should always be a priority, but that doesn’t mean it has to be complicated.
The U.S. Department of State Travel Advisory page is a great place to start to gather information and the latest updates on health and safety for your destination country. These advisories are critical for understanding any restrictions or potential hazards, such as civil unrest, recent or potential natural disasters, or disease outbreaks.
If you hold citizenship of another country, always check that country's government website as well, for additional travel advisories (for example, if you’re an Australian citizen like Beck, you may wish to consider visiting Smartraveller).
Emergency Assistance Abroad
U.S. citizens may wish to consider registering for the U.S. Department of State’s free Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP), which provides travelers with real-time updates on health, weather, safety and security in their destination country, and assists local embassies or consulates in accurately and quickly contacting you (and vice versa) if there's an emergency abroad (for example, an earthquake or other natural disaster, civil unrest, or a medical emergency).
Pro Tip: Are you planning to visit a country with a history of political unrest? Ensure you stay informed and up-to-date through reputable news sources (from your home country as well as from within your destination) or your destination country’s embassy updates.
Other resources you may wish to consult for up-to-date health and safety information and advice on your destination country include the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, more commonly known as the CDC.
The CDC offers resources for travelers, including the CDC Yellow Card (see below for more information on this, under Vaccinations) and the Pre-travel Rapid Evaluation Portal for Patients. It also provides Travel Health Notices (THNs) to inform travelers about global health risks during outbreaks, special events or gatherings, and natural disasters, and provides advice about protective actions travelers can take to prevent infection or adverse health effects.
The World Health Organization (WHO), the United Nations agency working to promote health, keep the world safe and serve the vulnerable, also provides up-to-date travel information and guidance through its Global Health Observatory. The WHO provides a more global perspective on health, offering insights into disease outbreaks, disease prevention, and health tips that every traveler should know.
Vaccinations
Many countries (especially those considered within less-developed regions) require travelers to have proof of vaccinations against certain infectious diseases (for example, Yellow Fever, the most commonly required vaccination for international travelers), whether departing for, or arriving from, other countries. These vaccinations help to keep epidemics at bay, and you may be required to show proof of certain vaccinations at border/immigration checkpoints.
Travelers should consult the CDC’s website for up-to-date recommended vaccination requirements and other health advisories for their destination. Note that vaccinations may be required before entry, even for short layovers. The most widely used vaccination record – and one that should be provided to you by any Travel Clinic – is the World Health Organization’s small, yellow International Certificate of Vaccination or Prophylaxis (ICVP), also known as the Carte Jaune or “yellow card.” The ICVP is an official vaccination report recognized internationally that can be considered a “medical passport” of sorts – so it’s just as important as your passport!
Getting these vaccinations, whilst sometimes costly and inconvenient, can help protect both you and the people in the country you’ll be visiting and will ensure you’re prepared for a healthy adventure.
Travelling with Medications
If you’re traveling with any medication(s) (and we mean any – even if it’s an over-the-counter drug such as a basic painkiller), we encourage travelers to:
Pack them in your carry-on luggage only and ensure they are well-marked with your name and in the original bottle/container with the original pharmacy label.
Research whether or not you can obtain your specific medication(s) in your host country if need be (if not, make sure you carry enough to cover your entire stay).
Research the legality of your specific medication(s) in your destination country.
Many common medications in the U.S. are illegal in other countries. These include some narcotics and psychotropic medications (eg. Adderall, OxyContin), cough and cold relief (eg. Nyquil, Sudafed), hormone medications (eg. birth control pills, hormone therapy medication for gender transition), and sleeping aids (eg. Ambien), amongst numerous others. We encourage travelers to consult the International Narcotics Board (INCB) website and the International Society of Travel Medicine (ISTM) for guidance on whether or not your medication(s) is under international control.
Non-compliance with medication regulations in a foreign country can result in confiscation, deportation, jail time, and in some extreme cases, even the death penalty. Quickly Google “Schapelle Corby” if you are feeling a bit skeptical about all this (we wouldn’t blame you!), but also find some comfort in the fact that most travelers won't have any problems carrying small amounts of medication(s) for personal use.
Also be aware that drugs with the same name can sometimes contain different active ingredients in different countries. For example, Claritin contains loratadine in the United States, but gliclazide in Korea. This is helpful to research in advance if there’s a possibility you might need to purchase additional medication once you arrive at your destination.
Want to be safe and avoid jail time in a foreign country? Always do your research before you go!
Prepare (and Know) Your Travel Documents
Passport. Well before you consider traveling abroad, check your passport to ensure it is up-to-date. Most countries require visitors to have a valid passport for at least six months beyond their exit from that country. And if you don’t yet have a passport and yours is about to expire? The great thing is that you can apply for a new or renewed passport easily (though, unfortunately, not quickly!) in person through a passport acceptance facility: the most common of these (which we’ve both used) in the United States is a U.S. postal office.
Pro Tip: Turnaround time for the processing of a U.S. passport application or renewal can be as long as 8 weeks – so make sure you get that application in nice and early!
Visas. You may need a visa for your destination. This is another piece of documentation we recommend you consider researching well in advance of your departure abroad, as visa requirements vary for each destination and are often dependent upon the citizenship/passport you hold. See below for more information on acquiring visas for a foreign country, should they be required.
Driver’s license. If you’re looking to rent a vehicle and drive in a foreign country, your state or country’s license may not be enough for your destination country. Here we introduce the International Driving Permit, or IDP. It is important to understand exactly what this document is and whether or not you’ll need one. The IDP (also sometimes known as an international driver’s license), permits visitors to drive legally in countries that require one. The IDP (a physical, dark gray, folded cardboard permit) translates the identifying information from your driver’s license into different languages. If the country you are visiting requires an IDP, you will carry the IDP, together with your home country driver’s license. An IDP is valid for a full year and obtaining one within the United States is easy (Beck has had about five over the years!): the American Automobile Association (AAA) is the official (and only) organization authorized by the U.S. Department of State to issue IDPs.
Pro Tip: Always make copies of your important documents (passport, driver’s license, credit card, vaccination records, visas etc) and store them in a separate location (electronically as well as physically) in case of loss or theft.
Pro Tip: In case of emergency whilst you’re traveling abroad, ensure you’ve saved in your phone the contact information for your country’s embassy and consulate in your host country.
Entry and Exit Requirements for Your Destination
Embassies and Consulates
There are several places you can begin your research to determine entry and exit requirements for your destination, including whether or not visas may be required. Ultimately, your most reliable, accurate and up-to-date source of information for these requirements will always come directly from your destination country’s own government, through their embassy (or, more accurately, its consulate). If you’re based in the U.S., most foreign embassies are located either in New York or Washington, DC, with additional consulates spread throughout the country.
You can find information on global embassy and consulate locations in various online sources, including Embassies. Note that some embassies may not have a website (or, if they do, it may be very rudimentary), so ensure you’re noting a phone number (often easily found by simply Googling the country for which you’re seeking an embassy/consulate) and calling them directly.
Pro Tip: If you’re planning to visit a country that requires a visa, apply well in advance to avoid any last-minute complications. Many countries offer online visa applications to help streamline the process.
Other Trusted Government Resources
Another place to consider locating information on entry and exit requirements is your own home country’s State Department or your government’s Bureau of Consular Affairs. If you’re in the U.S., you could consult the U.S. Department of State’s travel page for, example, El Salvador (if that’s your chosen destination). The State Department's Learn About Your Destination tool provides a detailed guide on each country’s entry and exit regulations for U.S. citizens, including visas, travel advisories, and more. It also includes an alphabetical list of countries with specific entry requirements. Ultimately, if you’re visiting – for example – Ghana, we recommend you visit the U.S. Department of State (if you’re an American) for information on entry and exit requirements to Ghana as well as the Embassy of Ghana in Washington, DC.
Airlines
Finally, most international airlines also provide travelers with the information they may be seeking on passport and visa requirements for their destination, though note these are not always 100% accurate (at least in Beck’s experience!).
Travel Insurance: Worth Every Penny
Whilst it's tempting to skip the added expense, travel insurance is a must for international travel. A good policy will cover unexpected medical expenses, flight or tour cancellations, and even lost luggage. We highly recommend selecting a plan that includes emergency evacuation — just in case! We use Travel Insurance to purchase our travel insurance for each trip: it’s a user-friendly website that offers a neat comparison tool so you can narrow it down to the best option for your travel needs.
Travel insurance might be considered an evil expense, especially when it’s purchased and you never have to use it! Rest assured, it’s the one time you don’t purchase it, that something will happen on your trip… Always purchase travel insurance: if it’s simply for peace of mind.
Research the Weather/Climate at Your Destination
It’s always important to consider the weather/climate at your destination. This will ultimately assist with packing appropriately (you don’t want to be like Beck who was travelling through the Caribbean in her 20s in flip-flops and shorts, and then headed straight to a German Winter and was definitely not prepared with the appropriate cold-weather gear!), choosing suitable accommodation (is camping in Greenland in December really the best choice we’ve ever made?), and ensuring an overall comfortable visit to your destination country.
For detailed information on weather at your destination, including past trends as well as current weather patterns, you may wish to consult the (generally reliable!) National Weather Service. Government websites such as the U.S. Department of State also provide general climate information for most countries. Also consider checking local weather sites, as some global sites may be inaccurate or lack detail – most countries have at least one service for this purpose.
Before departure, also consider your destination environment, as you may need to take extra precautions. Heading to Everest Base Camp? High-altitude destinations require preparation (and sometimes additional gear) for acclimatization. Heading to Australia in the midst of the Summer? Hot and tropical climates may necessitate additional sun protection or insect repellent.
Pro Tip: Make sure you’re checking the city/town weather at your destination, not the weather at the airport. Airports, often some distance from major cities/towns, may have different weather patterns.
Traveler Forums
You can also always jump on to any number of traveler forums (for example, Reddit, Quora, Couchsurfing, TripAdvisor) to ask questions of fellow travelers about any of the above, but be careful to fact-check the information you receive is up-to-date and accurate. That being said, these forums are also wonderful ways to learn more about a destination that you may not be able to find elsewhere. Insider intel!
Research Your Destination Country
Researching your destination in depth is the first step to a successful trip abroad and begins with everything we’ve already covered above: researching travel and health advisories, preparing necessary travel documents well ahead of time, purchasing adequate travel insurance, and researching the weather and climate at your destination. There are also other things to consider when choosing, and indeed researching, your destination.
Local Culture, Laws, Customs and Etiquette
One of the joys of international travel is connecting more deeply with foreign lands, their people, and their cultures. Whether it’s tasting local foods, staying with a host family, or visiting off-the-beaten-path locations, being part of the local scene can enhance your trip no-end and ultimately make it far more meaningful.
With this in mind, it’s important to be respectful of local customs, laws and etiquette wherever you go. This is another way to turn a potentially negative experience into a very positive one: remember, feigning (or claiming) ignorance over a country’s local, state and national laws, does not exclude you from the consequences of breaking them!
Cultural differences between your destination country and your home country can often be quite large and can affect visitors in different ways: culture shock is a real and very valid thing! Cultural differences may include how people dress, communication styles and language variations, how (and even when) people speak, food customs (what and how people eat), attitudes towards time (visiting the Caribbean? Be prepared for “island time”, where things move a lot slower than what you may be accustomed to) and money (should I tip or not?), social norms around personal space, greetings and body language, religious practices, the importance placed on hierarchy within a society, and gender roles. These differences – whether they be big or small – can ultimately affect local people’s reactions to, and interactions with, foreign visitors.
Travelling with an open mind and a willingness to learn about the cultural differences between your home country and your destination will go a long way in making more meaningful connections with locals.
Get Started with the Basics
Arming yourself with some basic knowledge about your destination can go a long way to making for a positive and memorable experience, for both you and the locals you’ll encounter.
Language Barriers: It can be tough travelling to another country when you don’t know the language – especially when some countries have more than one national language, plus tens of dozens of local dialects, and you don’t speak any of them! Consider learning a few basic phrases and words in the local language, no matter how terrible you think your language skills may come across: locals will love that you’re trying to learn to communicate with them in their native tongue! Consider downloading free apps such as Duolingo or Babbel to assist with your language learning (no, you don’t have the go the full Rosetta Stone route to make for a fantastic trip!). Google Translate is also a great option once you’ve arrived in-country.
Local Customs and Traditions: Whether it’s from Wikipedia or any host of traveler forums (Reddit, Quora, Couchsurfing, TripAdvisor etc), make sure you have at the very least a basic understanding of the local customs and traditions at your destination. Not sure about something or need something clarified for you so you don’t make an embarrassing traveler faux pas (for example, some commonly used hand gestures in your home country may be considered rude or offensive in another culture) during your adventure? Just ask other travelers who have already been there!
Transportation: Familiarize yourself in advance with how you’ll get to, and around, your destination. Are you planning to take public transportation? What are the routes and how much will it cost you? What do the timetables look like? Many popular destinations offer visitors excellent public transport systems, including subways, trains, buses and mini-vans (and then there are gondolas in Italy, cyclos in Vietnam, and reindeer sleds in Finland!). Perhaps you want to rent a car instead – from whom and for how much? How will you navigate your way around? Do you need an International Driving Permit for your destination? Maybe ride-sharing, including Uber, Lyft or Gett, is the best option for you once you arrive? Make sure to research your options so you’re not left stranded on a sidewalk in the middle of a dusty, unfamiliar town on your first night.
Booking and Budgeting: Making Smart Moves
When To Book Your Trip
This is a difficult question to answer, as it often depends on your destination, the time of year you plan to visit (for example, shoulder seasons are often far cheaper for travelers), what might be happening at your destination during your planned visit (for example, if you’re considering a visit to Los Angeles in July 2028, you’ll find prices skyrocket as Olympians compete for gold and visitors from all over the globe flock to the City of Angels), and what sort of travel you plan to do.
Thinking about a trip to Antarctica? Planning a year in advance before ships fill up their quota is a good option. Thinking about a cruise that departs from a town close to your home? You could easily wait for an excellent last-minute deal as late as a couple of days before the cruise leaves port (as we did over Christmas in 2023).
A good rule of thumb is to book flights anywhere from 6 weeks to 4 months in advance: you really won’t be saving much more money or scrambling to find a seat with any more advanced planning than that. We do, however, recommend searching for flights through user-friendly tools such as Skyscanner, which provides travelers information on the number of weeks before their departure date when they’re most likely to find the cheapest flights, the cheapest day to travel to your destination within a given month, the cheapest month of the year to visit specific destinations, and flexible ticket searches. It also gives you the option for “price alerts”: you choose the route you want to take, along with the dates, and Skycanner will alert you via email/text when the price goes up or down, without you having to go back and re-do the search over and over again. Genius!
Pro Tip: When conducting a flight search always include the "nearby airports" option. You'll find many benefits to flying out of smaller, regional airports, that include easier/cheaper long-term parking, small (if any) baggage check and security lines, and a "small community feel". Some drawbacks, of course, may include slightly pricier flights and less availability of flights.
Other booking requirements (hotels, tours etc) can often be booked well after your flights have been locked in – so make sure you secure those flights first and consider using travel comparison websites to find the best deals on everything else from rental car options to cruises to hotel specials.
Budgeting: Be Realistic
For most of us, traveling with a budget can help keep at bay travel expenses and take away much of the stress once we’ve returned home and might otherwise see credit card bills through the roof that didn’t seem so consequential at the time we were visiting Paris and fell in love with that French designer handbag, or decided the rug salesman in Casablanca was absolutely correct when he said we definitely couldn’t leave Morocco without one.
Whether you’re choosing to limit yourself to US$50 a day to cover accommodation, food and transportation (as Beck did for many, many years as a backpacker), or putting aside a couple of thousand dollars to cover the entire trip, spending it as you go and as makes sense, set yourself a realistic budget for your trip. Consider what you’ll need to include in the budget (flights, travel insurance, visas (if required), accommodation, local transportation or car rentals, food, tours, souvenirs, and incidentals) and whether it works best for you to either break down each category into daily or weekly amounts, or to simply make sure everything fits within a total budgeted amount.
Pro Tip: You don’t need to be rich to travel, but you do need to plan in advance for the best deals. We also encourage travelers to write down everything as you spend it: this will also help to remove a lot of stress from other parts of travel planning!
Pro Tip: Consider using a credit card that provides cardholders with rewards or points to help offset some travel costs, or remain loyal to a brand (especially hotel chains and/or airlines) who offer returning members ongoing points, discounts, value-adds and free upgrades.
Packing: What, When and How
Ah yes, the big, age-old question! What should I pack for my trip?
This is another challenging question to easily answer, if only because it will vary by destination, your plans for your trip, the items each individual traveler finds “essential” for their trip (some may need their curling wand, whilst others may not ... and that’s okay!) and the expected weather once you arrive. Unfortunately, it can be very difficult to pack the exact same items for every trip you take! That being said, a well-packed bag makes an easier, more manageable trip.
Carry-On Luggage
To avoid any surprises or confiscations at the airport (trust us — you don’t want to find out too late that your favorite sunscreen is banned at the security checkpoint!), consider packing the following in your carry-on luggage:
a universal power adapter for foreign outlets
noise-canceling headphones or earplugs for long-haul flights
a change of clean clothes for unexpected delays
travel-sized toiletries that comply with the Transportation Security Administration’s (TSA) Liquids, Aerosols, and Gels (3-1-1) rule
the TSA’s handy and comprehensive “What can I bring?” tool allows travelers to search for specific items to see whether or not they’re permitted in carry-on or checked luggage
Pro Tip: If you’re flying, ensure you’ve packed any prohibited items such as sharp objects (Beck always carries with her a small pair of travel scissors and a pocketknife) or large containers with liquid in your checked luggage, to avoid it being confiscated at the airport security checkpoint.
Pro Tip: Whilst not something we personally do (but many travelers do!), you can consider using packing cubes to separate items in your luggage and utilize limited luggage space. Travel vacuum packing bags have also become popular over the years, but once you’re arrived at your destination, make sure you have a way to re-vacuum your luggage upon departure!
Pro Tip: Before actually packing it into your suitcase or backpack, put everything you’d like to take with you on your trip, on your bed. Then halve it. Then halve it again. That’s how much you should really be taking with you. And don’t forget, if you leave something behind, you can generally find it – or at least a version of it – in pretty much any country in the world!
Final Thoughts
Traveling internationally is an adventure of discovery and growth: it’s about finding your rhythm and enjoying the journey. Here at Global Grit and Glam we believe every trip abroad is a chance to get out of your comfort zone, embrace the unknown, seek out new experiences, view things from a different perspective, and create lasting memories that you’ll be talking about with friends and family for years to come. By using trusted government resources and the tips and guidance we’ve provided here, you can minimize any potential bumps in the road well before you even leave the comfort of your own home, preparing you well in advance and allowing you to ultimately focus on making a trip you’ll remember forever.
Prepare. Book. Pack. And just go.
Now … it’s time to plan your trip!
