Preparing for Your Trip

Get a passport or make sure yours it up-to-date. You can get your passport processed at your local post office (in the US at least). It's much faster and convenient than passport offices. Also, you should get a couple of extra passport photos and take them with you in case you lose your passport while traveling.

Me at Cape of Good Hope Get all required immunizations. For example, I'm from US and I got Yellow Fever, Hepatitis A, Typhoid shots and Malaria pills when I went to Ecuador. A Flu shot is sometimes also useful.

Make extra copies of your passport, visas, immunizations, traveler's checks, plane ticket, insurance, etc. to take with you. Keep copies in various locations (pocket and backpack) and at home with family/friends.

Make sure your PIN number is only 4 numbers before you leave. Some international ATMs can't handle PIN numbers that are longer and some don't have the number "0". Many countries have ATMs that are on the CIRRUS system and/or you can use your Mastercards/VISAs with PIN numbers. The exchange rate for ATMs is usually better than for traveler's checks or US dollars.

VISA, Mastercard, and American Express are accepted in most large cities, but you will have to pay an extra 3-10% fee. There are Western Union offices in many countries as well.

Internet cafes are springing up everywhere! If you can't check your email from any computer (web-based email), then set up a Yahoo or Hotmail free email account. It's a great way to check in and share your adventures with friends and family back home. You can also set up your email address book before you go so you don't have to worry about addresses on the road.

Get adequate travel insurance. Make sure it includes comprehensive medical and repatriation cover for your whole trip (whether one day or over a year). Also, make sure it covers you for all activities, including hazardous sports (bungee, etc.). Be sure to let the insurance company know if you have any pre-existing medical conditions. Take the policy number and emergency contact telephone number for the insurers with you.

Take new American dollars (or as new as possible) in small currencies, as some places won't exchange really old or large bills.

Confirm international & domestic plane reservations 72 hours before departure (also when you leave your destination country)!

Eat yogurt for 2 weeks prior to departure to build up friendly bacteria to help digestion.

Print out address labels, so you don't have to spend time addressing at your destination, where there are so many more interesting things to do.

Be familiar with the country's customs before you leave. If you are traveling to a foreign country, learn the customs. In other words, don't travel to Iran and wear hot shorts and a tank top. Since 1974, CultureGrams has provided travelers with up-to-date information about specific destinations, now numbering 181. Four-page reports detail background, people, customs, courtesies, lifestyle, society, literacy rate, life expectancy, as well as visa, health and embassy contact information. One report is $6 and they get cheaper the more reports you buy.